Peking Opera Dan

This beautiful lady is one of the five female characters (Dan) in Peking Opera, probably the Guimen Dan, or maybe a Daoma Dan? Many thanks to Nan :)

A Dutch Route

Here are the 3/5 of towns I've visited in Holland last November - Rotterdam, Gauda and Amsterdam.

Didn't really know what to expect of Rotterdam, in the end it was quite surprising to discover quirky architecture along the way, and that the Dutch have the shortest opening hours of any country I have yet been to :)

I've enjoyed tasting a Gauda menu in, well, Gauda :) But the cheese market depicted on the postcard had to be missed, as it is only manageable in the nice summer weather.

Lots to say about Amsterdam (not the least that I could easily see myself living in such a city), here the accent is on the imaginative river boats, someone's living space. Amazing postcard assortment (I even bought some magnets as there were sooo many to choose from) but they are not often seen on postcrossing.

Missing towns are Delft (beautiful! I wish I was there longer, definately going back) and Hague (wait...I thought I've sent one from there...pih)
 

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 ;)

 

Bled Castle, Slovenia

I visited the Bled Lake early this month but didn't send any postcards...as I have quite a few in my collection already, also this one is the shape of a postal stamp which I've posted the 1st time around, in 2007. As it happens we accidentaly witnessed a wedding, and I can totally understand that someone would choose such a picturesque place for such an occasion :)

This time we've tried the traditional slovenian cream cake, really delicious!! There was a cheesecake too ;)

Tokushima Gotochi Card

My first Gotochi card! Gotochi cards are designed and released by the Japanese Postal System, and each one of them represents a place in Japan - hence the name 'gotochi', which means 'local'. They showcase Japanese symbols on a national and regional level - every prefecture has multiple cards, each card with a cartoon picture and the name of the place that is depicted. While they are super-cute they are also more expensive to send than normal postcards - and so it is hard for Japanese postcrossers to send a lot of them.

(info found on the official postcrossing site)

And the last sentence explains why it took me a while to receive one of these...I haven't even swapped for it but Heather, who is living in Tokushima, sent it as a surprise in an envelope :) And the card represents a dancer participating in yearly Awa Dance Festival held every August in Tokushima as part of the Obon Festival. Groups of choreographed dancers and musicians known as ren (連) dance through the streets, typically accompanied by the shamisen lute, taiko drums, shinobue flute and the kane bell. Performers wear traditional obon dance costumes, and chant and sing as they parade through the streets.

Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima prefecture, and odori means dance.

Paddy Old Irish Whiskey

Paddy Whiskey is Ireland's third best selling whiskey, first produced in 1779 in Cork. It is distilled three times and matured in oak casks for up to seven years. Its high malt content ensures the smoothness that I'd surely love to try! Amazing shaped card that travelled straight from its country of origin, beautiful Ireland. Thank you so much Desiree!!

Donkey - Shaped Card, Croatia

I have a sort of a small collection with this kind of card - same donkey, different city views inside. Beside Rovinj I think I also have Pula and Zadar. Hvala Ady :)

Hello Kitty Shaped Card

Did you know? This kitty's full name is Kitty White, she is a Japanese bobtail cat and was born in 1974!

Would have been such a shame not to swap for this card :)

I prefer normal-sized and regular cards, but over the years i've received so many oversized ones that i thought 'what the heck, now i have a special box for them anyway..!' ;) thank you Zhou Yue for this 'shaped swap' :)