Grose River Valley - Australia

 There are a number of hiking trails through the Grose River Valley and I'm sure the views are amazing. Rainey said it is a peaceful place to enjoy nature and breathtaking views.

 

Photograph: Henry Gold

The Grose Valley, officially Grose Gorge is a rugged valley in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. It has been formed by the Grose River, the headwaters of which are in the Mount Victoria area. 

The majority of the valley falls within the Blue Mountains National Park. - in: wikipedia

Chersonesus - Ukraine

In 2013 Ukraine had two sites added to the UNESCO WHS list, the Wooden Tserkvas of Carpathian region and Ancient City of Tauric Chersonese and its Chora, where these cards are from.

The ancient city is located on the shore of the Black Sea at the outskirts of Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine.

 

Photo: Pavel Filatov

RU-10752922, sent by Elizaveta.

The site features the remains of a city founded by Dorian Greeks in the 5th century BC on the northern shores of the Black Sea. It encompasses six component sites with urban remains and agricultural lands divided into several hundreds of chora, rectangular plots of equal size. The plots supported vineyards whose production was exported by the city which thrived until the 15th century.

 The site features several public building complexes and residential neighbourhoods, as well as early Christian monuments alongside remains from Stone and Bronze Age settlements; Roman and medieval tower fortifications and water supply systems; and exceptionally well-preserved examples of vineyard planting and dividing walls. 

 

 UA-1774059, sent by Oksana.

In the 3rd century AD, the site was known as the most productive wine centre of the Black Sea and remained a hub of exchange between the Greek, Roman and Byzantine Empires and populations north of the Black Sea. It is an outstanding example of democratic land organization linked to an ancient polis, reflecting the city’s social organization. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1411

RU-5402673, sent by Vera. 

The Saint Vladimir Cathedral is a Neo-Byzantine Russian Orthodox cathedral on the site of Chersonesos Taurica. It commemorates the presumed place of St. Vladimir's baptism.

The author of the project of St. Vladimir Cathedral in Chersonese was academician David Grimm. According to his plan, the Cathedral had to be built in Byzantine style. The construction took 15 years and was finished in 1874-1876.

During World War II the cathedral was destroyed. The work on its restoration began in the late 1990s, even though it was made more active only in 2000. - in: wikipedia

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * March '26

March MFS RR's cards from Russia, Canada, Finland and Netherlands.

 

This beautiful building is the Astashovo Terem, the house of the peasant Martian Sazonov in Kostrona region. Inesa saw the card of my favs. 

The House of Martian Sazonov (or Astashovo Terem) is a stunning 19th-century, fairytale-like Russian wooden palace built in 1897 in the Kostroma region. Commissioned by local peasant-turned-entrepreneur Martian Sazonov, the ornate building was restored in the 2010s from a dilapidated state to serve as a boutique hotel and museum.

Photo: Don Harmon

Laurence used such beautiful stamps to send this card but Canadian mail services ruined them. Was it really necessary to cross them out like that? 😒

On the back of the card: Banff Avenue with Stoney Sqauw Mt. (left) and Cascade Mountain, which presides over the busy mountain town of Banff. This is the administrative centre of Banff National Park, as well as a tourist service centre. The park occupies 2.564 square miles on the east slope of the Canadian Rockies.

 

 Kuva: Heikki Rytkönen

Cute bear card alert. Isa also found this one on my favs.

The brown bear is Finland's national animal, and ancient Finns held it in such reverence that they used dozens of different names to avoid speaking it aloud. Today, with a population of around 2,000, Finland has one of the highest bear densities in Europe. The way to see wild brown bears is to spend a night in a purpose-built hide in the forests of Eastern Finland: you settle in during the afternoon, and bears typically appear in the long light of the Finnish summer evening.
The main hubs are Kuhmo and Suomussalmi in Kainuu, where bear-watching operators run overnight excursions. June is the prime month, with near-endless light, active bears, and a good chance of seeing cubs born that spring. Finland's wildlife operators manage feeding stations under strict regulations, and guides are careful not to disturb natural behaviour. - in: https://www.visitfinland.com/

 

 www.papersisters.de

A new Happy Postcrossing card sent by Annerie. Postcards always brigthen up my day.

Larnaka - Cyprus

 Great card, beautiful church and cheap stamps. Now I want to go to Cyprus, send all my mail from there and pet cats. Heidi was there on holidays and she mentioned cats are everywhere. 

She probably didn't know but I had several cards of this chrch on my favs walls.

photo by Stavros & Kostas Marmatakis

Located in its own square in the town centre, the magnificent stone church of Agios Lazaros is one of the most remarkable examples of Byzantine architecture in Cyprus and lies over the tomb of the saint. Built by Byzantine Emperor Leo VI in the 9th century, the church was restored in the 17th century. Although the three domes and original bell tower of the church were destroyed in the first years during Ottoman rule, the gold-covered iconostasis has survived today and is a superb example of baroque woodcarving.
Saint Lazarus came to Cyprus after being resurrected by Jesus. He was ordained as Bishop of Kition by the Apostles Barnabas and Paul and lived in the town for 30 years. His tomb can be seen under the sanctuary. The saint is so revered that a procession is held in his honour eight days before Easter. During the procession, the icon of Saint Lazarus is carried through the streets of Larnaka. - in: https://larnakaregion.com

Via Appia - Italy

 Roman roads last centuries, and this one is the the oldest and most important of the great roads built by the Ancient Romans. Via Appia was classified as UNESCO WHS in 2024.

This card was sent by Natallia.

More than 800 kilometres long, the Via Appia, was constructed and developed from 312 BCE to the 4th century CE, it was originally conceived as a strategic road for military conquest, advancing towards the East and Asia Minor. The Via Appia later enabled the cities it connected to grow and new settlements emerged, facilitating agricultural production and trade. This property, composed of 19 component parts, is a fully developed ensemble of engineering works, illustrating the advanced technical skill of Roman engineers in the construction of roads, civil engineering projects, infrastructure and sweeping land reclamation works, as well as a vast series of monumental structures including, for example, triumphal arches, baths, amphitheatres and basilicas, aqueducts, canals, bridges, and public fountains. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

 

In Rome, Via Appia starts just outside the historic center, near the Porta San Sebastiano (part of the Aurelian Walls). It stretches southeast from there, quickly transitioning into a beautiful, green archaeological park. 

The Appian Way is still in use today, and it is a popular tourist destination. The road is lined with ancient ruins, including tombs, catacombs, and churches. Visitors can walk or bike along the road, and they can also visit the nearby archaeological sites.

US-12167865

 We all have heard of Grand Canyon but Grand Canyon West is not part of the Grand Canyon National Park. But what are the differences between them?

To start, they are in opposite corners of Arizona, with the South Rim closest to Williams and Flagstaff. Grand Canyon West is closer to Las Vegas, Nevada. Grand Canyon West is operated by the Hualapai tribe, while Grand Canyon - South Rim is managed by National Park Service, so it is completely different in terms of history and cultural significance.

Grand Canyon West does not accept National Park passes; requires a specific, higher-priced entry package. It features the Skywalk and Hualapai Ranch, but has fewer hiking trails than the National Park and it is often more focused on quick, tourist-oriented experiences. The National Park may be more crowded but offers a more traditional, expansive wilderness experience.

 

Photo by Mike Jones © Smith - Southwestern

US-12167865, sent by Julie.

The most impressive attraction at Grand Canyon West, the horseshoe-shaped glass Skywalk curves out 70 feet (21 m) over the edge of the canyon, so visitors feel as though they're floating on air above one of the world's Seven Natural Wonders. This engineering feat is incredibly supportive: The SkyWalk can hold 70 fully loaded 747 passenger jets—so go on, do a couple of jumping jacks if you're so bold. Or, simply look below to the canyon floor; 4,000 feet (1219 m) beneath you. - in: https://www.visitarizona.com

US-12167858

 This is another American official card, it was sent from Seattle, but Basílica de Guadalupe is located in Mexico. I've never heard of it before but this basilica is the second most important site for the Catholic world after Rome. I had no idea.

It is said that the Virgin appeared before Juan Diego on four occasions on the Hill of Tepeyac. These apparitions occurred ten years after the fall of Tenochtitlán, in 1531. According to tradition, the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego and asked him to have a temple built there. The remains of a small adobe temple can still be seen in the old parish for Indigenous people, which is believed to have been this first temple. - in: https://visitmexico.com

 US-12167858, sent by Leo.

In response to our Blessed Mother request, the first Bishop of Mexico, Fray Juan de Zumárraga, ordered the construction of a small hermitage in 1531, which became a place of pilgrimage from its very beginnings.
However, with the increasing number of faithful, the need for a larger space became evident, so in 1709, the first basilica was inaugurated, today known as the Old Basilica of Guadalupe.
Due to the structural deterioration of the old basilica and the continuous increase in visitors, it was decided to construct a new building.
 The New Basilica of Guadalupe was designed by the architects Pedro Ramárez Vázquez, José Luis Benlliure, Alejandro Schoenhofer, Fray Gabriel Chávez de la Mora, and Javier García Lascuráin.
It was consecrated on October 12, 1976, as the most modern house of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This modern building can accommodate thousands of faithful and features a circular architecture that allows a clear view of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe from any point inside. - in: https://guadalupe500mexico.com