UNESCO - Churches Of Moldavia, Romania

Moldavia, or Țara Moldovei (in Romanian Latin alphabet), Цара Мѡлдовєй (in old Romanian Cyrillic alphabet)) is a historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester River. An initially independent and later autonomous state, it existed from the 14th century to 1859, when it united with Wallachia (Țara Românească) as the basis of the modern Romanian state.

There are eight Romanian Orthodox Churches located in Suceava County, northern Moldavia, that have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since 1993. These churches, built from the late 15th century to the late 16th century, their external walls covered in fresco paintings, are masterpieces inspired by Byzantine art.

The ones depicted here are Saint John the New Monastery (Romanian: Mănăstirea Sfântul Ioan cel Nou) in Suceava, and the Church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (Romanian: Biserica Înălțarea Sfintei Cruci) in Pătrăuți Commune. This was a great double swap with Viktor, mulţumesc!

 

UNESCO - Villages With Fortified Churches In Transylvania, Romania

Recently I've received this awesome card with eight fortified churches in Transylvania, many thanks to Bernadett!

These fortified churches illustrate building styles from the 13th to the 16th century, and dominate the villages founded by the Transylvanian Saxons.

UNESCO - Danube Delta, Romania

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes.

One of those species is the great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), whose wingspan can range from 226 to 360 cm. The pelicans arrive in the Danube in late March or early April and depart after breeding from September to late November.

I simply love these cards! Looks like such an amazing place. Mulțumesc Anca :))

 

UNESCO - Wooden Churches Of Maramureș, Romania

Another great surprise - well for a surprise group in vacation RR ;) Many thanks to Violeta for this splendid view, and look, autumn colours sneaked in again..!

In the Maramureș region of northern Transylvania there is a group of almost one hundred Orthodox churches, and occasionally Greek-Catholic ones, of different architectural solutions from different periods and areas. Eight were listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in 1999, for their religious architecture and timber construction traditions.

One of them is this jewel in Bârsana - Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple. Here are a few interesting facts: it was built in 1720; of thick beams of oak on a foundation of massive blocks of stone; the name bârsan means a shepherd who keeps sheep with thick long wool; it was used for monastic purposes until 1791, when the monastery was abolished.

I have little hope to collect all eight churches heh.

 

Craiova, Romania

I have a very exciting assignment for today - through postcrossing friends on FB I have discovered an excellent online printing shop, and now I have to browse through my photos to see which ones may make a good postcard! I had my friends telling me a number of times to do this...so I hope the results will be pleasing :) If not, well I tried..! But also I need to do more blogging as I have a huge pile of postcards waiting...and as usual I won't be able to do it much over the winter, so lets chop-chop! xD

Starting with a view card of Romania's 6th largest city Craiova, the capital of Dolj County in the country's south. Lovely stamps of Romanian flora from 2012. Jelena went there via student-exchange programme, hvala ;)

UNESCO - Historic Centre Of Sighişoara, Romania

Founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania, Sighişoara is a fine example of a small, fortified medieval town which played an important strategic and commercial role on the fringes of central Europe for several centuries. Each year, a Medieval Festival takes place in the old citadel in July.

Thank you Daniela for this quaint view and cool stamps showing stained glass windows in the Bucharest's presidential Cotroceni Palace. Looking through the 2011 stamp issues of the Romanian Post i have seen something that caused immense yearning heh - gorgeous zodiac and reptiles sets!

Snails And Spirits, Romania

Love the food-on-the-table scenes! Snails are also popular, not to say a delicacy heh,  here in Dalmatia (my dad is quite a fan but I still haven't dared to try!) but what really caught my attention just now is the drink with a big red pepper dipped in it - until now I just assumed it was wine, but after some investigation I came up with the word pertsivka, which is horilka with, well, peppers. Horilka is Ukrainian national drink (destilled from grain) and this card depicts 'culinary Bucovina', which is the region divided between Ukraine and Romania. In any case, would love to try either, or both :) Thank you Daniela!

Sagetator, Romania

Yay, another Sagittarius postcard! This arrived for the Themed Messages RR and I absolutely love it :)))

Thank you Raluk!

Donkeys - Cyprus and Greece

Both donkeys are from Violeta - forever thankful for these additions to my collection! :=D

The 1st donkey is sent from a holiday in Cyprus, the 2nd is a Greek donkey sent from Romania.