Saskatchewan, Canada

And the news is...not news at all dear raven, just living day by day and dreaming of better days; and one of the dreams sees me visiting this fascinating country, Canada. Saskatchewan is one of its ten provinces, nestled between Alberta on the west and Manitoba on the east. The capital is Regina and the biggest city Saskatoon (fun names). These cards are from a dear postcrossing friend Brenda, who now lives in the westernmost British Columbia. Very appreciative of the various animal stamps..!

Otočec Castle, Slovenia

Otočec Castle is situated on a small island in the middle of the Krka River in Slovenia, first mentioned in documents in the 13th century. The islet is linked to both banks of the river by bridges and the castle has now been converted into a small hotel. Its a popular venue for weddings and a music festival. I can imagine!

Thank you Kristijan :)

UNESCO - Kairouan, Tunisia

The Great Mosque of Kairouan is also known as the Mosque of Uqba and is one of the most important mosques in Tunisia - it was established by the Arab general Uqba ibn Nafi in 670 AD at the founding of the city of Kairouan, and is one of the oldest places of worship in the Islamic world, as well as a model for all later mosques in the Maghreb.

Kairouan flourished under the Aghlabid dynasty in the 9th century, and despite the transfer of the political capital to Tunis in the 12th century it remained the Maghreb's principal holy city.  It is an important centre for Islamic and Quranic learning, and thus attracting a large number of Muslims from various parts of the world, next only to Mecca and Medina.

Thank you Mehdi for this nice addition :))

 

New York, New York

Normally I can stand only so much of busy city streets, but on this murky windy day stuck on the tiny island I feel nothing more than transporting myself into these New York scenes and getting a shot of its hectic vibe

 

Basilica Of Saint Anthony Of Padua, Italy

To fill up the void of the days off, an oldie showing an aerial view of the grand basilica in Padua.

Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto region, northern Italy - and its Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is a place of pilgrimage by people from all over the world. The construction of the Basilica probably began around 1232, just one year after the death of St. Anthony, and was completed in 1310. I visited on a school trip some...18 years ago, ouch. Difficult to even remember! :)

The University Of Oxford

I have decided that its a better idea to post older scans and be patient with the new postcards (instead of taking photos of them...I may make a few exceptions). I will now post some cards from my older trips, no big explanations just short impressions :) And the impression of Oxford was - very fine and classy! Looks like a perpetual movie set :)

 

UNESCO - Abbey Of St Gall, Switzerland

The Convent of St Gall is a perfect example of a great Carolingian monastery which flourished from the times of its foundation in the 8th century to its secularization in 1805. It was one of the most important centres of art and knowledge, with its rich library and the scriptorium. The location is where the Irish monk Gallus withdrew to lead a hermit life in 612; and in 747 abbot Othmar established a community of Benedictine monks and founded a school.

Love the aerial view! Big thanks to Ruedi :))

Gars Am Inn, Germany

I have been to Gars many times since my sister got married there, but I never would have imagined the broader view exactly sooo green..! Truth to be told I loved every single place I've seen/been to in Bavaria :)

UNESCO - Historic Centre Of Český Krumlov, Czech Republic

 

Situated on the banks of the Vltava river, the town of  Český Krumlov was built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is an outstanding example of a small central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact thanks to its peaceful evolution over more than five centuries.

This aerial view is one of the most beautiful I have seen on a postcard :) And the stamps...awesome! Both Krtek and A je to! (Pat & Mat) are my childhood cartoons and I love having these stamps, thank you loads Radana :))

The Grand Mosque In Makkah, Saudi Arabia

As the birthplace of Muhammad and a site of the Muhammad's first revelation of the Quran, Makkah or Mecca is regarded as the holiest city in the religion of Islam and a pilgrimage to it known as the Hajj is obligatory for all able Muslims.

This is a broad view of Masjid Al-Haram, the "Grand Mosque'', the largest mosque in the world surrounding one of Islam's holiest places, the Kaaba. The current structure covers an area of 356,800 square metres, including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to 4 million worshipers during the Hajj period, one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. Unlike many other mosques which are segregated, men and women worship at Masjid Al-Haram together.

Thank you J.S. ;))

Budva, Montenegro

Budva is a lovely little town in coastal Montenegro - the coastal area around Budva, called the Budvanska rivijera, is the centre of Montenegro's tourism, and is well known for its sandy beaches, diverse nightlife, and examples of Mediterranean architecture. Budva is 3500 years old, which makes it one of the oldest settlements on the Adriatic sea coast.

This on the photo is the Old Town, much of which is of Venetian design. I've only seen it by night but it was oh so romantic :)

Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

 

Another surprise card which waited for me over the winter is this amazing view of the Marlborough Sounds, an extensive network of sea-drowned valleys created by a combination of land subsidence and rising sea levels, situated at the north of the South Island of New Zealand.

I always love new Zealand views, they are gorgeous without a miss - thank you yet again Heather :)) Love the stamps too, and of course the 'Middle-earth' cancellation xD

UNESCO - Natural And Culturo-Historical Region Of Kotor, Montenegro

In the Middle Ages, this natural harbour on the Adriatic coast in Montenegro was an important artistic and commercial centre with its own famous schools of masonry and iconography. A large number of the monuments (including four Romanesque churches and the town walls) were seriously damaged by the 1979 earthquake but the town has been restored, largely with UNESCO’s help.

Today the city of Kotor has a population of 13,510 and is the administrative center of the municipality. It is situated at a ria, a submerged river canyon, surrounded by nearly overhanging limestone cliffs of Orjen and Lovćen. The zig-zagging path on the left leads to Cetinje, a historical capital, and has been used continuously for almost a millenium.

I have to say this...the town is one of the most beautiful and picturesque places I have ever visited...The setting is just stunning, and there are so many small plazas and churches you just keep on sighing at every corner...well at least it was like that for me, and would encourage everyone to visit!

Newport, Rhode Island, USA

My friend Ash (already a household name heh) is spending some time in Newport, and has sent me these lovely viewcards - am especially into the 1st card, what an amazing place to have an estate! When he emailed me (just after sending) saying that the stamps are enormous and clumsy, i couldnt picture it as i am so used to small US stamps - but they are indeed quite large..! And quite awesome too, thank you Ash :)

UNESCO - Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes Between The Mountain And The Sea, Brazil

The site consists of an exceptional urban setting encompassing the key natural elements that have shaped and inspired the development of the city: from the highest points of the Tijuca National Park’s mountains down to the sea. They also include the Botanical Gardens, established in 1808, Corcovado Mountain with its celebrated statue of Christ, and the hills around Guanabara Bay, including the extensive designed landscapes along Copacabana Bay which have contributed to the outdoor living culture of this spectacular city. Rio de Janeiro is also recognized for the artistic inspiration it has provided to musicians, landscapers and urbanists.

I believe these are my 1st cards of Rio! I was happy to do a swap with Cristina, she has such beautiful postcards :) And the stamps are great too, and the cancellations..!

I love it on the first card how the statue of Cristo Redentor 'embraces' the city. It really looks like he's watching over everything and everyone :) In 2007 it was listed as one of the New Seven  Wonders Of The World - it is the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the world's 5th largest statue of Jesus Christ, with the height of 39.6 meters and the massive weight of 635 tonnes. It is situated on the Corcovado mountain, 700m high.

I hope to see the city and the statue 'live' one day...

as well as ride the only streetcar still active in the city, the beautiful La Vereda.

The Rio neighbourhood Santa Teresa has the only active tram line  in the city, which passes its winding, narrow streets and the colonial aqueduct. Santa Teresa is nowdays considered an artistic hotspot, dotted with many galleries and museums. Sounds like a 'must'!