Ihuru, Maldives

Country number....76 if i am right...i somewhat got lost lately, coz i got a few new countries...i just havent displayed them all.....i dont want showing two new countries on a same day...its nicer when each day i show off one new country...and this time, i have the great delight to show off a card from the Maldives.....just a look at this card makes me wanna be RIGHT THERE at THIS MOMENT!!



Ihuru is one of the uninhabited islands of Kaafu Atoll, which is an administrative division of the Maldives.
Well, in my opinion, if they had inhabited this island, it surely would lose some of its beauty...the human factor is extremely capable for that, esp. since they just build wherever they find a free spot for it...really...in my town, i daily witness on new buildings coming up, and it starts feeling that this town is choking...you just see blocks and blocks of buildings, and less and less green areas....its frustrating....I have to be thankfull for living in a part of the city which consists of houses mainly...and there isnt much traffic, so unlike most of the city, its quite nice and calm here...
The island here looks just perfect as it is....the white sands and the colours of the ocean are just sooooooo damn appealing......this is one of the places that you can call "paradise on earth". (i would like to receive a card though which would give me the impression of 'hell on earth' as a contrast to this :))))
mmmmm, i would so much want to be there....swimming, diving, sunbathing...and eating coconuts!!!!!!!

Lake Ontario

A card I won in a lottery....



The back of the card says: Lake Ontario sunsets, often acclaimed as some of the world's most beautiful sunsets, are a source of great pride among area residents.

It is one of the five Great Lakes in North America. The lake is bounded on the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the south by Ontario's Niagara Peninsula and by New York state, US.
Since its somewhat shared, thats why i didnt label it with a country...even though to me it arrived from the US.

The lake's name is derived from ontarí:io, a Huron word meaning "great lake". The Canadian province of Ontario was later named after the lake.

Taipei, Taiwan

I abso- abso- absolutely love this card! The colours are just soooooooo perfect!!! The view is just lovely!! Its a card ticked off my wishlist thanks to Shu-i!


It shows the Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, which has just changed its name from C.K.S Memorial Hall not so long ago.
You can also see two pretty Chinese style buildings. The left one is the national theatre, and the right one is the national concert hall.
All 3 buildings on the card just make it sooo great for me!

Jij bent jij

Another lottery card....i got two poem cards, and here is one of them...with a poem in Dutch....


Since im no Dutch speaker, I asked Adriana to translate it for me, so i can have an idea what the poem is about, and i can as well, post it here for you...here it is

You are You
Are you different than someone else?
Yes of course, you are you,
you've been specially created
of another bit of clay

Just look in a mirror
to the piece of art you are:
your face, your body,
your character, your talents.

That's how God has woven you
you're allowed to stand in this world
to experience all sorts of things
and to go your own way

See, you are a miracle
just on her way and yet you're wise.
Just be you and stay special
go with God, have a good journey.

dont know about you, but i like it....

Bacău, Romania

Yeah....i can almost hear you cringe at this one "where the hell did you get this card"....
Ha! I may even organize a contest of sending, lets say, 5 postcards, to whoever guesses the year from which this postcard dates....seriously....one entry per person...you may be lucky ;-))))))


I think that you can simply cut the communism with a knife on this card....it feels so much present! Probably one of the most unappealing cards ive got, or ive seen at all!
You may wonder then, why am i uploading it here at all...moreover as the TOP entry for today :)
I dont know....regardless of how much i like or dont like a card, i cant throw it away...its a card, and to me it represents something....and this one on some hand may be considered a real treasure since its not a new card, but rather oldish, which you cant find in the shops today....

It was given to me by one of my mum's late friends...i think ive already mentioned her before...there arent many friends of my mum who had given me something from their postcard collection...just this one...

Anyway, just thought you may want to know - Bacău is a small city in Romania, covering a land surface of 41km². It is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, 300 km north of Bucharest.

On wikipedia, when you open an article about a particular place, at the bottom, there is often a list of people who were born there...and i check that out as well, and see if someone i know is listed....well, on the list of people born in Bacău is Monica Roşu, a famous Romanian gymnast. I was just surprised to read she had actually retired due to an injury.
Ever since i have been a kid, i enjoyed watching gymnastics, and Romanian gymnasts have always been among those nations who had amazed me in their performances...no wonder they scored the golden medal at the Olympics in Athens in 2004 (they didnt do THAT good this year though, and unfortunately, i wasnt even able to watch most of it, coz the TV stations ALWAYS had something more "interesting" to broadcast).

Mentioning this years Olympics and the gymnastics...i still wonder what happened with the investigations about the Chinese gymnasts, where some of them were claimed to be under 16 years of age, which is considered as something unallowed, since participants mustnt be younger than 16...and really, when you look at some of them, they seem more like 11 or 12....not even close to 16....

heh, what an unattractive card, and how inspirational :P

North Carolina, USA

A map card!! On a blue background!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! Perfect choice Gaby! :)


lets see the facts the back of the card has:

Area: 52.700 square miles
Capital: Raleigh
Nickname: The Tar Heel State
Motto: Esse quam vider - To Be, Rather than To Seem
Song "The Old North State" by Judge William Gaston
Flower: Dogwood
Tree: Pine
Bird: Cardinal
Shell: Scotch Bonnett
Fish: Channel Bass
Insect: Honey Bee
Colours: Blue & Red
Gemstone: Emerald

So far, this card definitely contains the most info out of all the other map cards i have...i mean, it has 'shell, insect, colour and gemstone' on the list.

State's motto is clear, i just needed to google for 'dogwood' coz i am somewhat not that flower-names friendly person, and unless its a tulip, rose, violet, lilac or something quite common, i can get rather stuck....

Regarding the state's nickname, the exact etymology is quite unknown but most experts believe its roots come from the fact that tar, pitch and turpentine created from the vast pine forests were one of North Carolina's most important exports early in the state's history.

Now, while you still here....uhm, well, i hope you are, take a look at Gaby's Project, read the idea behind it, read the rules as well and if you are interested, then just submit your entry :)

Le Morne, Mauritius

Mmmmmmmm.......Mauritius....


this makes it country no. 74....well, actually 75, coz i had overlooked one in the collection and hadnt noted it down...so its 75
and apart from being a new country, sent from Mauritius itself, its as well a UNESCO site...how was that saying? I killed two flies in one shot? :P

Le Morne Cultural Landscape, a rugged mountain that juts into the Indian Ocean in the southwest of Mauritius was used as a shelter by runaway slaves, maroons, through the 18th and early years of the 19th centuries. Protected by the mountain’s isolated, wooded and almost inaccessible cliffs, the escaped slaves formed small settlements in the caves and on the summit of Le Morne. The oral traditions associated with the maroons, have made Le Morne a symbol of the slaves’ fight for freedom, their suffering, and their sacrifice, all of which have relevance to the countries from which the slaves came - the African mainland, Madagascar, India, and South-east Asia. Indeed, Mauritius, an important stopover in the eastern slave trade, also came to be known as the “Maroon republic” because of the large number of escaped slaves who lived in Le Morne.

Signs

I think you have had enough of a read today so now you can just pick your place to go and relax or have fun :)


I think there is a little bit for everyone....Im not sure what i will pick...the safaris sound interesting....or i just may retreat in some nice small quiet cafe and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee in the mild sun by the sea....mmmmmm....sounds so tranquil.....

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

"Her name is Rio and she dances on the sand..."


to some, mentioning Rio, would suggest carnivals....my first thought at mentioning Rio is that Duran Duran song....i guess i just often relate stuff to music....or books

The card shows the Lapa Arches, which is an important touristic place.

The Lapa Arches (Arcos da Lapa) in Rio de Janeiro were built in the 18th century colonial period as an aqueduct. The 42 double-tiered, white arches stretch for 270 metres and nowadays carry trams south from the city centre up to the hilltop neighbourhood of Santa Teresa.

Lapa is a neighbourhood near the downtown with an intensive nightlife, with lots of pubs, restaurants and discos.

well...i started with Duran Duran....so lets finish with them....here is the full song....

Rio - Duran Duran




pam pam pararam pam pam....pam pam pam pam pam.....

obviously Duran Duran have songs which fit into my posts :)

Velingrad, Bulgaria

an oldish card....well, dont know how old exactly, but i think its from this century :)


My aunt brought it to me from there...well, she prefers to hand me in the cards instead send them....im not sure why exactly is that so, but i dont complain...at least i do get a card in the end :)))

Velingrad is a place in Bulgaria which is a touristic spot, but as a health resort. So people mainly go there to heal from whatever they are suffering....it is mainly aimed for physical treatement, but due to the nature of the place, you will rest your mind as well, so probably once you go back home, you will feel totally refreshed and recharged.
In case you wonder what "Клептуза" stands for...that is one of the hottest SPA hotels in Velingrad....well, i cant see a hotel on the picture, but thats what google says.

On one hand, it sounds nice to go to a place like this, away from the street jungle, and give your entire being a nice treat....on the other, i wonder if i wont be way too bored here, coz there isnt much to do and in general, older people tend to go to places like this....and i definitely dont expect to find any fancy cards to send out :)

ps. those white clouds on the card....by now you should now where they originate from :)

Sleepy Cat

A TOTAL look-alike of my cat when he is asleep or just lies on his back!!!!


the cat on this card is a bit fluffier though......but i wouldnt give up on mine for that....
im just amazed at all the possible positions my cat can take while he is sleeping....sometimes i just observe him while he sleeps and have a laugh when he stretches his legs on one side, arms on the other, while his head seems to me in the most discomfortable position possible.....

im just not sure which of the cat cards is my favourite....they are all sooo....cute!

Route 66, USA

A Route 66 card!! Uhh, i love this one...its sooooo colourful!!


I like the old-fashioned style of the card...it really portrays the actual times of Route 66....and its cool to be actually driving in a car, with an old radio on, which is playing the song itself :)
though i wouldnt really want to be dressed like the woman on the card....im not a fashion addict, but this is really...well, just....not for me :)

Wickham, England

A card showing a vineyard in Wickham, Hapmshire....England of course...


I can say that i got this card as a thank-you-card from Serena, to whom i had sent an official card and she wanted to send me one back....but if we take in account the concept of postcrossing, thats not how it should work, even though there is no prohibition about it....so of course, i sent her another card....coz thats what i find fair and square....
There have been number of issues and of course, different attitudes towards the sending thank-you-cards on the account of a received official one....and of course, different minds dont think alike....and i could write an endless post about it, and my own way of seeing things....but you'll just think im a grumpy old lady :)

Philippines

Well, it may not be possible to get map-cards from all the 7107 islands in the Philippines, but Marie definitely took care that i have all the island-map-cards she could find :) Thanks a lot Marie!



Here you can see the island of Luzon, which is the largest and most economically and politically important island in the Philippines and one of the three island groups in the country.
It includes a number of islands, including Mindoro, which you can see on the card as well...its south of Luzon.

Quezon City, the former capital and most populous city in the Philippines, is also located on the island of Luzon. (now, Quezon City rings a bell of something..:-)))))))

Lets see the pictures on the card now, starting from the left first:

- Paoay Church, Ilocos N.
- White sand beach and azure blue waters of Pagudpud......mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
- Vigan, a Spanish heritage city
- Hundred Islands National Park, Pangasinan

on the right side:

- Century old Banaue Rice Terraces
- Crater of Mt. Pinatubo, Pampanga
- Taoist Ma-Cho Chinese Temple in San Fernando, La Union
- Mayon Volcano, Albay

that crater picture looks amazing!

Sea Shells

I used to collect these from along beaches when i would go on a holiday....right now i have just a few, which my cousin brought me ones....



When it comes to shell-fish as part of the sea-food category, that is when i would step aback...havent tried it...but from what ive seen and what ive read, i dont think i would easily digest that :)

Well, the card here is to tickle your imagination, so you imagine yourself being somewhere....whatever you may come up with, when thinking of shells....sea...ocean...sandy beaches....diving....happiness....starry nights....waves....jellyfish....heat...cruise....well, imagination has no limits....

San Juan, Puerto Rico

When i received 5 cards with lighthouses and matching stamps, i was,well, speechless....now my mailbox was again surprised by Addis, who again totally unexpectedly, sent me a envelope with some lovely cards....i really wonder whats the best way to give credit at times like this...'thank you' isnt even close to it....maybe something multiplied by 1000000000000 :-)


This is the San Juan National Historic Site, which is a UNESCO site in Puerto Rico. It consists of several military structures, such as El Morro (officially known as Fuerte San Felipe del Morro) and San Cristobal.

Projecting strength and power, El Morro guarded the entrance to the bay of San Juan for over four centuries and still stands as a reminder of Spain's vast colonial empire.

The little building in the background, which is shaped like an "E", is the school of Fine Arts in Puerto Rico.
I really like it when senders write this kind of information on the back of the card...i mean, what are the odds that i actually found out myself what that building actually represents?  Low, very low! I mean, look a few posts down....and you'll see that identifying places isnt always my strong side :)

Dubrovnik, Croatia

A very old card, given to me by one of my mum's late friends.....i cant possibly identify the date, coz the one who sent it didnt date the card, and the cancellation is veeeery pale....well, its definitely an old card, thats for sure



I was in Dubrovnik when i was little...during our summers we spent in Croatia, we also went to Dubrovnik once.
Well, frankly, i dont have some splendid memories about it...as a historic place, Dubrovnik will amaze you...as a touristic spot, not really...and having in mind i was just a child when i went there, what do you think i preferred...historic places or somewhere i can have fun and enjoy?
There was also another family with us..the man was a friend of my dad....i cant recall if we arranged it from here to meet there or what...i know i didnt like it....they had a boy and a girl my age...both somewhat spoilt....i felt them as a threat and competition....esp. the boy....coz of the attention he got from my dad and how they two 'hung out'.....
The greatest percentage of the memories is way too vague and blurred....but i keep having this feeling that something bad happened as well....some kind of an accident....i just cant recall what it was...as if we the kids had done something, and then we had to report it to our parents...and how i was both terrified and ashamed....i can recall the feelings...i cant possibly recall why....i keep getting the image of the hotel lounge...and i keep having the feeling as if someone broke something....but im actually just rambling now...trying to make out some sense....

Michigan, USA

A lovely Michigan map! Well, its bonus is coz its on a blue background....for some reason, the blue colour makes everything look much more beautiful :)
I mean, a card can be very plain...if the blue is the predominant colour on it, then the card transforms into something lovely



Here are some facts about the state of Michigan:

- Capital: Lansing
- Area: 58,216 Sq. Mi
- Population 8, 874, 083  (well, this is a subject to CONSTANT change)
- Motto: - Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice - If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you
- Flower: Apple Blossom
- Bird: Robin
- Tree: White Pine
- Nicknames: The Great Lakes State, The Automotive State, The Wolverine State, Water-Winter Wonderland

without a doubt, that last nickname scores my points

its the state's motto which got me into thinking....but i figured it out when i took a look at the US map ;-)

Unknown

Im sorry for the scarce updates lately....not that i have no cards to show off...im actually worried how im gonna manage with them all, but...well, wouldnt go into the issues now....


I absolutely love the view on this card....the only problem with it is that I have absolutely no idea what does it represent...its one of those cards which you order from sites that are selling those and in addition you can as well, insert your own words and messages into it....just that nowhere on the card it says what can actually be seen....but the landscape is just magnificent!
If anyone has ANY kind of reliable information of where this might be, please, enlighten me!

Egypt (02)

Yay, Egypt! I already have one card from there, but this is my first written and stamped from Egypt itself :)


I dont know why but at first i actually thought the card said "Panoramic Egypt" not "Pharonic"....it wouldnt have been a big deal, unless it has to deal with a language mistake...since "Pharonic" itself aint a word....the correct one is "Pharaonic"....and i get too picky on things like this...I call it professional damage.

Ive never been to Egypt....it would be nice if i had the chance to go, since i do like travelling, and Egypt with its ancient culture and history is a country of one of a kind...if just it wasnt too hot there...i dont like heat at all :(

Writing about Egypt can be an endless topic....so ill just focus a bit on the issue of Pharaohs..

Pharaoh is the title given in modern parlance to the ancient Egyptian kings of all periods. In antiquity it began to be used for the king, who was the religious and political leader of Ancient Egypt. The pharaohs were believed to be the incarnations of the God Horus, the mythological ruler of all Egypt. Although the rulers of Egypt were generally male, pharaoh was also used on the rare occasions when a female ruled.
The most familiar pharaonic headgear was 'nemes' - a striped headcloth.

Ok, if possible, again some help would be needed in identifying the 3 pictures above....I googled for them, but nothing could satisfy my criteria for a perfect match......and if there is something i wouldnt want, is provide wrong details here.....its always wiser to remain silent :)

Vienna, Austria

Ehhhhh....Vienna.....one of my favourite places on Earth, EVER!!


Apart from the numerous cards i bought myself when i went there, i also have this one sent to me by a friend who went there. From the postmark, it seems as if it says it was sent in 2003 but i cant tell for sure.
This is one of the unlucky cards which suffered in my water accident...that whitish part under the name of Staatsoper (State Opera), is actually a result of the accident, not some cloud passing by...yeah, i actually must admit, the water got very creative when ruining my cards and decided to at least make some interesting and sensible marks....though if you hold the card in your hand it would be more than obvious to you that something has happened to it...its somewhat bent and feels quite rough at some spots....really pity, coz the card itself is magnificent.

Being a part of the Historic Centre of Vienna, this building is as well a UNESCO whs.

Oregon, USA

No. 4 in the set of 5 lighthouses Addis had sent me.


This is Umpqua River Lighthouse.

It replaced a previous tower destroyed by erosion. Dedicated in 1894, the new brick sentinel was erected on higher ground south of Reedsport, Oregon.
Visible from a distance of 21 miles, the light from its first-order Fresnel lens flashes two white beams, one red.



of course, the matching stamp...dont think ive forgotten them ;)

Toscana, Italy

And some fields from Toscana...


Well, considering that Toscana (or Tuscany) is actually a region...i cant tell for sure in which part of Toscana this actually is...its quite a general card, so unless someone passes often along the road here and can recognize that house behind the few trees, its hard to give an exact location.

Helsinki, Finland

A really lovely card from Helsinki....my first card from the Finnish capital!



The card shows the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral.
Its name comes from the Russian word uspenie, which denotes the Ascension. (in Macedonian we also use that word, 'uspenie').
Uspenski Cathedral is the main cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox church and claimed to be the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe....even though Finland is actually considered to be in Northern Europe, no?
In the foreground you can see the terminal building of one of the boat lines that traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn, while on the left side of the Cathedral is what is considered to be the ugliest building in Helsinki.....well, honestly, it does look rather...unattractive :)

Australia

A very cool card with some Australian Road Signs.....is this really authentic and you can actually see this signs across Australia...or its just an interesting way to represent part of the Australian culture and animals???



Not much explanation required....the card says it all.
Just got me into thinking if this kind of card was supposed to be created about Macedonia, what would it actually show off?

Copenhagen, Denmark (05)

An older card, which frankly i have no idea when i had got it and how i had got it.....

Did you know that according to some surveys done, people in Denmark are considered to be the happiest people in the world?
It is said that the Danes pay some of the highest taxes in the world, but in exchange, the government covers all health care and education, and spends more on children and the elderly than any country in the world per capita.
And interestingly enough, what is considered to be the best symbol of Danish happiness is the bicycle..Danes can all afford cars, but they choose bikes simple, economical, nonpolluting machines that show no status and help keep people fit.
And it is very true that regular physical activity of any kind, does contribute to an overall of feeling better and content with yourself. Thats one thing I envy the Danes about....the bicycle culture they have
Here is a really nice link of a blog which deals with exactly that...cycling in Copenhagen....its amazing to actually explore all that biking world

The World's Cycling Capital

If there is one reason why id love to live in Copenhagen is that.....the bicycle thing :)

Gibraltar

And a new spot on the list of countries/territories covered....number 73 goes to Gibraltar!



And now I actually have 3 Gibraltar cards, but ill show them off one at a time....as usual :)
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar.
The territory shares a border with Spain to the north.
The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic Jabal Tāriq meaning "mountain of Tariq" which refers to the geological formation The Rock of Gibraltar (you cant see the Rock here, but you will in one of the following cards).

Ohrid, Macedonia

And the final card for today comes from my own Macedonia :)


A friend of mine went there for holidays and of course, i bugged her to send me a card (as i always annoy people when they go somewhere :P)
Believe it or not, the card took 6 days to arrive from Ohrid to Skopje.....the efficiency of the postal service is really amazing me sometimes!
Well, what i like is that i dont have this card in my collection, netiher ive seen it in the stores around here, so its a Bingo! :)

Свети Пантелејмон (St. Panteleimon in English) is a monastery in Ohrid, situated on Plaošnik. (just for the record, there are several monasteries here, names as St. Panteleimon).
This one here is attributed to Clement of Ohrid a disciple of St. Cyril and St. Methodius and is believed to be the first University in Europe. Archaeologists believe that the monastery was a place where the first students of the Glagolithic alphabet were taught.

Thailand

My first official card from Thailand



It shows a Floating Market....this is the first time ive actually heard of an existence of something as a Floating Market. Looks as something interesting, though i wonder what happens when there is a lot of traffic and the boats get stuck....there are no signs, no traffic lights....can get quite hectic.

As i have read, these floating markets are a feature of the Thai Culture and the rural life and most of them are concentrated in Bangkok....im just not sure where this Floating Market is...the sender says its about 190km or 1.30 hour drive....but doesnt say where from.....she surely didnt want to say that the market itself is 190km long!! Or she did?

Moscow, Russia

A really older card. On the back it says it was printed in 1982! But it is in an extremely good condition!

This actually comes in a pack of 10 cards...or more actually...havent counted them in a long time.
On this one in particular, you can see the Moscow river (503 km), which flows through the Moscow and Smolensk Oblasts in Russia and is a tributary of the Oka River. The city of Moscow is named after the river.

Saaremaa, Estonia

A card from Estonia showing the island of Saaremaa.....mmmmm, an island....

Saaremaa is the largest Estonian Island, located in the Baltic Sea, belonging to the west Estonian archipelago.
Its capital is Kuressaare. It has around 39.000 inhabitants.
An interesting fact i read about it: In 1946 Saaremaa was declared a restricted zone, closed to foreigners and to most mainland Estonians. It remained a restricted area until 1989.
Does this mean that the inhabitants of Saaremaa were actually isolated from the rest of the world?
Restricted....that sounds equally to forbidden.....forbidden intrigues the feeling of mystery and the desire to actually break the rule and do whats forbidden...yeah, something like Adam and Eve concept, or Pandora....just that by breaking into a forbidden land wont actually bring eternal consequences to the rest of the world :)))
Interesting....got me intrigued...

Singapore

Another card from Singapore...addressed to me ;-)

This card here shows the Singapore's most famous symbol - The Merlion - part fish, part lion.
You actually DONT want to know, to what this figure reminds me whenever i look at it...nope, i aint saying....its ridiculous :)  well, its cos seen from the back, it does look to me like it....when seen from the front its as if its a totally different image.

Singapore comes from the Java name, Singa Pura, which actually means 'Lion City'.

There are five official Merlions in Singapore. The one on the card is located in the Merlion Park.

Schwäbische Alb, Germany

A really cool map showing the Swabian Alb in Germany.

It is named after the region of Swabia.
The Swabian Alb occupies the region bounded by the Danube in the southeast and the upper Neckar in the northwest. The highest mountain of the Swabian Alb is the Lemberg, 1015m.
The Alb's profile resembles a high plateau, which slowly falls away to the southeast. The northwestern edge is a steep escarpment (called the Albtrauf or Albanstieg, rising up 400 m, covered with forests), while the top is flat or gently hilled.

Coffee

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, my first coffee card!!!!! If you know how much i love coffee, then youd know how much i love this card as well...

The special thing about this card is that it came TOTALLY unexpectedly, as a part of a RAS RR, on behalf of Jessica, who actually sent me the Alcatraz card i liked so much, and now she thought of me to include me in this RR, and the person who sent it (homine) sent me a coffee card, since she saw i like coffee cards!
Now, how thoughtful is that? On both sides??!

And this coffee on the card here is simply delicious...i can even feel its appealing smell and delicious taste by just looking at it...each time i take a peek, gives me the urge to make myself some coffee....ok, i dont need to actually look at it in order to get the coffee-urge...i have that urge regardless of anything...several times a day....but still, looking at this card, makes coffee as appealing as it can get...if it was a commercial, it would definitely have the right effect on me to go and buy it! :)

Thanks!

Goethenburg, Sweden

My first Swedish card in years!! Or more particularly since the late '90s.

The card shows Goethenburg, or particularly, a view of the Göta Canal, the channel around which the city is buily. It ends in the sea, which you can see in the background off the card.
The canal itself is 190km long, has 58 locks and can accommodate vessels up to 32m. long, 7m. wide and 2.8m. in draft.
Goethenburg is the second biggest city in Sweden.

New York, USA

A map card from the state of New York

As with all the states, New York as well has its motto, its flower/tree etc.

Now, here is how it stands:
- Capital: Albany
- Flower: Rose
- Tree: Sugar Maple
- Motto: Excelsior, Ever Upward (duh?!)  Someone will have to explain this to me a bit :/

Btw, even though Albany is the capital, the largest city is New York City, or the Big Apple, if you wish to call it so. It is as well the largest US city in general.

Glasgow, Scotland

A nice Scottish card, showing Glasgow

On this card you can see a view of the Glasgow Cathedral, from Cathedral Square.
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland, and the third most populous in the UK

Now, in case you wondered why i dont label places in Scotland as coming from the UK actually....I dont know....I like Scotland, and it feels more specific like that, instead labeling EVERYTHING inside UK as UK...Scotland may be a part of the UK, but I still like treating it respectively in my posts, so you can actually get a better idea which card comes from where....

Budapest, Hungary (14)

One of my numerous Budapest cards bought in 2001 when i went there....

So its not a newly received card, but an older one...as i said a few days ago, ill try and include an older card in each day i post, so apart from it contributing to the variety, i will also be able to make a balance between the old and new cards, and as well, manage to show those older cards as well instead leave them until there are no new cards at all (which is highly unlikely to happen...sometimes there may be less, sometimes more, but there will always be some new cards...i hope)

One thing that inevitably comes to my mind when thinking of Budapest is the following video...sorry, but i cant help it :)

Kyoto, Japan

An absolutely amazing card!

This is the Kinkaku-Ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan (also known as Rokuon-Ji) which is as well a UNESCO whs. 
Translated, Kinkaku-Ji means "The Golden Pavilion Temple".

This has got to be one of the most serene cards ive ever seen....you can even feel the stillness floating in the air and dont want to utter a sound or make a move in order not to disrupt the perfection....everything is so tranquil, that all you can hear are the snowflakes falling....and some slow traditional Japanese instrumental music heard somewhere in the distance....absolutely absolutely beautiful! Thanks Noriko!

Turkey

A Perfect Turkish Flag, thanks to Raquel!

Red flag with a white crescent and star.
The star and the crescent are Muslim symbols but also have a long pre-Islamic past in Asia Minor. The basic form of the national flag was apparently established in 1793 under Sultan Selim III, when the green flags used by the navy were changed to red and a white crescent and multipointed star were added.
Many traditions explain the star and crescent symbol. It is known that Diana was the patron goddess of Byzantium, and that her symbol was a moon. In 330, the EmperorConstantine rededicated the city - which he called Constantinople - to the Virgin Mary, whose star symbol was superimposed over the crescent.

There are some legends as well, according to which a reflection of the moon occulting a star, appearing in pools of blood after a battle in 1448, led to the adoption of the Turkish flag by Sultan Murad II according to one legend. Others refer to a dream of the first Ottoman Emperor in which a crescent and star appeared from his chest and expanded, presaging the dynasty's seizure of Constantinople.

France

An amazing, breathtaking view of a lighthouse, thanks to Valerie!

It is called The Four Lighthouse.
It was first operating in 1874 and was put in automatic in 1992. The rock on which it was built, is a natural barrier for breaking the waves coming with the strong west winds. 
The Four lighthouse indicates the south-west entry of the English Channel. It is certainly one of the most approached lighthouse on the French littoral. His light, 30 metres above sea level, is covered most of the time.

Belgrade, Serbia (06)

An older card....which i dont know exactly when i had got it, neither if its me who bought it when i have been in Belgrade, or someone has given it to me....

Shows a nice view over the central part of the city and the Parliament...in the background you can also see a river...well, one on the left, one on the right....its a bit gloomy there, so i cant tell exactly if its one river, or two merging into one...and at this perspective, i cant recall either through which parts in Belgrade do Sava and Danube exactly flow.....

It would be nice if i had a chance to go to Belgrade...for a day at least...as long as its not Sunday....last time I went there, was just on a passing by, so i couldnt get postcards or anything....

Beni, Bolivia

A card from Bolivia...which as well makes it a new country in the collection.....its just that i dont know if i should be angry to myself about it, excited...happy...frustrated...or everything together...the story behind the card will actually make it clear....

I was going through some old mail the other day...all the letters i have received from penfriends throughout the years, mainly coz of cleaning up the drawers, and as well, coz i thought of actually selling some envelopes with the stamps along on them (if anyone knows a list of prices of how much stamps on envelopes are worth, please let me know...i need something like a catalogue with world-wide stamps shown....so its not single stamps, but like covers...)
Anyway....as i was going through the letters, i came across some quite unfamiliar to me...and among them i saw an envelope which had Bolivian stamps...i couldnt really recall i had ever received a letter from there, so i took a peek inside...and found a card...as on the front the name "Beni" is written, it didnt really tell me much...and my first thought was that its some ad-card promoting something....i dont know what.....its when i turned the card on the back when i was in total shock and amazement...and absolutely speechless, just stared at the card....first of all coz it was a real postcard....second coz it actually said Bolivia!!! I couldnt absolutely believe it!!!
I have had a card from Bolivia ALL THESE years and i had absolutely NO idea about it!!! See why im so angry with myself?!! Whatever card i had received, with or without envelope, i would put it aside....WHY on Earth i had left this one inside and never realized till now i actually had a card from Bolivia, i dont know...neither i will ever figure it out....i even had Bolivia on my list of cards to request since i have none from there...it would have been hilarious if i actually asked for a Bolivian card, got it...and eventually found this one in my drawers....I know, I know I should be glad and grateful for this...I mean, its Bolivia...not really an easy country to get a card from...but hell....this ignorance for ten years (the sender says "La Paz, September 6, 98") is really frustrating me!! If it was some usual country, i wouldnt have felt bothered....i feel bothered coz i somehow have a gem in my collection and i was totally unaware about it!! Aghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

PS. Yeah, i know you are jealous though ;-)

Chaco Canyon, USA

A UNESCO from the US...

Located in remote Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico, Pueblo Bonito ruin, dates to the A.D. 900's. It was once up to four stories high, contained 800 rooms, 32 kivas (round ceremonial chambers) and was constructed of more than a million dressed stones. Here in Chaco Canyon, the prehistoric Anasazi people established a ritual and cultural centre. The monument occupoes 34 square miles and contains 13 major Anasazi ruins and hundreds of smaller ones.

New Mexico....makes me think of Mexico....and Mexico makes me think of someone....immensely.... tried not to, but cant help it....there is a song by Shade, Love is Stronger than Pride.......whoever knows what im talking about......

Nieuwpoort, Belgium

And another UNESCO, coming from Belgium this time...its one of those under the "Belfries of Belgium and France"

ok.....according to the translator, 'kust' means 'a coast' which makes sense, since Nieuwpoort is a coastal town.....so this would mean something like Belgian coast, on the front, right?
and i guess this is the town hall? according to how it looks like...

unfortunately, couldnt find a lot of info upon this UNESCO site....

Tiské stěny, Czech Republic

The last card shown for today comes from the Czech Republic...

Tiské stěny (The Tisa Walls) called after the nearby village Tisa, is the name of a formation of sandstone rocks in the Bohemian Switzerland.

well, most of the info is in Czech....so i cant (again) be of a great help here...well, just enjoy the picture....

Taj Mahal, India

And here is country number 71 in my collection....India!!! And not just one, but 6 cards!!! But of course, will show them one at a time ;-)

Mmmmm, Taj Mahal....always causes sighs and admiration in me.
A mausoleum, built under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in loving memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, as a symbol of eternal love.

Well, its probably something every woman would be proud of, if her man did that for her, during her life, or afterwards...but it would have been nice if men as well realized that the small, at-first-sight insignificant things they do, are also very much appreciated....if you dont have the chances/means/ways/words to actually express your gratitude/affection, doesnt mean it aint there....but sometimes unless things arent served on a plate, means they are non-existent....well...its wrong...too bad some men cant see it and grasp the bigger picture...well, its not men but a man in particular....but i guess, its too late...as it has always been....

Ostrog, Montenegro

Well, not a newly received card actually....not that im out of cards...i have like over 20 pending....but i got this insane idea that i need to mingle my older ones as well...i mean, i barely manage to keep up with the newly received ones, so i dont know how i will with these ones added on top of that...but i was thinking...and the moment i started uploading my newly received cards, i had like hundreds of the previous ones which i had put on stand by...and at this rate, turns out ill never upload them...or i will in some distant future....so i decided to do it now, and mingle them with the new cards.....another reason for this is that i like having a variety here...and by that, i mean, cards from different countries....if you have noticed, i barely post 2 cards of the same country on a same day even if i have like 5 to post from that particular country....and by including these old cards, ill increase the variety, since most of those are from places ill most probably wont get a card now (both officials and swaps), so it really will bring some difference here....plus youll get to see more different stuff.....well, i personally like the idea...i hope you as well....and if we get realistic...the chances i get an official card from Montenegro are scarce....the chances for me to ask for a swap are even lesser, mainly coz i have too many cards from there.....so...there we go.....:))))

This card here was sent to me by my mum and dad in 2001 during their stay there......with a simple and concise message on the back: "Something very beautiful".

Well, it surely is, no?
The Monastery of Ostrog is of the Serb Orthodox Church placed against an almost vertical background, high up in the large rock of Ostroška Greda, in Montenegro, dedicated to Sveti Vasilije Ostroški (Saint Basil of Ostrog).

It is the most popular pilgrimage place in Montenegro, visited by believers from all parts of the world, representing the meeting place of all religions: Orthodox, Catholics, Muslims. According to the stories of pilgrims, by praying by his body, many have been cured and helped in lessening the difficulties in their lives.

(Maybe I should give it a try....)

The Netherlands

Yay, a FLAG!! I actually should start taking notices of which flags and which maps i have, coz i may start getting lost...again

This is the Dutch flag....and some funny trivia related to it

An orange pennant is hoisted above the national flag on birthdays of members of the Royal House or other occasions in which the Royal House is involved, except when hoisted half mast.

In May and June you can tell which families have students who have graduated. Outside the house the flag is put out, with the school bag at the top of the staff.