Benjamin Franklin's Grave, USA

A cool official card!

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Ok, for some of you it may not be so cool, but you know I love graves and cemeteries...and well, this one is nothing explicit..you can barely see a grave or a tomb here :)

as the back of the card says: 

Benjamin Franklin's Grave, Christ Church Burial Ground, 5th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This famous statesman, who died in 1790, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Nearby at 4th and Arch Streets, a huge fiberglass bust of Benjamin Franklin is covered with 80,000 copper pennies, symbolizing Poor Richard's adage, "A penny saved is a penny earned".

(This reminded me of the "even a penny will help" technique....just rambling...but when you think about it, it IS an efficient one indeed)

two stamps on the card...the well-known American Clock...and maybe the not-so-well-known Wisdom definitive stamp issued in 2008, featuring the work of a New York artist, Nancy Stahl.

Strasburg Rail Road, USA

a great train card I received from Laura...the blue tone in the background against the green and the black is why it is so extra appealing to me.

the back of the card says: Strasburg Rail Road, Route 741. Daily runs to Paradise include a stop at Groff's Grove where passengers may enjoy a quiet picnic......catching a later train to complete their trip.
some postcards are really generous with information, no? :)

The website of the Strasburg's Rail Road says it was founded in 1832 and the earliest timetable found to date indicates Strasburg trains were scheduled as of December 1851.
With its ups and downhills over the years, today the Strasburg Rail Road is one of Lancaster County's most popular tourist attractions - and recognized as one of America's most significant examples of early 20th century railroading

always pleased to see some different stamps on my US postcards....the one on the right is from 2001 and shows the McKinley mountain, while the balloon stamp is from a booklet pair from 1991...nice and colourful

The Franklin Institute Science Museum, USA

One of the trains sent to ran over me...they did quite a good job coz they cracked well my stiff back and muscles :)

the card shows the Baldwin Locomotive #60,000

The mighty 350-ton steam-locomotive takes thousands of visitors for a ride down its track daily. In 1993, before the institute's west wall was constructed, the locomotive was hauled in on temporary tracks. The Railroad Room houses other trains and railroad memorabilia.

I wish we had a railway museum here too....

the lovely surprise was sent by dear Chris...even though im a really lousy pal...so many thanks to him for being so nice and overlooking my lousiness :)

Pennsylvania, USA

The last card for today is an official from USA

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This is the Comet Roller Coaster, which crosses Spring Creek twice during its 3.360 foot journey. A total of 248,919 feet of lumber was used to build the double out-and-back coaster. The coaster was built so close to town that riders' screams can be heard on Chocolate Avenue.

Have I ever told you that I absolutely LOVE roller-coasters?!! They are one of the most fantastic things ever invented! The scarier and more adventurous, the better! I would simply go on any of them, even though I may know ahead I might get sick to my stomach from all the ups and downs and such....i just love that adrenaline!!

you know the stamp ;)

Pennsylvania, USA

 I should make a list of all the US state map cards i have and see which ones im missing...but as usual, im totally disorganized about such stuff...

there isnt much info on the back...

- Nickname: Keystone State
- 1970 Population (???): 11,793,909.....i really wonder when does this card date from if they are using the stats from 1970!!!
- Area in Sq. Miles: 45,126
- Entered the Union: Dec. 12, 1787

the things which come to my mind when it comes to Pennsylvania are the Amish and those covered bridges...and my dear Katie who lives in Pittsburgh :D

some info from the front:
- State Bird: Ruffed Grouse
- State Flower: Mountain Laurel

the flower is definitely beautiful!

and i think its needless to talk of the stamp...the overused 94c one before the prices went up....have to say im glad they did so i dont get to see this stamp so often anymore :)
yeah, there are a few stamps out there im pretty tired of...this one, the German one with the flower, the Dutch one  which i dont know how to explain but i posted it on my last post about the Netherlands and with all due respect, the British one with the queen....ever since ive started getting mail, i end up seeing it on my cards/letters way too often :)

Amish People, USA

My first ever Amish-related card!!! Im soooooooooo glad about it!

My whole interest in the Amish culture started a few years ago. At work with one group of students we had to do a text about the Amish....that was (im ashamed to admit it) my first ever contact of something related to the Amish culture...but immediately caught my attention and made me really interested in it. Why? Well....i was amazed and astonished at the fact of a group of people who are against all modern technology, the simple kind of life they lead, the way they dress, no use of cars, the prohibiton of having personal jewellery, their contatc with the rest of the world...and yet, this is all happening in the USA!! That was the most stunning fact for me I guess...I mean, if it was some nation living on a small island somewhere, or some tribal people living in the mountains, deserts or so, it wouldnt have been strange at all...but to have such people living in one of the most industrialized places in the whole world, was really shocking to get to know! So ever since then ive been really interested in their culture and religion...i just find it fascinating in the today;s modern world...frankly, there is no way that i can imagine myself without a computer, phone, electricity for whatever i need it....coffee!! Do they drink coffee? or they also put their meals to a simple level?
All in all, i find it amazing...and interesting to read and get to know more about them
Alex, the sender of the card says that the Amish are the sweetest, most gentle people......doesnt surprise me.
I do admire their religion, but i dont think i would EVER be able to live like them.....this shows how much modern technology has made us dependent on it...and how much the modern world has alieanted people....and there is no turning back :(( 

Pennsylvania, USA (02)

I love the gray tone of this card....gives some special emotional feeling...well,  i find lot of things emotional sometimes....that aint good..

Ive already spoken of Pennsylvania once, so I wont go into it again..Ill just briefly tell you whats on the pictures....at multiviews i prefer not to get into details about each image....its gonna take a reaaall lot to write about them all :)

- The Liberty Bell --- Gettysburg National Military Park --- rustic covered bridges --- and Amsih farmland are just some of the many interesting attractions awaiting visitors to Pennsylvania

Thank you Katie...your choice absolutely meets my tastes! :)

Pennsylvania, USA

My first official card from US of A comes from Pennsylvania....my first from this state :)

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Pennsylvania is a state located in the Northeastern and Middle Attlantic regions of the USA. It has been known as the Keystone State since 1802, based in part upon its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States. It was also a keystone state economically, having both the industry common to the North making such wares as Conestoga wagons and rifles and the agriculture common to the South producing feed, fiber, food and tobacco. Another one of Pennsylvania's nicknames is the Quaker State; n colonial times, it was known officially as the Quaker Province, in recognition of Quaker William Penn's First Frame of Government Constitution for Pennsylvania that guaranteed Liberty of conscience. Pennsylvania has 51 miles (82 km) of coastline along Lake Eerie and 57 miles (92 km) of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary. Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city and is home to a major seaport and shipyards on the Delaware River.

The picture in the top left corner is the current Pennsylvania State Capitol in downtown Harrisburg.

One of the things related to Pennsylvania which are of great interest to me are the Amish People (the horse pulling the cart at the bottom represents the Amish community). I would like one day to receive a US card with the Amish People on it. Ive seen some of those around and they really are interesting :)