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

CH-725589

 A Swiss official card sent on travel mode.

 

Photoglob Zurich

CH-725589, sent by Gwenn.

Aarau is located by the southern foot of the Jura foothills in the centre of the big city triangle of Zurich, Basel and Lucerne. The central location was recognised early on which is why Aarau for a brief few months in 1798 was Switzerland's first capital and home to Switzerland's first Houses of Parliament.
The many painted eaves, the so-called "Dachhimmel" which predominantly date from the 16th century when the town underwent considerable extension, are a special feature of the old town of Aarau. It's for this reason that Aarau is regarded as the town of beautiful gables. - in: https://www.myswitzerland.com

Lucerne - Switzerland

 Óscar has recently been to Switzerland on holidays! I've been to the country for the last time 14 years ago and I visited Lucerne during a Postcrossing meeting. I must confess that besides the Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge), I don't remember much of the city. I remember the Jesuit Church though.

Lucerne lies at the north end of Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstätter See) where the River Reuss flows out of the lake. The town, with its well-preserved medieval core and elegant historic buildings, is one of the most visited in Switzerland.

 

Foto: Jan Geerk

When it comes to what to see in Lucerne, do not miss the Jesuit Church.  Situated on the southern bank of the River Reuss, you cannot help but notice the twin onion-domed towers of the Jesuit Church which dominate the skyline. 
Built from 1666 to 1673 for the Jesuits, this church in Lucerne was the first large church in Switzerland to be built in the Baroque style.
While the exterior looks quite plain, the interior is a sight to behold.  Richly decorated in white marble, the church features an outstanding painted ceiling and ornate faux marble side altars. - in: https://holidaystoswitzerland.com

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - October '23

Cards sent from China, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

Shaoxing, in eastern China, is one of the country's historical and cultural cities.
The area is rich in relics of the past, with innumerable burial sites and with many other sites connected with famous figures from the city’s past. It also has a museum devoted to the writer Lu Xun (1881–1936), who was a native of the city. Baicao Garden is a vegetable garden behind Lu Xun's former residence. 

The card was sent by Mandy.

 

 LOOK-foto: Heinz Wohner

Not my 1st card of this lighthouse on Sylt, the largest of Germany’s North Frisian islands. List-Ost is one of the five lighthouses on the island. 

Card sent by Nicole.

www.papersisters.de

New Happy Postcrossing card sent by Grace. 

The negative temperatures of the last few days certainly make many people miss summer but that's not my case. I love the cold, love winter and I definitely don't miss summer. I like the card, I just don't like the season that much.

 

 Full Colour Black

Banksy Squares Vs. Rat sent by Tomoko.

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR * April 22

I mentioned before that last year I joined this monthly RR 10 times and only the months of April and July remained incomplete. In April two cards got lost but Marianne and Radana have resent them a few days ago.

 

 www.papersisters.de

 

Swiss army knife, the Alps, clocks and Grace, who sent me this missing HP card, are all things that I associate with Switzerland.

 

 © concept by Postcardsmarket.com

Austria has an area of 83.879 km², a population of 8.662.588 and its capital is Vienna.
Unique:
* World's Largest Emerald - 2860 carats, displayed in the Imperial Tresuary of the Hofburg Palace in Vienna;  
* One of the oldest national flag in the world - since 1191, Duke Leopold V, Third Crusade;
Famous:  
* Schönbrunn Palace - the summer palace of the Habsburgs, has no less than 1440 rooms;
* Vienna's central cemitery - has over 2.5 mil. tombs;

History: 

* One of Europe's Great Powers - 1804-1867, Austrian Empire; 1867-1918, Austro-Hungarian Empire;

* Habsburg Monarchy - 1521-1918, motto "Let justice be done, though the world perish."

 Foto: Ivan Rillich

Střekov castle is perched atop a cliff above the river Elbe, near the city of Ústí nad Labem. Built in the 14th century to protect the waterway and collect duties on transported goods, the castle is renowned for its impressive views. It has enchanted a variety of visiting artists, most notably Goethe, Richard Wagner, and Karel Hynek Mácha. - in: https://www.ihbohemia.com

 

 Damxung, with an average elevation of 4,300 meters, means "The chosen one ranch" in Tibetan. It’s backed by the Mt. Nyainqentanglha, adjacent to Namtso Lake. The glacial snow water from the mountain nourishes 700,000 hectares of pure natural pastures. The semi-wild yaks drink from glaciers and salt lakes, and they feed on rare and Tibetan herbs such as cordyceps, enoki mushrooms, and ginseng fruits. - in: http://eng.tibet.cn

PT RR - Surprise Group * July 22

 Cards written in Portuguese but from different countries.

 

Nídia sent me a card from Castro Daire, a city I've never been to. 

The Pedrinha Bridge, built in the 2nd half of the 19th century, replaced another that existed previously, built by the Romans, allowing the connection from Lamego to Viseu, overcoming the barrier that the Paiva River represented. 

On the card is also possible to see the roof and the millstone of an old watermill.

 

Lake Maggiore extends from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland far into the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy. Thanks to its mild climate, there is lush, Mediterranean vegetation along its shores. In the hinterland is a wild and romantic mountain landscape with breathtaking views. - in: https://www.myswitzerland.com 

Card sent by Pedro. 

 

© concept by Postcardsmarket.com

Once again Eric surprised me with a new FOTW card. He has been helping me a lot on this collection.

Albania has an area of 28.748 km², a population of 2.886.026 and its capital is Tirana. 

Unique: 

* Religious tolerance - the Muslim majority and other minorities like Catholics and Orthodox live in peace;  

* Hospitality - Albania is one of the friendliest countries in the world;  

Famous:  

* Mother Teresa - Roman Catholic nun and missionary. 1979 Nobel Peace Prize winner;

* Ferid Murad - physician co-winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medecine; 

History:  

* Formation - 1190 - Principality of Albanon; 1368 - Princedom of Albania; 1912 - Proclamation of the Independence from the Ottoman Empire; 1928 - Albanian Kingdom; 1998 - current constitution.

Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau - Switzerland

These cards show what Switzerland is famous for, mountains and these are three of the most famous, Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. 

CH-554449, sent by Stefanie.

This Oberland, "land from above", is dominated by three peaks: the Jungfrau at 4.158 meters, and Eiger at 3.970 meters (whose famous north face is one of the most difficult climbs in Europe) and the Mönch at 4.099 meters. With its lakes and mountains, it is the most popular tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland, both for skiers in winter and for hikers and mountaineers in summer. 

The first line of the Jungfrau Railway, connecting Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch, was opened in 1912, giving the region a valuable lead.

 

 Copyright by Wefo-Verlag AG

CH-612106, sent by Jennifer.

At the foot of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, the ski areas of Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken offer 200 km of pistes. Above Grindelwald there are gentle slopes (First Region) for beginners and sunny slopes for all skiers. - in: https://www.petitfute.co.uk 

Lavertezzo - Switzerland

Lavertezzo with its characteristic stone buildings is a typical picturesque village in the swiss canton of Ticino.

The first two cards were sent by Óscar and the other by Grace.

photoglob

On this card, besides the river, is still possible to see the 18th century Madonna degli Angeli Parish Church, the only baroque church in the valley.

 © photoglob Zürich

The old double-arched bridge Ponte dei Salti, which mistakenly is also known as "Roman Bridge", crosses the River Verzasca and was built in the 17th century. 

www.at-verlag.ch www.sondereggerfotos.ch 

The bridge is one of the main atractions of the village. 

Château de Chillon - Switzerland

The Château de Chillon is probably the most famous castle in Switzerland so it is not surprising that I've a few postcards of it in my collection. These aren't even all the cards I've. Several photos from different angles, seasons and hours of the day. The postcards also had several origins, my brother, an ex-cousin and two of them are official postcards.

Chillon Castle easily has one of the most spectacular locations for any European castle. Located on a rock on the eastern side of the picturesque Lake Geneva, Chillon Castle attracts visitors from all over the world throughout the year. In fact, it has the most visitors each year for any historic building in all of Switzerland.

Chillon has a rich history due to its significantly strategic location. Starting out as a Roman outpost, it controlled an essential Alpine pass. The actual history of the castle is divided into three significant periods: the Savoy Period, the Bernese Period, and the Vaudois Period.

 

Even though the exact date of the castle’s origins is not known, the first mention in historical records dates back to 1150. During the Middle Ages, the first significant renovations and extensions were made in the 13th century and onwards, when the castle was turned into a summer residence for the counts. It wasn’t long until the castle slowly fell into neglect due to being uninhabited for the most part of the year.

Edition PERROCHET S. A.

CH-109510, sent by Rita.

In 1536 the Bernese overtook the castle. For over two and a half centuries the castle was a significant fortress, arsenal, and prison under the Bernese rule in the region. Since the late 18th century the castle has been in the possession of the Canton of Vaud. The restoration campaign that was launched in the late 19th century is still ongoing.

The castle is open to visitors with several exhibitions and tours of the castle. - in: https://www.thecrazytourist.com

CH-4378.

It was made popular by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner Of Chillon (1816) about François de Bonivard, a Genevois monk and politician who was imprisoned there from 1530 to 1536. The castle is one of the settings in Henry James's novella Daisy Miller (1878).

Lake Leman lies by Chillon’s walls:

A thousand feet in depth below

Its massy waters meet and flow...

There are seven pillars of Gothic mould,

In Chillon’s dungeons deep and old,

There are seven columns massy and grey,

Dim with a dull imprison’d ray,

A sunbeam which hath lost its way… Lord Byron, The Prisoner of Chillon