Postcards for the weekend 43: Iconic person

UK Trip Spring Trip 2012 Souvenir Postcard

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, needless to say, she's such an icon of all monarch figures. It's sad that the postcard is damaged on top of her right eye ...

A lone postcard post this evening, folks. I'm too tired both from work and domestic series of unfortunate events. I published an entry 20 mins ago, only to realized that the city view (day time) theme is for next weekend! Glad I noticed before I go to bed!

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 41: Flags, with a flag(s)

FI-1422572, Sent from Vihti, Finland
Sent: 10 May 2012, Traveled 8,964 km in 25 days

Finland is the latest addition to the list of countries I've visited so far. I went there during the third weekend of April to meet my pen friend from Kuopio. It was a lovely meeting and I learned that Finland is celebrating its 100 Years of Independence this year. This card arrived with a matching stamp for the flag on the postcard. 

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Boras, Sweden
Sent: 5 March 2017, Traveled 9,926 km

The trip to Finland was a side trip that I made as a part of my business trip to Gothenburg, Sweden. Less than a month prior to my trip, I received this card from Monica of Beyond the Lone Islands. Thanks to Monica's message at the back, I was able to properly select the clothes needed for the cold & wet northern European weather. It was so much colder in Gothenburg as compared to the April weather I remember from my first visit in 2015. And oh, my side visit to Helsinki gave me my first ever hail storm and wet snow fall experience! I finally saw snow! Some of you might remember that I was ranting about it in one of my posts after missing it from my Japan trip back in November 2016.

Thanks to these two cards, I learned that all Nordic countries except Greenland have adopted the Nordic Cross flag. 

Postcrossing Private Swap, Sent from Victoria, Australia, 
Sent on 13 September 2011, Traveled 6,185 km in 9 days

This postcard has appeared here in my blog 5 years ago. I noticed it in my scanned postcards folder while looking for postcards for our theme and decided to narrow down my search to flags with cross/crosses on it. There's a long article in wiki about this flag and it's quite an interesting read for those who are interested in their national and political history. 

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Oxfordshire, UK
Sent: 13 Nov 2013, Traveled 10,777 km

As I'm sure most or all of us know, the Union Jack emblem exist on the National Flag of Australia, the country being a member of the Commonwealth. On the London, the capital of England and the United Kingdom card above, we have the widespread Union Jack, the flag of UK as a bright and beautiful backdrop. The Union Jack is a union of three historical crosses: Saint Andrew's, Saint Patrick's, and Saint George's.

The similarities of the Nordic country flags to that of the Union Jack has made me very curious. My research has landed me into a well-written article in Quora. Apparently, the Nordic cross gave rise to the flags of the British Isles, among which are the historical crosses that currently comprise the Union Jack. 

I learned so much while researching about the postcards I've chosen for the theme this weekend! Yay!

~maria

Postcards for the weekend 40: Country map(s)

My interest with Ireland started when I saw a very entertaining animated film with a leprechaun when I was a little girl. I always thought Ireland is Ireland ...

IE-33070, sent from Dublin, Ireland
Sent 13 March 2012, Traveled 10,959 km in 13 days

... But when I traveled to Scotland back in 2012, I learned that Ireland has two parts: one being the Republic of Ireland, and another being North Ireland, part of United Kingdom.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent from Oxfordshire, UK
Sent: 13 Nov 2013, Traveled 10,777 km

That was my very first out of Asian continent trip. I visited a relative in Edinburgh after attending a conference in Glasgow and he asked me whether I plan to see Ireland as well. I was very surprised as I thought, "How can I go there when I only have UK visa and no Schengen visa." Then, I was educated on the two Irelands ... Ah, the things I couldn't have learned if not for actually making a trip to somewhere!

What are some of the memorable unexpected learnings from your travel(s) abroad?

Happy weekend,

~maria

A blogger friend from England

My postcards and blogging hobby have rewarded me with many friends from all over the world. From the recent April A-Z Blogging Challenge that I participated this year, I met a few more new friends. One of them is Hilary, author of the page Positive Letters ... Inspirational Stories.

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Hilary
Sent from East Sussex, England

Hilary wrote about Aspects of British Cornish for the April challenge. We followed and cheered each other all throughout those 26 days and in the end -- we both survived! What I'm sharing for today is a well fitting contribution for Postcard Friendship Friday. I'm so pleased to receive from Hilary after we finished the challenge, a multi-view postcard that shows some of the places featured on her A-Z posts. For example, Z is for Zennor, with the view found on the upper left of the postcard.

Blame my memory lapse! I promised to send her a card from my Japan trip. I'm not sure if I actually was able to send her one or not. But then, I wish the Singapore Skyline that I sent her way and recently shared here in my blog made her smile :)

I wish we're all remembering our friends (both near and far) each step of the way and keeping the promises we made to them. We might have been delayed in fulfilling a promise, but better delayed than nothing at all! Have a nice weekend ahead, blogging folks!

~maria

W is for Warwick Castle, England

So many things to do, so little time. That's what I am feeling right now when I am about to fly out of Stockholm. It reminds me of another trip where one full day wasn't enough to experience everything the place has to offer.

For letter "W" --

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

If you happen to remember the entries I had for letters "D" and "E", this postcard is from that same visit to England. A tour of the castle and its grounds was probably the most jampacked day from that trip. I am not complaining though; the activities were well-organized and there's so much to discover about the place.

Are there any Merlin TV Series fanatics here? Warwick Castle has a special tower for you. It's called the Dragon Tower where you could enjoy a magical experience with the characters from the story.

~maria

U is for University of Oxford, England

It's a challenge for me to find a postcard to share for this letter. Hence, for the very first time I am putting up one for a second feature on my page. It is from a multi-card post from 2013.

For letter "U" --

Bloggers Postcard Swap, Sender: Anne
Sent: 11 Sep 2013 from Swindon, UK
Received: 24 Sep 2013, Traveled 10,838 km in 13 days

The original post does not contain any information about the cards. So for this card at least, here's an interesting fact. It is unknown when Oxford University was established. Teaching though was known to have existed since more than 900 years ago.

Aside from that fact, there are still way too much impressive information about this university. More details could be found from an Uncle Wiki's page.

The long and full week is ending, I am tired and sleepy ... but before we take a rest, let's first check out my friend Beth's page for Postcards Friendship Friday hop.

~maria

I is for the Iconic Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

I'm doing more stretching for the theme I've chosen this year for the A-Z Challenge. Instead of the actual name of the buildings and structures, I'm using adjectives. But hey, I don't think that's a bad thing nor a bad excuse, right? The A to Z challenge doesn't really have hard core rules. One could go thematic or not.

For me, there are two sides of going thematic. I realized that when it narrows down and gets you more organized, some letters prove to be difficult. In my case for the theme I've chosen which is "Buildings and Structures on Postcards", and not just any other available postcard, but postcards I've received (or sent), I got stuck with approximately 6 letters of the alphabet. Well enough of that, it's quite an early reflection for the challenge ...

For letter "I" -- 

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sent by: Wayne & Ron
Sent: 19 May 2012 from Edinburgh, Scotland
Received: 26 Sep 2012, Traveled 10,610 km in "like forever!!"

Iconic is the adjective that the Scotland's National Tourism Organisation used to describe the castle on their website. Such a pity I only went to look at the exterior. I was too stingy and I didn't want to buy the entrance tickets. Perhaps next time!

For more postcards on Friday, check out Beth's The Best Hearts Are Crunchy page, accessible through here.

~maria

H is for Hathaway's Cottage, England

For letter "H" -- 

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

It is a bit of a stretch for me. It's actually Anne Hathaway's cottage. I used the maiden name of Anne to distinguish the cottage and gardens to be of Anne's family and not of her famous spouse, William Shakespeare.

A place I visited back in 2012, this is my favorite from the "Visit the Houses" tour. It is one of the touristic highlights in Stratsford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace. For this specific site itself, the highlight for me was the garden.

I have another post with two more postcards of the Shaspeare houses, here.

~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

D is for Ducal Mansion, England

From temples to castles, for letter "D" --

Sent 31 May 2012 from Southampton, UK
Traveled 10,880.8 km in 20 days

Presently, the Nottingham Castle is known as the "Ducal Mansion". The estate was originally a traditional castle inhabited by kings and queens. It was purchased in 17th century by William Cavendish, first duke of Newcastle upon Tyne, hence the name.

I had the pleasure to visit it back in 2012. But perhaps the more interesting part of my visit to this side of England more than the Ducal Mansion itself were the caves underneath the mansion, the stories of Sherwood Forest and the folklore hero Robin Hood, and the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem Inn which is just nearby.

Did you know the name on which the Nottingham Castle was built on? Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, England's oldest pub was also built on the same foundation.

~maria

Domes and Spires

Bloggers Postcard Swap, Sender: Anne
Sent: 11 Sep 2013 from Swindon, UK
Received: 24 Sep 2013, Traveled 10,838 km in 13 days

Facebook Private Swap, Sender: Diana
Sent: 26 Sep 2012 from Kėdainių r., Lithuania Traveled ~9,082 km

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Marie
Sent: 7 July 2013 from Padova, Italy
Received: 15 July 2013, Traveled 10,569 km in 8 days

BE-229035, Sender: Marie-Jeanne
Sent: 11 Sep 2013 from Brussels, Belgium
Received: 24 Sep 2013, Traveled 10,478 km in 13 days

Linking up for:

~maria

Castle stamps

The Tower of London, viewed from the River Thames with the Union Jack.

I was frustrated that I can't find information about this stamp on the Royal Mail website. Apparently, this was issued by the Universal Mail United Kingdom, the postal service in the UK aimed at the tourist market. This stamp was part of the Historic Royal Palaces Booklet issued in June 2011.

Palacio Episcopal de Astorga

It was designed by the Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, one of his three works outside Catalonia. 

The palace is now a museum of religious art, called Museo de los Caminos.

The stamp was released on 17 July 2012.

Two castle overlooking the Werra valley.

The two castles are the Ludwig stone castle in Hesse and the ruins of Hanstein in Thuringia.

The view of the two castles is symbolic of overcoming the division of Germany. 

The stamp was issue on 3 February 2011.

~maria

The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge

A postcard I sent to myself ;-)
Sent: 29 May 2012, Sent from Slough, United Kingdom
Received: 19 June 2012, Traveled 10782.5 km in 22 days

His Royal Highness Prince William the Duke of Cambridge and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge is another beautiful royal couple. To continue my love and romance theme for the month of June, let me share an excerpt from the prayer they made for their wedding back in 2011:

In the busyness of each day, keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

I hope their story will continue to blossom and be as wonderful as that of their grandparents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

~maria

Queen Elizabeth & Prince Philip

A postcard I sent to myself ;-)
Sent: 3 June 2012, Sent from London Heathrow Airport
Received: 20 June 2012, Traveled 10,748 km in 17 days

The theme for my Postcard Friendship Friday post today is a continuation from last week, on love and romance. (Actually, I think I'm sticking to this theme for the whole month.)

I am a fan of this royal couple: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip The Duke of Edinburgh. I won't write lengthy and colorful praises anymore of their 65 years of marriage; that's already everywhere in print and in the net. I'm sharing the postcard because I've been reading news about Prince Philip being sick. That makes me ponder deep on the sorrow it brings to Queen Elizabeth. I know, it's completely none of my business... But I bet that sorrow is more than all the sorrows she's encountered all these years of being a monarch combined altogether...even though she's also in her senior years now herself.

I was stranger to this fear. Falling in love with my bestfriend, thinking ahead, and imagining losing him -- it's one of the worst thoughts in the world! Again, I know, I shouldn't worry about this. We're young, just starting in a romantic relationship... But you know sometimes, you just can't help it. Can you imagine your life without that very special person who's always been at your side; your constant strength and guide? I can't. Well, we argue, we fight, and we have our misunderstandings too. But the feeling remains the same, he's one person I can't ever imagine living without.

Ok. Erase those dim thoughts. Back into the happy and inspiring emotions whenever we think of romance and love. In my admiration of this couple, let me share here excerpts from the speeches they made on their 50th wedding anniversary:

The main lesson we've learned is that tolerance is the one central ingredient of any happy marriage. It might not be so important when things are going well but it is absolutely vital when things get difficult.

 - Prince Philip, 1997

He has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater that he would ever claim or we shall ever know.

- Queen Elizabeth, 1997

I won't be a queen like her but I've learned that regardless of social status, everyone have to struggle and  make sacrifices like anybody else. I hope that all couples I know and would come to know, will learn the same tolerance similar to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. And that every man and woman who pledged their love, may always be the strength and guide of each other, specially when troubles challenge their relationship.

~maria

Shakespeare Houses

Right at this moment, if someone would ask me if I wanna relocate somewhere -- it's gonna be Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom. Being in that place is like being inside a fairy tale story (or perhaps I'm just really a big Shakespeare fan! He didn't write fairy tales but that's the feeling I got for being in his hometown.)

The best thing that I love in Stratford is the Shakespeare Houses. I had the chance to visit 4 of 5. I was the happiest when I found postcards for the two houses in one of the gift shops at the town center.

The first postcard is the Anne Hathaway Cottage. Anne was the wife of William Shakespeare. The cottage has a lovely garden, full of different flowering plants. I wouldn't mind working as a gardener there. I felt like there's a fairy hiding somewhere, wishing to play with me (if only there were fewer tourists). Oh well, a lady can still dream of girly things. :D

The second postcard is the Shakespeare's birthplace. This one is right in the town center, just a few steps away from where I got these postcards. Oh, some explaining here, Anne's place is not called Anne Shakespeare's Cottage cause she was still unwed to William while living there. Anne's place is where the courting happened (perhaps it's the reason why it's the most romantic of all the Shakespeare houses, sans the garden.) When she got pregnant and William married her in a rushed ceremony, she transferred to William's birthplace house to spend the early 5 years of married life with him there.

I highly recommend this town for tourists who want to visit the UK. Aside from the Shakespeare houses, there's also the Royal Shakespeare Theater for watching a play or two.

I am sharing this with the Postcard Friendship Friday blogroll, check out Beth's page by clicking the photo below. Have a great weekend, everyone!

~ maria

The Armadillo

Hello folks! It's been quite a while...Pardon my absence. I'd been busy preparing for an international conference on radiation protection. My study on occupational radiation doses of interventional cardiologists (which was also my master's thesis) was accepted for oral presentation. The conference was held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Center in Glasgow, Scotland. 

At the SECC area, there's the Clyde Auditorium, more familiar as 'The Armadillo'. This is not in reference to the animal itself, though it looks like one. The architect's reference for the design was the interlocking of series of ship's hulls, as tribute to the Clyde's shipbuilding heritage. Below is a postcard which arrived 2 days ago here in my apartment, sent to me by no other than, myself. Crazy, isn't it? I guess I'm that inclined in getting something from the mail...  :p

This second photo is of me (in the middle) and my professors. Glasgow's temperature of 5ºC was a big challenge for us. I guess that's evident with all of us being all bundled up. Manila was at 37ºC when we left. In Glasgow, I felt like being inside one big freezer! Despite the cold, the experience was very rewarding. Talking in front of professionals and experts in my field from different countries was truly one experience of a lifetime. :)

~ maria