US-11090513

 Look how beautiful this card!! It is not only beautiful but also special, it is my official card #2000. It traveled 6,267 km, all the way from South Carolina and it took 13 days to get here. Even tough it was sent from South Carolina, the card depicts a wonderful landscape in the other side of the country.

 

US-11090513, sent by Rose.

The view that Ansel Adams made famous, Tunnel View is a must stop for any first time visit to Yosemite Valley.
Tunnel View provides one of the most famous views of Yosemite Valley, showcasing the immensity of the granite walls that surround Yosemite Valley and providing a classic view of El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. It is spectacular at sunset or after the clearing of a storm. 

US-11073925

 Oakland is a city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area in the U.S. state of California.

 

 Photo by Chris Gilbert

US-11073925, sent by Jennifer.

Designed by renowned architect Welton Beckett as Henry J. Kaiser's 28-story world headquarters and personal residence, the Kaiser Tower was completed in 1960. Today, the building stands as a masterpiece of contemporary, mid-century modern architecture providing tenants with a first class, full service business environment. The Tower features modern materials and a distinctive, curved architectural design; its broad window lines provide spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay and skyline, beautiful Lake Merritt, and the Oakland hills. - in: https://kaisercenter.com/

BY-3271012

I don't dislike this postcard, although I not a big fan of the size, the vegetable stamps are cute but apart from the address, the date and the postcard ID, Olga didn't write anything else on the postcard!! I always have so much to write.

 

BY-3271012, sent by Olga.

Trinity Suburb is an old picturesque part of Minsk located on the bank of the Svisloch River in the city center. Its cozy little streets and houses, with tile roofs and delicate colors, have become a symbol of Minsk. Their image can be often seen on souvenirs and candy.
Many houses in this part of Minsk are considered to be architectural landmarks though people still dwell in many of them. - in: https://www.belarus.by

Cathedral of the Holy Spirit - Minsk

Not much has been happening on this blog. I haven't had much time, I just received a few cards these last weeks and I don't always like them. A few days ago, some official postcards arrived, including the first of these postcards of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Minsk. The 2nd card is also an official postcard, with the same church, received in 2019.

 BY-3271011, sent by Kamila. 

One of the most visible churches in Minsk, with its central location overlooking the Svisloch river in the historic Upper Town, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is the most important Russian Orthodox church in the city.

 

BY-2417108, sent by Kate.

Its origins date back to the 17th century when the building served as a Catholic Bernardine monastery. After several devastating fires and a conversion to Orthodoxy, the church was expanded and renovated, though the monastery was closed in 1922. The church's holiest icon is the image of the Mother of God, which is said to have been found by Minsk residents in 1500.

Pannonhalma Abbey - Hungary

There are eight World Heritage Sites in Hungary. The Millenary Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma and its Natural Environment were added to the WHS list in 1996. 

Both these cards have been sent by Joanna. 

The monastery of the Benedictine Order at Pannonhalma was founded in 996 in Western Hungary and had a major role in the diffusion of Christianity in medieval Central Europe. The monastery shows a stratification of different architectural styles and various buildings.

 

Among these buildings: a school (the first ever school founded in the country), the monastic complex – home to the monks whose life is still based on St. Benedict’s Rule ‘Ora et labora’ -, the tourist welcome points and hospitality facilities, the Chapel of Our Lady, the Millennium Chapel and the botanical and herbal gardens.
The monastery’s library also preserves the oldest surviving document in Hungarian language, the Charter of the Tihany Benedictine Abbey, dating back to 1055. The surrounding area, covered by forests with rare and protected floral species and home to many songbirds, complements in an aesthetic way the man-made millenary monastery.

 

The Archabbey of Pannonhalma and its environment (...) are the living testimony of the thousand-year history of the Benedictine monastery, who has become a place of education, culture, ecumenism and encounter. The community of monks still functions today and sustains with continuous dedication one of the living centres of European culture. -in: https://www.comece.eu

Buda Castle - Hungary

Hungary must be one of the European countries from which I receive the least postcards. It was a bit of a surprise to receive an official card from there last week., only my 3rd offcial from this country. 

When I received my 1st cards from Budapest back in 2007, I I was far from imagining that 11 years later I would visit Budapest and see these views. The city is one of the cities that I would like to visit again. 

 

The Castle District stands as one of the capital's most significant historical and cultural hubs. Perched 70 meters above the Danube on the Castle Hill, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Since the 13th century, Buda Castle has served as the residence of Hungarian kings. The strategically defensible Buda Castle Hill has seen a succession of rulers from Hungarian monarchs to Turkish, Habsburg, German, and Soviet hands, each leaving behind a tapestry of captivating and diverse tales. 

 

HU-229655, sent by Maria.

Buda Castle is one of the most iconic landmarks in Hungarian history, with its distinctive dome visible from afar atop Castle Hill. Over the centuries, this palace has been rebuilt and expanded multiple times, serving not only as a royal residence but also as the backdrop for significant historical events.
During the Ottoman occupation, the castle was almost entirely destroyed, but Habsburg rulers made efforts to restore it to its original splendor. However, World War II once again inflicted severe damage. In the second half of the 20th century, an extensive restoration brought the castle back to life. Today, the complex thrives as a modern cultural hub.

Within Buda Castle, visitors will find the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, the Saint Stephen’s Hall, and the National Széchényi Library. The terrace in front of the palace offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Hungarian capital. - in: https://www.budapestinfo.hu