Grüße aus Köln

Laura sent me this special postcard bought in the city of Cologne (Germany). The scan isn't as clear as I wanted, but it is just precious in person, with hints of glitter among the vintage people.

Do you know if this kind of postcards have any special name? These postcards are called Tausendschön.

(Postcards for the Weekend 88: Anything You Wish)

La Rue

Fabienne (France) sent me this colourful postcard from La Rue est à Amiens ('The Street is in Amiens'), a circus and arts festival hold every year in the city of Amiens, since 1978.

I added this post to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend, for the theme Festivals.

Moroccan Men

On this postcard, two men are dressed in one of the traditional costumes you usually see in the north of Morocco, mostly in the mountains, but also in the city I live in (especially in festive days). The postcard shows the touristy city of Chefchaouen, not far away from my home.

I think this is only the third postcard from Morocco I have ever got by post.

This one came from an exhibition in Spain. It is a painting by Catalan artist Marià Fortuny (1838-1874). He travelled to Morocco and some of his works are inspired in this country, like this one from 1869: Un marroquí ('A Moroccan man').

Postcards sent by Mercé and Bruno (Morocco & PC). 

I added the post to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend, that is dedicated this week to Costumes.

Fruits from the Ancient World

Two nice additions to my Ancient Rome and the Greece albums:

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK). This is a detail of the famous Dionysos mosaic (c.AD 220-230), that she had the chance to see in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum of Cologne (Germany).

Postcard sent by Gian Luca (Italy), with a quotation of the Ancient Greek poet Pindar (Πίνδαρος, c. 522 – c. 443 BC). Two translations that I found (although they don't mention the fruits on the picture):

Do not yearn, O my soul, for immortal life! Use to the utmost the skill that is yours.

Seek not, my soul, immortal life, but make the most of the resources that are within your reach.

This week theme in Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend is handicraft / artwork. I think that the first postcard fits in. 

Retro Men

I have an album of postcards of Retro Women... But it isn't so usual to get retro men by snail mail. I wonder why.

(c) Cath Tate Cards

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK), that I added to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend. This week's theme is Retro/Vintage.

Alfred Hitchcock
(Bel Air, California, USA, 1974)
By Philippe Halsman

Another (sort of) retro man, sent by John (the UK).

Castles on Postcards

Postcard sent by Bryon (Canada). Craigdarroch Castle, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, seems a wonderful place to visit. A bit of information on the back of the postcard:

Craigdarroch Castle was built ad home for Robert and Joan Dunsmuir, Scottish immigrants who made their fortune from Vancouver island coal. A National Historic Site, Craigdarroch features an extensive collection of stained and leaded glass windows, magnificent woodwork, Victorian furnishings and decorative arts.

Postcard send by Ulrike (Germany). According to the sender, the most impressing building of Duisburg. Well... a 16,68m sandcastle must be a thing!

Blatná is a castle in the Czech Republic, but this postcard was sent by Imma from Spain. Have you notice this is an altered one? She collaged the women to the picture. I think the result is stunning. I didn't notice at first sight! (Even if, yes: not so normal that a rag doll visit a castle in the company of an elegant woman!).

This is a post for Maria's link party Postcards for the Weekend. You can go there to see more postcards about this week topic's: Monuments.

Snails by Snail Mail

One thing that always makes me smile is receiving snails by snail mail. I made an album of them, including some slugs.

The postcard above was sent by Bryon (the USA). 

The postcard below, showing another real snail mail snail (does it live in this mailbox?) was sent by John (the UK). It took me a bit to upload the image to the blog. But, actually, it took even more time to read it. It arrived to my Spanish address in the summer... And I found it in Christmas!

Picture by Pyko

I'm adding this post to Maria's link party Postcards for the Weekend. 

Mail Motorcycles

Today's theme of Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend is Transportation. I like especially trains. But also, everything related to the transportation of mail, of course!

This postcard from the Postal Museum in London was sent by John (the UK), . The back of the postcard provides some information about the picture:

BSA Bantam, 1970. The Post Office carried trials with motorcycles throughout the early 20th century. The BSA Bantam bikes are probably the best known and were purchased by the Post Office for telegraph and letters work until production ceased in 1971.

I had received a stamp from the same series (different model!):

Spring Flowers on Postcards

The Supertrees of
Gardens by the Bay

Today's theme in Postcards for the Weekend link party is Spring. And I am glad to show first a postcard sent by Maria herself!

And a second one receive through the Postcrossing site:

Dandelion
By Константин Кокорин

Greetings from Cambridge & Taipei

On this postcard sent by Laura (the UK) you can see: the silhouettes of King's College, King's chapel illuminated for Christmas and the Corpus Clock. I think they can fit in this week's Postcards for the Weekend topic: Sunrise/sunset.

While I was looking for appropriate postcards for this post, I received this one from Maria: a superb sunset in Taipei, with a view of the Taipei 101 Tower.

Go to Maria's post to see more beautiful postcards!

Historical and Mystical Ireland

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK). You can see, clockwise from top left: 

• Skellig Michael (County Kerry). A Gaelic Christian monastery was founded on the island at some point between the 6th and 8th century and remained continuously occupied until it was abandoned in the late 12th century. The remains of the monastery, and most of the island, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

• The monastery of Clonmacnoise (County Offaly), founded in 544 by St. Ciarán.

• The Poulnabrone Dolmen (County Clare). It dates back to the Neolithic period, probably between 4200 BC and 2900 BC.

• The Rock of Cashel (County Tipperary), reputed to be the site of the conversion of the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century.

• The Gallarus Oratory (Dingle Peninsula).

• Newgrange Megalithic Tomb (County Meath). It was built during the Neolithic period, around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.

Today's theme in Postcards for the Weekend is Places of Worship. 

Drawn Cities

Paris (France)
Bookshop Shakespeare and Company
(Sent by Fabienne)

Ashford, Kent (the UK)
By Diane and Frank Setek
(Sent by Laura)

Toruń* (Poland)
(Sent by Anna)

*City where the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473. also famous for its delicious piernik ('gingerbread').

I added this post to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend. Be sure to go there to see more beautiful postcards!

Classical Architecture Inspiration

Parliament Building of Northern Ireland
Stormont, Belfast, the UK

The Fitzwilliam Museum
Cambridge, the UK

Saatchi Gallery
London, the UK

Postcards sent by Laura (the UK). Very different buildings, but it seems that the architects found their inspiration in the same place.

Today's theme in Maria's Postcards for the Weekend is Serenity/Peace/Calm. I guess most people find their calm and peace in nature. But sometimes, straight lines also provide a sort of serenity, don't they?

Delicious Postcards

This weekend's theme in Maria's link is Happiness/Joy. It is easy to associate joy with your beloved ones around a table, don't you think so?

This postcard arrived from India through the Postcrossing site (another source of joy!). The sender didn't write a lot, but there is a very nice explanation on the back about the dishes on the picture. It starts with: Every region in India has a wonderful tale to tell... So much to learn here!

Borsch recipe sent by Elena (Russia). It seems really tasty!

Another Postcrossing postcard, sent by Barbara (France). An Eiffel Tower made of macarons... That would be the dream of some people!

And something more frugal, just in case you are not a sweet-toothed. Postcard sent by Bettina (Germany).

I Love Postcards

Postcards sent (ages ago) by Laura (the UK), Heleen (the Netherlands) and Chi (the USA).

I added this post to Maria's Postcards for the Weekend. This weekend the topic suggested is Love/Lovely.

Clothelines

Overijssel

Het Kolkje en de Oudezijds Achterburgwal in Amsterdam,
photograph by George Hendrik Breitner, c. 1890-1900 (!!).

Savon de Marcel, by Amandine Piu

All these postcards have been sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

I added them to Maria's Postcard for the Weekend. There is no theme this week.

Montana

According to the Wikipedia:"The name Montana comes from the Spanish word montaña and the Latin word montana, meaning 'mountain', or more broadly, 'mountainous country'."
(There is a curious story behind the name of this US state.)

So I thought that I could add this post to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend, this week's theme being Mountains. All these postcards were sent by Bryon (the USA).

At 630 miles wide and 255 miles high, Montana is HUGE! Montana is the 4th largest state (147,040 sq. mi.). Montana is the 44th least populated state (1,042,000). In Montana there are only 7 people per square mile! (48th). Enough said.

Montana State University occupies a verdant area in full view of the Bridger Range -and the "M"- on the southern edge of Bozeman, where farm and ranch land begin. Home of the "Bobcats", MSU offers various degree programs, with an emphasis on agriculture, architecture and engineering.

The University of Montana, established in 1893, continues providing excellent academic opportunities for students. Center of the campus is the Oval, with Main Hall on one end and the iconic Bronze Grizzly Statue on the other. Jeanette Rankin Hall, the Liberal Arts building, the Payne Family Native American Center, Davidson Honors College - all immediately surround the Oval while Mansfield Library, Forestry Building and Schreiber Gymnasium are close by. The motto, Lux et Veritas, Light and Truth, is an inspirational direction for the higher learning opportunities of this beautiful campus.

The cow-tipping state?!?

Montana Stress Management

Galle Fort Lighthouse

Today's theme of Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend is Aerial Views, and I think this postcard sent by Ravindra (Sri Lanka) fits in.

It shows Galle Fort, built first in 1588 by the Portuguese, then then fortified by the Dutch from 1649 onwards. It is a historical, archaeological and architectural heritage monument. It has been inscribed as a cultural heritage UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Have you spotted the Galle Lighthouse tower on the postcard?

When I received the postcard above, I remember that Ravindra sent this one some years ago, and I never uploaded it to the blog. It is a better view of Sri Lanka's oldest light station, dated from 1848 (But the current tower is the third one, erected in 1939).

Polar Bears & More Winter Scenes

Phillip sent this shinning postcard with Christmas/New Year wishes using the United Nations postal service. He added one of the 2017 stamps that celebrate World Environment Day (big picture on Phillip's blog post), and also a simply beautiful mail art on the cover:

So finally I got three polar bears!

Heleen and Eric were the other happy recipients of these bears. It took more time for them to reach Spain that the Netherlands and France, how curious!

Folded postcard sent by Catherine (France), with a festive illustration of Dutch artist Anton Pieck.

Handmade collage sent by Eva (Germany).

*******

I added this post to Maria's link Postcards for the Weekend, the theme today being Winter Scenes.