Perast - Montenegro

Speaking of World Heritage Sites, Perast in Montenegro is also on this UNESCO list as part of the Natural and Culturo-Historical Region of Kotor. 

Perast is an old town on the Bay of Kotor, situated a few kilometres northwest of Kotor and is noted for its proximity to the islets of St. George and Our Lady of the Rocks. Both these cards show Our Lady of the Rocks and it's church. 

photo: Radoje Jovanovic

Our Lady of the Rock is an artificial island created by bulwark of rocks and by sinking old and seized ships loaded with rocks. The Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks is the only building on the islet.

According to legend, the islet was made over the centuries by the seamen who kept an ancient oath after finding the icon of Madonna and Child on the rock in the sea on July 22, 1452. Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the islet gradually emerged from the sea. The custom of throwing rocks into the sea is alive even nowadays. Every year on the sunset of July 22, an event called fašinada, when local residents take their boats and throw rocks into the sea, widening the surface of the island, takes place.

Photo by Stevan Kordic

The first known church was built on the islet in 1452 and it was Serbian Orthodox. It was taken over by Roman Catholics and in 1632 the present Church of Our Lady of the Rocks was built. It was upgraded in 1722. The church contains 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja, a famous 17th-century baroque artist from Perast. His most important painting, ten meters long, is The Death of the Virgin. There are also paintings by Italian artists, and an icon (circa 1452) of Our Lady of the Rocks, by Lovro Dobričević of Kotor. The church also houses a collection of silver votive tablets and a famous votive tapestry embroidered by Jacinta Kunić-Mijović from Perast. It took her 25 years to finish it while waiting her darling to come from a long journey, and eventually, she became blind. She used golden and silver fibres but what makes this tapestry so famous is the fact that she also embroidered her own hair in it. - in: https://museu.ms/museum/details/188/our-lady-of-the-rock

Stari Grad - Croatia

There are so many places that I want to visit in Croatia that one trip is probably not enough to see all of them. I definitely want to visit Stari Grad one day. 

When visiting this city one has the possibility to discover an old city and its beautiful historical center and also Stari Grad Plain, a UNESCO site, one of the hardest of the croatian sites to get cards from, even if you manage to go to Stari Grad, it won't be easy to get cards, that's what Agata said. Fortunately she found a few showing not only the city but also the plain. That was in 2014 and a couple of weeks ago I got another card from this city sent by Theresa. 

Stari Grad is a town on the northern side of the island of Hvar in Dalmatia, Croatia. One of the oldest towns in Europe, its position at the end of a long, protected bay and next to prime agricultural land, has long made it attractive for human settlement. Stari Grad is also a municipality within the Split-Dalmatia County.

The most ancient part of Stari Grad falls within the UNESCO Protected World Heritage Site of the Stari Grad Plain, while the entire municipality lies within the surrounding buffer zone. - in: wikipedia

The Church of St. Stephen stands on the eastern side of a small square, Trg sv. Stjepana (St. Stephen’s Square), in the historical centre of Stari Grad.  It was built from 1605 onward at the site of an earlier church also dedicated to the martyred Pope Stephen I.
The bell tower stands apart from the church. The inscription above its door indicates that it was completed in 1753. 

Mountains of Mourne - Northern Ireland

Mountains and sheeps, definitely a beautiful combination and a nice way Miguel chose to wish me happy holidays. 

Photography reproduced from original artistic work © Liam Blake

The Mourne Mountains, also called the Mournes or Mountains of Mourne, are a granite mountain range in County Down in the south-east of Northern Ireland. It includes the highest mountains in Northern Ireland and the province of Ulster. The highest of these is Slieve Donard at 850 m (2,790 ft). The Mournes is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been proposed as the first national park in Northern Ireland. The area is partly owned by the National Trust and sees a large number of visitors every year. The name Mourne (historically spelt Morne) is derived from the name of a Gaelic clann or sept called the Múghdhorna. - in: wikipedia

Cobh - Ireland

Last night I dreamt I was in Ireland and I actually wouldn't mind to be there again. However, I don't think that will happen any time soon but I definitely want to visit the country again and when that happen, I'd like to visit Cobh. 

This another one of the 38 cards Theresa sent me.

Cobh, known from 1849 until 1920 as Queenstown, is a tourist seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour and is home to Ireland's only dedicated cruise terminal. Tourism in the area draws on the maritime and emigration legacy of the town. It was associated with the RMS Titanic, which was built in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Photo by Peter O'Toole

On a high point in the town stands the cathedral church of the diocese of Cloyne, St Colman's, which is one of the tallest buildings in Ireland.
Construction began in 1867 and was not completed until over half a century later due to increases in costs and revisions of the original plans. - in: wikipedia

NL-4251468

I don't know exactly where this card is from but google images suggests it might be from Zaanse Schans. I've been there and yes, even though we can't see much of the village on the card, Zaanse Schans might be the exact location. 

NL-4251468, sent by Gemma.

Located just north of Amsterdam, the Zaanse Schans offers a perfectly preserved glimpse into the Netherlands' industrial past with its traditional houses, windmills, warehouses and workshops. 

In its 18th and 19th century heyday, the Zaan region was an important industrial area dotted by hundreds of windmills producing linseed oil, paint, snuff, mustard, paper and other products. Many of the Zaanse Schans' characteristic village houses are now museums, gift shops or workshops while others are still used as private residences. - in: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/plan-your-trip/day-trips/old-holland/industrial-heritage/zaanse-schans

Fun vs work

While some of us work, some others have fun!! That's life. While the Swiss lady picks up potatoes, the Belgian friends are sunbathing.

Raquel didn't know that I collect postcards with elderly people but Inês told her. Inês was actually on holidays in Belgium with her. The card was signed by them and a few other postcrossers in a meeting in Antwerpen. 

éditions mythra

The Oscar knows how I like elderlies postcards and this time he sent me this lady, who despite being working, seems to be happy, to wish me Happy Holidays.

Neuschwanstein Castle - Germany

The Neuschwanstein Castle is one of the most visited castles in Germany and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

The castle is located in Bavaria, near the town of Fussen. It was built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, also known as the “Fairytale King”. 

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

DE-5927634, sent by Ecke.

King Ludwig was a great admirer and supporter of Richard Wagner, the world-renowned composer.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built in his honor and many rooms in the castle’s interior were inspired by Wagner’s characters.

The third floor particularly reflects Ludwig’s admiration of Wagner’s operas.The Singers Hall, which occupies the entire fourth floor of Neuschwanstein also contains characters from Wagner’s operas.

Neuschwanstein literally means “New Swan Castle” referencing of “the Swan Knight” one of the Wagner’s characters.

The Neuschwanstein Castle looks like a fairytale castle. Neuschwanstein is a castle of the paradox, it was built in the 19th century in Bavaria, in a time when castles no longer had strategical and defensive purposes.

Alpiner Kunstverlag Hans Huber, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

US-2051824, sent by Louise
While Neuschwanstein’s look is that of a medieval castle, it was equipped inside with state of the art technology at that time. For example on every floor of the castle there were toilets with automatic flushing system, as well as an air heating system for the whole castle. Water was supplied by a nearby spring situated at only 200 meters above the castle.

DE-425666, sent by Andrea.

Neuschwanstein’s positioning is also a fairytale one. It is located in the Alps in Bavaria, Germany, in a magnificent landscape, on the top of a hill. Neuschwanstein overlooks the Hohenschwangau valley. If you come to visit this castle, you will be amazed by the extremely beautiful landscape that surrounds it.

Also, Neuschwanstein lies very close to the town of Fussen, which is also a popular tourist destination in Germany.

The construction of the Neuschwanstein castle began in 1869, and originally it was projected to last three years. But Ludwig II wanted the castle to be perfect, so the immense building was not finished even at Ludwig’s death in 1886 and it is not completely finished to this day.

DE-2624717, sent by Klaus.

 Neuschwanstein Castle has a very beautiful inner garden surrounded by a walled courtyard. It even has an artificial cave. Neuschwanstein’s interior is as beautiful as its outside. Though only 14 rooms were finished before Ludiwg II’s sudden death in 1886, these rooms were majestically decorated.

 Copyright: Foto Studio Verlag Kienberger

DE-3654451, sent by Lotte.
The two story throne room was designed in Byzantine style, with wall paintings depicting angels. Ironically, there is no throne in the Throne Room, as Ludwig died before it was completely finished.

© Foto Studio Verlag Kienberger

DE-7682155, sent by Melia. 

This fairytale look of the Neuschwanstein castle inspired Walt Disney to create the Magic Kingdom. Today, Neuschwanstein is the most visited castle in Germany, and one of the most popular tourist destination in the world. Every year over 1.300.000 people cross its gate. - in: http://neuschwansteincastle.net/