#222 - CHINA - jelcyel

What a boring postcard! 

The ceramic art of XinYiChen

But the stamps are just hilarious!

Do you see the golden one?

The Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, and hence the worldwide postal system. Each member country agrees to the same set of terms for conducting international postal duties. The Universal Postal Union's headquarters are located in Bern, Switzerland.

Also the UPU Monument which was built on the 4th of october 1909 - the day of my birthday - sure i'm not as old as this monument :) In the UPU Monument (Weltpostdenkmal) in Bern, bronze and granite, by René de Saint-Marceaux, the five continents join to transmit messages around the globe

many countries has stamp issues with the monuiment as motiv.

Last year i.e. Switzerland had a joint issue with France.

Look at this page for the full history about this monument and stamp issues! --> http://www.artonstamps.org

#221 - UKRAINE - snowyflake

Snowyflake send me this wonderful view over the bay from Gurzuf in the Autonomous Republic Crimea from Ukraine.

GURZUF - Ayu-dag (BearMountain)

The mountain Aju-Dag (in translation from Turkish it means the Bear-mountain) is one more symbol of the Crimea. This mountain on the outlines is similar to a bear drinking water from the Black sea.

The legend tells about huge bears lived here long ago. Once a little girl has got to these bears. She remained to live with bears. They liked to listen to her singing. The little girl has grown up. Once, when bears went away on hunting, the young man came there and saw a beautiful girl. He took her away. Bears, trying to return fugitives, began to drink water.

Then the girl started singing. The bears fascinated by singing lifted heads and only the main bear immersed his muzzle in the sea more deeply and finally he hardened with grief peering in a sea distance

.

#220 - CROATIA - smile4you

How could i don't miss this Tag?

I love receiving cards - scan them and browse through the Inet to find some more informations. But to be honest - right now i'm jobless, so i have plenty of time to do things like this :)

Today (20.10.2010) i received the card which was sent by smile4you in Croatia.

typical Istrian Houses

The card shows typical Istrian Houses - Istria is the famous peninsula from Croatia. Very popular by Swiss Tourist. I've never been there so far. But we're planing to visit Slovenians and Croatia's Beaches next summer on our Road Trip :)

#219 - DENMARK - Gforp

Gforp's card is the first one in the new CH to world tag season.

That was quite quick and i love his handwriting. Just missed cards from him ;)

He sent me a wonderful one! Matching more than one of my preferences! Green, Moon, Staircases and he used the Europa issue from this year!

Thank you so much for this absolute stunning card!

While i was Browsing through the internet, finding some more informations about the card i discovered so many nice, antique illustrations. Did i already tell you that i love old technical things?

Original-Titelblatt Voyage au centre de la terre von Édouard Riou

Posteurope - 2010 - Danmark

#218 - PHILIPPINES - ???

The card was sent in December 2007 - unfortunately with no nickname on it - so sad! i can't remember from who i received it!

The card shows the perfect volcano Mayon in the Philippines - he's the most active volcano of the isles and has a perfect cone.

MAYON VOLCANO
Southern Luzon most famous landmark is mighty Mt. Mayon with 44 eruptions the most active volcano in the Philippines.

Mount Mayon in eruption on July 21, 1928.

Mayon Volcano in eruption on December 29, 2009.

Also the stamp is really intersting - not the butterflies - nono they are common and we all know them - No look to the Scout stamp.

The sender wrote: Actually, it isn't use for mail purposes even though it is P2(?) you can include it in the mail but it's value its not counted. It is exclusive for collecting only ... every stamp that one will buy will serve as a donation to tuberculosis foundation!

 Unfortunately i can't found any further informations in the internet...

#217 - RUSSIA - pechenuga

Like #216 i received this card yesterday on my Russian Day! The card was sent by pechenuga and shows a metro station in Moscow too!

Prospekt Mira Metro Station (Kol'tsevaya Line / Circle) 1951

Prospekt Mira metro station is located on the Moscow Metro's Koltsayeva Line and was built in the 1950s. The design of the station has a botanical-agricultural theme, a patterned ceiling, and checkered floor tiles.

Opening date: 30.01.1952
The station was opened as a part of a line section between Kurskaya and Belorusskaya stations.

Station design: three-vaulted pylon-type deep-level station built to the standard project.

Station architects: V.Gelfreikh, М.Minkus
Design engineer: B.Prikot

   The theme of the station décor is the development of agriculture in the USSR. The pylons of the station hall are faced with light-coloured marble and adorned by bas-reliefs (sculptor G.Motovilov). The frieze represents a ceramic bas-relief in the shape of leaves and a vine. The track walls are faced with dark red marble and the floor is paved with black and grey granite.
   The passageway from the station to Kaluzhsko-Rizhskaya line was opened in 1958.
   The ground-level vestibule is located inside the Metrostroy multi-storey residential building on Prospekt Mira (architect A.Arkin). The front of the vestibule is adorned with sculptures and an original clock, and the interior features a smalt mosaic Mother of the World (artist A.Kuznetsov).

   Exit to: Prospect Mira

 Thank you very much for this additional Metro Card!

#216 - RUSSIA - SixthSense

Yesterday i had a Russia Day! 5 cards on one Day from the same Country.

This one is from the Switzerland tag and was sent by SixthSense!

Vestibule of the Metro Station Vorobiovy Gory 1959, 2002

Built into the lower level of a bridge, it is unique in the city and in the world. At 270 metres in length, the platform is the longest in the system as the station needed to be accessible from both sides of the river. It is also the highest station above ground level at 15 metres, though this is less remarkable since all but a handful of Metro stations are underground. Apart from its dimensions, Vorobyovy Gory is also notable in being the only Metro station with windows.

Opening date: 12.01.1959
The station was opened as a part of line section between Sportivnaya and Universitet.

Station architects: М.Bubnov, А.Markelov, М.Markovsky, А.Ryzhkov, B.Tkhor
Vestibule architects: N.Dyomchinsky, V.Alyoshina
Designers: О.Sergeev, V.Zharkova, I.Zhukov
Station architects (reconstruction): L.Borzenkov, А.Vigdorov, G.Moon, N.Rasstegnyaeva, N.Shumakov, N.Soldatova
Designers (reconstruction): N.Korneeva, Е.Meleshonkova, Е.Belyarova

   Being 284 m in length, the platform of the station is the longest in Moscow metro. The station was built to a unique project. The station is built into the lower level of a bridge that was erected in 1958 (engineers: V.Andreev, N.Rudomazin; architects: Yakovlev, A.Susorov). The 1179-metre long metro bridge was made of reinforced concrete.
   However, the station was closed for passengers on October 20, 1983 as the bridge was plagued by corrosion. From 1986 trains were rerouted to temporary bridges alongside and it was only 19 years later, on December 14, 2002 that the newly renovated station opened to the public again.
   The station has a modern design now. It is faced with white and green marble and the station walls are made of glass. The floor is finished with sandstone plates.

I love Metro Cards! Whenever i visit a big City i try to buy a book or a special Map from it's Metro: So far i have things from Tokyo and Praque. But were also in Berlin, Vienna, Paris, Bruxelles, Barcelona and London. 

And the bridges stamps just fitting the metro Station on a Bridge! SUPER! Thank you very much!

#215 - LITHUANIA - nevasara

The 1st Lithuanian postcard in this tag/blog!

It shows the second largest river in the country: Neris. 

The River Neris in Lithuania

Neris is a river rising in Belarus, flowing through Vilnius (Lithuania) and becoming a tributary of the Neman River (Nemunas) at Kaunas (Lithuania). Its length is 510 km.
275 km of the river runs through Belarus, where it is called Viliya, and 235 km runs through Lithuania, where it is called Neris.

The Neris connects two old Lithuanian capitals - Kernavė and Vilnius. Along its banks are burial places of the pagan Lithuanians. 25 km from Vilnius are the old burial mounds of Karmazinai. There also are many mythological stones, and a sacred oak.

And wonderful Stamps on it! 

Left: "250TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF PRANCIŠKUS SMUGLEVIČIUS (1745-1807)" 

middle left: It's one out of a serie of 3: The Old Ships of Baltic Sea

middle right: It's one out of two in the Olympic Serie: The Olympic Games in Sydney will be the third Summer Olympic Games where our athletes will represent the independent nation of Lithuania. Romas Ubartas, who won the 1992 Barcelona Olympic gold in the discus, symbolizes the return of Lithuania to the Olympic Games.
Lithuanian basketball team won the bronze in Barcelona (1992) and Atlanta (1996). In Australia 62 Lithuanian athletes will compete in 15 kinds of sports such as track-and-field, basketball, boxing, canoe, cycling, gymnastics, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, weightlifting and wrestling.

right:  Nature of the Baltic Sea coast: Lithuania has 99 km of the Baltic sea-coast. Sand dunes are the main relief element of the sea-shore.

#214 - USA - beachyblonde

A funny green card for my collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zasa/sets/72157622002751675/

sended from beachyblonde.

#212 - JAPAN - aki

o-o, what did i say in the Post 213? That i'm always publishing a foto from the family album? 

The cards was sent by aki and shows one of the most tragical places japan has... hiroshima. Girls and Boys i can tell you - when we visited this place we were all on a strange mood. 

The museum is really interesting and it gave me so much the creeps... 

ok here we go: A wonderful card:

 

A great stamp shows the Himeji Castle.

And the promised Photo:

zasalein in front of the memorial

#213 - JAPAN - arco_iris018

How couldn't post this card earlier?

It was sent by arco_iris in the late 2008.

You know what i always love on Cards which comes from Japan? That the Address is written up side down! It's so special in a way - or better say it makes the card more exotic.

Ukiyoe - Sharaku

I told you a lot about Japan and my love to this country but i've decided to post on every card i receive from there a family album picture from my trip through nippon!

somewhere in kyoto - i think it was the zen garden.

#211 - FINLAND - Kaheli

A lovely, typical winter-view from Finland. 

Photo: Arto Komulainen

I didn't find a website from his work. But many of the postcrosser known his work - i'm sure :) in example this one:

http://www.flickr.com/search/show/?q=arto+komulainen

#210 - RUSSIA - MaritD

 

Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery (Russian: Кирилло-Белозерский монастырь), loosely translated in English as the St. Cyril-Belozersk Monastery, used to be the largest monastery of Northern Russia. The monastery was dedicated to the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, for which cause it was sometimes referred to as the Dormition Monastery of St. Cyril. By the 20th century, the town of Kirillov had grown nearby.

#209 - RUSSIA - VencSv

 

Hornbeam ground Roots, Sochi National park

Where the foothills of the Great Caucasus Mountain Range cascade into the warm waters of the Black Sea lies one of Russia’s unique natural areas: nowhere else in the country are subtropical and high-mountain landscapes located so close to one another. This diversity of landscapes supports a similar diversity of plant and animal life that makes the region important not just for its aesthetic value, but for its role in conserving biodiversity. For the joint purposes of preserving and studying the natural riches of the region while making them more accessible to visitors, Sochinsky National Park — Russia’s first national park—was founded in 1983.

The park covers 1937.37 square kilometres within the Western Caucasus World Heritage Site.

#208 - USA - coconutkat

Another gap filling post written on the 21.10.2010.

And also here not much to say... ;)

 

Oooo! Except a comment to her words: "You probably don't see many pelicans in Switzerland..." How true! We don't have Pelicans in the wilderness - think it's to cold for them! We just know them from the zoo's ;) But on the other hand - do you ever saw a marmot or a capricorn in the wilderness :p

#207 - BRASIL - mii

A beach in Salvador.

 Vista da Praia de Amaralina

Salvador is literally surrounded by beaches. They are where people go to relax, cool off, chill, socialize, eat, drink, dance, exercise, surf, and of course swim. They vary from crowded city beaches great for meeting people to tropical idylls up and down the coast.

#206 - CHINA - king

 

  

Today i have China Day! All cards i got today (10!) are from China.

This one was sending by king and shows the old town called Chongqin in the big city Zongshan Town which has over 1 Mio Inhabitants. For me this is unbelievable! 1 Mio peops in one town. more than 700 inh. per km2 - ooo my god! Bern, where i'm living, has 2,5 :) And i just checked: No city in Switzerland has more than 12 inh. per km2!

#205 - CHINA - ice

A card from Tibet. Unfortunately no independent country anymore :(

 

#204 - CHINA - mr.shi

mr. shi sent me this wonderful card which was since a long time on my top favorites! The card shows the UNESCO world heritage site Wulingyuan Area.

A spectacular area stretching over more than 26,000 ha in China's Hunan Province, the site is dominated by more than 3,000 narrow sandstone pillars and peaks, many over 200 m high. Between the peaks lie ravines and gorges with streams, pools and waterfalls, some 40 caves, and two large natural bridges. In addition to the striking beauty of the landscape, the region is also noted for the fact that it is home to a number of endangered plant and animal species.http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/640

As longer as i'm getting ivolved in this Postcrossing thing (more than 3 years now) i'm more and more interested in those UNESCO sites. But i know me - i wouldn't be a good collectioner since the time is running away for things like this. And i received so many cards in the couple of years - i wouldn't be able to check them all if they are showing a UNESCo related site. So does it makes sense to start as an advanced in years postcrosser? We will see - but for now a label called UNESCO have to suffice!

#203 - RUSSIA - paultry

 

Look at this absolut gorgeous card Paultry send me via this tag! I'm totaly fascinated about it! The title is: Africa, Botswana, Aerolandscape. And was taken by Sergey Yastrzhembsky - the famous russian statesman. Its funny cause i just saw last week a documentation in culture TV Show on Arte about him. 

So if someone is living nearby - don't forget to see the exhibition!

 

I would going right know - but i can't even read the address  =D 

Not only the card is interesting and really one of my favorites! no also the stamps, paultry has used!

Top left: The Europa Issue, 2005 - yippieh! (pancake, doughcurl, caviar, samovar)

and on the bottom: The Europa Issue from 2001! (Island Boichol in the Baikallake)

Thank you so much, paultry for this absolut great combination of stamps and card!