Rapa Nui - Chile

I finally have a card from the Easter Island. The island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai, created by the early Rapanui people. It is a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.

This is a new Unesco card in my collection and it was sent by Steffi.

© Hispapel

Moai, monolithic human figures were carved from rock between the years 1250 and 1500. Nearly half are still at Rano Raraku, the main moai quarry, but hundreds were transported from there and set on stone platforms called ahu around the island's perimeter. Almost all moai have overly large heads three-fifths the size of their bodies. The moai are chiefly the living faces (aringa ora) of deified ancestors (aringa ora ata tepuna).The statues still gazed inland across their clan lands when Europeans first visited the island, but most would be cast down during later conflicts between clans.
The 887 statues' production and transportation is considered a remarkable creative and physical feat.
Ahu Tongariki is the largest ahu on Rapa Nui/Easter Island. Its moai were toppled during the island's civil wars and in the twentieth century the ahu was swept inland by a tsunami. It has since been restored and has fifteen moai including an 86 tonne moai that was the heaviest ever erected on the island. - in: wikipedia

CN-472535

These are 2 chinese cards sent as official. Both cards show the same building in Shanghai.

CN-472535, sent by Jennifer.
In 1930 was known as Shanghai Sincere Company. Sincere Company was first established in Hong Kong in 1900 by an overseas Chinese. Shanghai Sincere first opened in 1917.

The same building in 2008 as Shanghai Fashion Company.

Anse Patates - Seychelles

My 3rd card from the Seychelles Islands. Like the Iran card, this one was sent by Luis.

Photo by H. Espanet

On the northern most tip of La Digue, Anse Patates is close to Patatran Village and borders the longer beach of Anse Gaulettes. Blessed with soft white sand and calm seas, it is well suited for both swimming and snorkelling. - in: http://www.seychelles.travel/en/products/beaches.php?aid=12

Wadi Rum - Jordan

Wadi Rum is the newest Jordan's Unesco site. It was added to the World Heritage List last June. Thanks to Rachel, I'm only missing one site from Jordan now.

© Al - Hawari Ghassan

The 74,000-hectare property, inscribed as a mixed natural and cultural site, is situated in southern Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia. It features a varied desert landscape consisting of a range of narrow gorges, natural arches, towering cliffs, ramps, massive landslides and caverns. Petroglyphs, inscriptions and archaeological remains in the site testify to 12,000 years of human occupation and interaction with the natural environment. The combination of 25,000 rock carvings with 20,000 inscriptions trace the evolution of human thought and the early development of the alphabet. The site illustrates the evolution of pastoral, agricultural and urban activity in the region. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1377

Persepolis - Iran

I didn't post any Unesco card in the last days but i've received a few from new sites. This one is from Persepolis, my 2nd site from Iran. Perspolis is a World Heritage Site since 1979.

Now an archaeological site in Iran, the ancient city of Persepolis (Persian: Takht-e Jamshid or Takht-i Jamshid, "Throne of Jamshid") was founded by Darius I in 518 BC as the capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
On an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, the great king created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. Though evidence of prehistoric settlement at Persepolis has been discovered, inscriptions indicate that construction of the city began under Darius I the Great (reigned 522–486 BC). As a member of a new branch of the royal house, Darius made Persepolis the new capital of Persia (replacing Pasargadae, the burial place of Cyrus the Great).
Built in a remote and mountainous region, Persepolis was an inconvenient royal residence, visited mainly in the spring. The effective administration of the Achaemenian Empire was carried on from Susa, Babylon, or Ecbatana. This accounts for the Greeks being unacquainted with Persepolis until Alexander the Great's invasion of Asia.
In 330 BC, Alexander the Great plundered the city and burned the palace of Xerxes, probably to symbolize the end of his Panhellenic war of revenge. In 316 BC Persepolis was still the capital of Persis as a province of the Macedonian empire, but the city gradually declined in the Seleucid period and after. In the 3rd century AD the nearby city of Istakhr became the centre of the Sasanian empire. Today, relatively well-preserved ruins attest to Persepolis' ancient glory. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/iran/persepolis.htm

Luzern - Switzerland

Didn't i said that Paula is a dear friend??! Yes, she is! Just before Germany she was in Switzerland and from there she sent me this Luzern card. We were in Luzern last year in April and we both said we'd like to visit the city again. She did it without me but she said she wants to go there a 3rd time and i'd love to go with her, hopefully with much better weather conditions than our 1st time there.

© Photoglob Zürich

On the card there's the famous Chapel Bridge with it's Water Tower. Chapel Bridge probably the oldest wooden bridge in Switzerland dating back to the middle of the 14^th century.

II International Bielefeld Meeting

As some of you may know, a few days ago, took place in Bielefeld, Germany, the II International Postcrossing Meeting. It was an huge meeting with almost 60 postcrossers from 12 or 13 countries. I've received these 4 cards full of signatures.

© Schöning GmHb & Co.

Next year Portugal will receive an international meeting and Valérie, who sent this card, will try to be here, and i really hope she can make it because i'm looking foward to meet her.
This card shows the Marienkirche, the Old Market Square, St. Jodokus Church and Sparrenburg Castle.

© Schöning GmHb & Co

Heidi doesn't miss a meeting and of course she was 1 of the 60 postcrossers in Bielefeld. On this card sent by her, is possible to see the Jahn Square, the Old Market Square, a panoramic view of the city and the Stadthalle.

Photo: Lool-foto/Florian Werner

A lovely snowy view sent by Anja.

design by Ana Campos

Ana Campos, postcrossing's "mom" is a talented girl. She created this postcard for the meeting and it's really nice. The card was created by Ana but it was sent by Paula, a not so talented girl but a dear friend ;).