FR-1587358

 The Calvary of Saint-Thégonnec is one of the seven Calvaries known as “Monumentals” in Brittany.

 

FR-1587358, sent by Sophie.

These calvaries, commonly called monumental calvaries, are works found only in Brittany. Built between 1450 and 1610, they testify to the prosperity of a territory combined with the religious fervor of the population. They usually consist of a massive stone on which scenes from the Childhood and the Passion of Christ are represented. The Calvary of Saint-Thégonnec dates from 1610.

NL-5415048

Once a small fishing village, El Cotillo is now a quiet place to enjoy relaxing holidays on the northwest coast of Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.

 

Fotografía: A. Murillo

NL-5415048, sent by Gaucha.

Tostón Lighthouse is located about 5km's north of El Cotillo. 

The current lighthouse is the third in a succession of lights that have operated at the site on the promontory of Punta Tostón.
The original lighthouse was opened in 1897, and consisted of a 7 m high plain masonry tower on one corner of the single storey keeper's house. In the 1950s a new 15-metre concrete tower was constructed, which was also superseded by a taller tower in the 1980s.
The original keeper's house has been renovated and reused as a museum with a small café. Visitors to the museum which contains an exhibition describing the traditional fishing of the island, can also climb to the top of the 1950s concrete tower. - in: wikipedia

PT RR - Favorite Surprise Group * February 23

February cards didn't take long to arrive and they all arrived on the same day.

 

Foto: Luís Alves

Just like in January, this month, Tiago sent me again a postcard with an elderly woman. These postcards he has been sending me do not specifically identify the location of the photos but they are all from South West Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park.

 Foto: Osvaldo Santos

 There are a lot of places that I haven't visited yet in my country and Soajo is one of them. This village is known of it's espigueiros - granite granaries. 

These granaries are supported on granite slabs from the Peneda mountains. They were built off the ground to protect food crops from rats and other rodents, and were used by the whole community.
The oldest espigueiros date back to 1782, and the whole cluster was constructed between the 18th and 19th centuries. Of the 24 that remain today, some are still used today to store grain, especially corn. - in: https://www.atlasobscura.com

The card was sent by Eric.

 

I've never been to Soajo to see the granaries but I've been to Rome to see the Trevi Fountain.  

The legend says that if you throw one coin to the fointain you will return to Rome; if you throw two coins, you will fall in love with an attractive Italian and if you throw three coins, you will marry the person you met. There's a right way to do this. You should throw the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder.  

Every day thousands of coins are thrown into the fountain. Thy are so many that in a single day 3,000€ can be collected from the fountain. This money is given to a catholic charity association. 

Pedro has never been to Rome but he sent me this card.

PT RR - Favorite Surprise Group * February 23

 The first 6 cards of this RR in Portuguese are already here. Lets start with January's cards.

 

 

Foto: Osvaldo Santos

I visited Vila Nova de Cerveira in June of 2021 and I really enjoyed it. Although small, this town in Minho region has a lot to see, both in terms of buildings and landscape. Castle and forts, manor houses and typical houses, viewpoints and riverside walks. For those who haven't been there yet, Eric and I, highly recommend a visit.

Tiago must be one of the biggest contributors to my elderlies collection and he said that there's even more where this postcard came from.

 

Foto: João Martins * © 1995 I. P. M. Arquivo Nacional de Fotografia / Edições 19 de Abril

I have already bought and sent this card a few times but I have never kept one for myself. I have it now thanks to Nidia. 

This photo is from a scene from the 1964 film "Fado Corrido". It is a film by Jorge Brum do Canto, based on the short story "Agora: Fado Corrido" from the book "Gaivotas em Terra" by David Mourão-Ferreira. It combines fados by Amália and solos by Carlos Paredes. The story of love, jealousy and fatalities, develops around a love triangle made up of a nobleman, a fado singer, and the boy for whom she leaves the nobleman.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - January 23

I really like this RR and I'll continue joining it this year. Last month I've received cards from Finland, Japan, Greece and Netherlands.

Photo/Valokuva: Minna Kääriäinen, Minor Postcards

 A lighthouse in the Aland islands, sent by Heli.

In the Åland, you can find Sälskär lighthouse on the northern part of Hammarland on a small islet. It was built in 1868 and was the first lighthouse in Finland to be automated in 1949. It is made of bricks and the foundation is granite. The total height from the sea level is 44,5 m. Measured from the ground, it stands around 30 meters tall. - in: https://minorpostcards.fi

In January I've sent a card to Yuka and she sent me one too. 

Not so long ago I dedicated a post to Shirakawa-go, widely known as one of the most scenic places in Japan. It is surrounded by pine tree covered mountains, and it is located along the picturesque Shokawa River. Besides the beautiful scenery, the unique Japanese thatched-roof farmhouses are the center of attraction. There are approximately 180 thatched farmhouses, sheds, and barns, and most of them were built about 200-300 years ago. - in: https://www.japaneseguesthouses.com

 

All these cards are nice but this one made me super happy. Vicky sent me this beautiful card of the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the Greek island of Patmos, one of my missing UNESCO sites from Greece.

The small island of Patmos, part of the Dodecanese complex in the central Aegean, is known, above all, as the location where John the Apostle received his visions and recorded them in the Book of Revelation, the final book of the New Testament. An impressive monastic complex, dedicated to him, was founded there in the early 11th century.

The monastery stands on the site where Saint John is believed to have written his Gospel, including the Book of Revelation (also known as the Apocalypse); it is also located near the grotto where the apostle is said to have received his Revelation, hence called the Cave of the Apocalypse. Both the Monastery and the Cave, along with the rest of the historic centre of the island’s Chora (main town) have been declared a joint World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 as an "exceptional example of a traditional Greek Orthodox pilgrimage centre of outstanding architectural interest". - in: https://www.greeknewsagenda.gr

www.papersiters.de

Just one day before getting this card sent by Annerie, I've received the exact same card as an official from Germany. Coincidences!!

When it comes to New Year's traditions, we Portuguese, like to have a lot of food on the table, and it commonly includes a range of meat and seafood dishes.  To toast at midnight, sparkling wine (espumante) tends to be the preferred drink of choice.
When the clock strikes midnight, you are supposed to eat 12 raisins and, as you put each grape inside your mouth, whisper to yourself a wish for the new year. If you are a superstitious person, you wear blue underwear on this night, and make sure you also keep a bill in your pocket if one of your wishes involves a desire for more material wealth. After midnight, in some localities, folks go out (or at least out to their balconies) and hit on pots and pans to make noise and commemorate the new year. The loud noise is also supposed to be a way to scare off the evils and bad energy from the previous year. - in: https://www.tasteoflisboa.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * April 22

I mentioned before that last year I joined this monthly RR 10 times and only the months of April and July remained incomplete. In April two cards got lost but Marianne and Radana have resent them a few days ago.

 

 www.papersisters.de

 

Swiss army knife, the Alps, clocks and Grace, who sent me this missing HP card, are all things that I associate with Switzerland.

 

 © concept by Postcardsmarket.com

Austria has an area of 83.879 km², a population of 8.662.588 and its capital is Vienna.
Unique:
* World's Largest Emerald - 2860 carats, displayed in the Imperial Tresuary of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna;  
* One of the oldest national flag in the world - since 1191, Duke Leopold V, Third Crusade;
Famous:  
* Schönbrunn Palace - the summer palace of the Habsburgs, has no less than 1440 rooms;
* Vienna's central cemitery - has over 2.5 mil. tombs;

History: 

* One of Europe's Great Powers - 1804-1867, Austrian Empire; 1867-1918, Austro-Hungarian Empire;

* Habsburg Monarchy - 1521-1918, motto "Let justice be done, though the world perish."

 Foto: Ivan Rillich

Střekov castle is perched atop a cliff above the river Elbe, near the city of Ústí nad Labem. Built in the 14th century to protect the waterway and collect duties on transported goods, the castle is renowned for its impressive views. It has enchanted a variety of visiting artists, most notably Goethe, Richard Wagner, and Karel Hynek Mácha. - in: https://www.ihbohemia.com

 

 Damxung, with an average elevation of 4,300 meters, means "The chosen one ranch" in Tibetan. It’s backed by the Mt. Nyainqentanglha, adjacent to Namtso Lake. The glacial snow water from the mountain nourishes 700,000 hectares of pure natural pastures. The semi-wild yaks drink from glaciers and salt lakes, and they feed on rare and Tibetan herbs such as cordyceps, enoki mushrooms, and ginseng fruits. - in: http://eng.tibet.cn

US-9077085

 I've hundreds of cards from USA but only a few of them are from North Carolina.

 

Photo by Bill Cobb

US-9077085, sent by Terri.

Raleigh is the capital city of the state of North Carolina. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte and the 41st-most populous city in the U.S.

Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees, which line the streets in the heart of the city.

The city of Raleigh is named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the lost Roanoke Colony in present-day Dare County. - in: wikipedia

Table Mountain - South Africa

Table Mountain is the most famous mountain and landmark of South Africa and also the country’s most photographed attraction. The mountain gained natural park status in 1998 and in 2004 the Cape Floristic Region was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

 Art Publishers

The Khoi and San people named the mountain Hoerikwaggo or Mountain in the Sea.

The mountain was sacred for the Khoi and San people as they believed their god (Tsui or Goab) lived there.

The first European to see the Cape was Bartolomeu Dias in 1448. In 1497, Vasco da Gama spotted it as well. The first recorded climb of the mountain was done by the Portuguese navigator, Admiral Antonio de Saldanha in 1503. It was de Saldanha who gave the mountain its name, naming it Taboa da caba, meaning table of the cape.

Images: Shi Zhao, Miquitos

ZA-151540, sent by JVR Family.

In 1652 the Khoi and the San people were robbed of their land when the Cape was colonized by the Dutch led by Jan van Riebeeck. They quickly established Cape Town, built houses and brought slaves.

Since then, many people from all around the world have climbed the mountain. Starting with 1929 the cable car opened and since then reaching the summit was made easier than ever.

More than 22 million people have used the cable car which was renovated and reopened in 1997. - in: https://tablemountainnationalpark.org

DE-12648399

White Island is New Zealand's most active cone volcano. It is situated 48 km (30 mi) from the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty. The island covers an area of approximately 325 ha (800 acres),[2] which is just the peak of a much larger submarine volcano. 

 

Photo: Tony Stone / Kim Westerskov

DE-12648399, sent by Andrea.

The island was a popular tourist destination, known for its volcanic activity but on 9 December 2019 it explosively erupted and twenty-two people of the 47 that were on the island at the time have died, either in the explosion or from injuries sustained, including two whose bodies were never found and were later declared dead. A further 25 people suffered injuries, with the majority needing intensive care for severe burns. - in: wikipedia

As a result of the eruption event, there are currently no on-land tours of the island in operation. 

KZ-61515

I've already received a few officials cards this year but this was the 1st that I received and registered in 2023. What a surprise, it isn't from Germany, not from USA and not even from Russia, the top 3 countries when it comes to my received and also sent cards in 2022. This one is from Kazakhstan and it is my first official from this country. 

Last year I've received a total of 123 cards and sent 120. Besides Germany, Russia and USA, I've received cards from 25 other countries and sent to 24 others.

KZ-61515, sent by Anton.

An exquisite blue-domed mosque plated with white marble, Imangali Mosque has been a landmark of downtown Atyrau since its construction in 2001. The central mosque of the city, this elegant white structure with elaborate blue-tile ornaments can accommodate several hundred worshippers. Flanked by two slim 26 m (85 ft) tall minarets, its main 23 m (75 ft) tall dome covers the main hall and features a huge balcony with 600 seats. The central entrance arch is designed with typical Kazakh blue tile decorations, with calligraphy decorating both the exterior and interior.- in: https://trips.klarna.com

Røros - Norway

This colorful charming timber town was founded in 1646 and has since developed as both a mining and agricultural community. Included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as early as 1980. The town centre boasts a rare collection of large and well-preserved wooden buildings, made all the more real and authentic by the fact that the people of today live and work in them. - in: https://www.visitnorway.com

 

The 1st of these cards was sent in 2011 by Rita and the 2nd last December by Eric, who worked in this village a few years ago. 

Røros Mining Town and the Circumference is linked to the copper mines, established in the 17th century and exploited for 333 years until 1977. The site comprises the Town and its industrial-rural cultural landscapes; Femundshytta, a smelter with its associated area; and the Winter Transport Route. Completely rebuilt after its destruction by Swedish troops in 1679, Røros contains about 2000 wooden one- and two-storey houses and a smelting house. Many of these buildings have preserved their blackened wooden façades, giving the town a medieval appearance. Surrounded by a buffer zone, coincident with the area of privileges (the Circumference) granted to the mining enterprise by the Danish-Norwegian Crown (1646), the property illustrates the establishment and flourishing of a lasting culture based on copper mining in a remote region with a harsh climate. - in: www.whc.unesco.org/en/list/55

 

 

Røros church - also called "The pride of the mining town" - was built in the golden age of the Røros Copper Company. The building was finished in 1784 and is one of the largest churches in Norway, with 1600 seats. 

The structure on the right side of the card is the Hyttklokka, a bell was used to notify workers at the smelthytta(smelter hut) when work started and finished. The bell was probably also used as an alarm, to warn of fires, for example. If you take a photo of Hyttklokka with the church in the background, you will have captured the classic Røros setting. - in: https://en.roros.no

Happy Postcrossing from Lower Saxony

Erika's windmills cards and this one too, drew my attention to Lower Saxony and made me googled about this german state. 

Lower Saxony is the only German state with both sea and mountains, and it boasts one of the country's most beautiful seashores with the North Sea coast and the seven East Frisian islands.

 

www.papersisters.de

Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) is the largest German state after Bavaria. West to east, it stretches from the World Heritage–listed Wattenmeer tidal flats and the East Frisian Islands to Wolfsburg, global HQ of Volkswagen.
Between the state's patchwork of vibrant small towns and villages is a diverse landscape of forests, farmlands, river plains, heath and moors. - in: https://www.lonelyplanet.com

German windmills

Not all windmills cards come from the Netherlands, they can also come from northern Germany, in this case, from the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

These wonderful cards were sent by Claus and Erika.

 

 © Schöning GmbH & Co. KG * Foto: F. Christphel

The Aurora Mill is a windmill in Borstel, a district of Jork. It was built in 1856 by the miller Adolf Friedrich Peters.

 

 Foto & Verlag: Regio Karten

The Hinte mill is the only windmill in the Hinte municipality in the Aurich district (East Friesland). The building, erected in 1869, was restored between 1992 and 1997 and has since been equipped with functioning mill technology again.

 

 Foto: Gerd Kaja

The Mitling-Mark mill is not only one of the most scenic mills in East Friesland, but also a very special place to get married. 

The mill was rebuilt in 1843 after a fire.

 © Schöning Verlag * Foto: werbephoto/Christoph Reinhard

Charlotte is an old and beautiful thatched smock mill in the beautiful landscape of Geltinger Noor. Built in 1826 for draining the backwater and grinding work purposes. Together with a second mill, Charlotte had to pump groundwater from the lowland fields into the Baltic Sea. Today, the mill is in private hands and supplies tourists with a comfy holiday-apartment.