V is for View from Below - Eiffel Tower, France

For the most number of postcards received for a single famous landmark, Eiffel Tower would be on top in my collection. So far there are two shared here in my blog from the titles: We'll Always Have Paris, and Paris and Its Wonders.

Direct Swap, Sender: Ulla
Sent: 26 Nov 2012 from Marly, France
Traveled ~10,900 km

For letter "V" of the A-Z April Challenge I am participating with for this month, let me treat you all for a view from below of this magnificent architectural wonder.

To be honest the stems of those trees are kind of creeping me out! It doesn't change the fact though that it offers a rare view of the tower. Do those stems creep you out, too? Do you think the postcard would have been nicer if these stems aren't there?

~maria

E is for Elizabeth Tower, England

For letter "E" --

It shouldn't be mistaken that Big Ben is the nickname for the bell on the clock in the tower. The clock tower itself is "Elizabeth Tower". It used to be just the Clock Tower until year 2012 when it was renamed during the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.

Sent: 31 May 2012 from Southampton, UK
Received: 19 Jun 2012, Traveled 10,880.8 km in 20 days

It was a celebration that I missed! I didn't know at all and my train out of London was booked on 19 May, that exact day of the parade. I could have seen the Queen! After that trip, I am now more prudent on checking events in places I visit; I don't want to regret missing an important celebration that could have happened just once in my lifetime!

Below are two souvenirs from that visit. For the photo on the right, I think it turned out well with the sun being blocked by the tower. I was standing directly facing the sun and I hid behind to take the shot. Back then, I didn't know at all that the English were renaming this significant structure where I was having my photo taken. How ignorant of me sometimes!

I am also sharing this clear blue sky to Sally's Blue Monday. Head over to her page for more blues!

~maria

W is for Wailing Wall, Israel

Facebook Swap, Sender: Oleg
Sent: 30 Aug 2012 from Tel Aviv, Israel
Received: 20 Sep 2012, Traveled 8,795 km in 21 days

Saturday it is! I'm feeling quite relaxed being able to sleep 10 hours!

I was able to keep myself distracted for most of the day. Until the evening came and I was again feeling really down and I felt like wailing. Thanks to reason, I was able to just cry silently, experience taught me that crying too much always ends up with a bad headache.

And so I was engrossed with nursing my emotional self and realized I haven't posted for the A-Z April Challenge today. Whoa! It's almost 11PM, good I noticed I still have an hour before the day ends!

So here it is, W is for Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. Located in the old city of Jerusalem, that was listed as a UNESCO WHS in 1981, it is one of the most recognized religious site by the Jewish fate. It is a site for prayer and pilgrimage, with approximately 1.5 million visitors each year.

~maria

PS. For curious readers as to why I feel like wailing, it's vaguely explained in my "R" post. Not really worth visiting though, just me releasing emotions. Please just enjoy the postcards instead.

T is for Taj Mahal, India

Facebook Swap, Sender: Oskat
Sent: 3 Sep 2012 from India
Received 28 Sep 2012, Traveled 4,752 km

The sender wrote:

The Taj Mahal is also known as the "Crown of Palaces". It is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. The Taj Mahal is widely recognized as the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of world heritage. It was declared a UNESCO site in 1983.

~maria

R is for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Facebook Swap, Sender: Nathan
Sent: 31 Aug 2012 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Received: 2 Oct 2012, Traveled 18,274 km in 32 days

Facebook Swap, Sender: Nathan
Sent: 31 Aug 2012 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Received: 2 Oct 2012, Traveled 18,274 km in 32 days

The long weekend to cap the  Holy Week was over. As promised, I limited my use of electronic gadgets; I did my best to spend a quiet time with myself. I fathomed the decisions I made, the life I live at the moment, the struggles for progress, the tendency to give up on hope, the grueling wait for results.

A new week arrives. To my dismay, life still looks bleak. The horizon did not change much as I hope it would. I reckon, geographically wise, I am where I incessantly prayed for. Yet, as cliche as it is, let me put myself in a position right now where I am "too near yet incredibly far" from where my heart longs to be. Perhaps I am where I want to be, not where I need to be.

As my lonely and weary soul seeks for guidance, I stumble again on this quote:

God did not promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without the rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

I find solace that my postcards for today is most fitting. Here are two views of the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro. Seen on these postcards are the Carioca landscapes between the mountain and the sea. It was inscribed in the UNESCO WHS in 2012.

~maria

Beauties of Paris

Bookmark
Sender: The future
Sent: 2 Aug 2013
Rcvd: 12 Aug 2013

Today's post is inspired by last Postcard Friendship Friday's entry of Grace. She's French, a marketing strategy consultant, who also loves postcards. I can't exactly remember how we bumped into each other here at bloggers but ever since then, I've always loved visiting her page.

Her entry, 'Three Faces of Paris Beauty' shows postcards with the Eiffel Tower, a mix of French attractions (Montmartre, Mona Lisa, Arc de Triomphe, etc.), and Pont Alexandre III arch bridge. Following her post, I'm sharing here a bookmark, which I saw in my study table today, upon returning in my apartment from fieldwork. 

I got a message at the back of it: Someday in the not so far future, you will be sitting where this woman is, reading a book with your lover beside you. It was signed: Yours faithfully, the future -- Today is "Tell A Joke Day" and if the muse of destiny is gonna play a beautiful joke on me, may it be that this message of the future becomes a reality.

Still following Graces' lead, my second card is the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre -- the famous church on top of a hill at the heart of Paris. On a separate post from the past, I posted a postcard with the steps leading up the church. The name of the church means "mount of martyrs" because many saints visited the hill. The church is dedicated to the Heart of Jesus.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Ulla
Sent: 26 Nov 2012, Sent from
Marly, France, Rcvd: 28 Dec 2012
Traveled ~10,900 km in 32 days

If you checked Grace's entry, you can see that my third card is another view of the Pont Alexandre III arch bridge -- which is also the third card on her post. This historical monument spanning the Siene River connects the Champs-Élysées quarter and the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarter.

Together with the bookmark from Paris above, I also received 9 other postcards from France today. I'm so excited to share them all here but will save them for future posts. I have two views of Avignon, two views of Le Mont Saint Michel, a postcard of raclette, one view of Saint Emilion, one of Le Pont du Gard, a card of La Grotte De Lascaux, and of Conques.

I am also very excited because Ulla, the sender of the 2 postcards on this post, has just agreed to send me two postcards of Alsace.

I am happy that I'm getting postcards of France from private swaps because I seldom get one from the official postcrossing website.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Ulla
Sent & Received dates similar to the one above

I am sharing this with Beth's PFF. Check out her blog roll at The Best Hearts Are Crunchy for more postcards to enjoy reading and viewing for the weekend. I am also sharing with Paulita at The Accidental Blog for the Dreaming of France blog roll. 'The future's message and the France postcards I got today have truly made me dreaming even more of France.

~maria

La Liberté éclairant le monde

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan
Sent: 1 August 2013, Sent from Paris, France
Received: 6 August 2013, Traveled 10,908 km in 6 days

My second black and white postcard from Paris, thanks to the beau. The first one is the Avenue des Champs-Élysées which can be found here.

The Liberty enlightening the world; La Liberté éclairant le monde is shown in this card in sculptor Auguste Bartholdi's studio. The time is 1885. The location is rue de Chazelles. It is shown here prior to its shipping to the United States of America; a gift from the people of France to commemorate the American Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.

The statue is modeled to Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom. She bears a torch and a tablet evoking the law where the date of the American independence day is inscribed. She also has a symbolic broken chain lying on her feet.

I found it a bit odd that with so many postcards I have from New York, USA, I haven't got a single one with the Statue of Liberty on it. Oh wait, there's one but it's not a single view card of the famous statue but it's just included in my State of New York map card. I wish I can get one soon.

As mentioned in my previous entry, it's a national holiday here in the Philippines. I just want to go back to bed after posting this... Happy Friday everyone!

~maria

Tapis de fleurs, Grand'Place

BE-145593, Sender: Ferro
Sent from Brussels, Belgium, Sent on 7 April 2012
Received on 27 April 2012, Traveled 10,557 km in 20 days

Here is my first and only official postcard from Belgium. 

Featured on the card is the Flower Carpet, an event/artistic installation at the Grand'Place made every two years. The flower carpet is made of millions of begonias. It usually covers 77 x 24 meters. The very first flower carpet was made by the landscape architect E. Stautemans in 1971.

Raquel, with the username, ferro on postcrossing sent me this card, saying at the back: because UNESCO is at the top of your list. Thank you Raquel! I'm really trying to collect as much UNESCO WHS cards as I can :)

The UNESCO WHS describes Grand'Place as "an outstanding example of the eclectic and highly successful blending of architectural and artistic styles that characterizes the culture and society of this region. Through the nature and quality of its architecture and of its outstanding quality as a public open space, it illustrates in an exceptional way the evolution and achievements of a highly successful mercantile city of northern Europe at the height of its prosperity."

~maria

La plus belle avenue du monde.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan
Sent from Paris, France, Sent on 10 March 2012
Received on 22 March 2012, Traveled 10,908 km in 12 days

Avenue des Champs-Élysées, said my twin at the back of the card, 'is as famous to the French as the Epifanio delos Santos (EDSA) is to the Filipinos'. Champs-Élysées of the French is witness to many historic events, with the Arc de Triomphe at one end of it (shown here on the card), built to honor the victories of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte. EDSA Avenue is an eternal reminder to the Filipinos and the world, of the very first ever peaceful people power revolution.

This card fashioned to the '80s, marks the time when the avenue  transforms into commercial vibe from what was once fields and market gardens. Today, Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous and most expensive strip in the world for upscale shopping. Hence, the name la plus belle avenue du monde or "the most beautiful avenue in the world".

Hope each of us is having a beautiful start for the week! Beautiful Monday, readers!

~maria

Paris and its wonders.

Postcrossing Direct Swap, Sender: David Russell
Sent from Lyon, France, Sent on 20 March 2012
Received on 30 March 2012, Traveled 10,765.82 km in 10 days

After the glittering night view of the Eiffel Tower, here's a compelling day time view of the famous landmark. David said on his message at the back of the card:

This postcard shows a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower on a clear fall afternoon. Everybody who comes to Paris visits the world famous monument.  

I hope one day I can visit Paris and see this monument for myself. Cause, tell me honestly, who doesn't really dream of experiencing this romantic city? ;-)

Postcrossing Direct Swap, Sender: David Russell
Sent from Lyon, France, Sent on 19 March 2012
Received on 30 March 2012, Traveled 10,765.82 km in 11 days

Another 'Paris and its wonders' postcard. I completely knew nothing about the view on the card and I thought it's just one random street view. But David said:

Bonjour to you again from the other side of the world in France. Today I am sending you a beautiful springtime view from Paris...it shows the steps leading up the famous hill of 'Montmartre', which is topped by the Sacrecoeur basilica. 

Doing some research about the Basilique du Sacré Coeur, Uncle Wiki and the Sacred Destinations page provided the most interesting literature. Apparently, the church plays a significant political and cultural role. It is a religious monument, a national vow true to the Roman Catholic traditions, dedicated to atone for the sins of Paris. The church is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And may I mention that the chapel in my community in the province, has the same dedication.

Linking up again with Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday. Wishing a wonderful culmination for the week for everyone!

~maria

We'll always have Paris.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: My twin, Wan
Sent from Paris, France, Sent on 06 February 2012
Received on 28 February 2012, Traveled 10,907.88 km in 23 days

Rick: I'm saying it because it's true. Inside of us, we both know you belong with Victor...If that plane leaves the ground and you're not with him, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

Ilsa: But what about us?

Rick: We'll always have Paris.

My favorite lines from the 1942 movie, Casablanca. I am not particularly fond of romantic flicks but I got really drawn into this one. Casablanca is mostly about Rick, who's torn between virtue and love. With the World War II in the background, Rick, an American expatriate fell in love with Ilsa in Paris. Ilsa is a married woman who thought her husband is dead. However, when she learns that her Czech Resistance leader husband, Laszlo is alive, she left Rick with no explanation at all. The story developed when the three met in Rick's Cafe, with Laszlo and Ilsa, trying to get letters/passes to escape into the United States.

...it's midnight on a Friday and I'm supposed to be sleeping soundly after 3 days of fieldwork, but alas! I have urgent work stuff to do. But I realized I need my post for Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday blog roll, so here it is. Such a healthy distraction from all my technical stuff! :D

Oh by the way, the card was written on the date I turned quarter-a-century old: "Here is the postcard I promised the next time I go to Paris...I hope everything is going well for you and if not, hopefully this postcard from the romantic Paris will make you feel better for a while. I will never be able to thank God enough for having given me the chance to know you."

Now that's one lovely message. Something to keep me sane (I hope) from working up until very late on wee hours of a Friday morning night. Busy as it will always be, I'm still wishing that my weekend will be lovely if not very relaxing. May the dazzling night view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris inspire a lovely weekend for us all!

~maria

Salt Lake City Temple

The temple is the centerpiece in the 4 hectares land called the Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the largest and best known temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

The construction of the temple took 40 years. Works in the interior however, took only 1 year to finish. The exterior of the temple is richly adorned by symbolism depicting "mankind's journey from mortality to the eternal realms". One of these is the standing angel statue which can be seen atop the middle spire on the first card. The Salt Lake City Temple is the first Mormon temple to feature a standing angel Moroni statue. The angel Moroni is "the messenger of restoration of the gospel and the herald of the second coming" as mentioned in Revelation 14:6. For more Salt Lake City Temple symbolism, please visit the LDSChurchTemples.com.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday everyone! Check out Bette's page for other cards for PFF!

~maria

TOP CARD                                                              BOTTOM CARD

Postcard ID: US-1318751                                          *Friendship Gift Postcard ;-)

Sender: Andrew                                                        Sender: Ken Carlson

Sent from Salt Lake City, UT                                     Sent from Eureka, CA                                

Sent on 22 Sep 2011                                                Sent on 22 Jun 2011

Received on 12 Oct 2011                                           No arrival postmark visible on card

Traveled 11,790 km in 20 days                                   Traveled 10,961 km

*Friendship Gift Postcard are received cards, which are not from arranged swaps/trades.