Netherlands - Brabant (2)

Views of Brabant.

Sent by Denise, a postcrosser from Valkenswaard in the Netherlands.

Germany - Mapcard of Hamburg (2)

A mapcard of Hamburg.

Sent by Lily, a postcrosser from Hamburg, Germany.

Algeria - Ghardaïa

ALGERIA - Ghardaïa.
Girl in traditional dress.

Sent by Faiza from Annaba in Algeria.

This is from Wikipedia : Ghardaïa (Arabic: غرداية , Mozabite: ) is the capital city of Ghardaïa Province, Algeria. The commune of Ghardaïa has a population of 104,645, with 82,500 in the main city according to 2005 estimates. It is located in northern-central Algeria in the Sahara Desert and lies along the left bank of the Wadi Mzab. The M'zab valley in the Ghardaïa Province (Wilaya) was inscribed under the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982, as a cultural property evaluated under the criteria II ( for its settlement having an impact on urban planning even to the present century), III (for its Ibadi cultural values), and V (a settlement culture which has prevailed to the present century).

Ghardaïa is part of a pentapolis, a hilltop city amongst four others, built almost a thousand years ago, and founded by the Mozabites a Muslim Ibadi sect (non-Arabic Muslims, including the Berbers) in the M’Zab valley. It is a major centre of date production and the manufacture of rugs and cloths. Divided into three walled sectors, it is a fortified town. At the centre is the historical Mʾzabite area, with a pyramid-style mosque and an arcaded square. Distinctive white, pink, and red houses, made of sand, clay and gypsum, rise in terraces and arcades. In her 1963 book, La force des choses the French existentialist philosopher Simone de Beauvoir described Ghardaia as "a Cubist painting beautifully constructed".

The name of Ghardaïa has its origins in a female saint named Daïa who lived in a cave (ghār) in the area before it blossomed into a town inhabited by Kharijite Muslims who came to escape persecution from Orthodox Muslims in the north.

United Kingdom- England - Mapcard of Essex

A mapcard of Essex.

Sent from Spain by Audrey, a postcrosser from England.

This is from Wikipedia : Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London and is one of the most populous counties in England. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west. Essex County Council is the principal local authority for much of the county, sharing functions with twelve district councils. The county town is Chelmsford. The southern Essex boroughs of Thurrock and Southend-on-Sea are governed separately as unitary authorities. It was established in antiquity and formed the eastern portion of the Kingdom of Essex. Sections of the county closer to London are part of the Metropolitan Green Belt, which prohibits development. It is the location of the regionally significant Lakeside Shopping Centre and London Stansted Airport; and the new towns of Basildon and Harlow.

Poland - Nowy Wiśnicz

The Carmelite Church in Nowy Wiśnicz.

Sent by Wanda, a WiP partner from Poland.

This is from Wikipedia : Nowy Wiśnicz [ˈnɔvɨ ˈviɕnit​͡ʂ] (Yiddish: ווישניצא Vishnitsa) is a small town in Bochnia County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,724 inhabitants (2004). It is located 4 miles south of Bochnia.

The Carmelite Church in Nowy Wiśnicz was established by Stanisław Lubomirski, voivode of Kraków to commemorate the victory over the Turks in the Battle of Khotyn (1621). It was constructed according to design by Matteo Trapola between 1631-35. The interior was embellished with profuse early baroque stucco decorations by Giovanni Battista Falconi, frescoes by Mathäus Ingermann of Rome, 8 marble altars with oil paintings by Ingermann and probably by José de Ribera (the founder was a passionate collector of European art). Between 1942-44 the interior was devastated by the Germans and eventually the church had been demolished.

Germany - Sinzig Castle

Sinzig Castle in Sinzig, Germany.

Sent by Sabine, a WiP partner from Germany.

This is from Wikipedia : Sinzig is a town in the district of Ahrweiler, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhine, approx. 5 km south-east of Remagen and 25 km south-east of Bonn, and it has approximately 20,000 inhabitants (2004).

Sinzig received its first official recognition in 762 A.D. On the tenth of July, King Pippin the Younger, the father of Charlemagne, presented a certificate of his decree in the Palace of Sinzig (Sentiaco Palacio), officially recognizing the city as "Sentiacum." Sinzig first received its rights as a city on October 9, 1267.

Because of the influence Emperor Frederick Barbarossa had on the town, it is nicknamed a "Barbarossa town".

Twice, the medieval city, which since 1300 has been protected by a massive wall, was almost entirely destroyed by fires, one in 1583 and another in 1758. Little of the wall now remains, as the industrialization and development of the city led to its nearly complete loss at the end of the 19th century. After World War II, Sinzig experienced a population explosion and soon evolved into an industrial city.

With the district reform of 1969, Bad-Bodendorf, Franken, Koisdorf, Löhndorf, and Westum became provinces of Sinzig. Today, Sinzig, together with the city of Remagen, have developed a modern consumer center, with multiple schools and shopping centers.

There is no point in the "Golden Mile" where the defining icon of Sinzig, the parish church Saint Peter, cannot be seen. The late-Roman Basilica is one of the most meaningful pieces of roman architecture, reason enough for the church to be added to the United Nations' list of "World Culture Heritage" artifacts.

The Sinziger Schloss (Sinzig Castle) was built in the period of the Rhine Romantic. Between 1854 and 1858, the businessman Gustav Bunge of Cologne ordered the erection of a summer villa in Sinzig in the style of a neo-gothic palace. Encompassing the palace is a garden, constructed in the style of a Romantic park. The castle has now been converted into a museum.

Netherlands - Nijmegen (2)

Voormalige Latin School in Nijmegen.

Sent by Joke, a WiP partner from the Netherlands.

USA - Indiana - Mapcard (2)

INDIANA
Hoosier State
CAPITAL : Indianapolis
AREA : 36,291 sq. mi
POPULATION : 5,400,000
MOTTO : Cross-roads of America
FLOWER : Peony
BIRD : Cardinal
TREE : Tulip
SONG : On the Banks of the Wabash
19th state admitted to the Union

Sent by Walton, a postcrosser from Indiana, USA.

Germany - Mapcard of Sylt Island

A mapcard of Sylt Island.

Sent by Manuela, a postcrosser from Germany.

Martta Wendelin (14)

Martta Wendelin.

Sent by Aune, a postcrosser from Finland.

"Winter Window"

"Winter Window".

Sent by Ludmila, a postcrosser from Western Siberia in Russia.

Indonesia - Ulundanu Temple

BALI
Ulundanu Temple near Bedugul.

Sent by Bara, a postcrosser from Indonesia.

This is from Wikipedia : Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, or Pura Bratan, is a major water temple on Bali, Indonesia — the other major water temple being Pura Ulun Danu Batur. The temple complex is located on the shores of Danau Bratan (Lake Bratan) in the mountains near Bedugul. Water temples serve the entire region in the outflow area; downstream there are many smaller water temples that are specific to each irrigation association (subak).

Netherlands - Queen Beatrix

Queen Beatrix of Netherlands.

Sent by Tessa from the Netherlands.

This is from Wikipedia : Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard; born 31 January 1938) is the Queen Regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University. In 1966, she married Claus von Amsberg, with whom she had three children: Prince Willem-Alexander (born 1967), Prince Friso (born 1968), and Prince Constantijn (born 1969). When her mother Juliana abdicated on 30 April 1980, Beatrix succeeded her as Queen of the Netherlands. On 6 October 2002 Prince Claus of the Netherlands died.

Princess Beatrix was born Princess Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld on 31 January 1938 at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands. She was the eldest daughter of Crown Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Beatrix's five godparents are King Leopold III of the Belgians, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Princess Elisabeth of Waldeck and Pyrmont, Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg, and Countess Allene de Kotzebue. When Beatrix was one year old, in 1939, her first sister Princess Irene was born.

When World War II broke out in the Netherlands in May 1940, the Dutch Royal Family fled to London, United Kingdom. One month later, Beatrix went to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada with her mother Juliana and her sister Irene, while her father Bernhard and maternal grandmother Queen Wilhelmina remained in London. The family lived at the Stornoway residence. In thanks for the protection of her and her daughters, (then) Princess Juliana established the delivery of tulips to the Canadian government every spring, which are the centrepiece of the Canadian Tulip Festival. Her second sister Princess Margriet was born in 1943. During their exile in Canada, Beatrix attended nursery and the primary school Rockcliffe Park Public School.

The family returned to the Netherlands on 2 August 1945. Beatrix went to the progressive primary school De Werkplaats in Bilthoven. Her third sister Princess Christina was born in 1947. On 6 September 1948, her mother Juliana succeeded her grandmother Wilhelmina as Queen of the Netherlands, and Beatrix became the heiress presumptive to the throne of the Netherlands at the age of ten.

Netherlands - Costumes of Zeeland

Zeeland - Dress.

Sent by Elina from the Netherlands.

Wood Grouse

Wood Grouse or Wester Capercaillie.

Sent by Esa, a postcrosser from Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : The Western Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), also known as the Wood Grouse, Heather Cock or Capercaillie /ˌkæpərˈkeɪli/, is the largest member of the grouse family, reaching over 100 cm in length and 6.7 kg in weight. The largest one ever recorded in captivity had a weight of 7.2 kg. (15.9 lbs). Found across Europe and Asia, it is renowned for its mating display.

Also spelt Capercailzie (the "z" letter representing a yogh) , this species' name is derived from the Gaelic capull coille, meaning "horse of the woods".

It was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 under its current binomial name.

Its closest relative is the Black-billed Capercaillie, Tetrao parvirostris, which breeds in the larch taiga forests of eastern Russia and parts of northern Mongolia and China.

USA - Pennsylvania - Amish Country

AMISH COUNTRY
The Amish home is never complete without children - each in turn must learn to work as part of the family. Although this may seem like a life of constant drudgery, it is far from it. Amish children find fun in buggy and wagon rides.

Sent by Kylie, a postcrosser from Pennsylvania, USA.

This is from Wikipedia : The Amish (/ˈɑːmɪʃ/ ah-mish; Pennsylvania Dutch: Amisch, German: Amische), sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology.

The history of the Amish church began with a schism in Switzerland within a group of Swiss and Alsatian Anabaptists in 1693 led by Jakob Ammann. Those who followed Ammann became known as Amish. These followers were originally from three main places: the German-speaking parts of Switzerland, Alsace (now part of France), and the Palatinate of Germany. In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites immigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. Today, the most traditional descendants of the Amish continue to speak Pennsylvania German, also known as Pennsylvania Dutch. However, a dialect of Swiss German predominates in some Old Order Amish communities, especially in the American state of Indiana. As of 2000, over 165,000 Old Order Amish live in Canada and the United States. A 2008 study suggested their numbers have increased to 227,000, and in 2010 a new study suggested their population had grown by 10% in the past two years to 249,000, with increasing movement to the West.

Amish church membership begins with baptism, usually between the ages of 16 and 25. It is a requirement for marriage, and once a person has affiliated with the church, he or she may only marry within the faith. Church districts average between 20 and 40 families, and worship services are held every other Sunday in a member's home. The district is led by a bishop and several ministers and deacons.

The rules of the church, the Ordnung, must be observed by every member. These rules cover most aspects of day-to-day living, and include prohibitions or limitations on the use of power-line electricity, telephones, and automobiles, as well as regulations on clothing. Many Amish church members may not buy insurance or accept government assistance such as Social Security. As Anabaptists, Amish church members practice nonresistance and will not perform any type of military service. Members who do not conform to these expectations and who cannot be convinced to repent are excommunicated. In addition to excommunication, members may be shunned, a practice that limits social contacts to shame the wayward member into returning to the church. During adolescence (rumspringa or "running around" in some communities), nonconforming behavior that would result in the shunning of an adult who had made the permanent commitment of baptism may meet with a degree of forbearance.

Amish church groups seek to maintain a degree of separation from the non-Amish world. There is generally a heavy emphasis on church and family relationships. They typically operate their own one-room schools and discontinue formal education at grade eight. They value rural life, manual labor and humility. Because of a smaller gene pool, some groups have increased incidences of certain inheritable conditions.

Finland - Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral.

Sent by Paula, a postcrosser from Finland.

This is from Wikipedia : Helsinki Cathedral (Finnish: Helsingin tuomiokirkko or Suurkirkko, Swedish: Helsingfors domkyrka or Storkyrkan) is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was originally built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia and until the independence of Finland in 1917, it was called St. Nicholas' Church.

A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Helsinki, with a tall green dome surrounded by four smaller domes, the church was built in 1830–52, in neoclassical style. It was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, to form the climax of the whole Senate Square laid out by Engel, surrounded by a number of buildings all designed by him. The building has a Greek-cross plan (i.e. a square central mass and four arms of equal length), and is symmetrical in each of the four cardinal directions, each marked by a colonnade and pediment. Engel had intended to place a further row of columns on the west end to mark the main entrance (opposite the altar at the east end), but this was never realised. The building was later altered by his successor Ernst Lohrmann, whose four small domes make the architectural connection to the cathedral's model, Saint Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, even clearer. Lohrmann also erected two separately standing bell towers and over-lifesize zinc statues of the Twelve Apostles at apexes and corners of the roofline.

Today the cathedral is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki. Annually more than 350,000 people visit the church, some of them to attend religious events, but most as tourists. The church is in regular use for both worship services and special events such as weddings. The crypt was renovated in the 1980s by architects Vilhelm Helander and Juha Leiviskä for use for exhibitions and church functions. Helander was also responsible for the conservation repairs to the cathedral in the late 1990s.

Before the cathedral was built, in its place a smaller church stood, called the Ulrika Eleonora Church. It was dedicated to its patroness, Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden. A facsimile of this church, made entirely from snow, was later constructed on the Senate Square in the early 2000s. The Helsinki Old Church was built between 1824 and 1826 in nearby Kamppi to serve the parish during the years between the demolition of the Ulrika Eleonora Church and the consecration of the new cathedral.

Netherlands - Amersfoort

The gate of Amersfoort.

Sent by Gerrit, a postcrosser from the Netherlands.

This is from Wikipedia : Amersfoort is a municipality and the second largest city of the province of Utrecht in central Netherlands. The city is growing quickly but has a well-preserved and protected medieval centre. Amersfoort is one of the largest railway junctions in the country, because of its location on two of the Netherlands' main east-west and north-south rail lines. The town celebrated its 750th birthday in 2009.

The municipality of Amersfoort consists of the following cities, towns, villages and/or districts: Bergkwartier, Bosgebied, Binnenstad, Hoogland, Hoogland-West, Kattenbroek, Kruiskamp, de Koppel, Liendert, Rustenburg, Nieuwland, Randenbroek, Schuilenburg, Schothorst, Soesterkwartier, Vathorst, Hooglanderveen, Vermeerkwartier, Leusderkwartier, Zielhorst en Stoutenburg-Noord.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri/Happy Eid

HAPPY EID TO ALL THE VISITORS.
PROJEK SATU DUNIA TAKES ONE WEEK LEAVE.
WILL BE BACK ON MONDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER 2011.

Estonia - Kiiu Vassal Stronghold

ESTONIA
Kiiu Vassal Stronghold - 16th century.

Sent by Ene, a postcrosser from Estonia.

Ireland - Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne (2)

Newgrange, Co. Meath is without doubt Ireland's best known prehistoric monument. Dated to around 3200 BC, Newgrange is 1,000 older than Stonehenge and centuries older than the great pyramids of Egypt. Designated a World Heritage Site in 1993 by UNESCO.

Sent by Brian, a postcrosser from Ireland.

USA - Arizona - Saguaro National Park

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK
TUCSON, ARIZONA
Saguaro National Park contains stands of saguaro cactus and rock formations decorated with Native American petroglyphs and designs. Saguaros can live for more than 200 years, attaining heights of 30 to 40 feet.

Sent by Stephanie from Arizona, USA.

This is from Wikipedia : Saguaro National Park, located in southern Arizona, is part of the United States national park system.

The park is divided into two sections, called districts, lying approximately 20 miles (32 km) east and 15 miles (24 km) west of the center of the city of Tucson, Arizona. The total area in 2010 was 91,440 acres (37,000 ha) of which 70,905 acres (28,694 ha) is designated wilderness. There is a visitor center in each of the two districts. Both are easily reached by car from Tucson, but there is no public transport into the park. Both districts conserve fine tracts of the Sonoran Desert, including ranges of significant hills, the Tucson Mountains in the west and the Rincon Mountains in the east. The park gets its name from the saguaro, a large cactus which is native to the region. Many other kinds of cactus, including barrel, cholla, and prickly pear, are abundant in the park. One endangered animal, the Lesser Long-nosed Bat, lives in the park part of the year during its migration, together with one threatened species, the Mexican Spotted Owl.

The park was proclaimed as Saguaro National Monument on March 1, 1933 by President Herbert Hoover, and redesignated a national park on October 14, 1994.

Facilities in the park include 150 miles (240 km) of well marked and maintained hiking trails, and shorter walking trails with interpretative information available. Backcountry hiking is not advisable during the hot summer months.

USA - Montana - Glacier National Park (2)

WELCOME TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
Established in 1910, it is the country's 10th national park. The scenic vistas found here are forever memorable. Its high mountain peaks, rushing waterfalls, deep valleys, and cool evergreen covered trails, are a perfect place to quietly deepen one's appreciation of the protection of nature. This cute little cub seems happy, proud and thankful to call Glacier National Park home where Mama Bear is close at hand, ready to defend her cub for all she's worth!

Sent by Lauren from Montana, USA.

USA - California - Old Sacramento

OLD TOWN SACRAMENTO
CALIFORNIA
Old Sacramento attracts over 5 million visitors each year. For locals it is a favorite gateway and has been voted the best place for a first date.

Sent by Eduardo, a WiP partner from USA.

This is from Wikipedia : Old Sacramento State Historic Park is the historic region of Sacramento, California, which has been designated as a state park. It is generally referred to as Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, and since the 1960s has been restored and developed as a significant tourist attraction. All of it is included in the Old Sacramento Historic District, a U.S. National Historic Landmark District.

The city of Sacramento grew up in the mid-nineteenth century as a development from Sutter's Fort. However, the Fort was some way from the Sacramento River, which was the main means of transport to the coast of California, and what was to become the modern city developed along the waterfront.

Before Sacramento's extensive levee system was in place, the area flooded quite regularly. Because of this, the city's streets were raised a level. Most of the sidewalks and storefronts have been filled in, however many tunnels still remain throughout Old Sacramento and the downtown area.

By the 1960's, with the construction of Interstate 5, the area had become cut off from the rest of Sacramento and fell into disrepair. A large effort was made to secure the area's future as an outdoor living history center similar to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Several historically significant buildings were moved or reconstructed. Those that were beyond repair were demolished.

Today, the State Historic Park covers the area between the river frontage and Interstate 5, between I Street and the Capitol Mall. Virtually all the buildings in this area date from the 19th century, the most notable from immediately after the disastrous fire of 1852, and show a reasonable approximation to their original appearance, though they have required varying degrees of reconstruction to restore to them to that state. However, few if any are in their original use, most of them now housing restaurants, gift shops, or other businesses catering to tourists.

Old Sacramento State Historic Park attracts over 5 million visitors annually. Regular events include the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, Gold Rush Days , New Years Eve events, and Mardi Gras.

United Nations - New York Headquarters (3)

NEW YORK
United Nations Headquarters in New York.

sent by Oleg, a postcrosser from New York City, USA.