Zaragoza - Spain

I believe this is the 3rd or 4th card Manuela sent me from this spanish city. It shows Our Lady of the Pilar image and a city view with the stone bridge crossing Ebro river, the Our lady of Pilar Basilica and on the left side the tower of the San Salvador Cathedral. 

Ediciones Arribas

The city of Zaragoza boasts the titles of Muy Noble (very noble), Muy Leal (very loyal), Muy Heroica (very heroic), Muy Benéfica (very beneficial), Siempre Heroica (always heroic) and Inmortal (immortal) which come from its resistance to the French army during the War of Independence.

Aveiro - Portugal

All these cards are from Aveiro and all of them were sent by Margarida. 

These are some of the most famous and well know images of this city, know as the portuguese Venice. The cards shows the Central Canal and its typical boats, the moliceiros, the Carcavelos bridge, the train station, the ovos moles ("soft eggs", literally) a local delicacy made of egg yolks and sugar, the salt ponds, the former pottery factory, now a cultural center and Costa Nova typical houses. 

Sesimbra castle - Portugal

A few weeks ago Margarida sent a weekend in Sesimbra, a fishing town in Sétubal district. I've spent my summer holidays there many years ago and i remember that i've visited the castle on my last day there. 

© Atlanticpost

Sesimbra Castle is built upon an ancient Moorish Castle, probably conquered by D. Afonso Henriques in 1165. The castle was increasingly abandoned, because of the Portuguese Discoveries that began in the 16th century. D. João IV was forced to renew it, following the Restoration fights. He ordered the construction of the ravelins, adapting the castle to newest artillery techniques. Part of the castle was devastated by the 1755 earthquake. In 1930, it was recovered by the Portuguese State. In present day, you can still contemplate the Medieval walls and citadel. Due to its location at a high spot, the castle is also a magnificent viewpoint, offering a breathtaking view over the bay, the city and Arrábida mountain. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/sesimbra-castle-castles-and-forts-325683-1.html

Old Ladies

Eduardo e Tiago helped me again with my old people collection. 

 Centro de Caridade Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro

This old lady is a linen spinner from Pêrre, a village in the municipality of Viana do Castelo.

This typical Algarve fireplace can be found in the Regional Museum of Algarve, in Faro. 

Portuguese PC Christmas Meeting

The portuguese Christmas Meeting took place on December 7th and 8th in Palmela and other places of the region. This year I had to skip it due to my work. 

Zé and Gracinha sent me these cards also signed by Ninocas, Paula, Rita Oliveira and Joana. 

 Papyrus - edição de postais - www.papyrus.com * Design: João Nogueira

Aletria, is a portuguese sweet dessert made with fine egg noddles which is mostly served at Christmas, not my Christmas though. I think we have never had it here at home, the only place i eat it is at work. If you want to try it, this is the recipe:

Ingredients:

- 7 cups of full cream milk

- 6 eggs

- 1 + 1/2 cups of sugar

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 cinnamon stick

- 1 tsp cinnamon powder

- 2 pieces of lemon peel

- 1 12 oz package of very fine egg noodles

Instructions:

Pour the milk, sugar, salt and cinnamon stick into a large pan. Bring it to a boil while stirring constantly. Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a small bowl and slowly blend some heated milk into the eggs and stir. Set aside.

Break up the noodles and add them to the boiling milk. Stir constantly until the noodles are cooked and remove from the heat. Slowly add the egg mixture into the cooked noodles and stir to incorporate. Turn off heat. Do not let the noodles boil. Remove from heat. Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Pour the mixture into a large serving platter at least 1 inch depth.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and serve. - in: http://www.allaboutcuisines.com/recipe/portuguese-aletria-sweet-egg-noodle-christmas-dessert

  

Mª da Graça Mendes

Gracinha sent this card with the comemorative stamps of the Centenary of the Implantation of the Republic in Portugal.

Although the Republic has been deployed in 1910, at the end of 1908 the Lisbon City Council was already in charge of the Portuguese Republican party, which had won the municipal elections of November 1, turning the Portuguese capital in one of the first Republican capital of Europe.

These stamps are dedicated to the Republican School, to industrialization, housing, modernization of the State, civil registry, public health and civic participation.

PT RR - Group 87 * Castles

Cards from Morroco, France and Portugal sent by Rita Oliveira, Joana Duarte and Vitória.

Colecção de Aguarelas de Alberto Sousa (in Arquivo Militar)

An watercolor of Asilah portuguese fortress. 

Asilah or Arzila is a fortified town on the northwest tip of the Atlantic coast of Morocco. Its ramparts and gateworks remain fully intact. The Portuguese conquered the city in 1471, but John III later decided to abandon it because of an economic crisis in 1549. - in: wikipedia

Photo: P. Morales

  Château de Malle is a classified historic monument and is an exquisite residence surrounded by magnificent Italian style gardens. Built at the beginning of the 17th Century by Jacques de Malle, descendant of an old Preignac family and President of the Parliament of Bordeaux, the Château has remained in the same family without ever changing hands. The estate enjoys, amongst other things, a privileged geographical situation as the vineyard stretches over some of the most sought after land of three communes, Preignac, Toulenne and Fargues. It is also situated across two prestigious areas of controlled appellation of origin namely, Graves and Sauternes. Moreover, the excellent quality of the sweet wine from Château de Malle was acknowledged in the famous classification of 1855 destined for the Universal Exposition in Paris as per Imperial decree. - in: http://www.chateau-de-malle.fr/english/chateau.html

© Foto: Nuno Trindade © Casa dos Postais - www.casadospostais.com

A wonderful night view of the Pena Palace in Sintra.

CA-391926

Official from Canada, St. Thomas Anglican Church in Whitby, Ontario.

Photo by Schrembi

CA-391926, sent by Linda.

St. Thomas Church is one of the oldest Anglican churches in the area, was constructed in 1869. It

was designed by an architect (unusual for a small country church), Henry Langley, who also designed other historic buildings in the area. The bell was added in 1873.