9th Postcrossing Christmas Meeting - Portugal

It is officially open the season of Christmas lunches and meetings and in the Postcrossing already began to celebrate. The 9th portuguese Christmas Meeting was held last weekend in Viseu. I made it this time!! It was me and 23 postcrossers + husbands, wives, grandchildren, boyfriends, etc. A lot of people gathered around the postcards.

Speaking of postcards, we had an official postcard, which I sent to me. Sofia was also at the meeting and, surprise, she also sent me a postcard.

Imagem by Cristovão Cunha * the Postcrossing logo is a registered trademark

The biggest surprise for me was when they started to sing Happy Birthday to me at lunch. As if that wasn't enough, they also surprised me with a birthday cake and a postcard signed by everyone. It was (almost) a teary moment. If any of them is reading this, thank you again!!

Although I don't live far from Viseu, I don't know the city very well. In the postcard that Sofia sent, you can see some of the points of interest of Viseu.

www.edigpostal.com

Occupied since the Castro era, the History of Viseu is closely connected with the History of Portugal. If the mythical figure of Viriathus, the warrior who led Lusitanian tribes against the Romans, gave the old city vital importance during Roman times, King Afonso Henriques, the first Portuguese King, established a close connection between the first years of the foundation of the country and this noble Beira Alta city. 

It’s not possible to separate Viseu from the History of the country, but the arts also owe much to the birthplace of Vasco Fernandes whose works are a symbol of the scholarship and excellence of Portuguese Renaissance. This famous 16th century painter is the figure who left the greatest artistic heritage in Viseu and the Grão Vasco Museum gathers a considerable collection of works from this artist, keeping his memory alive in the city.

The city also had a golden age for religious art and architecture as proven by the great number of churches decorating the old town, the Religious Art Museum and the Cathedral itself which is one of the most symbolic buildings in Viseu and shows the importance of this Beirã city as the seat of the diocese.

Viseu Cathedral is actually a great starting point for a visit to the city. In the cathedral churchyard, one of the most interesting places in the old town, you will find, apart from the Cathedral and the museums, Misericórdia Church, the pelourinho and Passeio dos Cónegos. Here you will often find dark granite, typical in the region, surrounded by contrasting white and seemingly immaculate façades. Then, continue your visit until you reach Rossio, where you will be able to relax and enjoy green areas, or you can follow the traces of the defensive wall built by King John I which was only finished during the reign of King Afonso V and can still be seen beyond the Cavaleiros and Soar Doors. - in: http://www.centerofportugal.com/viseu/

Ribeira de Terges e Cobres - Portugal

Leninha bought an house and moved again. She sent this card to give me her new address. I think this is the 4th time I've to change her address in my files!! 

Fotografia: Rui Mateus

Couldn't find much about the place on the card. Ribeira de Terges e Cobres is a river in southern Portugal but I don't see a river on the card. No information either about the ruined chapel. 

PT RR - Group 125 * Surprise November

This Surprise Group of November is complete and I'm now waiting for December adresses. The postcards were sent by Patrícia, Joana, Tiago and Paulo.

Ilustração de Jorge Colombo

In Portugal a lot of people say that these chocolate umbrellas remind them of their childhood. I never liked chocolate that much and that's probably why I don't have memories attached to them. However, some days ago one of my oldies at work gave me one. 

The umbrellas are one of the most characteristic and popular products of the Regina brand, reprinted by Imperial, who holds the brand since 2000.

Claire Aho © JB

I've no idea where these children are. Maybe in France, where Joana sent the postcard from or maybe in Finland, the home country of Claire Aho, the author of the photo.

2014 © michael dragaschnig

I do not know where this gentleman is either, perhaps in Aljezur, where Tiago bought the postcard thinking of my old people collection.

Fotografia: Oswaldo Santos

I've been to Arcos de Valdevez a few years ago but I did not have time to really get to know the city, I didn't even take photos. 

The current bridge connecting the two banks of the village of Arcos de Valdevez is a 19th century structure, begun in 1876 and completed in 1880, which completely replaced a copy of medieval origin.

Columbia Icefield - Canada

Another canadian natural attraction. 

The Columbia Icefield is located in the Canadian Rockies, partly in the northwestern tip of Banff National Park and the southern end of Jasper National Park. 

Photo by R. Kelly

The Columbia Icefield is a surviving remnant of the thick ice mass that once mantled most of Western Canada's mountains. Lying on a wide, elevated plateau, it is the largest icefield in the Canadian Rockies. Nearly three-quarters of the park's highest peaks are located close to the icefield; ideally placed to catch much of the moisture that Pacific winds carry across the British Columbia interior. Most of this precipitation falls as snow; up to 7 metres a year!

Since more snow falls in a year than can melt during the short summer season, it accumulates. As time passes, the snow transforms into ice and begins to flow outward through gaps in the mountains surrounding the icefield, creating great tongues of ice called glaciers.

Alberta Color

CA-386547, sent by Susan.

The Athabasca is the most-visited glacier on the North American continent. Situated across from the Icefield Centre, its ice is in continuous motion, creeping forward at the rate of several centimeters per day. Spilling from the Columbia Icefield over three giant bedrock steps, the glacier flows down the valley like a frozen, slow-moving river. Because of a warming climate, the Athabasca Glacier has been receding or melting for the last 125 years. Losing half its volume and retreating more than 1.5 kms, the shrinking glacier has left a moonscape of rocky moraines in its wake. - in: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/explore-interets/glacier-athabasca.aspx

TW-2626357

The Dragon and Tiger Pagodas are located at Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung.  The construction started in 1974 and was completed in 1976.

Photo: yuyen

TW-2626357, sent by Jennifer.

In Chinese culture, dragons symbolize auspicious power and strength, and they have control over water, including rain, floods, etc. Tigers, on the other hand, symbolize prowess, righteousness, and harmony.

The dragon's throat is the entrance and the tiger's mouth is the exit. Entering a dragon's throat and coming out a tiger's mouth symbolizes turning bad luck to good fortune. 

Zadar - Croatia

I've many trips planned in my head and one of them is a road trip in Croatia, starting in Zagreb, heading next to the beautiful Plitvice Lakes National Park and from there, many stops along the Adriatic Coast. Zadar is definitely one of the places I want to visit. The city center seems quite interresting and now that its defensive system is classified as UNESCO site, I'm even more interrested in visiting this ancient city. I'm also curious about the sea organ. 

Thanks Agata for another great card. 

Foto: A. Carli

In 2017 Zadar's Defensive System  made it to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites as one of the Venetian Works of Defence between the 16th and 17th Centuries. Apart from Zadar’s defensive system, the property also lists the Fort of St Nicholas in Šibenik and other defensive systems in Italy and Montenegro. 

The 15th and 17th centuries was the golden age of the mighty Republic of Venice, whose rule also included some of what is now Croatian territory such as Zadar region. It was an important maritime republic and a leading trading power of that time.

During the Venetian rule, Zadar used to be the military and administrative centre on the Adriatic coast and the defensive system reflects its important role. Situated on the historical peninsula, the system follows the coastline and consists of the bastioned city walls and gates such as the Land Gate, an example of Renaissance works of the famous Venetian architect Michele Sanmicheli. - in: https://www.zaton.hr/en/blog/155/zadar-s-defensive-system-on-unesco-s-list

Bielefeld Meeting - Germany

Although the portuguese postcrossers love to meet, I miss most of the meetings. Fortunately, next week I will make it to the Christmas meeting in Viseu !! As in Bielefeld, we will also have an official postcard, which I'll shown here once I get it in my mailbox.

Leonie doesn't miss a meeting in Bielefeld and just like in the last years, she remembered to send me a postcard.

www.papersisters.de

Some facts about Bielefeld:

* The city has a population of 333,451 inhabitants and is located in North Rhine-Westphalia;

* Sparrenburg, the medieval castle, is the most famous building in Bielefeld and the symbol of the city. Another attraction of the city is the Market Square;

* The city has an official football team called DSC Arminia Bielefeld;

* Bielefeld is known for its linen and in the early 1920s, a city bank issued even money made from linen;

* When it comes to food, the city is known for the pudding and the pickert, a flat, fried or baked potato dish;

* To enjoy nature you can stroll through the Teutoburg Forest or visit the animals at the Olderdissen Zoo.