India

On Friday, I received this postcard from India.

It shows Mirjan Fort, located in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.

Mirjan Fort was known for its strategic importance.  Spread over ten acres, the fortress has been the site of several battles and was ruled by several dynasties.

Built of laterite stones, the fort has high walls and bastions.  The fort has four entrances and is surrounded by a moat which played a crucial part in its defense.

The sender wrote that the fort was built in the early 1200's and was repaired in the 1600's.  He also wrote that the longest ruler of this fort was called "Pepper Queen."

After exchanging 133 postcards (not including direct swaps!), I was happy to receive my first postcard from India!  :)

Grenada

T received this postcard today...

from a fellow who lives in Australia.

Grenada is an island country consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea.

Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Grenada is known as the "Island of Spice" because of the production of nutmeg and mace crops of which Grenada is one of the world's largest exporters.

Other facts about Grenada:

• area:  133 square miles
• capital:  St. George's
• population (2012 estimate):  110,000
• official language:  English
• currency:  East Caribbean dollar
• national bird:  Grenada dove (critically endangered)
• motto:  "Ever conscious of God we aspire, build, and advance as one people"

source:  Wikipedia

Belarus

T received this postcard today...from Belarus.

It is a postcard of a painting called "House Egret" by Podverbnyj Yuri.

The painting is acrylic on canvas, created in 2011.

The artist was born in 1976 in Belarus.

The sender of the postcard wrote that the egret is listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus due to its small population.

Switzerland

I received this postcard today...from Switzerland.

According to the sender, it shows a church in the town of Solothurn.

Solothurn is located in northwestern Switzerland on the banks of the Aare and at the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains.

As of 2012, Solothurn has a population of 16,460.  As of 2000, 85.7% of the population speaks German, 3.0% of the population speaks Italian, and 1.7% of the population speaks Albanian.  The remaining population speaks French or Romansh.

source:  Wikipedia

Portugal

I received this postcard today...from Portugal.

The postcard shows an image of a photograph taken by Emílio Biel, (1838-1915).
He was a businessman, publisher, and photographer.  He was considered one of the pioneers of photography in Portugal.

The subject of the photograph is Torre dos Clérigos, or Tower of Clergy [Church] in Porto, Portugal.

The Clérigos Church is a Baroque church which was built by Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect and painter.  Construction of the church began in 1732 and was finished in 1750 (approximately).

The monumental bell tower of the church, Torres dos Clérigos, is located at the back of the building.  It was built between 1754 and 1763 and is 75.6 meters high (approximately 248 feet high), dominating the city.  This great structure is one of the most characteristic symbols of Porto.

Belgium

I received this postcard today...from Belgium.

The image is of Heilig-Hartcollege (Sacred Heart College) in Maasmechelen, Belgium.

The sender didn't write anything (not one word) on the back of the postcard...and although the back of the postcard includes printed information about what is pictured on the front (above), I'm not able to translate....  :(

Come to think of it, I hope the words printed on the front of the postcard are appropriate for posting...since I'm not able to translate....

Germany

T received this postcard yesterday...from Germany...

Dresden, to be exact.

The sender wrote that Dresden is the capital of Saxony in the east of Germany.  He also wrote that this postcard shows the summer residence castle of the Saxon kings, built 300 years ago, and baroque and English gardens.

I received a different postcard from Dresden last October.  You can view it and read more about Dresden here.

Canada

T received this postcard yesterday...from Canada.

Isn't it just the cutest image of a polar bear?!

According to the information printed on the back of the postcard, the polar bear's distinctive thick white coat acts as camouflage in the snow and ice and provides warmth against the extreme elements of the Arctic.

According to the sender of the postcard, there are lots of polar bears in the northern part of her province (Manitoba).  She also wrote that the polar bears are a huge tourist attraction but also a danger for residents.

Russia

T received this postcard yesterday...from Russia.

It shows an image of Atlantes.

According to the dictionary:

• Atlas (capitalized) is a Titan who, for his part in the Titans' revolt against the gods, is forced by Zeus to support the heavens on his shoulders.
• Atlas (capitalized) is one who bears a heavy burden.
• Atlas (plural, Atlantes) is a male figure used like a caryatid as a supporting column or pilaster.

According to the dictionary:

• Caryatid is a draped female figure supporting an entablature.
• Caryatid is a supporting column sculpted in the form of a draped female figure.

The most celebrated example is the caryatid porch of the Erechtheum* (an Ionic temple), with six figures.

The Athens Acropolis is home to four edifices (large, massive, and usually impressive buildings):

• Propylaea
• Parthenon
• Erechtheum*
• Temple of Athena Nike

Caryatids sometimes are called korai ("maidens").  Their male counterpart is the atlas.

I took you on a rabbit trail...but the information was interesting!  ;-)

Great Britain

I received this postcard today...from Great Britain.

It shows the Houses of Parliament (south side) in London, England.

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the parliament of the United Kingdom.  Commonly known as the Houses of Parliament after its tenants, the Palace lies on the bank of the River Thames in the City of Westminster in central London.

source:  Wikipedia

British Isles

T also received this postcard...

from a special education teacher who lives in North Augusta, South Carolina.

The postcard shows a school room map of the British Isles.

The British Isles is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of continental Europe that consists of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, and over six thousand smaller islands.  Two sovereign states are located on the islands:  Ireland (the Republic of Ireland) which covers five-sixths of the island of the same name, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom).

source:  Wikipedia

Germany

T received this postcard from Germany.

The postcard shows a horse chestnut in blossom near Le Thoronet, France.

Aesculus hippocastanum is a large deciduous tree, commonly known as horse chestnut or conker tree.

The common name "horse chestnut" is reported as having originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut (though in fact only distantly related), together with the observation that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses.

The nuts, especially those that are young and fresh, are slightly poisonous.  Although not dangerous to touch, they cause sickness when eaten.  When consumed by horses, they can cause tremors and lack of coordination.  Some mammals, notably deer, are able to break down the toxins and eat them safely.

In Britain and Ireland, the nuts are used for the popular children's game "conkers."

Cultivation for its spectacular spring flowers is successful in a wide range of temperate climatic conditions provided summers are not too hot.

source:  Wikipedia

Finland

T received this postcard today...from Finland.

Actually, it wasn't a postcard...but rather a card (sent in an envelope).  The only thing printed on the back of the card was "Hallmark."

The sender had written on the inside of the card that she is a teacher, on her third week of summer holiday.

She also noted that the temperature at 7:00 am on the date she had written the card (June 19th) was 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).

Finland

I received two postcards today.  The first one was from Finland.

This postcard shows a European elk or moose.

This majestic forest dweller is known as a moose in North America and an elk in Europe.
To make matters even more confusing, an elk in North America is an entirely different animal...a kind of deer, also known as a wapiti.

Some information about the European elk or moose:

• Moose are found in large numbers throughout Finland.  In 2009, Finland had a population of 115,000 moose.
• An adult moose stands an average of 4.6-6.9 feet high at the shoulder.
• A male moose (or "bull") typically weighs 840-1,540 pounds.  A female moose (or "cow") typically weighs 440-790 pounds.
• The moose is the second largest land animal in both North America and Europe. (The bison is the largest.)
• Moose are solitary animals and do not form herds.
• Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive and move surprisingly quickly if angered or startled.  Moose can reach speeds of up to almost 33 miles per hour.
• Predators of the moose are wolves, bears, and humans.
• The moose is an herbivore and prefers the new growth from deciduous trees and aquatic plants such as lilies and pondweed.  (The moose is an excellent swimmer.) A moose weighing 790 pounds can eat up to 71 pounds of food per day.
• A male moose has antlers which can grow up to more than 6.5 feet from tip to tip.  After the mating season, he drops his antlers to conserve energy for the winter.  Then, a new set of antlers regrows in the spring.  Antlers take three to five months to fully develop.
• A female moose has an eight-month gestation period, and she usually bears one young (or "calf") in May or June.  A calf weighs approximately 28 pounds at birth.
• A newborn moose has fur with a reddish hue.  (An adult moose has light brown to dark brown fur.)  The calf will stay with the mother until just before the next young is born.
• The moose has an average life span of approximately 15-25 years.

sources:
   Nature Travels
   Wikipedia
   The Website of Everything

Serbia

I received this postcard today...from Serbia.

Actually, this is the second postcard she sent to me.  I did not receive the first one. I'm so glad she tried again!!

This postcard is a view of Fish "czarda" on the Danube.

About Serbia:

• Serbia is a country located at the crossroads of central and southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central Balkans.
• Serbia is a landlocked country in relative proximity to the Mediterranean.
• Serbia borders Hungary to the north, Romania and Bulgaria to the east, Macedonia to the south, and Croatia, Bosnia, and Montenegro to the west.
• The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, which is among Europe's oldest cities and is one of the largest cities in southeast Europe.

source:  Wikipedia

Russia

I received this postcard today...from Russia.

It is an ad postcard for Air France.  I think it's kind of a neat postcard; however, I was a bit disappointed that the sender didn't write a single word on the back of it.  :(

I was interested (slightly) in learning something about Air France.  This is some of what I learned about the airline.

• Air France is headquartered on the grounds of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport located north of Paris.
• Air France was formed in 1933 from a merger of several airlines.
• Air France served as France's primary national flag carrier for seven decades prior to its merger with KLM in 2003.  (A flag carrier is an airline or ship-line registered under the laws of a country whose government gives it partial or total monopoly over international routes.)
• In 2004, Air France ranked as the largest European airline with 25.5% total market share.
• In 2004, Air France was the largest airline in the world in terms of operating revenue.
• In 2011, Air France carried 59,513,000 passengers.
• As of 2013, Air France serves 36 destinations in France and operates worldwide scheduled passenger and cargo services to 168 destinations in 93 countries.

sources:
   Wikipedia
   Business Dictionary

Japan

I received two postcards today.  The second one was from Japan.

This postcard shows Hakodate at night.

Hokkaido is Japan's second largest island.  Hokkaido is the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectures.  (A prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction or subdivision.)  The largest city on the island of Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo.

Here is some of what I learned about Hakodate, the city shown on the postcard.

• Hakodate is a city and port located in Hokkaido, Japan.
• Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854.
• Hakodate was the biggest city in Hokkaido before a great fire in 1934.
• Hakodate has an estimated population of 279,851 as of 2011.
• Hakodate has a total area of approximately 262 square miles.
• Hakodate is the third biggest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa.

sources:

   Wikipedia - Hokkaido
   Wikipedia - Hakodate
   Wikipedia - prefecture

Taiwan

I received two postcards today.  The first one was from Taiwan.

It is a prismatic postcard, which is the reason why the image (right side) of the postcard looks a bit odd.

I learned some things about the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan.

• Kaohsiung City is located in southern-western Taiwan.
• Kaohsiung City faces the Taiwan Strait.
• Kaohsiung City is the largest municipality (by area) at approximately 1,138 square miles.
• Kaohsiung City is the second most populous municipality (by urban area) at approximately 2.77 million people.
• The Port of Kaohsiung is the largest harbor in Taiwan, but not officially part of Kaohsiung City.

source:  Wikipedia

Taiwan

I received this postcard today...from Taiwan.

According to the sender, this postcard is a painting of a place of historic interest in Tainan.  However, there is no mention of the name of the place.  I haven't been able to figure it out.  Do you know?

I did learn some things about Tainan.  :)

• Tainan is officially known as Tainan City.
• Tainan is a city in southern Taiwan.
• Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan.
• Tainan faces the Taiwan Strait in the west and south.
• Tainan formerly was named Tayouan, which has been claimed to be the origin of the name "Taiwan."
• Tainan is a cultural capital of Taiwan, for its rich folk cultures.

source:  Wikipedia

Singapore

I received this postcard today...from Singapore.

I think it's an ad postcard; however, at least the sender included a bit of information about the area pictured.  :)

The postcard shows an infinity pool at Village Hotel Changi in Singapore.  The hotel is facing Changi Beach.