Viru Gate, Tallinn - Estonia

Anne sent me a great card, no doubt about that, but one of the 1st things I noticed was the price of the stamp, 2.60€!!! No wonder I hardly get cards from Estonia.

 

Photo: Valeri Sepp

The barbican of Viru Gate was part of the defence system of the Tallinn city wall built in the 14th century. A couple of centuries later, it already had 8 gates that consisted of several towers and curtain walls connecting them. The main tower of a gate was always square and the barbicans were equipped with one or two small round towers.

As the entrances to the Old Town were widened, several gates were demolished. The Viru Gate had to pay its dues to a horse-drawn tram route that connected the Old Market with Kadriorg. However, the corner towers were preserved. - in: https://www.visitestonia.com

Tallinn - Estonia

Cards from beautiful Tallinn, both shower the round Fat Margaret's Tower and St. Olaf Church with it's St. Olaf Church in the background. 

The 1st card was sent by my friend Anne. I don't remember who sent the other one.

 

 Photo: Toomas Tull

Standing guard at the north end of Pikk street are two of Tallinn's most impressive defensive structures, the Great Coastal Gate (Suur Rannavärav) and Fat Margaret's Tower (Paks Margareeta).

The origins of Fat Margaret's name are a mystery. Some theories insist it was named for one of its larger cannons, while others hint at a cook called Margaret who once worked here.

In any case, the tower has served a number of different functions throughout its history. It has been used a storehouse for gunpowder and weapons, and as a prison.

 

Now it's home to the Estonian Maritime Museum, which provides a detailed look at the nation's seafaring past. Visitors should be sure to climb up to its rooftop viewing platform to get a lovely view of Old Town and the bay." - in: http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee

 

Beech marten

I like animals but animal cards were never my favorite kind of cards. I mean, that's the kind of card that I prefer to choose and buy myself. However, I've recently put on my postcrossing wishlist that I'd like to get marten cards. Why do I like these animals? It has to do with my name. In Portuguese the word for marten is marta, my name. I've always thought it was funny to share my name with an animal and look how cute these beech marten are.  

Photo:Wothe / alphapress

DE-13389115, sent by Thomas.

The beech marten (Martes foina), also known as the stone marten, house marten or white breasted marten, is a species of marten native to much of Europe and Central Asia, though it has established a feral population in North America.

 Foto: Arne Ader

 It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN on account of its wide distribution, its large population, and its presence in a number of protected areas. It is superficially similar to the pine marten, but differs from it by its smaller size and habitat preferences. While the pine marten is a forest specialist, the beech marten is a more generalist and adaptable species, occurring in a number of open and forest habitats. - in: wikipedia

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * February '22

I didn't forget about these cards, I was actually waiting for one of them and now that I've got them all, I can finally post them.

 

 www.postkaardid.ee

It seems that Ella took some time to send her cards but it was worth the wait. She sent me this card from my favs from beautiful Tallinn, one of my favorite cities in Europe. 

This pair of picturesque, ivy-covered towers at the entrance to Viru Street is often the first glimpse visitors get of Old Town. 

The towers are actually only the foregates of what was a much more complex gate system built in the 14th century. It included a large, square tower that stood father back along the street, close to where the city wall can be seen.

Most of the gate was pulled down in the 1880s to make room for traffic, but these two towers remained and have since become a symbol of the town. - in: https://visittallinn.ee

Getting cards from new castles is something that makes me quite happy. Thank you Veronica. 

The history of this legendary castle goes back 800 years. For a long time, Kalmar Castle was an important fortification and known as the key to the kingdom because of its strategical location.
 Kalmar Castle was given its current design during the 16th century, when the Vasa kings Gustav, Erik XIV and Johan III rebuilt the medieval castle and made it into a Renaissance palace, furnished and decorated in continental fashion.

Even before then the castle had played an important role in Nordic politics, for example as the location for the signing of the Kalmar Union in 1397. This event was celebrated during the whole year of 1997, the union's 600th anniversary. - in: https://www.kalmarslott.se

© WERBVERLAG R.

I already have a few Herrenchiemsee Palace cards and if I'm not mistaken, this is not the 1st card Marei sent me to it.

Herrenchiemsee stands as a monument to Ludwig's admiration of King Louis XIV of France.
The palace was shaped in a 'W' with wings flanking the central edifice. Only 16 of the 70 rooms were on the ground floor. Though it was to have been an equivalent to the Palace of Versailles, only the central portion was built before the king died and construction was discontinued with 50 of the 70 rooms still incomplete. It was never intended to be a perfectly exact replica of the French royal palace. Like Versailles, the Hall of Mirrors has 17 arches, the Hall of Peace and the Hall of War on either side have six windows each. The window niches at Herrenchiemsee are slightly wider than those at Versailles, making its central façade a few metres wider. The dining room features an elevator table and the world's largest Meissen porcelain chandelier. Technologically, the building also benefits from nearly two centuries of progress. The original Versailles palace lacked toilets, water, and central heating, while the New Palace has all of these, including a large heated bathtub. - in: wikipedia

Karina sent me this street art card. Not much information about the art but I've learnt about ACTA and why was it important to stop it. 

The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a multilateral treaty for the purpose of establishing international standards for intellectual property rights enforcement that did not enter into force. The agreement aims to establish an international legal framework for targeting counterfeit goods, generic medicines and copyright infringement on the Internet. Industrial groups with interests in copyright, trademarks and other types of intellectual property said that ACTA was a response to "the increase in global trade of counterfeit goods and pirated copyright protected works"

Organisations representing citizens and non-governmental interests argued that ACTA could infringe fundamental rights including freedom of expression and privacy. ACTA has also been criticised by Doctors Without Borders for endangering access to medicines in developing countries. The nature of negotiations was criticized as secretive and has excluded non-governmental organizations, developing countries and the general public from the agreement's negotiation process and it has been described as policy laundering by critics including the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Entertainment Consumers Association.
The signature of the EU and many of its member states resulted in widespread protests across Europe.
On 4 July 2012, the European Parliament declined its consent, effectively rejecting it. - in: wikipedia

EE-291443

These last weeks I've been receiving official cards from countries I usually don't receive cards from. New Zealand, Norway, Luxembourg and also Estonia. It's nice to get such a variety of ID's.

EE-291443, sent by Katrin.

Kambja Church of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church is the biggest country church in Southern Estonia.
The first wooden church of Kambja was built probably in the beginning of the 14th century. Churches were destroyed and rebuilt several times during centuries. The present Lutheran St. Martin’s Church was originally rebuilt in 1720, this time of stone and a transept was added to the old part in 1874. After World War II, the church, which is one of the biggest in Southern Estonia, was in ruins for many years until restoration began in 1989. - in: https://www.spottinghistory.com
Today, its good acoustics and almost 600 seats make it a great venue for concerts or wedding ceremonies. 

Angla Windmills - Estonia

Churches and castles are a must whenever I travel and recently I've also included mills on my list. A few weeks ago I've been to the north of Portugal, in Viana do Castelo, and I've seen a few mills, they were actually the reason why I decided to visit the city. 

On Saaremaa island, Estonia, is also possible to visit windmills and also  test your skills at traditional handicrafts, take part in heritage culture events and taste Angla rye bread in the Angla Heritage Center, inaugurated in 2011.

 

 Photo: Indrek Pajuste

The only windmill park in Saaremaa we can find an entire hill of windmills that has been preserved in its original form. Out of the five surviving windmills, four are typical Saaremaa post mills, built at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. Among them stands a slightly taller Dutch-type tower mill from 1927, with the miller's house next to it.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - February' 20

I'm going back in time to finally show the MFS RR cards from February. It took me all this time to post them because the card from Malaysia only arrived a few weeks ago. 

© concept by Postcardsmarket.com

Switzerland has an area of 41.285 km², a population of 8.211.700 and its de facto capital is Bern.

Unique: 

* Best best in the world to be born - According to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Quality of Life Index;

* Infraestructure and Environment - Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from hydroelectricity and 39% from nuclear power, resulting in a nearly CO2 - free electricity - generating network:

Famous:

* Tallest dams in Europe - Hydroelectricity is the most important domestic source of energy in the country;

* Resort Facilities - The world's fanciest skiing and winter resorts are in Switzerland;

History;

* Armed Neutrality - oldest neutral country in the world, 1815;

* Foundation Date - Celebrated on 1 August 1291: oldest surviving written document of an alliance between Url, Schwyz and Unterwalden, the founding cantons of the Old Swiss Confederacy.

New Flag of the World sent by Grace.

papersisters

Edith is saying Hallo from the Netherlands with this new card to the Happy Postcrossing from... collection. 

The Netherlands has an area of 41.548 km² and a population of 16.979.120. 

Amsterdam canal houses are one of the most recognizable architectural features of the country. 

Even more famous than the canal houses, are these Dutch painters, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Van Gogh. 

Genever and poffertjes are some famous products but my favorite, missing on the card, are stroopwafels. Love them!!

Photo: Ingmar Muusikus

Singa Village in Karula Upland. 

Karula National Park is located in Valga and Võru Counties. It was created to protect the nature characteristic of Estonia, to promote an ecological lifestyle and to revive the South Estonian country culture.

Card sent by Ella. 

C. K. sent this card in early February but it only arrive in July!! 

Kapas Island is an island located about 6 kilometers east of Marang, Malaysia. It measures roughly 1.5 by 2.5 km. Its name, Pulau Kapas (Malay for cotton island), refers to the island's white beaches. The island has tropical jungle, clear seawater, white sand beaches and coral reefs in the surrounding waters. It is promoted as a "diving and snorkeling paradise". - in: wikipedia

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Estonia

I've a lot of places that I want to visit, the list is quite long and for many years Tallinn was on the top of that list. If someone asked me about a city I'd like to visit, Tallinn would always be my answer. I finally visited it last month, actually, I was there one month ago and loving every minute in this lovely city. I'll definitely come back one day, a snowy day!! 

Hint! If you want to buy stamps and send cards from there, there's a post office on the left side of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, that's where I bought my stamps and I think you can guess which one of these cards I've sent to my mailbox. Yes, the snowy view.  The other card was sent by Rita. 

Foto: http://pilvepiksel.ee

This spectacular, onion-domed structure perched atop Toompea Hill is Estonia's main Russian Orthodox cathedral.

It's also by far the grandest, most opulent Orthodox church in Tallinn.

Built in 1900, when Estonia was part of the tsarist Russian empire, the cathedral was originally intended as a symbol of the empire's dominance – both religious and political – over this increasingly unruly Baltic territory.

The cathedral was dedicated to the Prince of Novgorod, Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky, who led the famous Battle of the Ice at Lake Peipsi in 1242, which halted the German crusaders' eastward advance. It was deliberately placed in this prominent location right in front of Toompea Castle, on the same spot where a statue of Martin Luther had previously stood, to show the mainly Lutheran locals who was in charge.

Now with the controversy long since faded, what's left is simply an architectural masterpiece. Designed by respected St. Petersburg architect Mikhail Preobrazhenski, the church is richly decorated in a mixed historicist style. The interior, filled with mosaics and icons, is well worth a visit.

The church's towers' hold Tallinn's most powerful church bell ensemble, consisting of 11 bells, including the largest in Tallinn, weighing 15 tonnes. You can hear the entire ensemble playing before each service. - in: https://www.visittallinn.ee/eng/visitor/see-do/sightseeing/pid-307/st-alexander-nevsky-cathedral

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - November'16

Time now for some monthly favorite RR cards. In November I've got cards from Germany, Spain, Estonia, Japan and Georgia. 

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

Some german lighthouses in the North Sea. Obereversand in Dorum; Arngast Lighthouse in Dangast; New Lighthouse on Wangerooge island; Roter Sand in the Weser estuary; Hamburger Lighthouse in Cuxhaven; Juist island lighthouse; Heligoland lighthouse; Geestemünde North Mole Light in Bremenhaven; Norderney island lighthouse; Pilsum Lighthouse; Borkum Großer Light and Wremen lighthouse. 

The card was sent by Steffi.

Yoland also sent a card with a lighthouse, Fangar lighthouse located in Ebro Delta. 

The Ebro Delta is located in Tarragona. It covers an area of 320 square kilometres, of which 80 comprise the Ebro Delta nature reserve. It has a great ornithological richness and is internationally important due to the presence here of over 400 species and some of the most important breeding colonies in the Mediterranean.

These flat lands give the Ebro Delta its unique landscape, which varies according to the season of the year. It is home to everything from market gardens and orchards to rice fields, while in the coastal area there are large lakes fringed by rush and reed beds. The area around this nature reserve is characterised by its saline soils, and extensive deserted sandy beaches with dune systems. . in: http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/naturaleza/espacios-naturales/parque_natural_del_delta_de_l_ebre.html

A new estonian castle in my collection thanks to Ella. 

Kuressaare Episcopal Castle, also known as Kuressaare Castle, was built in the 14th century. Today, the Castle houses Saaremaa Museum with its permanent exhibition and sundry temporary exhibitions. 

The convent building of the Kuressaare Episcopal Castle is the only surviving medieval fortification in the Baltic countries that has not been significantly reconstructed. - in: https://www.visitestonia.com/en/kuressaare-episcopal-castle

Tomoko got my address again and this time she sent me this Tofukuji Temple card with a view of the Tsutenkyo Bridge.

Tofukuji is a large Zen temple in southeastern Kyoto that is particularly famous for its spectacular autumn colors. The temple was founded in 1236 at the behest of the powerful Fujiwara clan. 

In autumn, people come from all over Japan to see Tofukuji's autumn colors. The most popular view is of the Tsutenkyo Bridge, which spans a valley of lush maple trees. The view from the bridge is equally spectacular, and the 100 meter long, covered walkway becomes extremely crowded when the colors reach their peak, usually around mid to late November. - in: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3930.html

Foto by Goga Chanadiri

Another bridge, Rkoni Bridge in Georgia. The card was sent from Ukraine by Yulia. 

Rkoni bridge is one of the best examples of medieval bridges in Georgia. It is located in the municipality of Kaspi, near the monastery complex of Rkoni. The one-hinged vault bridge dates back to the 12th-13th centuries. 

Monthly Favorite Surprise RR * December '15

I didn't join the November's RR, I didn't notice it, so I'm jumping for October to December. In December I got cards from Russia, Estonia and Netherlands. 

The volvano on this card is one of the Udina volcanos in Klyuchevskoy Nature Park, considered one of the main natural attractions of the Kamchatka Peninsula. 

As a result of the numerous and lengthy eruptions in the area formed the huge lava plateaus, and today a natural park is one of the most powerful volcanic massifs are not only on the Kamchatka Peninsula, but throughout the Russian Federation. The volcanic group consists of 13 volcanos and the park register at least two new eruptions per year, which lasts from several days to two or three months.

The card was sent by Alyona.

This beautiful Suzdal card was in my favorites. Thanks Rita. The card shows the Wooden Church of St. Nicholas and the Cathedral of the Nativity.

 St. Nicholas church was built in Glotovo in 1766 and was moved to Suzdal in 1960 to be part of a Museum of Wooden Architecture & Peasant Life. This church is made out of all wood and represents the close relationship between wood and stone architecture and how precise the Russians were while building this back in 1766.

The Cathedral of the Nativity is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the eight White Monuments of Vladimir and Suzdal. One of the most complex monuments of Russian medieval architecture. It was built between 1222-1225. - in: wikipedia

Daire from Estonia sent me a card with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn. This orthodox cathedral was built in a typical Russian Revival style between 1894 and 1900, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire. 

The cathedral was built during the period of late 19th century Russification and was so disliked by many Estonians as a symbol of oppression that the Estonian authorities scheduled the cathedral for demolition in 1924, but the decision was never implemented due to lack of funds and the building's massive construction. As the USSR was officially non-religious, many churches including this cathedral were left to decline. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. - in: wikipedia

HAMAR

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam is situated on Dam Square in very the centre of Amsterdam. It was originally built as the city hall for the magistrates of Amsterdam. In the 17th century it was the largest secular building of Europe. Learn more about its history.

Today the Royal Palace on the Dam is one of the three Palaces, which the State has placed at the King's disposal by an Act of Parliament. It is used for Royal Events like reception of the foreign heads of state during their visits in The Netherlands, the King's New Year reception and other official receptions. Every year, it provides the setting for the presentation of various official and royal prizes. - in: http://www.amsterdam.info/sights/royal_palace/

This last card was sent by Mendy.

Tallinn - Estonia

Tallinn is one of the cities on the top of my must visit list. I wanted to go there this year but due to some issues I had to choose other destinations. I'll try again next year.

This beautiful card was sent by Ella. 

Morgan Studio

Kiek in de Kök (Low German: Peep into the Kitchen) is an artillery tower in Tallinn, Estonia, built in 1475. It gained the name Kiek in de Kök from the ability of tower occupants to see into kitchens of nearby houses. The tower is 38 m high and has walls 4 m thick. Cannon balls dating back to 1577 are still embedded in its outer walls.

Throughout its working life, the tower was extensively remodeled. Work in the 16th and 17th centuries saw the two lowest floors become hidden by earth works and the upper floors receive new gun openings and the uppermost floor a new outer wall and ceiling. By 1760, the tower had become obsolete. At this time it became a repository for archives and some floors were converted to apartments.

Twentieth-century restoration work saw the tower and surrounding area returned to a more historical look. The tower now serves as a museum and photographic gallery. - in: wikipedia