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

JP-2311540

 "Onsen" is a Japanese word for a hot spring and the bathing facilities built around it, which are highly popular and part of the country's culture. Every region of the country has its share of hot springs and resort towns that come with them.

 

Kusatsu Onsen (草津温泉) is one of Japan's most famous hot spring resorts and is blessed with large volumes of high quality hot spring water said to cure every illness but lovesickness.
Well known as a hot spring resort for many centuries, Kusatsu's fame was further boasted by German doctor Erwin von Baelz, who served at the imperial court in the late 1800s and recommended Kusatsu for its water's health benefits.

 

JP-2311540, sent by Kumiko.

The Yubatake (湯畑, lit. "hot water field") is the symbol of Kusatsu and one of the resort's main sources of hot spring water. In fact, with an output of 5000 liters per minute, the Yubatake ranks among Japan's single most productive hot spring sources.
After bubbling to the surface at a temperature of more than 70 degrees Celsius and with a pleasant sulfur odor, the hot spring water is cooled down in the Yubatake's wooden conduits by a few degrees before it gets distributed to the various ryokan and public baths. In addition, sulfuric sediment (yunohana, lit. "hot water flowers") that collects in the wooden conduits over time is periodically harvested and sold as a type of "bath salt" at local shops.
Many ryokan and shops are clustered around the Yubatake and there is a steady stream of visitors, many of whom wear yukata and geta (traditional sandals) in the evening when the Yubatake is lit up. There is also a foot bath (ashiyu), that can be used for free. - in: https://www.japan-guide.com

Vietnam's Traditional Hat

 How lovely is this card?! Diana has been to Vietnam a few months ago and brought me this card for my old people collection. Love it!!

The cute old lady is making a Non La, a cone-shaped hat made mainly from palm leaves, latanier leaves, or bamboo leaves. Its frame is crafted from thin bamboo or rattan, creating a light and durable structure. Each hat includes around 16 to 20 bamboo rings, all hand-stitched with great care and precision.

 

It usually takes 4 - 8 hours to complete one Non La, depending on the detail and craftsmanship. For farmers, the Non La is an essential tool used daily to shield them from the sun and rain. It is also used by women when going to the market, or as a hand fan to create a breeze during rest breaks in the fields. When worn with the graceful ao dai, it highlights the gentle and modest charm of Vietnamese women. You can see the Non La everywhere, from countryside fields to city streets, and even at cultural festivals and fashion shows.

Its simple and rustic beauty reflects the soul of the Vietnamese people.
Beyond its daily use, the Non La is a meaningful souvenir. Many visitors buy it as a special gift for loved ones or as a keepsake from Vietnam. It also holds deep meaning, appearing in poetry, music, and art, and living on through generations as a symbol of Vietnamese identity. - in: https://www.vietnamairlines.com

US-11759741

 This month I've received a few official cards from the USA but half of them were actually from other countries. This one here is from China. 

He Garden, or Heyuan Garden, located in Xuningmen Street in Jiangsu Yangzhou City, is known as "the first garden in late Qing Dynasty". The once private garden has now become a national 4A-rated tourist site, and attracted many ancient architecture lovers.

 

US-11759741, sent by Helen.

The garden was the private residential yard of the He Family, a notable family and great clan in Yangzhou. It was built by He Zhidao, an official of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. He resigned in 1883 and set up business in Yangzhou. He then bought the ancient site of Wu’s Sliced Stone Mountain Villa, and enlarged it into a big garden for his family. Construction lasted 13 years. - in: https://www.travelchinaguide.com

The He Garden is the representative work of Yangzhou gardens in the late Qing Dynasty, and is the embodiment of Yangzhou's garden characteristics. It makes full use of the gallery building function and charm; the 1500 meters complex road corridors here is unique wonderful landscapein China's gardens.
The scale of this garden is huge, covering an area of more than 14000 square meters; and the building area has reached more than 7000 square meters, accounting for more than 50% of the total area; reflecting the late Qing Dynasty garden architecture characteristics. The whole garden is divided into the east garden, west garden, garden countyard, slice of stone and hills room, with two layer series floor and compound corridor connecting with the house. - in: https://www.topchinatravel.com

Slender West Lake - China

 Yangzhou is without a doubt a top tourist city in China, with fascinating beauty. With a long history of over two thousand years, the city has accumulated numerous culture assets. It also possesses rich tourist resources such as endless water scenes, tastefully landscaped gardens as well as a varied architecture, in both magnificent and simple delicate styles. - in: http://www.travelchinaguide.com

One of the city's attrations is Slender West Lake, also known as Thin West Lake. 

 

Although I've had these postcards for years, I've just found out that this lake and the city's historic center are on UNESCO's Tentative List.

    

Slender West Lake was originally a wide river course and gradually became a famous scenic area with continuous constructions. In Sui and Tang dynasties, some gardens were built on the bank; and afterwards in Qing Dynasty, many wealthy salt dealers had the gardens built along the lake for self-pleasure (...).

Slender West Lake is famous for its natural charming sights, while it is also a place with plenty human cultures. Many politicians, litterateurs, painters and artists of past dynasties were attracted by the landscape and have left numerous poems, essays, paintings, calligraphies and music as well as their legends and stories. 

The whole lake is divided by bridges, isles and banks, which make this slender lake well-bedded in zigs and zags. 

 

  CN-2766806, sent by Brian.

One of the attractions of the lake is the Five Pavilion Bridge, which is also the symbol of Yangzhou. Built in Qing Dynasty with a history of more than 200 years, the five pavilions are just like five lotuses on the lake. Five-Pavilion Bridge is in southern style and was praised as a bridge with great artistic beauty by Chinese famous bridge expert Mao Yisheng. There are 15 arch holes in the bridge; and a special view can be enjoyed on full moon nights as "15 moons" will be reflected on the lake. - in: http://www.visitourchina.com/yangzhou/attraction/shou-xi-hu-slender-west-lake.html

Palmyra - Syria

 I've heard about Palmyra not only because it is a Syrian UNESCO site but mostly because it was all over the news when the extremist group ISIL took control of Palmyra and destroyed large parts of the ancient city, ten years ago. These two temples, as seen on the cards, don't exist anymore, they've both been partially destroyed. The city was recaptured by the Syrian Free Army, after the fall of the Assad government in December 2024 and hopefully something will be done to preserve what is left. 

I've also found the 1st of these cards in Brescia. It was written and stamped from Latakia, the principal port city of Syria, in 1989.

An oasis in the Syrian desert, north-east of Damascus, Palmyra contains the monumental ruins of a great city that was one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world. From the 1st to the 2nd century, the art and architecture of Palmyra, standing at the crossroads of several civilizations, married Graeco-Roman techniques with local traditions and Persian influences. - in: https://whc.unesco.org 

The structure of the Baalshamin temple dates to the Roman era. It was erected in the first century AD and further enlarged by Roman emperor Hadrian. The temple is one of the most important and best preserved buildings in Palmyra. 

The building was blown up in August 2015. Its cella, or inner area, was severely damaged, and followed by the collapse of the surrounding columns. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

The tetrapylon was a monument marking a major road intersection along the colonnaded street of Palmyra. It was a testimony to the grandeur of the era around 270 AD, during which Queen Zenobia had reached the height of her power. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

ISIL also destroyed the Tetrapylon. Only four pillars of the original 16 still standing, while the other 12 have been heavily damaged and are scattered around the base of the monument.

Baalbek - Lebanon

I've got my 1st card of Baalbek more than 10 years ago and a few days ago, I found another one in Brescia. Written, stamped with beautiful stamps and sent in 1973. When I saw it I immediately knew if was from a UNESCO site in Lebanon. Good find!

Baalbek is a town in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon situated east of the Litani River. It is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when Baalbek, then known as Heliopolis was one of the largest sanctuaries in the empire. It is Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure, and it can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world, containing some of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins.

Towering high above the Beqaa plain, their monumental proportions proclaimed the power and wealth of Imperial Rome. The gods worshiped there, the triad of Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus, were grafted onto the indigenous deities of Hadad, Atargatis and a young male god of fertility.

The Temple of Bacchus was one of the three main temples at a large complex in classical antiquity, at Baalbek. The temple was dedicated to Bacchus (also known as Dionysus), the Roman god of wine, but was traditionally referred to by Neoclassical visitors as the "Temple of the Sun". It is considered one of the best preserved Roman temples in the world. It is larger than the Parthenon in Greece, though much less famous.

Vitacolor

The temple was commissioned by Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and designed by an unknown architect c. 150 AD, and built close to the courtyard in front of the larger temple of Jupiter-Baal. When the temple complex fell into disrepair, the Temple of Bacchus was protected by the rubble of the rest of the site's ruins. The temple is 66m long, 35m wide, and 31m high. Its walls are adorned by forty-two unfluted Corinthian columns, nineteen of which remain upright in position standing 19 m high. The columns support a richly carved entablature. Inside, the cella is decorated with Corinthian half-columns flanking two levels of niches on each side, containing scenes from the birth and life of Bacchus. The adyton (inner shrine) stands above a flight of steps. - in: wikipedia

Hebron - Palestine

 When I found this card in the box of the book fair in Brescia I liked it because it was from a place I didn't have cards from, the building was interresting but when I got home I had reasons to like it even more. I googled about Hebron and found out that the Old City of Hebron is classified as UNESCO WHS. So, I found 2 cards from 2 missing UNESCO sites from Palestine in the last book fairs I've been to. How nice is that?

This is a written and stamped card sent from Nazareth to Brescia in 1976.  

The use of a local limestone shaped the construction of the old town of Hebron/Al-Khalil during the Mamluk period between 1250 and 1517. The centre of interest of the town was the site of Al-Ibrahimi Mosque/The tomb of the Patriarchs whose buildings are in a compound built in the 1st century AD to protect the tombs of the patriarch Abraham/Ibrahim and his family. This place became a site of pilgrimage for the three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The town was sited at the crossroads of trade routes for caravans travelling between southern Palestine, Sinai, Eastern Jordan and the north of the Arabian Peninsula. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

The Tombs of the Patriarchs (...) is the burial place of three biblical couples — Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah.
The second holiest site in Judaism (after the Western Wall in Jerusalem), it is also sacred to the other two Abrahamic faiths, Christianity and Islam.
It was the patriarch Abraham who bought the property when his wife Sarah died, around 2000 years before Christ was born. Genesis 23 tells how Abraham, then living nearby at Mamre, bought the land containing the Cave of Machpelah to use as a burial place. He paid Ephron the Hittite the full market price — 400 shekels of silver.
Today the site is the dominant feature of central Hebron, thanks to the fortress-like wall Herod the Great built around it in the same style of ashlar masonry that he used for the Temple Mount enclosure in Jerusalem. - in: https://www.seetheholyland.net

Heeswijk Castle - Netherlands

The Netherlands isn't just about windmills; there are also beautiful castles. During my travels, I've only visited one, but I hope to visit more in the future. This one is near Heeswijk, in the province of North Brabant.

Marina sent me the first postcard 10 years ago, and the other arrived this week.

 

© The online postcard shop

The castle was originally constructed during the 11th century and was later restored in 2005. A motte was first erected in 1080, but would be reduced over the next few centuries. A castle would eventually be built in its place.
Heeswijk Castle was an integral part of the history of the Netherlands. Prince Mauritis failed twice to take over Heeswijk in 1600. His half-brother Frederick Henry, however, did succeed in 1629. This allowed him to attack ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
In 1649, the castle was transformed into a baroque residence and lost its defensive features. In 1672, Louis XIV stayed at Heeswijk while campaigning against the Dutch Republic. King Charles II of England as well as the bishops of Munster and Cologne visited the castle to sign the Treaty of Heeswijk.

NL-6096795, sent by Bea.

General Pichegru, who was under Napolean’s command, used the castle as a headquarters in the late 18th century. In the early 1800s, the castle was purchased by Andre Baron van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge. However, by this time, the castle had already fallen into a state of disrepair. Reconstruction began and the castle was then expanded to include an armory. The “Iron Tower” was also constructed and served as a place to store his son’s collection of art and curiosa.
Surprisingly, the castle only suffered minimal damage during World War II. In 1944, the parachutists of the 101st Airborne Division actually landed around Heeswijk Castle. - in: http://www.netherlands-tourism.com