Postcards for the weekend 57: Anything you wish

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from North Houston, Texas
Sent 2 Dec 2013, Traveled 13,241 km in 10 days

For our theme this weekend, anything you wish, I'm sharing an anecdote, facts, and trivia about the United States of America and the states that I'm visiting during this 3-week business trip.

CA-669234, Sent from Montreal, Quebec
Sent 11 Oct 2016, Traveled 14, 644 km in 15 days

According to a report published by Instituto Cervantes, the United States of America has more Spanish speakers as compared to Spain. My first conversation after getting out of my 13 hours flight from Tokyo to Washington, DC was with a gentleman, whom I asked for directions. My un poquito Español was put to the test. Good thing some Spanish words are incorporated in my native tongue, Filipino. Evidently, one needs more than English to efficiently get by in the USA.

RU-1711183, Sent from Yekaterinburg, Russia
Sent 29 Apr 2013, Traveled 6,872 km in 37 days

My flight from Tokyo (I flew in first from Singapore to Japan) landed at Washington Dulles International Airport. I wish I budgeted a couple of days for sightseeing. I could have seen the Lincoln Memorial in the capital. 

Direct Swap, Sent from Vienna, VA
Sent 22 Nov 2016, Traveled 15,685 km

From Washington DC, I flew here to Cleveland, Ohio. This is my first main destination for my 3-week business trip here in the USA. When I came to the office yesterday, I was given a goodie bag, containing several items and a paper with a Did You Know? header. As you can imagine, it's the inspiration for my choice of postcards for this post. I learned that Ohio is the Birthplace of Aviation, as the Wright brothers were born in Dayton, Ohio.

TW-1056264, Sent from Taiwan
Sent 25 Oct 2013, Traveled 1,171 km in 13 days

On Sunday, I will fly from Cleveland to Seattle, with a connection via Chicago. The Ferris wheel was invented in Chicago in 1893.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Seattle, WA
Sent 19 June 2015, Traveled 12,970 km

The state of Washington is my second and last main destination for this trip. Washington state produces more apples than any other states. I'm pretty curious if I'll have the chance to see apple orchards while I'm there. Moreover, I also hope to see one of our blogging friends, John.

Happy weekend everyone,

~maria

PFF: Warm thoughts from Finland

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Tuija
Sent 7 June 2017 from Kuopio, Finland, Traveled 9,171 km

"Sometimes it is good to catch one's breath and spend the day enjoying oneself; leaving everyday worries behind, take it easy, and be happy about good things in life."

This evening I'm writing a letter to Tuija, my penpal and close friend of many years.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday, everyone! 

Thanks Beth for continuously hosting.

~maria

For Beth of The Best Hearts Are Crunchy

DE-2880049, 5 Feb 2014 from near Hanover, Germany
Traveled 10,116 km in 11 days

Beth, the lovely host of Postcard Friendship Friday linky party is one of the selected bloggers whom I connected with and made a friendship bond over several years.

My thoughts are with her; hoping her impending surgery will not have any complication and that she would recuperate fast. To send your best wishes for Beth, her page can be reached here.

Happy Postcard Friendship Friday! 

~maria

Dreaming of Alsace, France

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting not just the big shots in my profession 

from all over the world. I also had the chance to meet and spend some lovely time 

with a very nice woman, Khadoudja. She's the wife of the chairman of the meeting

we hosted here in the Philippines. Her and I share the same sub-specialty.

She's also Diagnostic Radiology Medical Physicist, but is no longer practicing.

She's now teaching Mathematics and traveling with her husband instead.

She's born in Paris, later moved to Algeria, and now resides in Vienna.

Her husband and her generally speaks French. I had a great time learning

some French words and phrases from the two of them.

Meeting Khadoudja was a very rewarding experience for me.

She's very down to earth, I didn't know she's got a doctorate degree

until I looked her up on Google for the papers she published. She's gentle

and soft-spoken. There's a spark of warm kinship between us since day one.

We talked a lot about many things French and of course Paris, her birthplace.

I told her I am curious to see the "City of Light" on Christmas season. At the same time, 

I'm also very keen about visiting the Germanic region of France, Alsace in the east.

Facebook Swap, Sender: SébastienSent: 9 Sep 2013 from Cadillac, France
Received: 18 Sep 2013, Traveled ~11,526 km in 9 days

Alsace is made of two departments, the Upper Rhine and the Lower Rhine.

Colmar is the capital of the Upper Rhine. It is the best preserved historic city centre

in Alsace. On the postcard above is La Maison Pfister, a historical monument in Colmar.

It was built in 1577. The name Pfister came from the family who occupied it from 1841-1892.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Sébastien
Sent: 9 Sep 2013 from Cadillac, France
Received: 18 Sep 2013, Traveled ~11,526 km in 9 days

The most beautiful villages in France are found in Alsace: Eguisheim and Riquewihr. 

Apart from being famous for the half-timbered houses, Alsace is also famous for its wine. Riquewihr is part of the Alsace wine trail. On the postcard above is shown the Hotel- Restaurant Dolder

in Riquewihr that boasts of serving the best Alsatian dishes and wine.

Facebook Swap, Sender: Ulla
Sent: 19 August 2013 from Marly, France
Received: 1 September 2013, Traveled ~10,900 km in 14 days

More than the delicious wine and the sumptuous dishes, Alsace is famed for its villages

which are 'une symphonie de couleurs'. Alsace is of brightly painted, steep-roofed, half-timbered houses. Historically, the paint color of the houses were significant; the houses

are painted according to the type of shop or boutique they have 

on the ground floor. Nowadays though, they are free 

on what color to paint the their houses.

Merci infiniment to Sébastien and Ulla! They are my postcard swap

partners who introduced me to the beauty of Alsace!

Sharing this post for:

Paulita's Dreaming of France

Sally's Blue Monday

~maria

References:

http://about-france.com/regions/alsace.htm

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maison_Pfister

http://www.dolder.fr/fr/le-restaurant.html

La Raclette

Facebook Swap, Sender: Sebastien
Sent: 7 Aug 2013 from Cadillac, France
Received: 13 Aug 2013, Traveled ~11,526 km in 6 days

For my readers who have been reading my recent posts, I'm thrilled to share that I'm on my third day of vacation now  with my beau :) It's just crazy how time flies when we're together and how slow they are when we're apart... Moving on ...

On Thursday night, we hosted a dinner for another French-Filipina couple. We prepared a traditional French cheese dish from the mountains, raclette. On the postcard, it's shown under a heater, which melts the cheese and the melted part will be scraped. This scraped melted cheese is then used as topping for boiled potato, enjoyed with cold cuts, and greens.

For the dinner we prepared, we had a modern electric raclette grill. We realized the quantity we had was a bit short to satisfy 4 people. Raclette is really a nice dish and grilling the cheese and the pink and red meat gives a break from chewing -- which makes one a bit longer to feel full from it. (It's really very heavy in the tummy though in the end!)

Our guests brought 2 bottles of red wine. On top of that, we had other alcohol before dinner. The beau brought me back 3 bottles of wine back from France in early August. We served 2 bottles. And that Côtes de Bergerac moelleux AOC Novelum (inset), easily became the favorite. The wine was true to the French to English translation of 'moelleux', it was truly mellow indeed! I loved it because I'm not good drinking red wine.

There was some left of the second bottle, the pink Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence seen inside the bucket above. I was supposed to have a glass tonight but I'm a bit sick. The beau had one glass and saved this quantity on the bottle above for me -- more than enough to get me really lethargic and sleepy but I'm very enthusiastic to enjoy it (again) as soon as I get better. ;-)

I've got 3 more days remaining for this vacation but I've already got lots of happy stories to share from the first 3 days. 

For more postcards, check out Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday, for French-related posts, hop on to Paulita's An Accidental Blog, to brighten up your weekend with pinks, check out Beverly's Pink Saturday linky party.

A lovely weekend to everyone!

~maria

Je suis amoureuse de toi!

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Sebastien
Sent: 9 Sep 2013 from Cadillac, France
Received: 18 Sep 2013, Traveled ~11,526 km in 9 days

This is a surprise card from a postcard swapping friend in France. He knows that my beau is French. It's so nice of him to gift me this card, together with the bunch we've agreed for swap. He also wrote the translation for the phrase on the card, and it came with an instruction.

I'm writing this post with sweet smile on my face -- I can glance at my beau from time to time, sleeping on the other side of the screen. Thanks to technology, we can be together despite the distance. As I watch him sleep and as I ponder on the events this evening (we had a little misunderstanding), I come to realize even more the essence of love.

Love isn't just about the amorous feelings. Love isn't just about the times when you can understand each other without saying a word. Love isn't just about the feeling of "belonging" and "being at home" with the person.

Tonight I gained more understanding on the need for love to be stronger when you are not in the same page with things. Love is recognizing that the person you're with won't necessarily hold things in the same level of importance as you do. Love is respecting the other person. Love is explaining your side but not insisting that your partner gets to believe the same thing, too.

For more love-ly hearts, visit Clytie's linky part by clicking the meme below.  Also, this is a late link-up for Paulita's Dreaming of France...

~maria

Dutch costumes: The High Pointed Bonnet & The Striped Apron

NL-1527421, Sender: Negrita
Sent: 4 Nov 2012 from Nijmegen, Netherlands
Received: 15 Nov 2012, Traveled 10,370 km 11 days

This week, I will be posting postcards featuring traditional costumes, mostly from the Netherlands. My first pick is this card sent from Nijmegen, the oldest city of the kingdom in the northwest Europe. 

Perhaps the most striking feature of the Dutch traditional costume is the peaked lace hat with wings and the brightly striped blue and white apron. From my internet research, this is characteristic of the Volendam town in North Holland. Uncle Wiki said that right now, only around 50 elderly women in Volendam wears this costume as part of their daily lives. However, there's a museum in the town about its history and clothing style where "visitors can have their pictures taken in traditional Dutch costumes".

I found an extensive write-up about the Volendam traditional costume on the Folk Costume & Embroidery blog of Roman K. To read more about this costume which is often printed on Dutch postcards and posters, click here.

To chase away Monday blues, check out pretty blue photos at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday meme. 

At the back of the card, Negrita wrote to me: Het leven is mooi! It means "Life is beautiful!" I'm telling this to myself in front of the mirror today for a beautiful start this week ;-)

~maria

Learn the nature.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Auli
Sent: 11 June 2012 from Romainville, France
Received: 27 June 2012, Traveled ~10,936 km in 16 days

It was utopia for me, traveling to Bukidnon for most of my assignments for work for the past 8 months. That place in the middle of Mindanao, south of the country is a natural paradise. With my seemingly final travel there this year happening a week ago, I can't help but feel sad.

Being in Bukidnon was enjoying warmth of nature's embrace. It was the most comforting place I've ever been; verdant mountain ranges, cool breeze, fresh inexpensive food, and good-natured people. The name of the place means mountain dweller. And if only I am very free to choose, I'd like to be a highlander and spend a year or two in that place, if not live there. It's the food basket of Mindanao and I just want to experience the joy of planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops.

I'm smiling to find these postcards in my collection that really reflects my feelings right now about Bukidnon. The French phrase on the card above means, "Learn the nature."

On the card below, the German phrase means, "Nothing happens in living nature that is not connected with the whole."

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Angela
Sent: 26 March 2012 from Nordheim, Germany
Received: 10 April 2012, Traveled ~10,685.9 km in 14 days

I'm keeping my fingers crossed my next visit in Bukidnon is in the not so far future :)

Hop on to Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday meme for more beautiful cards to view as the week winds down into a relaxing phase (hopefully) for all of us.

~maria

...et l'amour

Private Swap, Sender: David Russell
Sent: 27 May 2013, Sent from Lyon, France
Received: 4 June 2013, Traveled 10,765.82 km in 8 days

I am truly grateful that postcard swap friends give it an effort to fulfill postcard preference requests. At the back of this card, David wrote: 

I looked around and finally found a postcard with hearts. It wasn't easy to pick just the right card. I hope you will enjoy it. :) 

-- and of course, I enjoy this card a lot! My favorite heart from this set is the one on the top row, to the right of the letter 'O'. 

There's a phrase in French at the bottom of the card. I asked Mr. Google to translate it for me, and he said it means, "...and love goes around your hearts." I wanted a more comprehensible translation, and from the beau, I got: "...and love is filling up your hearts". It's really complicated for me learning the French language but I hope I can at least comprehend the basics by trying to understand words and phrases.

I would also like to share, that this postcard is double heart-y treat for me. David sent it with a heart-shaped stamp. This is Hermès contribution to the annual 'Heart' collection of the French Postal Service (La Poste). The design is from the brand's iconic scarves, illustrated by Zoé Pauwels. The stamp was released 28 January 2013. I cropped the stamp to show the overlapping postmarks from the Lyon and Manila postal offices. I think they look nice.

For more Francophile posts, Paulita is running 'Dreaming of France' at her page, An Accidental Blog, click the icon below to proceed to her blog.

~maria

Le cœur

US-2157231, Sender: Carol
Sent: 31 March 2013, Sent from Akron, Ohio
Received: 18 April 2013, Traveled 13,419 km in 18 days

Receiving this card is very timely since I need to brush up on Anatomy 101. Plus, I think I really need to get serious with studying the French language. Le cœur of course, is the heart in French. As for the rest of the labels, I'm too lazy to look it up on an equivalent diagram with English labels. I'll see the boyfriend in 13 days so I'll bug him to translate everything for me (would be a nice activity for a reunion, don't you think?). I know...that can be severe and boring. But I'm always fascinated while listening to him speak in his mother tongue, with how he does that nasal 'r' cause I can never do it myself! *sighs*

On a lovelier and more personal note, mon amour and I are celebrating our 6 months as a couple today. Also, we are just 1 month and 8 days shy from celebrating our 4 years of wonderful friendship. Yippee! I am overjoyed on how things are smooth and wonderful between us. I believe that it's really a great blessing that we've been real confidantes and bestriends before deciding to be a couple. So now, our love for each other only continues to grow despite the frustrations and challenges of being in a long distance relationship.

I am impressed that the PhilPost and SingPost are both very efficient in delivering my handwritten love letter. He complained to me though that I made it hard for him because he received the letter on 26 April and I put instruction on the flap that he can only open it on 1 May. Perhaps it had been easier and more inspiring wait for him if I sealed the letter with a wax stamp? Something similar to that on the USA 2013 forever! stamp which came with the 'Le cœur' postcard? He was happy nonetheless and sounding very much in love, thanking me, when he finally got to read the letter last night.

Oh love, love. You never fail to inspire. Such is that other stamp that came with the postcard, the satin Love Ribbons from the USA 2012 forever! issue. As the USPS described it, satin ribbons often accompany our gifts of love, may it be a box/wrapped gift or a bouquet of flowers. Ah, now that gives me an excellent idea ... 

I should cut myself here. It's no surprise anyone can be unstoppable when it comes to love. But it's almost 3AM here in my timezone so I need to get some sleep now. I'm sure you're longing to read more about hearts, so hop on to Clytie @ Random Hearts to get your fill.

I wish this Thursday is leading all of us to a wonderful end for this week. I have my last in-service examination to take for the residency on Friday (before the major major assessment comes in June/July). I am supposed to have learned most of the things by heart right now but I'm still far from it, so please wish me luck. I thank you in advance, from the bottom of my heart.

~maria

Look alikes!

It is Look Alike Day theme at Beth's Postcard Friendship Friday.

This got me excited! I have this crazy wish that once I'm ready to have kids,

I would love to have twins. Though I'm really curious how much of a challenge

it would be to raise two kids (who for sure will be as stubborn as me)

at the same time...oh well, that's far from now...

Let's see first what postcards I've got for this theme ;-)

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Indah
Sent: 30 May 2012, Sent from Jakarta,Indonesia
Received: 18 June 2012, Traveled 2,786.16 km in 19 days 

If the caption on the card is too small to read, it says:

Balinese dancers, richly attired after the manner of ancient Hindu princesses.

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Hanna
Sent: 5 October 2012, Sent from Reykjavik, Iceland
Received: 28 October 2012, Traveled 10,728 km in 23 days

This card, according to Hanna, shows the national costume
of women from Greenland. Hanna got the card from Nuuk, the capital.

She taught me some Greenlandic words:

Aluu = Hello

Baj = Bye

Qujanaq = Thank you

Asavakkit = I ♥ you.

I hope you like the postcards I shared today for the 

Postcard Friendship Friday blog hop.

I wish all of you a relaxing Friday evening!

~maria

Tasses et coeurs en chocolat

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Ines Rudloff
Sent from Hanover, Germany, Sent on 27 August 2012
Received on 17 September 2012, Traveled 10146.3 km in 22 days  

If you had difficulty reading the title of this post, you're not alone!

French is tongue twister for me. I guess I should have put the English title of this card instead, 'cups with cocoa'. But ok I admit, I'm partial with the French title cause trying to pronounce it and hearing myself pronounce it gives an almost similar pleasure with indulging on a rich chocolate drink, flavored with luscious caramel syrup on top. French ranks among the most romantic languages in my book, together with Spanish, Italian, and Korean.

Many thanks to Ines who went out of her way and surprised me with this real card. It's a www.nouvellesimages.com published postcard from France & my original request was just a Touchnote's free postcard of it. But wow! I got a real card instead. I super love surprises from my postcards swapping friends.

Oh! You couldn't help but ♡  the good things in life. I'm linking up this post with Clytie's Random Hearts. Check out her page for more ♡ -ty posts.

... and it's my pleasure to share that I'm enjoying a cup of warm cocoa while writing this post. 

Happy Thursday morning everyone!

~ maria