Cards from my "sister" Déa

Yesterday i didn't have time to post all the cards i got, so i'm doing it now.

Déa "andreaeiko" sent me an envelope with these 3 cards.

This is a card from Paraguay, a new country in my collection. The card shows a cathedral in Ciudad del Este, the second largest city in Paraguay.

After a new country, a new unesco card, this one from Brazil - The Historic Centre of the Town of Goiás.

"Goiás testifies to the occupation and colonization of the lands of central Brazil in the 18th and 19th centuries. The urban layout is an example of the organic development of a mining town, adapted to the conditions of the site. Although modest, both public and private architecture form a harmonious whole, thanks to the coherent use of local materials and vernacular techniques.
In its layout and architecture the historic town of Goiás is an outstanding example of a European town admirably adapted to the climatic, geographical and cultural constraints of central South America.
Goiás represents the evolution of a form of urban structure and architecture characteristic of the colonial settlement of South America, making full use of local materials and techniques and conserving its exceptional setting." - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/993

"The Paço Imperial (Imperial Palace) is a historic building in the centre of the city of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil. The Paço Imperial was built in the 18th century to serve as residence for the governors of colonial Brazil and was later used by King John VI of Portugal and the rulers of the Empire of Brazil, Pedro I and Pedro II. It was one of the main political centres of Brazil for nearly 150 years, from 1743 to 1889.
The Paço Imperial is located in the Praça XV in central Rio. Due to its architectural and historical significance, it is one of Brazil's most important historic buildings. Nowadays it serves as a cultural centre." - in: wikipedia

Convent of St. Gall - Switzerland

I got this beautiful card today, sent by Doris "theswissmiss". This is the cathedral of the Convent of St. Gall in Switzerland. This is my 3rd unesco card from Switzerland.

"The Convent of St Gall, a perfect example of a great Carolingian monastery, was, from the 8th century to its secularization in 1805, one of the most important in Europe. Its library is one of the richest and oldest in the world and contains precious manuscripts such as the earliest-known architectural plan drawn on parchment. From 1755 to 1768, the conventual area was rebuilt in Baroque style. The cathedral and the library are the main features of this remarkable architectural complex, reflecting 12 centuries of continuous activity." - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/268

Prambanan - Indonesia

From the postmark i can see that this card was travelling almost for 2 months. This is my 1st unesco card from Indonesia and is really beautiful. It was worth waiting. Thanks Shinta :P

"Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.
The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the largest Hindu temples in south-east Asia. It is characterised by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the 47m high central building inside a large complex of individual temples.
It was built around 850 CE by either Rakai Pikatan, king of the second Mataram dynasty, or Balitung Maha Sambu, during the Sanjaya Dynasty. Not long after its construction, the temple was abandoned and began to deteriorate. Reconstruction of the compound began in 1918. The main building was completed in around 1953. Much of the original stonework has been stolen and reused at remote construction sites. A temple will only be rebuilt if at least 75% of the original stones are available, and therefore only the foundation walls of most of the smaller shrines are now visible and with no plans for their reconstruction." - in: wikipedia

Other Languages RR - Group 22

A few weeks ago i've decided to try a new RR and joined the Other Languages RR, group 22 for traditional sayings. I liked it so much that i'm already in another group and i think i join more groups in the future.

I've received this card today, last card of the group and it was sent by Ariel from Taiwan.

"The Presidential Office Building houses the Office of the President of the Republic of China. The building, located in the Zhongzheng District in Taipei, was designed by architect Uheiji Nagano during the period of Japanese rule of Taiwan (1895-1945). The structure originally housed the Office of the Governor-General of the Taiwan Province. Damaged in Allied bombing during World War II, the building was restored after the war by Chen Yi, the Governor-General of the Taiwan province. It became the Presidential Office in 1950 after the Republic of China lost control of mainland China at the end of the Chinese Civil War." - in: wikipedia

This was the 2nd card i've received and it was sent by Judit "panarea" from Hungary. On this card of typically hungarian things, i can identify the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest and goulash.

"The Széchenyi Chain Bridge is a suspension bridge that spans the River Danube between Buda and Pest, the western and eastern sides of Budapest, the capital of Hungary. It was the first permanent bridge across the Danube in Budapest, and was opened in 1849.
Goulash is a dish, originally from Hungary, a stew or a soup, usually made of beef, red onions, vegetables, spices and ground paprika powder. The name originates from the Hungarian gulyás (pronounced goo-yash), the word for a cattle stockman or herdsman." - in: wikipedia
Maybe Judit can help with the other 2 images.

And this was the 1st card to arrive. It was sent by Sarah "asgerd" from Scotland.
"Lews Castle is a Victorian era castle located west of the town of Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. It was built in the years 1847-57 as a country house for Sir James Matheson who had bought the whole island a few years previously with his fortune from the Chinese Opium trade.
In 1918, the Lewis estate including the castle was bought by industrialist Lord Leverhulme from the Matheson family. He gifted the castle to the people of Stornoway parish in 1923.
During World War II the Castle was taken over as accommodation for air and ground crew of 700 Naval Air Squadron, who operated a detachment of six Supermarine Walrus aircraft from a slipway at Cuddy Point in the Grounds. The base was referred to as HMS Mentor. It was also used for accommodation for students of Lews Castle College in the 1950s.
Today the building is owned by the local council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and is category A listed building." - in: wikipedia

Thanks Ariel, Judit and Sarah for the wonderful cards :)

Veliko Tarnovo - Bulgaria

"Veliko Tarnovo is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Turnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famous as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture.

Tsarevets is a mediaeval stronghold located on a hill with the same name in Veliko Tarnovo. It served as the Second Bulgarian Empire's primary fortress and strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393, housing the royal and the patriarchal palaces, and is a popular tourist attraction." - in: wikipedia

The Nile - Egypt

This surprise mapcard of the Nile was sent by Alice. Apparently she went on a cruise to Egypt, didn't know that, and send some cards to some friends. I would love to visit Egypt.

"The Nile is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world.
The Nile has two major tributaries, the White Nile and Blue Nile, the latter being the source of most of the Nile's water and fertile soil, but the former being the longer of the two. The White Nile rises in the Great Lakes region of central Africa, with the most distant source in southern Rwanda and flows north from there through Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Uganda and southern Sudan, while the Blue Nile starts at Lake Tana in Ethiopia, flowing into Sudan from the southeast. The two rivers meet near the Sudanese capital Khartoum.
The northern section of the river flows almost entirely through desert, from Sudan into Egypt, a country whose civilization has depended on the river since ancient times. Most of the population of Egypt and all of its cities, with the exception of those near the coast, lie along those parts of the Nile valley north of Aswan; and nearly all the cultural and historical sites of Ancient Egypt are found along the banks of the river. The Nile ends in a large delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea." - in: wikipedia

Surprise Trade - Round 7

These are the 3 cards i've received from the Surprise Trade.

This card from Taiwan was sent by reiner. 

This is the Martial Temple, in Yanshuei Town, used to commemorate Guan Yu, who is one of the bravest and best known generals in chinese history. He lived in the "Three Kingdoms Era" (208-280 A. D) and in 1662, his theophany, is said to have rescued Yanshuei from a terrible plague. The temple was built as a thank you and his birthday is celebrated every year.

I don't have many cards from Lithuania so i was really glad to get this one sent by Vilmante "wavycactus".
These are the sand dunes in Nida, Neringa Municipality, a resort town located in the Curonian Spit, which is an Unesco whs. Neringa is separated from the mainland Lithuania by Curonian Lagoon which, while there is no bridge, it is still accessible from the mainland by ferry only.

And this is my 1st card from South Africa :D Finally a card from there!! Thanks to Gisela "Protea".
"Cape Point is a promontory at the south-east corner of the Cape Peninsula, which is a mountainous and very scenic landform that runs north-south for about thirty kilometres at the extreme southwestern tip of the African continent in the Republic of South Africa. The rugged sandstone (Table Mountain sandstone) ridge that rises from Cape Point at sea level develops into two peaks. There is a major peak that dominates the skyline locally but there is also a smaller peak about 100 m further south. The higher peak has the old lighthouse on the top. A funicular railway runs from a car park to the north up to slightly below the level of the old lighthouse and a short flight of steps leads to a viewing platform at the base of the lighthouse. The new lighthouse is at a lower elevation for two reasons: the old lighthouse could be seen 'too early' by ships rounding the point towards the east, causing them to approach too closely. Secondly, foggy conditions often prevail at the higher levels, making the older lighthouse invisible to shipping. On 18 April 1911, the Portuguese liner Lusitania was wrecked just south of Cape Point on Bellows Rock for precisely this reason, prompting the relocation of the lighthouse.
The new location cannot be seen from the West until ships are at a safe distance to the South. The light of the new Cape Point lighthouse is the most powerful on the South African coast." - in: wikipedia