The Caldeirão of Corvo Island , Azores

                

Thinking about how much I miss travelling...and this is the kind of view I would like to set my eyes on next. I did send this card myself but haven't actually visited this place, as 'the island of the crow' is the smallest - and the northernmost of the Azores archipelago. 

I am curious to see where I'll be going next, I have so many ideas buzzing through my brain, but of course it is still difficult to plan or predict. Any idea where you'll be going? :)

Praia Da Vitória, Azores, Portugal

Praia da Vitória, translated as the Beach of the Victory, is a municipality in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. With a population of 21,035 (in 2011), it is the second largest administrative authority on the island of Terceira (after Angra do Heroísmo). Praia da Vitória is a services, fishing and agricultural municipality and boasts a large marina, popular with the yachting community, with the only sizeable sand beach on Terceira.

We left the 'home port' Southampton on the 3rd on a 50-night voyage across the Atlantic, to reach the Azores on the 7th - which meant 3 sea days in between. The crew on board just 'loves' sea days heh. Longest hours, hardly seeing any sun, and often the 'formal nights' when we had to dress up (or in my case done a dress, which is already a huge effort). Rockin' along the notorious Bay of Biscay also included at the beginning of any cruise heading west of Southampton. But! Considering the itinerary, and the opportunity to cross an ocean on a ship, everything is peachy :)

I believe we were planned to dock in Ponta Delgada, but due to bad weather plans needed to change. All the same to me at that stage, just wanted to get off and walk in one direction for longer than one minute! There were locals dressed in traditional clothes playing music and dancing for out benefit. I found some postcards & stamps but no mailbox - a very friendly lady in the shop offered to post mail for me :)

Madeira Lavadas

Levadas are irrigation channels or aqueduct specific to the island of Madeira, that originated out of the necessity of bringing large amounts of water from the west and northwest of the island to the drier southeast, which is more conducive to habitation and agriculture, such as sugar cane production. In the past they were also used by women to wash clothes in areas where running water to homes was not available. The idea of this style of water channel was brought to Portugal by the Moors during the time of al-Andalus (or Muslim Iberia).

To be honest I had no idea to this moment what exactly these images show lol, I just thought they are beautiful and reflect my wish to come back to the island for some nature trekking. Moreover, I matched a Madeira nature stamp only to learn it is also of a levada, the 25 Fontes. 

 

Maçaroco Com Lagartixa

Being excited about my first day out in a port, and to be honest about all the postcards with beautiful nature (esp lizards) I have sent a few more from this enchanting Portuguese island. I have used the original title, Lagartixa being a lizard family, and Maçaroco being this species of Echium flowering plant native to this island only, and thus being nicknamed the Pride of Madeira.

I mean a lizard, how could I not..? :)

Map Of Madeira

Just as I thought, I couldn't find an older cruise schedule (but I found two of the more recent ones, coincidentally starting from the date the 'good management' left the ship and different kinds of 'bad management' started rolling in), so I had to resort to retracing my steps via facebook lol. Well, I did write on this postcard 'here is a first postcard!' so that I can be sure of :D I flew to Hamburg while the ship was still on dry dock, had a few days of practice, and...then off to Southampton, the ship's turn-around port. The first cruise was so-called 'party cruise' or 'booze cruise' - those are generally the short 2-3 day trips over to Zeebruge/Bruges As those are the busiest cruises (you have to fit in all the different shoots plus the selling into a small time-frame) I didn't even go out in Zeebrugge. Well I couldn't have anyway as the company I worked for still didn't sort out my Bermuda ID by that point, plus it requires actual planning and sufficient free time to get to Bruges, so I thanked the Lord that I have visited lovely Bruges on my own, and simply had some rest.

Party cruise, or should I say 'fiery baptism' (is what we call any tough introduction into a job), over and done with, Xmas cruise around the Canary Islands (and a few other ports) next. Madeira was a delight - I actually had enough free time to go to the Funchal town centre, have a stroll, enjoy a bit of a Xmassy-feel, have a snack, and buy some postcards. Many souvenir (and tobacco) shops were open and were also selling stamps - not that you could tell from this stamp-less postie..! (The stamp thief strikes again)

Cats On Chain Postcards

Chain postcards are a great way of giving 'life' to blank postcards you keep at home because you just love them too much to swap them :D These are two latest examples, thanks to Leon who organises chain postcard groups on facebook..:))

Many thanks also to Ana of Portugal and Thealren of Ireland, and Karina of France and Ewa of Poland. Esp. love all the flowers on the 2nd postcard :))

Curious Goat

A scene from Serra do Sicó, a mountainous region in Portugal. Contemplating to start a goat collection, such cute beasts, and hilarious (thinking of an episode of 'How I met your mother'). Thanks Ana!

Donkeys Still Carry The Goods

Poor donkey, so much to carry! This seems like a scene from days of yore, though possibly it can still be seen in the rural parts of the Mediterranean. This is a card from the Tras-os-Montes region of Portugal, in the far north of the country. A lovely surprise from Marta :))

UNESCO - Cultural Landscape Of Sintra, Portugal

In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture - the cultural landscape of the Serra and the town represents a pioneering approach to Romantic landscaping that had an outstanding influence on developments elsewhere in Europe. It is a unique example of the cultural occupation of a specific location that has maintained its essential integrity as the representation of diverse successive cultures.

I wish I had more time to explore this area, that is why I am almost certain I will go back to do a proper tour. It was a murky day and I have visited the town and the Moorish Castle, even though the Pena Palace is far more recognisable. I've enjoyed the kind of a fairytale setting and atmosphere :) The second postcard is made of cork and shows the Regalaleria Palace. Alas both cards weren't cancelled...something the Portuguese Mail seems to struggle with.

UNESCO - University Of Coimbra, Portugal

The University was founded/ratified in 1290, but it moved to/from Coimbra/Lisbon for centuries, until it moved definately to Coimbra during the reign of Joăo III in 1537, which is also the year it occupied the beautiful building on the photo, the Royal Palace Of Alcáçova. Obrigado Cristina :)

I have decided to re-post after receiving the panoramic card of the library from my own trip :) It actually looks much bigger here than in real life, but its equally stunning. I liked the story about bats living inside the library eating the bugs that normally destroy the books. Quite a symbiosis :) The stamps are of two of the Coimbra's cathedrals, old and new.

Iberian Emerald Lizard

Ohoh what a wonderful surprise in my mailbox! The Iberian emerald lizard or Schreiber's green lizard is found in Portugal and Spain - its natural habitats are temperate forests and shrublands, Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation, rivers, and pastureland. It is threatened by habitat loss :(

This particular fella represents the Mondego river valley in the Portuguese municipality of Guarda, Marta's home - thank you so much/muito obtigado amiga! And for the excellent stamp :)

UNESCO - Historic Centre Of Oporto, Portugal

The city of Oporto, built along the hillsides overlooking the mouth of the Douro river, is an outstanding urban landscape with a 2,000-year history. The rich and varied civil architecture of the historic centre expresses the cultural values of succeeding periods - Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassical and modern.

One of the town's trademarks is the waterfront or Ribeira, where you can see and ride in the traditional rabelo boat - just as I did with my postcrossing friend Martinha, and accidentally she is the one who sent me the 1st postcard some years ago :) I fell in love with the town and its prospects and really REALLY hope to visit again.

 

UNESCO - Monastery Of The Hieronymites And Tower Of Belém In Lisbon

Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world.

Surprisingly that is all that is written on the official Unesco-web-site...Mosteiro dos Jerónimos has been a true and fascinating discovery for me - as i hadn't looked it up prior to visit, I didn't really know what to expect (seems to be the best way!) and I got a whole lot of oohs and aahs to last me a week :) I have seen the Tower of Belem on postcards but still very cool to actually visit it. And I have never seen THIS view on a postcard!

The impressive stamp that I've found in a friendly PO in Coimbra presents the Queluz National Palace in Sintra Municipality, in the Lisbon District - one of the last great Rococo buildings to be designed in Europe.

Its been two months and I am still suffering from withdrawal symptoms...didn't get enough of Portugal

Food Map Of Portugal

I have sent a yummy map to remind me of some of the tastiest experiences in Portugal (bacalhau/cod, francesinha, pasteis de nata, though much more left to try) - then i realised it can be seen as a Intangible Cultural Heritage postcard, as Mediterranean diet has been added to the list in 2013. Wish Croatia had some nice food postcards..!

 

Scene From Algarve

I had my eye on this one for a while...it seems I had to go to Portugal to get it :) The photograph was taken in Serra do Caldeirão in the country's south, in 1990. The stamp featuring a donkey (!) celebrates Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro who is considered the first Portuguese comics creator.

 

Olá!

I am Agi's new friend, she discovered me in a tucked-away shop in the streets of lovely Coimbra...and now she wants me to tell you 'welcome back to the blog!' - after the winter sluggishness there will be more posts, new countries and unesco sites, and of course more donkeeeys ;)

 

A Ride In Algarve

 

Very nice recent addition to the donkeys collection comes from Portugal, its a bit vintage, thanks Joana :) I sure hope there is no heavy stuff in that sizeable burden...very interesting national apparel :)

 

Children Of Fatima

Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia are three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal who have experienced a Marian Appartion in 1917, which continued for six consecutive months. Fatima has since become a pilgrimage site. I wanted my mum to see his photo - thank you very much Cristela :)

A Fisherman In Portugal

 

Love this kind of a daily scene...and the boat's name 'Tres Amores', I wonder - actually I am quite sure the meaning is on some deeper level, maybe even rooted in the tradition? Many thanks Jose :)

Faial Island, The Azores

Faial Island  is one of the islands in the Azores group that form the Triangle (the other two being Pico and Sao Jorge), and is the smallest and westernmost of the three. The initial postcard shows the general views, the second its capital Horta and the third the paintings that cover its walls and walkways, left there by the many sailing crews that stop on their way across the Atlantic.

The fourth is the islands centre or Caldeira, the crater of a stratovolcano integrated into the dispersed Parque Natural do Faial.