Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - March 19

March I was another great month when it comes to this RR. I really like all the cards and two of them were from my favorites. Many thanks to Katia, Radana, Yolanda and Michèle. 

 Artwork & design © 2017 Robert B. Decker

On the back of the card: Established in 1899, Mount Rainier rises 14.410 feet above sea level and stands as an icon in the Washington landscape. An active volcano, Mount Rainier is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous United States, spawning six major rivers. Subalpine wildflower meadows ring the icy volcano while ancient forest cloaks its lower slopes. Wildlife abounds througout the peak's many ecosystems. 

Foto © Petr Toman

Radana not only sent one of my favorites but also used the czech Postcrossing stamp to send it. 

Landštejn Castle is a 13th-century castle in the Jindřichův Hradec District of South Bohemia. 

The structure was firstly mentioned in 1231. At the time, it was the biggest Romanesque castle in the Czech lands. 

The two massive towers are connected with a wall defining the upper castle and its courtyard. The six storey southern tower is the main and it is still fully preserved, including a gate in the western wall. Romanesque style used to be quite stern and did not allow many embellishments. They can be found only in the chapel in the northern tower. Afterwards the castle was rebuilt in the late Gothic style and a new Gothic palace was erected. The stronghold character of the castle was strengthened at the turn of the 15th and the 16th centuries when the outer battlements were added. In Renaissance, new living quarters concluded the major reconstructions. After the fire in 1771 the castle became a ruin. - in: http://www.discoverczech.com/landstejn/index.php4

© Editorial Fisa Escudo de Oro, S. A.

The castle of La Suda or Sant Joan stands on the hill in the centre of the old town, overlooking and dominating all its historic buildings. Of enormous strategic importance, the fortifications and the views they offer of the town and its surrounding area are stunning. It is an unparalleled vantage point and a marvellous viewpoint over Tortosa. - in: https://www.tortosaturisme.cat/en/lugar/el-castell-de-la-suda-o-de-sant-joan/

© Schöning GmbH & Co, KG

With its multiple towers and hilltop site overlooking a river, the Limburger Dom looks like a Romantic castle. Located at the top of the attractive city of Limburg an der Lahn in the Rhineland, the painted church was built in the 13th century and only became a cathedral in 1827. It is well preserved in its original form and contains a multitude of murals and early medieval sculpture. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/limburg-cathedral

Chinese New Year Meeting - Brazil

In February some São Paulo postcrossers got together to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Valéria and Luzia don't miss a meeting and once again they sent me cards signed by them and the other 11 postcrossers who attended this meeting. 

Chinese New Year generally referred to as Lunar New Year, is the Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.

The first day of Chinese New Year begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. In 2019, the first day of the Chinese New Year was on Tuesday, 5 February, initiating the Year of the Pig. - in: wikipedia

In São Paulo the festival is held in Liberdade, home to the largest Sino-Japanese community in Brazil. The celebration takes place in late January or early February. A very joyful and beautiful festival that attracts more than 100 thousand people from Brazil and from various parts of the world who visit the city of São Paulo.

Pacaembu Avenue is the main road of the Pacaembu Neighborhood located in the West and Central Zones of the city of São Paulo.

Former Delacre Pharmacy - Belgium

In the beginning of this month, Joaninha went on holidays to Belgium with Tânia. They both stayed with Raquel, the official host and guide of every portuguese postcrossers that visit Belgium. I've also stayed with her when I traveled to Belgium and I know they all had a great time together. That also included signing and sending a few cards. 

 It is Paul Saintenoy who, in 1898, realized this magnificent Neo-Gothic, Neo-Renaissance building for the pharmacist Charles Delacre. This former pharmacy has now turned into an art gallery which fully respects its magnificent interior architecture.

You can also admire its woodwork and splendid raised floor. It should be noted that the same architect also built the Old England, located a few meters further up, which now houses the Museum of Musical Instruments.

The story of Charles Delacre, former occupant of the Delacre pharmacy, is quite incredible. Indeed, in 1870 this trained pharmacist began selling chocolate, which, at the time was considered a tonic and cure. The success was such that he decided to open a shop dedicated to chocolate, right next to the pharmacy. Only two years later the first Delacre factory opened. In 1879 the pharmacist officially becomes “Court Supplier” and in 1891 the first biscuit, Pacha Delacre, is put on the market.

120 years later, Delacre is number two on the European biscuits market. - in: https://www.bruxellesmabelle.net/en/lieux/ancienne-pharmacie-delacre/

IT-491118

In 12 years of Postcrossing this is my 14th official card from Italy. Only 14 officials from Italy!!! Coincidence or not, I've also sent 14 officials to Italy. 

IT-491118, sent by Brenda.

Carignano is a comune in the Metropolitan City of Turin in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) south of Turin. - in: wikipedia

These are the churches of St. John the Baptist and st. Remi; Church of Mercy and War Memorial; St. Remi Church and Holy Virgin of Graces Church. 

Rialto Bridge - Venice

To celebrate his wedding anniversary, father's day and St. Joseph feast, José hosted a lottery and I was one of the lucky winners. The prize was a Rialto Bridge card. 

José's card is the 2nd one with the gondola and the 1st was bought my me, not sure whether it was in Venice or in Rome. 

 The Rialto Bridge is one of the four bridges spanning the Grand Canal. For nearly three hundred years, it was the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot. The stone bridge, a single span designed by Antonio da Ponte, was completed in 1591 and was used to replace a wooden bridge that collapsed in 1524.

 The engineering of the bridge was considered so audacious that some architects predicted a future collapse. The bridge has defied its critics to become one of the architectural icons of Venice. - in: https://www.touropia.com/tourist-attractions-in-venice/

PT RR - Group 119 * Surprise February

It was not possible to Joana to organize the January surprise group of the Portuguese RR but last month she found some time to do it again. These cards are from France and Portugal and were sent by Joana, Ana, Liliana and Paulo.

The current of Huchet is a coastal river on the communes of Léon, Vielle-Saint-Girons and Moliets-et-Maâ, in the French department of Landes. It is the outlet of the pond of Léon and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the commune of Moliets-et-Maâ. 

The Courant d'Huchet Nature Reserve was created in 1981 on an area of 617,942 ha.

Photos: © Pierre Péron

I wanted to identify these mills, but it's a complicated task. As for the towers, the one on the left is Dunkirk's belfry and no idea about the other one.

Most mills in north France are “post mills”, which have a large body - the “buck” - that can be turned round to make the sails face the wind. The body swivels on a massive pivot fixed in the ground - held steady by a tripod base, called a “trestle”. When the wind direction changes, the miller has to turn the mill round by pushing the tailpole - or he might get a horse to do the work.

Often the base is covered over to protect it from the weather and make an extra store room. - in: https://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/background/mills.htm

 Forways, LTD

I need to go back to Óbidos. I've only been there twice and the last one was 9 years ago !! Back then the Church of Santa Maria wasn't looking this good and the weather wasn't that great either.

The temple that today sits in the Santa Maria Square, at the bottom of the Rua Direita main street, dates from the 16th century and was built by the initiative of Queen D. Leonor, wife of D. João II. It was in this church that, on August 15, 1441, the infant D. Afonso (later King D. Afonso V of Portugal) married his cousin D. Isabel, at the ages of ten and eight. - in: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/igreja-de-santa-maria-matriz-de-obidos

On my next trip to the Azores I want to visit (again) Faial and also Pico, where this card is from.

The immense volcanic cone of Pico Mountain, the third largest volcano in the Atlantic, imposes itself on the island’s landscape. Inside its main crater there is a cone of lava designated Piquinho, on top of which fumaroles permanently vent steam to remind us of its volcanic nature. At around 1250 metres above sea level, where the footpaths to the Mountain start to climb, you can get a view of much of the island, as well as the neighbouring Faial and São Jorge. The climb to the top is tiring, but rewarded by fantastic, unique panoramic views which, on a clear day, offer the additional reward of a glimpse of the islands of Graciosa and Terceira. - in: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/azores-pico

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - February '19

Last month I've got some nice cards from this RR. These are from Taiwan, Poland, Germany and Scotland. 

This space shuttle like building is the Solar Exploration Center in Shueishang Township, one of the three Tropic of Cancer Marker in Taiwan. 

The Tropic of Cancer, which is also referred to as the Northern Tropic, is the most northerly circle of latitude on Earth at which the Sun can be directly overhead. This occurs on the June solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun to its maximum extent. - in: wikipedia

The Tropic of Cancer passes through 17 countries. 

Vicky used nice stamps to send the card, including a matching one. 

Fot: Dariusz Krakowiak

I've been to Poland once and this beautiful country is again my list as one of my options for this year's holidays. The idea is to go to southern Poland again and this time I'd like to visit Wroclaw. 

On this card sent by Kamilla, we get a nice view of the Cathedral Island, the oldest part of the city. The yellow building is the Archbishop′s palace and next to it there's the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. What we see today is in fact the fourth church to be built on this site. When construction began in 1244, this was the first brick building in Poland. Cathedral-building being what it is, work continued for five more centuries. - in: https://www.inyourpocket.com/wroclaw/cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist_93619v

Fotos: Brück & Sohn

I've said many time and I'll say it again, Dresden is one of the german cities on the top of my must visit list. Thanks Anne for this beautiful card. 

Built in the 18th century, the Dresden Frauenkirche was destroyed in the bombing of Dresden during World War II. The remaining ruins were left for 50 years as a war memorial, following decisions of local East German leaders. The church was rebuilt after the reunification of Germany, starting in 1994. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004, and the interior in 2005.

 The surrounding Neumarkt square with its many valuable baroque buildings was also reconstructed in 2004. - in: wikipedia

© Copyright Dennis Hardley Photography

This is not a card from a place I'd like to visit, is a card from a place I've already been too. Sabine brought me back some nice memories with this card. 

Robert the Bruce (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329) was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert was one of the most famous warriors of his generation, and eventually led Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against England. He fought successfully during his reign to regain Scotland's place as an independent country and is today revered in Scotland as a national hero. - in: wikipedia

This statue is located on Stirling Castle esplanade. In the background there's a monument to another national hero of Scotland. The National Wallace Monument commemorates Sir William Wallace.