Spring Donkeys From Menorca

I've opened this year's swapping 'season' in March when I was in Germany on island Amrum - I went there to work the season and had a contract until October. However, opposite from the previous year, I was met with conditions not matching the contract/agreement...and beside that totally ignored as a human being...So I ran away after three weeks. The thing is, thinking that I will stay for months, I've bought a considerable stash of postcards! Most I had to bring back home and will hopefully be able to swap them from Germany sometime in the future...

Anyways! From one of my march FB swaps, great Menorcan donkeys for my collection. Gracias Elena!

Costa Brava Market Scene

(Successful) private swaps through the official Postcrossing sites have become such a rarity for me...but every now and then there is a swapper that brightens up your day - thank you Dolores :)

Sargantana De Menorca

Lilford's wall lizard is a species of lizard of the Lacertidae family endemic to the Balearic Islands. It is also endangered due to its habitat loss :( A lovely addition to my collection, gracias Elena :)

Mónsul Beach In Cabo De Gata-Níjar NP, Spain

One of the first swaps I had on FB was with Angela from Almería, who sent me this summery view of the nearby Playa de Mónsul (we are having a sort of a heatwave here (30 DegC), much like most of Europe, so a beach view seemed appropriate). This beach is situated in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park, which is Andalucia's largest coastal protected area, a wild and isolated landscape with some of Europe's most original geological features. Spain's southeast coast, where the park is situated, is the only region in mainland Europe with a true hot desert climate.

The name Cabo de Gata relates to the mineral agate that used to be mined in this area. In 1997 it was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

Naveta d'Es Tudons, Menorca

The Naveta d'Es Tudons (literally 'nave of the woodpigeons') is the most remarkable megalithic chamber tomb in the Balearic island of Menorca, Spain. It is located in the Western part of the island, approximately 3 miles out from Ciutadella. Navetas  are chronologically pre-Talaiotic constructions; this is a funerary naveta that served as collective ossuary between 1200 and 750 BC.

Now if I only knew this place is so close to town...I mean it was totally walkable. I had an early gangway - set off with first tender in pitch dark, and the ride did take a while so I witnessed the sunrise once in situ. The thing about having gangway while tendering - it takes too darn long to go back to the ship to change clothes and back again, so you end up walking around in your uniform. Ugh. On few occasions gangway was the only way to get off board, so yeah. You take what you get..! My postcard said 'finally someplace new!' but it wasn't only that, new (for me) was also the postal system by - Swiss Post? Got these self-adhesive stamps in a souvenir shop, got a special mailbox there to mail them too, and I just wondered if these (this and the donkey one coming next) will even arrive...I mean it IS the Swiss, they are always effective, right..?! (I was still remembering the unsuccessful try with 'special post' in Barcelona, those never arrived :/) Anyways, they're here, yuppie.

UNESCO - Archaeological Ensemble Of Tárraco, Spain

First I thought Tarragona is WHS, then I couldn't find it on the list, and now I realise parts of it are under a different (ancient) name. Tárraco (modern-day Tarragona) was a major administrative and mercantile city in Roman Spain and the centre of the Imperial cult for all the Iberian provinces. It was endowed with many fine buildings, and parts of these have been revealed in a series of exceptional excavations. Although most of the remains are fragmentary, many preserved beneath more recent buildings, they present a vivid picture of the grandeur of this Roman provincial capital.

This postcard shows some of the mentioned  remains, but also the 12th-century Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Mary and the magnificent adjacent cloister. As Tarragona is a Catalonian port on Costa Daurada it is near Barcelona, and that's where the ship actually anchored. I was happy to go the first time; when I got exactly the same tour the 2nd time I was confused (to say the least) and wished to have more relaxing time for Barcelona. Too fussy eh? :P

Cádiz, Spain

Cádiz is an ancient port city in the Andalusia region of southwestern Spain. It was founded by the Phoenicians and is regarded by many as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe. It has been a principal home port of the Spanish navy since the accession of the Spanish Bourbons in the 18th century.

My first visit to Cadiz was on Easter Monday and the overall number of visits is 8, which made it a fairly familiar port (the only more frequented port was Gibraltar with 9 visits). Gradually I've discovered its charming streets and architecture as well as well-priced shops.

This was the first European cruise and the first cruise without my first manager and assistant manager...it all kind of went downhill from there. I never again felt the same support or creativity, in retrospective I wish I have left the ship on the same date...yeah its true despite some of the nice ports I still managed to visit. In a way I am still paying for my decision to stay on, literally so. The most unprofitable job I could have found at a turn-around point of life. This is why I shudder a little bit every time someone says how cool it was, how lucky I was, etc. In the end how much of a reward is it to spend a few hours in different ports, when you don't have a supportive team, when you witness first hand the unfairness of management, when you have to watch your pennies and have no real friends around you, that is the real question..!

Long-Ears In A Poppy Field

UNESCO - Tower Of Hercules, Spain

The Tower of Hercules has served as a lighthouse and landmark at the entrance of La Coruña harbour in north-western Spain since the late 1st century A.D. when the Romans built the Farum Brigantium. The Tower, built on a 57 metre high rock, rises a further 55 metres, of which 34 metres correspond to the Roman masonry and 21 meters to the restoration directed by architect Eustaquio Giannini in the 18th century.

The ship was in Lisbon on the 30th, it was nice to re-visit, and since I sent quite a few postcards whilst there almost three years prior to, I didn't search for any new ones but rather spent my free time roaming around trying to remember stuff. The New Year's Eve was again spent on board, working until 23:59h and then rushing down to the crew bar for the countdown. As I haven't really clicked with any peeps yet I just went to bed to rest. Actually throughout my two contracts I haven't found my kind of peeps...I guess thats how it goes for an introvert in an extremely extrovert surroundings. It felt like even those who may have come on board with some true values have adapted to the specific ways of life. Anyways!

On the 1st of January 2017 the ship docked in A Coruña, a busy port located on the Atlantic coast, on a promontory in the Golfo Ártabro. Learning it is home to a WHS site I immediately worked out how to get there and took a longish walk in drizzly weather. My eyes were abnormally watery, I remember that distinctly as in town I met some guests from the ship and they asked me whats wrong! Maybe it was an omen of what was to come?

(Ok that was a bit overdramatic lol)

And that is the end of the 2nd/Xmas cruise! If I've continued sending as many postcards per cruise or fortnight I'd have had a full box of them. Still, I do have a few pretties left to show, so stay tuned :) Esp becauseee...the big 50-night cruise across the Atlantic is next..!

Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote, Spain

Timanfaya National Park (Parque Nacional de Timanfaya) is entirely made up of volcanic soil - the greatest recorded eruptions occurred between 1730 and 1736. The volcanic activity continues as the surface temperature in the core ranges from 100 to 600 °C at the depth of 13 metres, which is demonstrated by pouring water into the ground, resulting in a geyser of steam.

This landscape looks otherworldly, alas couldn't be visited as at this point of the job we were pretty much restricted to the port areas. Xmas was behind us (spent at sea), the day after the port of Fuerteventura was unreachable because of the strong winds so we spent an extra day at sea. Lanzarote was sunny and I had a fish sandwich for lunch, in a place teeming with locals so I thought it must be good! And it was. My colleague ate half of it with words 'I'll treat you when we get first pay' which of course she didn't lol, I've learnt the hard way she was a taker and none a giver, and that lasted for months. Now thats a special story! Perhaps not to be dwelt upon on a postcard blog heh.

And Then There Were Lizards

As I was saying..:) However, the one with the banana I find quite bizarre; whoever thought of making this a postcard I wonder...I think the little gecko might prefer hunting for bugs than posing on a banana :) (I suppose the same would be for the one peeking out of a glass bottle. Ah, those humans...)

Burro Grazing

And another burro :D The Christmas stamp is quite interesting as one could send it as a square whole (like on the previous postcard) or separating the shaped centre (like here). A bit of a let-down that the posties don't have a local cancellation but were sent from the 'neighbouring' Tenerife. Nevermind, the donkey is here!

Views Of La Gomera

Next stop: La Gomera. I have posted a little bit about this island before, as my sister visited and sent a postcard from there. The ship docked in the port of San Sebastián de La Gomera, which can be seen here top-left - I best remember the black sand beach, and seeing a first cat since on board :) Went for a walk, then looked for a decent wi-fi (which will become one of the major sports to do in ports!) and that was pretty much it. The choice of postcards was again tempting; whole of the Macaronesia seems to be like that, donkeys and lizards aplenty..!

Lila i Lala

The caption is exactly what is written at the back of the card, I will assume those are the names of these cuties :) Sent from (what now seems to be ancient) my trip to Mallorca.

White Streets Of Spain

Another great postcard and stamps from Ana, and there's a donkey! Muchas gracias bossita ;)

Peñíscola Street

Peñíscola is a municipality in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community in Spain,  located on the Costa del Azahar along the Mediterranean coast. Such a lovely street view with a girl and her grandpa on a bench, and what can I say about the stamps but...fantastic! O Ana, o Ana, srećo mojih dana :P

San Sebastián, Spain

San Sebastián or Donostia is a coastal city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. It lies on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, 20 km from the French border. It is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Spain, and hosts the San Sebastián International Film Festival  every september. Along with Wrocław its the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

E Ana Ana, španjolska dušo :D Puno hvala na ovakvom pogledu i posebnoj markici! 

UNESCO - Poblet Monastery, Spain

Poblet Monastery is located in the south of Catalonia, in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in the municipality of Vimbodí. It is one of the largest and most complete Cistercian abbeys in the world. It was built in the 12th to 15th centuries around a church that dates to the 13th century. It is impressive for the majesty of its architecture and includes a fortified royal residence as well as the pantheon of the kings and queens of Catalonia and Aragon.

This amazing view I was lucky to acquire through the forum's unesco tag, thanks to Jordi :)

Feurteventura Long-Ears

Is there a better feeling than receiving a surprise card for your collection?! I got this WONDERFUL card of a jenny and her foal from the Canary island Fuerteventura, thanks so much Eileen for thinking of me :)))

UNESCO - Monastery And Site Of The Escurial, Spain

Built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time.

This place looks impressive! Many thanks to Laura who sent this from her trip.