Porta do Soar, Viseu

PT-227143, Sender: Ricardo
Sent from Viseu, Portugal, Sent on 10 March 2012
Received on 22 March 2012, Traveled 11,935 km in 12 days

This postcard makes me dreamy, it would be a real pleasure to walk around this place for sure with it's medieval charm.

Shown here is a part of the historical old walls of Viseu, Portugal. This is Porta do Soar or Porta de Sao Francisco. According to my readings, this is only one of the two existing doors (from an original count of seven) leading to the city of Viseu. This gives me the impression that during medieval times, Viseu was a city within the walls. Which is, similar to our very own Intramuros, the old capital of Manila. 

I think that just make someone raise a brow due to confusion, so I'll post an Intramuros postcard after this one :)

Moving forward, I am pleased that this card was sent by a 12-yr old who told me, "Do you know that Maria is a Portuguese name, too?" -- Yes, Ricardo I do. Many given names here in the Philippines are Spanish/Portuguese sounding. This is because we were a Spanish colony for 333 years.

Obrigado! Gracias! Salamat for the card.

~maria

Prague of the Vltava River

Facebook Postcard Swap, Sender: Veronika Ticha
Sent from Tachov, Czech Republic Sent on 30 April 2012
Received on June 29 2012, Traveled ~10,113 km in 59 days

Veronika wrote on the card:

Hi Maria, Prague is the capital and largest city of the Prague Republic and fourteenth largest city in European Union. It's situated on the Vltava River. Prague is home to a number of attractions including the following: Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Jewish Quarter, the Lennon Wall, and Petrin Hill. Since 1992, the historic centre of Prague has been included in the UNESCO list of WHS. 

Another UNESCO WHS card for me. Yey! :D 

To read more about Prague, here's the link for the dedicated page on the UNESCO WHS list.

~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

Icebird, from Kalevala-sarja

Friendship Gift Postcard, Sender: Tuija Thil
Sent from Kuopio, Finland, Sent on 04 July 2012
Received on 28 Jul 2012, Traveled ~9,160 km in 24 days

And here we are, on the last week of November...life has been busier than it normally is here and yeah, shame...I've shared just one postcard so far for this month. Ok folks, I don't have any scheduled fieldwork this week so I'll make it up with all of you by sharing two cards per day. Yep, you read it right! :)

A month ago, my bestfriend and I organized my postcards. I realized I've already got a lot (!!!) and that I've really been behind in posting my cards here so this week is the perfect chance to catch up.

The first card for sharing this week is from my Finnish penpal, Tuija. I posted the scan of the back of the card cause there's a lot of information on it, plus I really love Tuija's penmanship. I wish I can write as legibly as her! 

*shuffling through my pile of postcards, watch out for the next one*

~maria