Fraueninsel - Germany

 My penpal Tanja, from Germany, spent a few of her summer holidays in Bavaria, before heading to Croatia. In Bavaria she has been to Chiemsee lake and explored it's islands. 

With 80 km² and 64 km of shoreline, Chiemsee is the largest Bavarian lake, popularly known as the “Bavarian Sea” and is considered the most beautiful lake for swimming in Germany.

 

Huber GmbH & Co

Fraueninsel island, together with Herreninsel, forms the smallest municipality in Bavaria with approx. 230 inhabitants. With a total of 256.8 ha. it is also Bavaria’s second smallest municipality in size. Fraueninsel is a car-free area and the second largest of the three islands. It takes about 20 minutes to walk its circumference. It is densely populated, with the “islanders” predominantly living from fishing, gastronomy, crafts and holiday room rentals. The center of Fraueninsel is the 1200 years old abbey, Frauenwörth, the pilgrimage site for Irmengard, the patron saint of Chiemgau, with her convent church and the Carolingian wall-painted gatehouse, which is the oldest building in Southern Germany. - in: https://www.gstadt.de

Brno - Czech Republic

 Heidi has also been to Czech Republic, again, and she stayed in Brno 4 days. She said it was a long stay in a boring city. I kind of agree with her. I've also been to the city and I've to say that of all the places I visited in the country, Brno was the city I liked the least. At I liked the most was it's location, perfect to visit a few places nearby. 

 

Foto: Lucie Vilímovská

Kraví hora is large park with an amazing view of Brno. 

It offers quite a lot of options for relaxing not far from the city centre. A major part of this hill is covered by private gardens that you can walk among via narrow paths. The Brno Observatory and Planetarium is located on the top of the hill and features an interesting science trail with freely accessible attractions, such as a 3D scanner, telescopes, and planetary scales. The slope under the observatory is often occupied by people who come to relax, have picnics, and enjoy sports. If there’s snow, it’s a perfect place to go sledging; when the wind is blowing, a lot of locals come kite flying with their kids. There is a public barbecue set nearby and a biotope pond under the slope, not far from the functionalist Church of St Augustine. - in: https://www.gotobrno.cz

Holidays in Czech Republic

 This summer Óscar and I have both been to Czech Republic on holidays, not together though. I traveled with my friend Susana in June and one month later, Óscar traveled there with his family. When visiting the country, Prague is obviously a mandatory visit and is no surprise that we both sent each other cards of this beautiful city.

 

Photo: Milan Kincl

 

This was my 2nd visit to the country and to the city. During my 1st visit I got to visit Prague Castle but I didn't see the Golden Lane, which can only be visited with the castle ticket that also included access to the Old Royal Palace, St. Vitus Church and St. George's Basilica. 

The rain on the day of my visit delayed my plans and when we finally got to the castle, it was way too crowded and I didn't fully enjoy it, especially in the Golden Lane, which was the place I wanted to see the most and the reason why I bought the ticket. My advice, go as early as you can to avoid the crowds.

This tiny street (...) is lined with colourful houses resembling something out of a fairy tale. These houses were built into the castle's fortifications around the end of the 16th century and were occupied until the Second World War. The current appearance of the Golden Lane dates to the year 1955, and after a recent extensive renovation, the houses now contain exhibitions about life in the lane over the past 500 years. Franz Kafka lived and worked in house number 22 from 1916 to 1917. - in: https://prague.eu

 

I mentioned rain but it was a bit more than just rain, it was a thunderstrom. We were in the middle of the Charles Brigde when it started to rain heavily and we had to run for shelter under the Old Town Bridge Tower. Fortunately the rain didn't last too long and when it stopped, we climbed the tower and enjoyed the nice views from the top. 

Right next to the bridge, there's the St. Francis Seraph/Assisi Church. 

The current early Baroque appearance of this church of the Order of the Knights of the Cross with a Red Star dates back to 1679-1685. Its magnificent interior decoration, including a fresco of the Last Judgment by V. V. Reiner in the monumental, nearly 41 m high dome, can be admired during one of the many regular concerts of religious music that are held here. Concertgoers will especially appreciate the sound of the second oldest organ in Prague – a unique Baroque one dating from 1702. - in: https://prague.eu

Utrecht - Netherlands

I've been to the Netherlands for the second time in 2018. The first time I visited the country I stayed in Rotterdam and that second time I chose Utrecht, where I had a guided tour of the city with my friend Tessa. 

Last month Tessa was also a guide to our friend Anne and they sent me a card of their meeting.

 

Fotografie: Merijn van der Vliet

NL-5415046, sent by Patricia.

One of the things we did was to visit the cathedral and its tower. As suggested in the last postcard, we went up the tower but did even more, we went down under the tower. We did the Dom Under visit, which presents us with 2000 years of Utrecht history. With the help of interactive flashlights, we discovered the archaeological finds, which date back to the Roman Castellum 'Trajectum', the Roman fortress that protected the northern border of the Roman Empire. I had already climbed many church towers, but it was the first time I walked through a cathedral foundations.

NL-284990.

Utrecht is the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, and many regard it as the cozier alternative to Amsterdam. The city boasts beautiful canals and parks, lively restaurants and cafés, fascinating museums and remarkable historical buildings. Its city center alone is absolutely worth a visit. 

The Dom Tower of Utrecht is the tallest church tower in the Netherlands, at 112.5 metres (368 feet) in height,and the Gothic-style tower is the symbol of the city.

 The tower was part of the Cathdreal of Saint Martin, also known as Dom Church, and was built between 1321 and 1382 to a design by John of Hainaut. The cathedral was never fully completed due to lack of money. Since the unfinished nave collapsed in 1674 the Dom tower became a free standing tower." - in: wikipedia

 © Donker Utrecht

NL-2234352, sent by Maryn.

This is an unsual view of the Dom Tower in Utrecht. 

Climbing the Dom Tower is a wonderful opportunity to explore the city of Utrecht in an entirely different way! Via 465 steps (there is no lift), a guide will take you to the top of the highest church tower in the Netherlands. Halfway there, you will get a view of the historic bells with a total weight of no less than 32,000 kg. One floor higher is the magnificent 17th-century Hemony carillon. The tower galleries at 70 and 95 metres provide a spectacular view of the city and province of Utrecht. - in: www.domtoren.nl/en

Postcrossing 20th Anniversary Meetups

 Last month Postcrossing turned 20 and the date didn't go unnoticed. There were many ways to celebrate this special anniversary but the one that postcrossers like the most, are probably meetings. Hundreds of postcrossers met in many place around the globe, in a total of 179 meetings!! Unfortunately I didn't attend any of them but got cards from 2.

 

Photo by Clementina postcardshop

The Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark

Leiria was the city that hosted the Portuguese meeting and this card was sent by Miguel.

 

The Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark

I'm sure that besides Jyväskylä, other Finnish cities may have also hosted meetings  This card was sent by Heidi. 

The Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark

Photo by Luzia

The city of São Paulo in Brazil also hosted a meeting.

The picture on the card was taken by Luzia and the card was also sent by her.

US-1155645

 This is only my 2nd or 3rd card from Arkansas and I don't know much about the state but apparently, fishing is more than a past time over there, it is a time-honored tradition and a passion to many.

 

US-1155645, sent by Mia.

 Arkansas is home to over 300 public fishing areas.

Anglers in Arkansas know that there are no “best” times to fish–go whenever you feel like it. Four distinct fishing seasons, yet mild temperatures add to the pleasures of wetting a line in some of the best fishing lakes, rivers and streams in the South. There are no closed fishing seasons. 

You can reel in a variety of fish species, from largemouth and smallmouth bass,to crappie, catfish, bluegill and trout. But anglers can enjoy the challenge of many often-overlooked species as well, such as the bowfin, gar, carp, paddlefish and pickerel.

North Cascades - USA

 This has to be one of my favorite cards from the USA in these last months. How beautiful is this?? I just love it. It was sent by Helen.

Photo by: Jamie & Judy

Established in 1968, the rugged wilderness sanctuary within the North Cascades National Park Service Complex boasts over 300 glaciers, making it the most heavily glaciated area in the United States outside of Alaska. - in: https://wnpf.org

This beautiful lake is Lake Lewis and in the background there's Black Peak.

Xixia Imperial Tombs - China

 China has also added a new site to its already long list of sites classified as World Heritage. By long list I mean 60 sites, making it the 2nd country with the most UNESCO sites. I'm only missing one site.

Xixia Imperial Tombs are located in the foothills of the southern Helan Mountains in Ningxia, this necropolis is the imperial cemetery of the Xixia Dynasty.

It includes nine imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex, and 32 flood control structures. Founded by the Tanguts in 1038, the Xixia Dynasty lasted until its destruction by Genghis Khan’s Mongol army in 1227. Positioned along the Silk Road, it became a multicultural civilization modelled on Chinese imperial traditions, with Buddhism at its core. The property reflects the dynasty’s religious and socio-political legacy. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Pratapgad Fort - India

Pratapgad Fort is one of the 12 mountain forts in India, classified this year as UNESCO WHS. It didn't take me too long to get my 1st card of this new site. It was sent by Sriram. 

Maratha Military Landscapes of India includes twelve major fortifications, mostly in Maharashtra State, with one in Tamil Nadu. These forts (...) were built, adapted, or expanded by the Marathas between the late 17th and early 19th centuries. Strategically located on coastal and mountainous terrain, they formed a complex defence system supporting Maratha military dominance, trade protection, and territorial control. This network played a key role in the Marathas’ rise as a major political and military force. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

The pride of the Maratha Empire, the Pratapgarh Fort is a historical monument (..) perched in Satara district and at an altitude of 3500 feet above ground level, the Pratapgarh Fort was built by Maratha King – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1656 to guard the Par Pass.
Three years later, a major fight between the General of Bilaspur - Afzal Khan, and Shivaji happened here. Shivaji emerged as the winner at that time of the battle. However, in 1818, after losing the 3rd Anglo-Maratha war, the Marathas had to surrender it to the English East India Company. - in: https://mahabaleshwartourism.in

Stonehenge - England

 Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire. It is one of the most famous sites in the world and it was classified as UNESCO WHS in In 1986. Together with Avebury, it was one of the very first sites in the UK to be made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

Work began on Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago, but it was built in stages over many years. The stone circle dates from about 2500 BC, in the late Neolithic period.
We don’t know exactly how the stones were brought to Stonehenge, but some of them – the bluestones – came from the Preseli Hills in south-west Wales, over 150 miles (250km) away.
We can only speculate as to what Stonehenge’s purpose was. But the fact that the sun rises over the Heel Stone on the longest day of the year (summer solstice) and sets over it on the shortest day (winter solstice) suggests that it was a prehistoric temple aligned with the sun’s movements.

US-11556461, sent by Charlene.

 Stonehenge’s builders raised the stones using joints normally found only in woodworking, and not seen at any other prehistoric monument. This makes it the most architecturally sophisticated surviving stone circle in the world.
Far from standing alone, Stonehenge forms part of a remarkable complex of connected prehistoric sites across the Wiltshire landscape. - in: https://www.english-heritage.org

NL-6022442

 I had to use google images again to identify this lighthouse and its location. The card is an official from the Netherlands but the lighthouse is located in Germany. 

 

Photo: Dirk Petersen

NL-6022442, sent by Esther.

The vibrant green Westmole lighthouse is located in Warnemünde, Germany. The lighthouse stands at the end of a stone mole, overlooking the Baltic Sea. 

FR-1816640

I've never heard about the Queyras before getting this card. This is a valley, also one of the 58 French Regional nature parks,  located in the Hautes-Alpes department in Southeastern France. 

The Queyras is one of the oldest mountain ranges of the Alps, and it was one of the last ones to be opened to public tourism towards the end of the 20th century, thus being relatively untouched by environmental destruction. 

For he hiking enthusiasts, it offers a multitude of trails to explore. One of the most popular hiking trails is the the Lacs du Malrif.

 

Photo: J. Sierpinski

FR-1816640, sent by Myriam.

The Malrif Lakes are a series of three glacial lakes located within a few hundred meters of each other. 

This 12-kilometer, 6-hour-30-minute hike begins in Aiguilles, offering breathtaking views of the lakes nestled between the mountains and lush meadows. 

The lake on the card is the Grand Laus lake, located at an altitude of 2,579 metres. It is the largest of the 3 lakes. 

Étretat - France

Normandy is one of the regions I'd like to visit in France and if I ever get to visit it, I'll definitely see the Étretat cliffs. Raquel has veen there and she sent me the 1st of these cards back in 2012. The other one is an official from Germany, received a few days ago.

Étretat is located in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.

Étretat is best known for its cliffs, including 3 natural arches and the pointed "needle".

 Photo by F. Godard

Formed millions of years ago beneath a sea that covered Normandy, the cliffs of Etretat are the result of the accumulation of limestone and flint by marine organisms, then raised by tectonic movements. Erosion by waves, wind and frost has sculpted the arches and needles we see today. The whiteness of the cliffs comes from the limestone, while the black bands are made of flint, once used to make fire. - in: https://cparici.com

 

Huber Images / Kamel

 DE-15634166, sent by Caro.

The Porte d’Aval (on the left when looking at the sea), a huge flint archway, was carved by the waves beating the end of the Falaise d’Aval. The 51-metre-high needle bears witness to the geological past of the cliffs of Etretat. It has become famous, gained a universal reputation and inspired many painters and writers. Is it hollow and did it shelter the treasure of the Kings of France discovered by Arsène Lupin, as recounted in Maurice Leblanc’s novel, L’aiguille Creuse. You can find out more about this enigma by visiting Le Clos Lupin, the property acquired by the novelist in 1919. - in: https://www.lehavre-etretat-tourisme.com

Nazaré's widow costume - Portugal

Paula and Vitória's contribution to my elderlies collection. 

Âncora

These Nazaré ladies are wearing the mourning costume, they're fishermen widows. The mourning costume is Nazaré's least known as it is becoming rarer and rarer. It's all in black, no lace or embroidery, and the low skirts are gray. Currently only older women continue to wear this costume.

 

Forways, Lta

Wandering along the waterfront of Nazaré Beach, you’ll encounter picturesque lines of fish-drying racks basking in the open air. Fish drying in Nazaré is a remarkable trade mark of local identity. 

The origins of this tradition remain unknown, but this would be the best way to preserve food in times of scarcity. Drying fish was the way to feed their families and to have fish to sell in the regional markets.
The drying fish is usually guarded by a local senior in the traditional dress, in this case, a widow.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * June '25

 From April to June with nice cards from USA, Finland, Switzerland and Germany.

 

Photo: Konstantino Hatzisamos

I understand that stamps need to be cancelled but is it really necessary to cross them out with the pen? *sigh*

Wouldn't it be beautiful? is a graffiti in East Village, NY and that's all I know about it.  

As most of my street art card from NY, this one was also sent by Nan. 

 

Photo: Antti Raassina

I know even less about the location of this rural scene in Finland. 

Card sent by Minna.

Foto: H. Schaer

I've been twice to Switzerland but never visited Château de Chillon, the most visited historic building in the country. More than 400,000 guests visit it every year. Never been there but I've quite a few cards of the castle. This one was sent by 

Visitors of the castle get to see the wall paintings from the 14th century, the subterranean vaults, parade halls and the bedroom (which has been preserved in its original form) dating to the time of Bernese rule. The entire complex consists of 25 buildings and three courtyards, protected by two circular walls. - in: https://www.myswitzerland.com

 

www.hans-fineart.com

A few posts ago, I've mentioned that I've been to Dresden in June. I've seen this card there and almost bought it! Little did I know that one week later I'd find it in my mailbox. Marei visited the city this last Easter. 

If you like to climb towers and enjoy nice views, than you need to put the ascent to the viewing platform of the Frauenkirch on your list. I did it, the views are nice but found the price a bit too expensive.

The ascent to the platform is an experience. In stair tower G, 174 steps lead up to a height of 29 meters. The effort is definitely worth it: Thanks to large glass windows, guests can look down into the church interior and up to the paintings of the inner dome. The path continues over narrow stairs to the so-called spiral ramp, a continuously ascending spiral corridor. On it, the guests circle the outer dome two and a half times. This section is strenuous: after all, the path, which was previously used as a »donkey path« and is named accordingly, has a gradient of 14 percent. Two more flights of stairs – one of them in the form of a steep ladder staircase – take visitors to the 67-meter-high viewing platform. There you have a unique view of Dresden and the surrounding area. - in: https://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de