Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - October '20

Lets continue with MFS RR cards. This time I'm only showing 3 because I already had the card of the Herrenchiemsee Palace that Marei sent me. 

www.mymagicard.ru

I like windmills, I like rural life but I also like to know where exactly the images on the card are from. The card was printed in Russia, was sent from Finland, by Minna, but windmills always take me to the Netherlands. 

Photo by Steve Yost

On the back of the card: "St. Simons Island Lighthouse and Museum of Coastal History was built in 1872. The lighthouse keeper's cottage currently houses artifacts and exhibits of coastal Georgia history.

From the top of the 129 steps of St. Simons Lighthouse, visitors can view a spectacular panoramic seascape."

Card sent by Darcie.

Foto: R. Budyytyté, L. Jankauskas

With this card sent by Ieva, I've learnt that the Lithuanian word for castle is pilis. I've been to one of this, Kaunas Castle. This castle in the 2nd largest Lithuanian city was originally built during the mid-14th century, in the Gothic style.

Raudonė Castle is a residential castle of the 19th century in Raudonė. Today it is used as a public school.

Panemunė Castle, on the right bank of the river Nemunas, was built for the owner Eperias (Eperiess) by the Dutch architect Peter Nonhaardt, who served at the royal palace in Vilnius. Construction was completed in 1609-1610. 

Raudondvaris manor is the monument of the beginning of the 17th century of Renaissance architecture in Lithuania. 

LT-735874

 St. Anne's Church was one of the buildings I wanted to visit the most in Vilnius. It didn't disappointed me. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful building in the city.

LT-735874, sent by Edita.

The church has remained almost unchanged over the last five centuries and is one of the most beautiful and probably the most famous buildings in Vilnius. It is a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture and is surrounded by many legends. The most famous of them recounts how Napoleon wanted to take the church back with him to Paris in his palm. Next to the church stands a bell tower built in the 19^th century, imitating the Gothic style. And the church is already an inseparable symbol of Vilnius. - in: https://www.govilnius.lt

Gediminas Castle - Lithuania

I bought a few cards in Vilnius but I haven't seen any Gediminas Castle cards. Thanks to Evelina and Auksé, now I've these two. Ačiū!

Photo: Antanas Varanka

LT-653288, sent by Auksé. 

It is said that Gediminas Castle was built when the Duke of Lithuania Gediminas had a prophetic dream. This small but powerful castle withstood numerous Crusader attacks. Now Vilnius is unthinkable without it, and the tower of the castle became a symbol of not only the capital city, but also of Lithuania. And it is not surprising that this red-brick building overlooking the magnificent panorama of the capital city of Lithuania is a must in the list of many tourists coming to our country.

Photo: Laimonas Ciunys

Gediminas Castle was built and to date is one of the most beautiful Old Town embellishments. It is clearly visible from every place. Like Vilnius, the castle was first mentioned in 1323. By the way, during the reign of Gediminas, the Castle was not only a political centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but also part of the defensive complex. On 1 January 1919, after the restoration of the state of Lithuania, the flag of Lithuania was officially raised for the first time on the Gediminas Castle Tower. - in: http://www.lithuania.travel/en-gb/attractions/gediminas-castle/17125

Lithuanian cities

Last December and January my penpal Justina left Australia to spent a few weeks with her family in her home country Lithuania. I wouldn't mind to spend a few more days in this beautiful country again. 

Foto: K. Driskius, R. Paknys

St. Anne's Church in Vilnius; Thomas Mann's summer house in Nida; Trakai Castle and one of Klaipėda's most recognizable symbols – The Meridianas. 

LT-580238

When I first saw this card I thought it was from Kaunas but it actually is from Jonava. 

LT-580238, sent by Ieva. 

Jonava is the ninth largest city in Lithuania with a population of ca 30,000. It is located in Kaunas County in central Lithuania, 30 km (19 mi) north east of Kaunas. 

The bridge on the card crosses river Neris. 

Kernavė Archaeological Site - Lithuania

Kernavė Archaeological Site in Lithuania is an UNESCO site since 2004 and I was there in 2015. It was a wonderful place to spend my last morning in Lithuania. I also went to the museum, looking for cards but they didn't have any. Fortunately I already had sent by Johnson. In the beginning of this year, I've received another one, actually, it was the 1st official of 2017.

Photo by Vaidas Jurgelis, 2015

The Kernavė Archaeological site, about 35 km north-west of Vilnius in eastern Lithuania, represents an exceptional testimony to some 10 millennia of human settlements in this region. Situated in the valley of the River Neris, the site is a complex ensemble of archaeological properties, encompassing the town of Kernavė, forts, some unfortified settlements, burial sites and other archaeological, historical and cultural monuments from the late Palaeolithic Period to the Middle Ages.

The site of 194,4 ha has preserved the traces of ancient land-use, as well as remains of five impressive hill forts, part of an exceptionally large defence system. Kernavė was an important feudal town in the Middle Ages. The town was destroyed by the Teutonic Order in the late 14th century, however the site remained in use until modern times. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1137

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - January'17

I'm still joining this RR this year but I already missed February's, I didn't see on time that the RR was already open. No problem, I'll join the next months.

I've started the year getting cards from Lithuania, Ukraine, Spain, Taiwan and China. 

Author: Kestutis Kajatas

Raudondvaris Castle is a Gothic-Renaissance gentry residence, located in the eponymous town of Raudondvaris, Lithuania. 

First mentioned as a pagan keep by Teutonic chroniclers in 1392. When Samogitia was handed over to the Order, the Teutons built a small castle of Koenigsburg on this spot, housing 80 knights and 400 soldiers.

Between 1653 and 1664 Prince Janusz Radziwiłł ordered its reconstruction and refurbishment, which gave it its current form. 

After the November Uprising in 1831, the castle was devastated by the Russian army, however, it was rebuilt soon afterwards. The 1832-1855 renovation gave it the Gothic Revival shape, though some traces of earlier Renaissance and Gothic elements are still visible.

Between 1856 and 1860 the estate was slightly extended. 

Tyszkiewicz family held the property until World War I. The manor was known to house that family's extensive art collection including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rubens, Caravaggio and Jan Matejko. After the war the manor was confiscated by Lithuanian authorities. The estate was divided onto individual plots, while the manor itself housed a school and then an orphanage.

The manor was badly damaged during World War II, but was rebuilt between 1962-1975. Currently it houses the Lithuanian Institute of Melioration, as well as a small museum devoted to both the Tyszkiewicz family and Lithuanian composer Juozas Naujalis born in the nearby village. - in: wikipedia

The card was sent by Vaida.

Yulia sent me a card from Kramatorsk, a city situated in the northern part of Donetsk region of Ukraine. It is an important railroad junction and one of the largest Ukrainian machine building centers.

This is the Palace of Culture and Technic of Novokramatorsky Mashinostroitelny Zavod.

Ediciones Arribas

Yolanda from Spain, sent me a card from Santiago de Compostela with its world famous cathedral

For most pilgrims undertaking the Camino, the end of the journey is Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, (Saint James at Compostela). The cathedral lies at the heart of old Santiago – indeed, it forms the centre around which the medieval city took shape and grew into its present form. As the sacred monument housing the earthly remains of Saint James the Greater, the bringer of Christianity to Spain, its structure and embellishments express centuries of Christian faith, piety, and veneration. - in: http://www.caminoadventures.com/santiago-de-compostela/santiago-cathedral/

The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, previously known as the Buddha Memorial Center, is a Mahayana Buddhist cultural, religious and educational museum located in Taiwan's Kaohsiung City, Dashu District. The museum is affiliated with Fo Guang Shan, one of Taiwan's largest Buddhist organizations. The museum purportedly houses one of the tooth relics of Sakyamuni Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist faith. Construction of the museum began in 2008, and the museum was opened to the public in December 2011. -  in: wikipedia

Card sent by Ching-Ru.

The last card is from China and it was sent by B. R.

The Stone Forest or Shilin is a notable set of limestone formations about 500 km2 located in Shilin Yi Autonomous County, Yunnan Province.

The tall rocks seem to fall to the ground in the manner of stalagmites, with many looking like petrified trees thereby creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. 

Since 2007, two parts of the site, the Naigu Stone Forest and Suogeyi Village, have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites as part of the South China Karst. - in: wikipedia

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * September'16

In September's RR I've received cards from Lithuania, Russia, China and Australia. 

Foto © Antanas Varanka

In September I've got another card from Ieva, this one from Vilnius with the Gates of Dawn. 

The Gates of Dawn is one of the most visited shrines in Vilnius that is famous not only in Lithuania but also abroad, worshipped by the representatives of other creeds too. This is the only surviving gate of the first original five gates in the city wall that was built between 1503 and 1522.

The gates were first mentioned in 1514. At first the Gates of Dawn were called the Medininkai Gate, as it is on the road to Medininkai, in Polish Ostra Brama, the “Sharp Gate” because they were in the southern end of the city, which was called the Sharp. - in: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/what-to-see/places-to-visit/churches/gates-of-dawn

This beautiful building in Nizhny Novgorod may look a palace but actually is a bank. Its definitely the most beautiful bank I've ever seen. The card wa sent by Irina.

The State Bank was built in 1913 so as to commemorate the three hundred years of the Romanov dynasty following the project of architect V. A. Pokrovsky. It is an original construction that reminds both of a medieval castle and an Old Russian wooden house. The interior of the bank was painted according the drawings of painter I. Bilibin. - in: http://www.baikalnature.com/info/landmarks/230

The building is occupied by the Nizhny Novgorod branch of Central bank of Russia.

This beautiful snowy view of Malaya Sadovaya Street in St. Petersburg is not only a RR card but also a meet-up card. Alyona sent it and 5 other postcrossers also signed it.

The shortest street in St. Petersburg runs between Nevsky Prospekt and Italianskaya Ulitsa - all 179 meters of Malaya Sadovaya Ulitsa. However, despite its diminutive size, Malaya Sadovaya generates an indescribable atmosphere that attracted even Emperor Alexander II, who used to enjoy walking here. At the end of the 20th century, this street was made entirely pedestrian and adorned with numerous monuments and sculptures, and Malaya Sadovaya became an even more popular destination for walks and meetings for both St. Petersburg's residents and visitors. - in: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/streets/malaya-sadovaya-street/

I don't remember exactly when but Twinkle already sent me a card of a chinese water town and I really loved it. This card is from another water too and I also love it. 

Wuzhen Water Town, lying in the northern part of Tongxiang City, Zhejiang Province, is a typical ancient town in southern China. It is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from both Hangzhou and Suzhou, and 87 miles (140 kilometers) from Shanghai.

As one of the top six ancient towns in the southern region of the Yangtze River, Wuzhen boasts more than six thousand years of history and has always been a fertile land with abundant rice, fish and silk. It preserves the ancient appearance well and oozes charm of the water town itself. The small town, with houses made of black bricks and gray tiles contrasting sharply with the white walls, making it appear like a Chinese ink wash drawing. Stone bridges are seen here and there. Small boats with black awnings are floating on the murmuring rivers. Whether wandering along the riverside or strolling in the lanes paved with blue flagstones, you will be deeply impressed by the picturesque scenery and slow lifestyle. - in: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/zhejiang/hangzhou/wuzhen.htm

© SCANCOLOR Australia

September's last card is from Australia and it was sent by Alison.

The Grampians National Park is a national park located in the Grampians region of Victoria, Australia. The 167,219-hectare (413,210-acre) national park is situated (...) 260 kilometres (160 mi) west of Melbourne and 460 kilometres (290 mi) east of Adelaide. Proclaimed as a national park on 1 July 1984, the park was listed on the Australian National Heritage List on 15 December 2006 for its outstanding natural beauty and being one of the richest indigenous rock art sites in south-eastern Australia.The Grampians feature a striking series of sandstone mountain ranges. - in: wikipedia

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * July 16

Its now time for a few RR posts. For the July Monthly Favorite Surprise RR, I got cards from Germany, Lithuania, Russia and Australia.

Stefanie sent me a Corvey Abbey card with a matching stamp.

The Imperial Abbey of Corvey or Princely Abbey of Corvey was a Benedictine abbey on the River Weser, 2 km northeast of Höxter, now in North Rhine-Westphalia. It was one of the Imperial abbeys of the Holy Roman Empire from the late Middle Ages until 1792 when the abbey was dissolved and Corvey converted into a prince-bishopric. It was in turn secularized in 1803 and absorbed into the newly created Principality of Nassau-Orange-Fulda. In 2014, the former abbey was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - in: wikipedia

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

Also from Germany and also sent by  Stefanie, a card from Nuremberg, a city in the German state of Bavaria. 

On the card there's the medieval church of St. Lorenz, dedicated to Saint Lawrence. It was built in gothic style between 1243 and 1315. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and later rebuilt. It is one of the most prominent churches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria.

Fotografas: a. Kuliesis

Last year I've been to Kaunas, I've been to the castle but couldn't find castle cards. Now, thanks to Ieva, I finally have one.

This splendid 13th-century castle, probably built by Grand Duke Kęstutis to defend the way to Trakai, was the country's first defensive bastion and the only double-walled castle in Lithuania. 

The surrounding walls were initially over two metres wide and 13m high. Unlike most other castles of the time this one was made of stone, not wood. - in: https://www.inyourpocket.com/kaunas/Kaunas-Castle_12067v

The Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow is by itself the symbol of new Russia. Built in 19th century, it was destroyed by the Communists to be restored almost hundred years later. 

Card sent by Olga.

Photos: Dana Yergi, Bob Halstead and Dinah Halstead 

These colorful fishes are: clown fish, coral trout, big eyes and angel fish. The card was sent by Alison.

On the back of the card: The Great Barrier Reef, the 7th Natural Wonder of the World, is home for over 1500 species of fish and 400 special of coral. 

Palanga - Lithuania

Justina, one of my penpals, is originaly from Lithuania but she lives in Australia. This summer she traveled with her husband and son to her home country, where she reunited with her family and friends. One of the days she went on a short trip to Palanga, a popular coastal town. 

Foto: © Antanas Varanka

Palanga is a seaside resort town in western Lithuania, on the shore of the Baltic Sea. It is the busiest summer resort in Lithuania and has beaches of sand (18 km long and up to 300 m wide) and sand dunes.
The building on the top left corner is the Tiškevičiai Palace that houses de Amber Museum; Jurate ir Kastytis is a 1961 sculpture by N. Gaigalaté and the 3rd image is the local pier.