Italy - The Dolomites

Dolomiti - Dolomites

UNESCO WORLD NATURAL HERITAGE

Sent by Chiara and family from Bolzano, Italy.

The site of the Dolomites comprises a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 metres and cover 141,903 ha. It features some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes anywhere, with vertical walls, sheer cliffs and a high density of narrow, deep and long valleys. A serial property of nine areas that present a diversity of spectacular landscapes of international significance for geomorphology marked by steeples, pinnacles and rock walls, the site also contains glacial landforms and karst systems. It is characterized by dynamic processes with frequent landslides, floods and avalanches. The property also features one of the best examples of the preservation of Mesozoic carbonate platform systems, with fossil records (read more).

Italy - Veneto - Carnival of Venice

Carnival of Venice (Carnevale di Venezia)

Sent by Monica from Verona in Veneto, Italy.

The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia; Venetian: Carnaval de Venessia) is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy, famous throughout the world for its elaborate costumes and masks. The Carnival ends on Shrove Tuesday (Martedì Grasso or Mardi Gras), which is the day before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday.

The Carnival traces its origins to the Middle Ages, existing for several centuries until it was abolished in 1797. The tradition was revived in 1979, and the modern event now attracts approximately 3 million visitors annually.

According to legend, the Carnival of Venice began after the military victory of the Venetian Republic over the patriarch of Aquileia, Ulrich II, in the year 1162. In honour of this, the people started to dance and gather in St Mark's Square. Apparently, this festival started in that period and became official during the Renaissance. In the 17th century, the Baroque Carnival preserved the prestigious image of Venice in the world. It was very famous during the 18th century. It encouraged licence and pleasure, but it was also used to protect Venetians from present and future anguish. However, under the rule of Emperor Francis II, the festival was outlawed entirely in 1797 and the use of masks became strictly forbidden. It reappeared gradually in the 19th century, but only for short periods and above all for private feasts, where it became an occasion for artistic creations (read more).

Japan - Himeji-jo (2)

Himeji Castle (World Cultural Heritage) in Spring / Hyogo / Japan.

Seny by Yukino from Ōta, Japan.

Himeji-jo is the finest surviving example of early 17th-century Japanese castle architecture. It is located in Himeji City, in the Hyogo Prefecture, an area that has been an important transportation hub in West Japan since ancient times. The castle property, situated on a hill summit in the central part of the Harima Plain, covers 107 hectares and comprises eighty-two buildings. It is centred on the Tenshu-gun, a complex made up of the donjon, keeps and connecting structures that are part of a highly developed system of defence and ingenious protection devices dating from the beginning of the Shogun period. The castle functioned continuously as the centre of a feudal domain for almost three centuries, until 1868 when the Shogun fell and a new national government was created.

The principal complex　of these structures is a masterpiece of construction in wood, combining function with aesthetic appeal, both in its elegant appearance unified by the white plastered earthen walls – that has earned it the name Shirasagi-jo (White Heron Castle) – and in the subtlety of the relationships between the building masses and the multiple roof layers visible from almost any point in the city read more).

Japan - Tokyo Rainbow Bridge

Rainbow Bridge/Statue of Liberty

From the observation deck of Odaiba Seaside Park, you can see a grand panorama of Tokyo Port, including a Statue of Liberty, Rainbow Bridge, and beyond that, the city center and Tokyo Tower.

Sent by Thais from Kazo in Japan.

The Rainbow Bridge (レインボーブリッジ, Reinbō Buridji) is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pier and the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.

It is named Tōkyō Kō Renrakukyō (東京港連絡橋) as the official name in Japanese.

It was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with construction starting in 1987 and completed in 1993. Officially called the "Shuto Expressway No. 11 Daiba Route - Port of Tokyo Connector Bridge", the double-decker bridge is 798 m (2,618 ft) long with a main span of 580 m (1,903 ft). The name "Rainbow Bridge" was decided by the public.

The towers supporting the bridge are white in color, designed to harmonize with the skyline of central Tokyo seen from Odaiba. There are lamps placed on the wires supporting the bridge, which are illuminated into three different colors, red, white and green every night using solar energy obtained during the day.

The bridge can be accessed by foot from Tamachi Station (JR East) or Shibaura-futō Station (Yurikamome) on the mainland side (read more).

Japan - Traditional Japanese Gate (Torii)

Traditional Japanese Gate (torii), Tachiki Kannon Temple, Utagahama Beach.

Utagahama, Chuzenji lakeside.

Utagahama is located on the eastern shore of Lake Chuzenji, from where you can see the entirety of Mount Nantai (2,480 meters above sea level), and the area around the large torii gate of Tachiki Kannon, which is associated with Shodo Shonin, is a famous scenic spot.

Sent by Ayu from Tokyo, Japan.

A torii (Japanese: 鳥居; [to.ɾi.i]) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred, and a spot where kami are welcomed and thought to travel through.

The presence of a torii at the entrance is usually the simplest way to identify Shinto shrines, and a small torii icon represents them on Japanese road maps and on Google Maps.

The first appearance of torii gates in Japan can be reliably pinpointed to at least the mid-Heian period; they are mentioned in a text written in 922. The oldest existing stone torii was built in the 12th century and belongs to a Hachiman shrine in Yamagata Prefecture. The oldest existing wooden torii is a ryōbu torii (see description below) at Kubō Hachiman Shrine in Yamanashi Prefecture built in 1535 (read more).

Japan - Mount Fuji (5)

Bright autumn leaves will begin to change color in the lake of Mount Fuji near fall. Of autumn leaves Mount Fuji in the superb view, many people visit to guide this landscape.

Sent by Kevin from Saga, a small city in South Japan.

My other postcards of Mount Fuji are here, here, here, and here.

Japan - Mount Fuji (4)

Majestic image of the snow-capped Mount Fuji, a prominent symbol of Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a postal stamp and a special postmark. Last eruption was in 1707.

Sent by Yuko who mentioned that she can see the Mount Fuji from her house.

My other postcards of Mount Fuji are here, here, and here.

Germany - Bavaria - Allianz Arena

Allianz Arena

Munich

Venue of the football 2006 World Cup, 75,000 spectators.

Architects : Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron,

Dimension : 258 x 227 x 50m.

Extent : 840m.

Superstructured space : 37,600 m2

Total effective surface: 171,000m2

Sent by Tania from Munich, Germany.

Allianz Arena (German: [aˈli̯ants ʔaˌʁeːna]; known as Munich Football Arena for UEFA competitions) is a football stadium in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, with a 70,000 seating capacity for international matches and 75,000 for domestic matches. Widely known for its exterior of inflated ETFE plastic panels, it is the first stadium in the world with a full colour changing exterior. Located at Franz-Beckenbauer-Platz 5 at the northern edge of Munich's Schwabing-Freimann borough on the Fröttmaning Heath, it is the second-largest stadium in Germany behind the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.

Bayern Munich have played their home games at the Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season. The club had previously played their home games at the Munich Olympic Stadium since 1972. 1860 Munich previously had a 50 per cent share in the stadium, but, in 2006, sold this to Bayern for €11m to help resolve a serious financial crisis that saw 1860 facing bankruptcy. The arrangement allowed 1860 Munich to play at the stadium while retaining no ownership until 2025. However, in July 2017 Bayern terminated the rental contract with 1860, making themselves the sole tenants of the stadium (read more).

Switzerland - Aarau (1)

Rathausgasse in Aarau.

Sent by Ulrich who lives near Aarau, Switzerland. 

Aarau (Swiss Standard German: [ˈaːraʊ], Alemannic German pronunciation: [ˈɑːræu̯]) is a town, a municipality, and the capital of the northern Swiss canton of Aargau. The town is also the capital of the district of Aarau. It is German-speaking and predominantly Protestant. Aarau is situated on the Swiss plateau, in the valley of the Aare, on the river's right bank, and at the southern foot of the Jura Mountains, and is west of Zurich, 58 kilometres (36 miles) south of Basel and 65 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of Bern. The municipality borders directly on the canton of Solothurn to the west. It is the largest town in Aargau. At the beginning of 2010 Rohr became a district of Aarau.

The official language of Aarau is (the Swiss variety of Standard) German, but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic Swiss German dialect (read more).

Switzerland - Aarau (2)

The building at Rathaugasse 22 in Aarau, which is known for its picturesqueold town with charming alleys and numerous sights.

The second postcard sent by Ulrich who lives Aarau, Switzerland.

Italy - Emilia-Romagna - Adriatic Riviera

Riviera Adriatica, also known as Adriatic Riviera, a famous coastal area in Italy.

Sent by Gaetano from Padua, Italy.

Emilia-Romagna’s Riviera includes some of the most famous beaches in Europe, clean, safe waters, the most on-trend entertainment, unparalleled hospitality, love and respect for nature and lastly, fantastic art, culture, food and wine. 

This area has a deep-rooted sense of hospitality and tradition; the locals who live and work here every day are creative and resourceful but, above all, famed for their friendliness.

Taking a trip to Emilia-Romagna is best done at your leisure; dive into the blue waters of the Adriatic, visit the famous cities of art, such as Ravenna and Rimini, immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Po Delta Regional Park or set off to discover the ancient coastal villages, such as Cervia, Cesenatico, Comacchio or those in the neighbouring inland areas, such as Bertinoro or Santarcangelo di Romagna (read more).

Germany - Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - Usedom Island

A collage of various location on Usedom Island, also known as "Germany's Sunniest Island".

Sent by Danniela from Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Usedom (German: Usedom [ˈuːzədɔm], Polish: Uznam [ˈuznam]) is a Baltic Sea island in Pomerania, divided between Germany and Poland. It is the second largest Pomeranian island after Rügen, and the most populous island in the Baltic Sea.

It lies north of the Szczecin Lagoon estuary of the Oder river. About 80% of the island belongs to the German district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The eastern part and the largest city on the island, Świnoujście, are part of the Polish West Pomeranian Voivodeship. The island's total area is 445 square kilometres (172 square miles) – 373 square kilometres (144 square miles) in the German part and 72 square kilometres (28 square miles) in the Polish part. Its population is 76,500 (German part 31,500; Polish part 45,000).

With an annual average of 1,906 hours of sunshine, Usedom is the sunniest region of both Germany and Poland, and it is also one of the sunniest islands in the Baltic Sea, hence its nickname "Sun Island" (German: Sonneninsel, Polish: Wyspa Słońca)..

The island has been a tourist destination since the Gründerzeit in the 19th century, and features resort architecture. Seaside resorts include Zinnowitz and the Amber Spas in the west, the Kaiserbad and Świnoujście in the east (read more).

New Zealand - South Island - Mitre Peak

Mitre Peak reflected in Milford Sound is certainly one of the most well-known scenes in New Zealand. Mitre Peak rises almost sheer to its height of 1695m from the waters of Milford Sound.

Send by Darci from Christchurch, New Zealand. Thanks for nice stamp of Eid.

Mitre Peak (Māori: Rahotu) is a mountain in the South Island of New Zealand; it is located on the shore of Milford Sound.

The mountain was named by Captain John Lort Stokes of HMS Acheron, who found its shape reminiscent of the mitre headwear of Christian bishops. The Māori name for the peak is Rahotu.

Mitre Peak is close to the shore of Milford Sound, in the Fiordland National Park in the southwestern South Island. It rises to 1,690 metres (5,560 ft) with almost sheer drops to the water. The peak is actually a closely grouped set of five peaks, although from most easily accessible viewpoints, it appears as a single point. Milford Sound is part of Te Wahipounamu, a World Heritage Site as declared by UNESCO. The imposing setting makes the peak a favourite object for painters. A painting by Charles Decimus Barraud is held by the Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui (read more).

Australia - Victoria - Ocean Grove

Ocean Grove

Main Beach, Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia

Sent by Gilbertson from Victoria, Australia.

Ocean Grove is a town in Victoria, Australia, located on the Bellarine Peninsula. At the 2021 census, Ocean Grove had a population of 17,714.

In 1869, American Methodists established a permanent religious camp community on the coast at Ocean Grove, New Jersey, in the United States of America. It was so successful that they decided to spread their camps overseas, including to Australia. Following a collaboration with the Victorian Methodists, an initial camp was set up near Point Lonsdale. By 1882 they needed to acquire a larger area, so they could establish their Australian Ocean Grove community (read more).

Netherlands - North Holland - Zaanse Schans

Traditional green wooden house and a bridge at Zaanse Schans in the Netherlands.

Sent by Jennifer from Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Zaanse Schans (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzaːnsə ˈsxɑns]) is a neighbourhood of Zaandam, near Zaandijk, Netherlands. It is best known for its collection of historic windmills and wooden houses that were relocated here from the wider region north of Amsterdam for preservation. From 1961 to 1974, old buildings from all over the region known as the Zaanstreek were relocated using lowboy trailers to Zaanse Schans. Two of the windmills in Zaanse Schans are preserved on their original site where they were first constructed, and therefore do not constitute part of the relocated structures. The Zaans Museum, established in 1994, near the first Zaanse Schans windmill, is located south of the neighbourhood. This architectural reserve for Zaanse timber construction is a protected village scene because of its architectural-historical and landscape value. It developed into an international tourist destination with several million visitors every year: in 2016, there were 1.8 million, in 2017 – 2.2 million (read more).

United Kingdom - England - Chester

The Eastgate Clock, Chester, England.

Sent by Alison from Chester, England. Thanks for the stamps of Captain Britain and Spider Man.

Chester is a cathedral city in Cheshire, England, on the River Dee, close to the England–Wales border. With a built-up area population of 92,760 in 2021, it is the most populous settlement in the borough of Cheshire West and Chester. It is also the historic county town of Cheshire and the second-largest settlement in Cheshire after Warrington.

Chester was founded in 79 AD as a "castrum" or Roman fort with the name Deva Victrix during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. One of the main army camps in Roman Britain, Deva later became a major civilian settlement. In 689, King Æthelred of Mercia founded the Minster Church of West Mercia, which later became Chester's first cathedral, and the Angles extended and strengthened the walls to protect the city against the Danes. Chester was one of the last cities in England to fall to the Normans, and William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a castle to dominate the town and the nearby Welsh border. Chester was granted city status in 1541 (read more).

Germany - Saxony-Anhalt - Ilsenburg

Ilsenburg, a town in the Harz Mountain of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Sent by Andreas from Ilsenburg in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Ilsenburg (German: [ˈɪlzn̩ˌbʊʁk]) is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany. It is situated under the north foot of the Harz Mountains, at the entrance to the Ilse valley with its little river, the Ilse, a tributary of the Oker, about six 6 miles (9.7 km) north-west of the town of Wernigerode. It received town privileges in 1959. Owing to its surrounding of forests and mountains as well as its position on the edge of the Harz National Park, Ilsenburg is a popular tourist resort. Since 2002, it is officially an air spa.

The old castle, Schloss Ilsenburg, lying on a high crag above the town, was originally an imperial stronghold and probably built by King Henry I. In 995 Emperor Otto III resided in Elysynaburg, which Henry II bestowed in 1003 upon the Bishop of Halberstadt, who converted it into a Benedictine monastery. The school attached to it enjoyed a great reputation towards the end of the 11th century. The abbey was finally devastated during the German Peasants' War in 1525 (read more).

Germany - Hesse - Asfeld

500 Years of Alsfeld Town Hall (1512 - 2012)

Sent by Edda from Hesse, Germany.

Alsfeld (German pronunciation: [ˈalsfɛlt]) is a town in the center of Hesse, in Germany.

Located about 100 km (62 mi) north of Frankfurt, Alsfeld is part of the densely populated Frankfurt Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, with nearby Lauterbach (about 15 km (9.3 mi) east), one of the two centre cities of the Vogelsbergkreis district.

Alsfeld is best described as a blend of a historic bourgeois European town and its rural-agricultural environs and shaped by typical Lutheran-Pietist characteristics, such as austerity and a Protestant work ethic. It is well known for its well-preserved old town with hundreds of picturesque timber-frame houses, and part of the German Timber-Frame Road (read more).

USA - New York - Finger Lakes

The rolling lands between the Finger Lakes are fertile grounds for diverse agricultural entrprises. Vast fields of sunflowers are a surprising sight alongside rural roads.

Sent by Mikki from New York, USA.

The Finger Lakes are a group of eleven long, narrow, roughly north–south lakes located directly south of Lake Ontario in an area called the Finger Lakes region in New York, in the United States. This region straddles the northern and transitional edge of the Northern Allegheny Plateau, known as the Finger Lakes Uplands and Gorges ecoregion, and the Ontario Lowlands ecoregion of the Great Lakes Lowlands.

The geological term finger lake refers to a long, narrow lake in an overdeepened glacial valley, while the proper name Finger Lakes goes back to the late 19th century. Cayuga and Seneca Lakes are among the deepest in the United States, measuring 435 and 618 feet (133 and 188 m), respectively, with bottoms well below sea level. Though none of the lakes' widths exceed 3.5 miles (5.6 km), Seneca Lake is 38.1 miles (61.3 km) long, and at 66.9 square miles (173 km²) is the largest in total area (read more).

USA - Maryland - State Bird

MAY WE FLY STATE BIRD COLLECTION (www.maywefly.com)

Baltimore Oriole, a State Bird of Maryland.

Sent by Carol from Rockville in Maryland, USA.

The Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula) is a small icterid blackbird common in eastern North America as a migratory breeding bird. It received its name from the resemblance of the male's colors to those on the coat-of-arms of 17th-century Lord Baltimore. Observations of interbreeding between the Baltimore oriole and the western Bullock's oriole Icterus bullockii, led to both being classified as a single species, called the northern oriole, from 1973 to 1995. Research by James Rising, a professor of zoology at the University of Toronto, and others showed that the two birds actually did not interbreed significantly.

The Baltimore oriole is the state bird of Maryland, and the namesake and mascot for the Baltimore Orioles baseball team (read more).