Denmark - Fanø Dragefestival

Fanø Dragefestival or Fanø Annual Kite Festival.

Sent by Rita, a postcrosser from Denmark.

"The annual international kite festival, which in 2012 is being held on 14-17 July, attracts up to 5,000 participants from all over the world and crowds of spectators to Fanø. The 5,000 kite-flyers have spent the cold winter designing and creating new and exciting kite models in a myriad of shapes and colours. The sky is the limit! The kites are launched into the air on Rindby Strand during the four-day-long festival."(Source)

Bicycles (15)

Sent by Margarita, a postcrosser from Suffolk, England.

USA - Navajo Nation

NATIVE AMERICANS
Of the Native American tribes living within the United States, the Navajo is the largest. The Navajo Nation also possesses the largest reservation, encompassing some 27,000 square miles of land rich in oil, gas, coal, and uranium. However, true wealth of the reservation and people lies not beneath the ground, but in daily life expresses through the art of weaving, traditional dress, and dance.

Sent by Betty, a postcrosser from Italy.

This is from Wikipedia : The Navajo Nation (Navajo: Naabeehó Bináhásdzo) is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering 27,425 square miles (71,000 km2), occupying portions of northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah, and northwestern New Mexico. It is the largest land area assigned primarily to a Native American jurisdiction within the United States.

 In English, the initial name for the area was "Navajo Indian Reservation," governed since 1923 by the "Navajo Tribal Council." On April 15, 1969, the official name on the seal used by the government was changed to "Navajo Nation," stating that from that day on "all correspondence, stationary [sic], letterheads [...] of the Navajo Tribe use the designation 'Navajo Nation' to locate the tribe." In 1994, a proposal to change the official designation from "Navajo" to "Diné" was rejected by the council. They said the name Diné represented the time of suffering before the Long Walk, and that Navajo is the appropriate designation for the future. In Navajo, the geographic entity with its legally defined borders is known as "Naabeehó Bináhásdzo." This contrasts with "Diné Bikéyah" and "Naabeehó Bikéyah" for the general idea of "Navajoland." More importantly, neither of these designations should be confused with "Dinétah," the term used for the traditional homeland of the Navajo people, situated in the area between the mountains Dookʼoʼoosłííd (San Francisco Peaks), Dibé Ntsaa (Hesperus Mountain), Sisnaajiní (Blanca Peak), and Tsoodził (Mount Taylor).

Spain - Works of Antoni Gaudí (3)

Park Güell in Barcelona.

Sent by Lopez, a postcrosser from Barcelona.

China - Couplet

In Chinese poetry, a couplet is a pair of lines of poetry which adhere to certain rules. Outside of poems, they are usually seen on the sides of doors leading to people's homes. A special, widely-seen type of couplet is the spring couplet, used as a New Year's decoration that expresses happy and hopeful thoughts for the coming year.

Sent by Heather, a postcrosser from Shanghai, China.

This is from Wikipedia : A couplet is a pair of lines of meter in poetry. It usually consists of two lines that rhyme and have the same meter.

While traditionally couplets rhyme, not all do. A poem may use white space to mark out couplets if they do not rhyme. Couplets with a meter of iambic pentameter are called heroic couplets. The Poetic epigram is also in the couplet form. Couplets can also appear in more complex rhyme schemes. For example, Shakespearean sonnets end with a couplet.

Rhyming couplets are one of the simplest rhyme schemes in poetry. Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales are written in rhyming couplets. John Dryden in the 16-17th century and Alexander Pope in the 18th century were both well known for their writing in heroic couplets.

Because the rhyme comes so quickly in rhyming couplets, it tends to call attention to itself. Good rhyming couplets tend to "explode" as both the rhyme and the idea come to a quick close in two lines.

Belarus - Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh (2)

Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Nesvizh.

Sent by Tanya, a postcrosser from Belarus. This is the postcard from Belarusian Postcrossers Meeting on 18 March 2012.

Germany - Town Musicians of Bremen

Town Musicians of Bremen.

Sent by Andreas, a postcrosser from Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : The Town Musicians of Bremen (German Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) is a folktale recorded by the Brothers Grimm. Despite the title of the fairy tale, the characters never actually arrive in Bremen. In Aarne-Thompson classification it is a folk tale of type 130: "outcast animals find a new home".

In the story a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster, all past their prime years in life and usefulness on their respective farms, were soon to be discarded or mistreated by their masters. One by one they leave their homes and set out together. They decide to go to Bremen, known for its freedom, to live without owners and become musicians there.

On the way to Bremen, they see a lighted cottage; they look inside and see four robbers enjoying their ill-gotten gains. Standing on each other's backs, they decide to perform for the men in hope of gaining food. Their 'music' has an unanticipated effect; the men run for their lives, not knowing what the strange sound is. The animals take possession of the house, eat a good meal, and settle in for the evening.

Later that night, the robbers return and send one of their members in to investigate. He sees the Cat's eyes shining in the darkness and thinks he is seeing the coals of the fire. He reaches over to light his candle. Things happen in quick succession; the Cat scratches his face with her claws, the Dog bites him on the leg, the Donkey kicks him and the Rooster crows and chases him out the door, screaming. He tells his companions that he was beset by a horrible witch who scratched him with her long fingers (the Cat), an ogre with a knife (the Dog), a giant who had hit him with his club (the Donkey), and worst of all, the judge who screamed in his voice from the rooftop (the Rooster). The robbers abandon the cottage to the strange creatures who have taken it, where the animals live happily for the rest of their days.

China - Qingdao - The Former Site of the Governor-General Administration (German Administration)

Qingdao - The Former Site of the Governor-General Administration (German Administration)

Sent by Humeixi, a postcrosser from Qingdao City, China.

Poland - Starachowice

Views of Starachowice.

Sent by Piotr, a postcrosser from Poland.

This is from Wikipedia : Starachowice [staraxɔˈvʲit​͡sɛ] is a town in south-central Poland with 55,126 inhabitants (2008). Starachowice is situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (since 1999); it was formerly in the Kielce Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Starachowice County. It is situated upon the River Kamienna, a tributary of the Vistula River, among hills and forests.

In the location of present day Starachowice, a forge existed, which in the 16th century belonged to the Starzechowski family (most probably, the name of the town comes from this family). A settlement, which was built around the forge, belonged until 1817 to the Cistercians from Wąchock Abbey, located nearby. It was the monks who in 1789 initiated construction of a blast furnace (see also Old-Polish Industrial Region).

In 1815, the furnace was taken over by the government of Congress Poland, and in the following years, the industrial settlement of Starachowice emerged as main center of metallurgy. According to a plan devised by Stanisław Staszic, metal industry was developed along the Kamienna river, and the settlement of Starachowice was its center.

After Poland regained independence in 1918, the government in Warsaw decided to build an arms factory in Starachowice. On October 12, 1920, The Society of Starachowice Mining Company signed a contract with Main Office of Supplying the Army. Soon afterwards, works on construction of artillery ammunition factory began. Zakłady Starachowickie (Starachowice Works), which was an industrial complex including ammunition factory, artillery equipment factory and iron works, was main Poland’s producer of such materiel. It also manufactured Bofors 37 mm guns, used by the Polish Army in 1939.

The very town of Starachowice was not created until April 1, 1939, when the ancient town of Wierzbnik (founded 1624) was merged with the settlement of Starachowice Fabryczne and the village of Starachowice Górne. At first, the new town was named Starachowice-Wierzbnik, and in 1952 the name was changed into Starachowice.

During the Holocaust, the ghetto in Wierzbnik, a town located nearby, was liquidated on October 27, 1942, and many of its prisoners were sent to the death camp Treblinka.the remaining Jewish residents of Starachowice and Wierzbnik were sent to labor camps in the vicinity. Those camps were liquidated in the Summer of 1944. The remaining survivors were deported to Auschwitz where many of them met their deaths at the hands of the S.S. There was a munition plant there where Jewish slave labor was used.

Starachowice was an important center of the Home Army, where units of Jan Piwnik and Antoni Heda operated.

After World War Two Starachowice prospered as an important industrial center. Besides Starachowice Works, truck producer FSC Star was opened in 1948. A Star truck was used as the basis for the first Popemobile for Pope John Paul II's during his first visit to his home country as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church (1979). When Communist system collapsed, the situation in Starachowice worsened, and unemployment grew. The town currently has a special economy zone with lower tax rates to help the settlement of new industry.

Black Woodpecker (Drycopus martius)

Black Woodpecker (Drycopus martius).

Sent by Anna, a postcrosser from Ukraine.

This is from Wikipedia : The Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius) is a large woodpecker, 45–50 cm (18–20 in) long with a 64–84 cm (25–33 in) wingspan. Body weight is approximately 300-400 grams (10.6-14.2 oz) on average. It is easily the largest woodpecker in its range. This species is closely related to and fills the same ecological niche in Europe as the Pileated Woodpecker of North America.

It lives in mature forest across the northern palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding in Eurasia. It does not migrate.

The plumage of this crow-sized woodpecker is entirely black apart from a red crown. In males, the entire crown is red, but in females only the top hindcrown is red with the rest of the body all black. It has a very long beak of 2.5 inches (6.3 cm).

The sexes differ even as nestlings.

The woodpecker feeds by using its bill to hammer on dead trees to dig out carpenter ants and wood-boring grubs.

Their voice is remarkable in that it has two different calls. One is a short single high-pitched note done only twice in a row. The other is a screech-like shrill while in flight.

Unlike other woodpecker species, the Black Woodpecker does not have a dipping, bounding flight.

The woodpecker digs a nest hole, usually in a live poplar or pine tree where it lays four or more eggs.

Thailand - Young Hmong Hilltribe

Young Hmong Hilltribe, Northern Thailand.

Sent by Tanawan, a postcrosser from Bangkok, Thailand.

This is from Wikipedia : The Hmong (RPA: Hmoob/Moob, IPA: [m̥ɔ̃ŋ]), are an Asian ethnic group from the mountainous regions of China, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Hmong are also one of the sub-groups of the Miao ethnicity (苗族) in southern China. Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration in the 18th century due to political unrest and to find more arable land.

A number of Hmong people fought against the communist Pathet Lao during the Laotian Civil War. Hmong people were singled out for retribution when the Pathet Lao took over the Laotian government in 1975, and tens of thousands fled to Thailand seeking political asylum. Thousands of these refugees have resettled in Western countries since the late 1970s, mostly the United States but also in Australia, France, French Guiana, Canada, and South America. Others have been returned to Laos under United Nations-sponsored repatriation programs. Around 8,000 Hmong refugees remain in Thailand.

Canada - Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)

Snowy Owl, the official bird of Quebec.

Sent by Danièle, a postcrosser from Montreal, Canada.

This is from Wikipedia : The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. The bird is also known in North America as the Arctic Owl, Great White Owl or Harfang. Until recently, it was regarded as the sole member of a distinct genus, as Nyctea scandiaca, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Olsen et al. 2002) shows that it is very closely related to the horned owls in the genus Bubo. The Snowy Owl is the official bird of Quebec.

This yellow-eyed, black beaked white bird is easily recognizable. It is 52–71 centimetres (20–28 in) long with a 125–150 centimetres (49–59 in) wingspan. Also, these birds can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 3 kilograms (3.5 to 6.6 lb). It is one of the largest species of owl and in North America is on average the heaviest owl species. The adult male is virtually pure white, but females and young birds have some dark scalloping; the young are heavily barred, and dark spotting may even predominate. Its thick plumage, heavily feathered taloned feet, and coloration render the Snowy Owl well-adapted for life north of the Arctic Circle.

Snowy Owl calls are varied, but the alarm call is a barking, almost quacking krek-krek; the female also has a softer mewling pyee-pyee or prek-prek. The song is a deep repeated gawh. They may also clap their beak in response to threats or annoyances. While called clapping, it is believed this sound may actually be a clicking of the tongue, not the beak.

South Africa - Shaangan Warriors

Shaangan warriors.

Sent by Ana, a postcrosser from South Africa.

Lonely Planet - Muslim Girls in Lamu, Kenya

Smiles from two young Muslim girls wearing traditional buibui robes on the offshore island of Lamu, Kenya.

Sent by Aranya, a postcrosser from Chiangmai, Thailand.

Spain - Works of Antoni Gaudí (2)

Sagrada Família in Barcelona.

Sent by Jordi, a postcrosser from Barcelona, Spain.

Czech Republic - Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc (2)

Holy Trinity Column in Olomouc, a UNESCO WHS.

Sent by Radana, a postcrosser from Czech Republic.

Finland - Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle in July.

Sent by Pirkko, a postcrosser from Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : Rovaniemi; Inari Sami: Ruávinjargâ; Northern Sami: Roavenjárga and Roavvenjárga; Skolt Sami: Ruäˊvnjargg) is a city and municipality of Finland. It is the administrative capital and commercial centre of Finland's northernmost province, Lapland. It is situated close to the Arctic Circle and is between the hills of Ounasvaara and Korkalovaara, at the confluence of the Kemijoki River and its tributary, the Ounasjoki. The city and the surrounding Rovaniemen maalaiskunta (Rural municipality of Rovaniemi) were consolidated into a single entity on January 1, 2006. The new municipality has an area of 8,016.72 square kilometres (3,095.27 sq mi) and an approximate population of 61,000.

The rova part in the name Rovaniemi has often been considered to be of Saamic origin, as "roavve" in Saami denotes a forested ridge or hill or the site of an old forest fire. In Southern Saami dialects, however, rova means a heap of stones, a rock or a group of rocks in a stretch of rapids, or even a sauna stove. The niemi part of the name means "cape".

Russia - Republic Karachay-Cherkessia - Arkhyz

A waterfall in Arkhyz in Republic Karachay-Cherkessia in Russia.

Sent by Timur from Republic Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia.

This is from Wikipedia : Arkhyz (Russian: Архыз) is a mountainous region in the vicinity of the eponymous aul sitting at an altitude of 1,450 meters in the valley of the Bolshoi Zelenchuk river, in the Republic of Karachay–Cherkessia, Greater Caucasus, Russia, about 70 km inland from the Black Sea shore. The modern village was founded in 1923 near the confluence of the Arkhyz and Psysh rivers. The elevation of the surrounding mountains is more than 3,000 meters above the sea.

Nizhny Arkhyz is an archaeological preserve extending for four kilometers around the ruins of Nizhnearkhyzskoe gorodishche, tentatively identified as the medieval capital of Alania, a Christian state destroyed by the hordes of Möngke Khan in the 13th century. No Byzantine document mentions the name of this city, whereas al-Mas'udi refers to it as Ma'as, or Maghas.

The most remarkable feature of the site is a cluster of three early medieval churches, whose construction is associated with the missionary activities of Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos in the Northern Caucasus. These structures bear much resemblance to the Shoana Church and Senty Church, situated in the neighbouring valleys. In the 19th century the churches were affiliated with the monastery of St. Alexander Nevsky. A monastic community was revived there after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The North Church is supposed to have been the cathedral of the diocese of Alania between the 10th and 13th centuries. The dome rises to a height of 21 meters; the western wall is twice as long. The narthex formerly contained a baptistery. A 19th-century traveller described the faded Byzantine frescoes that were still visible on its walls.

The Central Church appears to have been conceived somewhat earlier than the two others, in the form of a regular cross, but was extended to the west during or shortly following the construction. It is much larger than the South Church, which was built of coarse rubble masonry, extensively restored by the monks in 1899, fell into disuse during the Soviet years, and was reconsecrated to St. Elijah in 1991. The South Church bears the distinction of being the oldest functioning church in all of Russia.

Within 30 km from Nizhny Arkhyz a short grave inscription was discovered in 1888. Although it is written in Greek characters, the inscription (alternatively dated to 941 or 963) was interpreted by Vasily Abayev as the earliest preserved text in the Ossetic language. Another tourist attraction in the valley is a mandylion-type rock painting of Christ, datable to the 10th century but discovered only recently.

Arkhyz is also the site of a Soviet astrophysical observatory which formerly boasted the world's largest solid-mirror reflecting telescope (6 meters in diameter).

Tajikistan - Pamir Mountains

Roof of The World - Pamir's Mountains

Sent by Halim from Tajikistan.

This is from Wikipedia : The Pamir Mountains are a mountain range in Central Asia formed by the junction or knot of the Himalayas, Tian Shan, Karakoram, Kunlun, and Hindu Kush ranges. They are among the world’s highest mountains and since Victorian times they have been known as the "Roof of the World" a probable translation from the Persian.

In other languages they are called: Kyrgyz Памир тоолору; Persian: رشته کوه های پامیر Reshte Kūh-hāye Pāmīr; Tajik: Кӯҳҳои Помир; Hindi: पामीर पर्वतमाला; Urdu: پامیر کوهستان; Uyghur: پامىر ئېگىزلىكى; Chinese: 帕米尔高原; pinyin: Pàmǐ'ěr Gāoyuán. Another Chinese name is Congling (cōnglǐng 葱嶺), (Wade-Giles: Ts'ung-ling) or "Onion Range" (after the wild onions growing in the region).

The precise extent of the Pamir Mountains is debatable. They lie mostly in Gorno-Badakhshan province, Tajikistan and Badakshan Province, Afghanistan. To the north they join the Tian Shan mountains along the Alay Valley of Kyrgyzstan. To the south they join the Hindu Kush mountains along the Wakhan Corridor in Afghanistan/Pakistan, and also Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan. To the east they may end on the Chinese border or extend to the range that includes Kongur Tagh which is sometimes included in the Kunlun Mountains.

The Pamir Mountains were prominently featured in the 1985 film, Spies Like Us starring Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. They were even described by Austin Milbarge (Aykroyd) as being "the roof of the world" and having "sub-Arctic temperatures".

Its three highest mountains are Ismoil Somoni Peak (known from 1932–1962 as Stalin Peak, and from 1962–1998 as Communism Peak), 7,495 m (24,590 ft); Ibn Sina Peak (still unofficially known as Lenin Peak), 7,134 m (23,406 ft); and Peak Korzhenevskaya (Russian: Пик Корженевской, Pik Korzhenevskoi), 7,105 m (23,310 ft).

There are many glaciers in the Pamir Mountains, including the 77 km (48 mi) long Fedchenko Glacier, the longest in the former USSR and the longest glacier outside the Polar region.

Covered in snow throughout the year, the Pamirs have long and bitterly cold winters, and short, cool summers. Annual precipitation is about 130 mm (5 in), which supports grasslands but few trees.

Coal is mined in the west, though sheep herding in upper meadowlands are the primary source of income for the region.

Dominica - Sari Sari Falls

SARI SARI FALLS
A 30 minute hike from the east coast village of La Plaine leads to this stunning waterfall.

Sent by Gilles of Belgium who visited Dominica in early March.

"Located on the East coast of Dominica, Sari Sari are one of the most magnificent waterfalls in Dominica. Easily accessed through a 20-25 minutes hike following the river course.

Drive to the town of Laplaine south of Rosalie and take main street of this town driving west direction. You will recognize this street by a supermarket (Charlo’s Ecomart) which sits at the corner of the highway to Rosalie. Follow this street untill not possible to continue, park your car there.

At the beginning of the trail to Sari Sari falls you may be approached by the rasta guide Mr.Brown self-proclaimed the most popular guide in the area. Believe him or not, it’s always your choice to hire a local guide or not.

The hike to Sari Sari begins crossing a banana field and a clearing with a few wondering cows. Don’t panic if you don’t see an obvious path, keep walking North (or follow the sound of the river as you wish) and give credit to your intuition.You will quickly find a steep slope leading down to Sari Sari River.

Once down in the river just follow the river up across the lush rainforest, there is a clearly stepped in path next to it. You will need to cross the river Goge at least three times to get to Sari Sari falls. Overall this hike is very easy and should fit every age and fitness level, just pay attention to the slippery rocks. The last part of the trail requires you to climb a couple of challenging boulders, this is the only spicy section of the trail, however the impressive falls are visible from this point and you may choose to stay down."(Source)

Uruguay - Montevideo - Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square)

INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
It emerged as a result of the demolition of the Fortress Walls. Carlos Zucchini started building it in 1837 and it was redesigned by Bernardo Ponchini in 1860. The monument of our national hero José Artigas, is situated in the middle of the Square.

Sent by Flo from Montevideo, Uruguay.

This is from Wikipedia : Plaza Independencia (Spanish for Independence Square) is the name of Montevideo's most important plaza. It seperates Ciudad Vieja from downtown Montevideo, with the Gateway of The Citadel on one side and the beginning of 18 de Julio avenue on the other.

Many important buildings, such as the Solís Theatre and the workplaces of the President of Uruguay (both the Estévez Palace and the future Executive Tower) are located by this square.

Indian Symbols

INDIAN SYMBOLS

Sent by Kristen, a postcrosser from New Hampshire, USA.

Finland - Hämeenlinna - Häme Castle

Häme Castle in Hämeenlinna.

Sent by Tupulinna, a postcrosser from Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : Häme Castle (Finnish: Hämeen linna, Swedish: Tavastehus slott) is a medieval castle in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The castle is located on the coast of lake Vanajavesi in the city center. The castle was originally located on an island.

The castle's age is disputed. Traditionally the construction of the castle has been connected to the legendary Second Swedish Crusade which would date the castle in the mid-13th century. However, there are no finds from the castle that can be firmly dated to a period earlier than 1320s. Also the contents of the crusade legend have been seriously contested. An earlier fortification from about 1300 only some 20 kilometres (12 mi) away in Hakoinen also makes a 14th century dating for Häme Castle more probable[citation needed]. Only one castle ("Tauestahus") is listed in Tavastia in a royal document from 1308. Also, the Russian Novgorod Chronicle only mentions one castle during their plundering of Tavastia in 1311, its description matching well with the castle in Hakoinen:

The men of Novgorod went in war over sea to the country of the Germans (Swedes), against the Finnish (Yem) people – – And the Germans fell back into the citadel. For the place was very strong and firm, on a high rock, not having access from any side. And they sent with greeting, asking for peace, but the men of Novgorod did not grant peace, and they stood three days and three nights wasting the district.

The construction of Häme castle probably started after the Novgorod invasion. The first castle was made of gray stone, and later bricks were used.

The castle lost military importance by the end of the 16th century. Its defensive systems were upgraded in the 18th century with bastions around the castle. The castle became a prison in the 19th century and served as such until 1953, when massive restoration work started. The castle has been a museum since 1988. Facilities can also be rented for private events.

USA - Kentucky - Covington Landing At Rivercenter

COVINGTON LANDING AT RIVERCENTER
Covington, Kentucky
Covington Landing is the largest floating entertainment complex on the inland waterways. It includes a replica steamboat and a wharfhouse that includes several restaurants, entertainments areas and shops.

Sent by Gretchen, a postcrosser from USA.