Dresden - Germany

Before World War II, Dresden was called “the Florence of the Elbe” and was regarded as one the world’s most beautiful cities for its architecture and museums. 

At the end of the war, Dresden was so badly damaged that the city was basically leveled. A handful of historic buildings–the Zwinger Palace, the Dresden State Opera House and several fine churches–were carefully reconstructed out of the rubble, but the rest of the city was rebuilt with plain modern buildings. - in: http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-dresden

 In the last months of World War II, Allied bombers from the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force conducted several major bombing raids on the eastern German city of Dresden. Beginning on the night of February 13, 1945, more than 1,200 heavy bombers dropped nearly 4,000 tons of high-explosive and incendiary bombs on the city in four successive raids. 

 

 DE-8360341, sent by Heiko.

An estimated 25,000 people were killed in the bombings and the firestorm that raged afterward. More than 75,000 dwellings were destroyed, along with unique monuments of Baroque architecture in the historic city center. - in: https://www.theatlantic.com

DE-15872662, sent by Manuela.

On the left bank of the Elbe is Dresden's historical centre with buildings from the Renaissance, the Baroque and the 19th century. Despite being devastated in the Second World War, the Altstadt (Old Town) has kept or regained its attractive buildings.

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

DE-5174131, sent by Manuela.

The most well-known symbol of the rebuilding of the city centre is Dresden Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), the magnificent domed Baroque church which again dominates the Dresden skyline. After the Second World War, Neumarkt square and the symbolic ruins of the Frauenkirche remained almost untouched for half a century before also coming up for construction.

 

 

 Photo: F. Ihlow, H. Voigt, F. Exss, Verlag

The Altstadt is the centre of city life: it is home to the city hall, the Saxon state parliament and important cultural institutions from the Old Masters Picture Gallery, Semper Opera House and the State Theatre to the Green Vault. Between Altmarkt and Neumarkt squares, Prager Strasse and Postplatz you will find plenty of places to shop, eat and drink. - in: https://www.dresden.de

 

Burano - Italy

Last month I traveled to Italy and stayed in Venice. One of the must do's when in Venice, is a day trip to it's islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello. I visited them and it was a wonderful trip. 

I've sent myself a card of Burano and I'm posting it with a card that Sarah sent me back in 2013. 

 

www.rotalsele.com

Burano is an island in the Venetian Lagoon, northern Italy; like Venice itself, it could more correctly be called an archipelago of four islands linked by bridges. It is situated near Torcello at the northern end of the Lagoon, and is known for its lacework and brightly coloured homes.

Copyright 2006 by Mazzega Art & Design s. r. l. - Venezia * Foto: archivo Mazzega Art & Design

Burano is known for its small, brightly painted houses, popular with artists. The colours of the houses follow a specific system originating from the golden age of its development; if someone wishes to paint their home, one must send a request to the government, who will respond by making notice of the certain colours permitted for that lot. - in: wikipedia

Burgos - Spain

 Burgos os probably the spanish city I want to visit the most, mostly because of it's beautiful cathedral. Jesús has been there a few weeks ago sent me this nice snowy view. 

 

Burgos was the capital city of the unified kingdom of Castile and Leon for five centuries, and boasts one of the masterpieces of Spanish Gothic, its Cathedral, declared a World Heritage Site.

At the foot of the walled castle hill, offering one of the best views of the city, unfolds the old medieval quarter. - in: https://www.spain.info

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - Oct. '25

 October's cards are from Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Finland.

 

Anne is from Singapore but she sent a Japanese card, a snowy view of Amanohashidate, a pine-covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to "bridge in heaven") looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan's three most scenic views. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

I've never heard of Spiez before but this town on the shore of Lake Thun, in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss canton of Bern, is a popular day-trip destination. It's bay is actually considered one of most beautiful bays in Europe. 

Besides the beautiful bay, Spiez is known for its castle, its thousand-year-old churches, its vineyards, its museum of local history and viticulture and its water sports possibilities. 

The card was sent by Grace.

 

Marei is my official supplier of church cards from Bavaria. This one here is the pilgrimage church of Mariahilf and St. Johann Nepomuk, a late Baroque Roman Catholic church, built in the 18th century, located in Brannenburg, Upper Bavaria. Due to its location on the slope of the Sulzberg mountain overlooking the Inn Valley, the church is a popular destination for day trips, offering  great views of the surrounding landscape.

 

The Orthodox church of St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Nicholaos was built in 1896–1899 and has been used for 120 years. The church is one of the most significant buildings in Tampere in terms of architectural history. - in: https://visittampere.fi

Card sent by Katri.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - Sept. '25

All the MFS cards from September and October arrived safe and sound but 2 cards are still missing, for the months of July and August. But if there's one thing we've all learned in so many years of sending and receiving mail, it's to never lose hope.

 www.papersisters.de

Still in the spirit of WPD, Lara sent this 2024 Papersisters card.

 

 

Oh Gent, what a beautiful city. I'd love to visit it again. 

This magnificent sight on Sint-Baafsplein in Ghent is a proud old lady: don’t just walk past her on your city trip. St Bavo’s Cathedral is the oldest parish church in the lively heart of Ghent. It stands on the site of a 10th century church and a 12th century Romanesque church. The latter was dedicated to St John the Baptist. In the Middle Ages, Ghent was a rich and powerful city that had the means to commission ever-larger and more opulent churches. So the Church of St John the Baptist was converted during the 15th and 16th centuries into the imposing Gothic St Bavo’s Cathedral. - in: https://visit.gent.be/en/see-do/st-bavos-cathedral-majestic-tower

 Card sent by Monique.

awl-images / imageBROKER/ Hanke

When I traveled to Czech Republic, I went on a 2 days trip to Saxony with the idea of visiting Dresden and maybe another place. Moritzburg castle was one of the option but we decided to visit Meissen instead. This card was sent by Petra.

Moritzburg Castle is arguably the prettiest moated castle in Saxony. It was named after Duke Maurice, who had a hunting lodge built for himself near Dresden in 1542. From 1723, Augustus the Strong converted it into a magnificent baroque castle in the middle of a large pond and park. - in: https://www.schloss-moritzburg.de

From Hangzhou, China, Xinyi sent this card of the General Yuefei Mausoleum, commonly known in Chinese as Yuewang Temple. This temple was built in honor of Yue Fei, a general of the Southern Song dynasty during the Jurchen invasions when the capital of China was in Hangzhou. The Mausoleum of General Yue Fei was nestled in Yue Fei's temple at the south foot of Xixia Mountain of Hangzhou City.
The temple was first constructed during the Song Dynasty in 1221 to commemorate Yue Fei. The site includes Yue Fei's Temple, Loyalty Temple and Yue Fei’s Mausoleum inside. The temple was reconstructed several times in later date. The tombs and the tomb sculptures in the temple all dates from the 12th century, and have been meticulously restored. - in: https://www.zhangjiajietourguide.com

World Portcard Day

 October 1st is World Postcard Day, and it's the perfect excuse to join a meetup with other postcrossers or just write postcards from the comfort of your home. There were several meetups around the world, and a considerable number of postcards were created to celebrate the date. During the month of October, I received these 3 postcards.

 

Illustration by Uran Duo

 Many postcards were created to celebrate the day, but this is THE official postcard.

 The theme of the postcard is the most classical of postcard sentences, “Wish you were here” and was beautifully designed by Uran Duo is the artistic name of two married freelance illustrators based in Fujian, China.

This postcard was sent by Marie from Canada, but I received another one as an official from Germany.

 

created by xanafgsantos

Gracinha remembered me on that day and sent me this postcard.

And from the USA came this postcard from a meeting in Kansas City, sent by Nova, one of my American penpals.

American Lighthouses

 I've said a few days ago that last month I've received a few official cards from the USA but half of them were actually from other countries. The other half were from different American states, Maine, Texas and Mississippi but, coincidentally, all lighthouses.

 

PR Hornby Photographic Trust

US-11759737, sent by Olivia. 

York County lighthouses, in South Coast Region of Maine.

Whaleback Light - built in 1872. The lighthouse is accessible only by boat and is closed to the public;

Boon Island Lighthouse - the tallest lighthouse in Maine. Its first granite tower was built in 1811, however it was destroyed in a storm in 1832. The current version was built in 1855 and features a dome-covered beacon. As one of the state’s most remote lighthouses, it’s susceptible to fierce Atlantic storms. Boon Island Light remains an active navigational aid, though it’s not open to the public and is privately owned. - in: https://www.visit-maine.com

Cape Neddick ("Nubble") Light - built in 1879. The lighthouse and grounds are not open to the public;

Goat Island Light - built in1859. The island is accessible by boat only. The island and lighthouse are not open to the public except by special arrangement. Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation;

Wood Island Lighthouse - built in 1858. Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation. Wood Island can be reached only by boat. The island and lighthouse are open to the public only during tours offered in July and August. - in: https://www.visit-maine.com

 

 US-11759740, sent by Kelsi.

The lighthouse was built in 1852 due to the great number of shipwrecks that had occurred off Brazos Island in the Gulf of Mexico. By 1905, the lighthouse was decommissioned due to a downturn in maritime traffic caused by changes to the Rio Grande and the growth of railways. Present day, a reconstructed lighthouse keeper’s cottage sits in the shadow of Port Isabel’s 72-foot lighthouse and serves as a visitor center and museum. In 2022, after 117 years without a light, a 3rd Order Fresnel Lens was fitted in the lantern room. This addition brought the lighthouse back to the glory days it had not seen since 1905. Climb 75 winding stairs, three short ladders, and take in the coastal sights of the South Padre Island beaches at the last Texas lighthouse open to the public. - in: https://thc.texas.gov

 

Photo by Grant

US-11759745, sent by Grant.

Built in 1848, the Biloxi Lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses in the South made of cast iron. The most notable lightkeepers were Maria and Miranda Younghans, a mother-daughter duo who tended the light for 63 years.
In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took ownership of the Lighthouse until 1969, when it was handed over to the City of Biloxi. Soon after, it was opened for public tours. It was eventually added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was declared an official Mississippi Landmark in 1987.
The 64-foot-tall lighthouse took a beating from multiple weather events over the years. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina made a big impact after much of the structure was damaged by the winds, which toppled many bricks that lined the interior of the cast iron tower. The storm’s winds also broke many of the windows in the light cupola and destroyed the electrical system. The lighthouse reopened in March 2010 as a symbol of the area’s resilience during the post-Katrina era. - in: https://msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov

Lord Howe Island - Australia

 Lord Howe Island, island dependency of New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean some 700 km northeast of Sydney. Lord Howe Island is UNESCO World Heritage paradise where lush rainforests meet crystal-clear waters. With only 400 visitors allowed at a time, this secluded haven offers world-class snorkelling, hiking, and unforgettable encounters with rare marine life and rare birds.

 

Photograph: Jon Cornforth Images

AU-1035780, sent by Peter.

The Lord Howe Island Group is an outstanding example of oceanic islands of volcanic origin containing a unique biota of plants and animals, as well as the world’s most southerly true coral reef. It is an area of spectacular and scenic landscapes encapsulated within a small land area, and provides important breeding grounds for colonies of seabirds as well as significant natural habitat for the conservation of threatened species.

 

Photo: John Buttler 

 Iconic species include endemics such as the flightless Lord Howe Woodhen (Gallirallis sylvestris), once regarded as one of the rarest birds in the world, and the Lord Howe Island Phasmid (Dryococelus australis), the world’s largest stick insect that was feared extinct until its rediscovery on Balls Pyramid. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Royal Exhibition Building - Australia

The Royal Exhibition Building is located in Carlton Gardens, in the northeast of Melbourne's financial district. It was the first building in Australia to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in 2004.

Photograph: Round Glass

AU-1033193, sent by Neil

The Royal Exhibition Building and its surrounding Carlton Gardens were designed for the great international exhibitions of 1880 and 1888 in Melbourne and later hosted the opening of the first Parliament of Australia in 1901. Throughout the 20th century smaller sections and wings of the building were subject to demolition and fire, however the main building, known as the Great Hall, survived.. The building and grounds were designed by Joseph Reed.

The property is one of the last remaining 19th-century exhibition buildings in the world and most complete surviving site from the International Exhibition movement 1851–1914, which saw over 50 exhibitions staged between 1851 and 1915 in venues including Paris, New York, Vienna, Calcutta, Kingston (Jamaica) and Santiago (Chile).

Gardens by the Bay - Singapore

For those who appreciate modern and innovative architecture, Singapore is one of those countries to add to a must visit list. I confess that it doesn't attract me that much, but who knows, I might be surprised.

 

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. The largest of the gardens is Bay South Garden at 54 hectares (130 acres).

 

SG-463123, sent by Peggy.

Gardens by the Bay is part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

Besides the Gardens by the Bay, this card also depicts the Marina Bay Sands Resort Hotel & Casino.

SG-234286, sent by Yen.

Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens' landscape with heights that range between 25 metres (82 ft) and 50 metres (160 ft). They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.

The Supertrees are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of bromeliads such as Tillandsia, amongst other plants. 

There is an elevated walkway, the OCBC Skyway, between two of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a panoramic aerial view of the Gardens. A food and beverage outlet is planned atop the 50-metre (160 ft) Supertree. At night, the Supertrees come alive with a light and music show called the OCBC Garden Rhapsody. - in: wikipedia