Russia - Saint Petersburg - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments

THE CATHERINE PALACE INTERIORS

A bird's-eye view of the Catherine Palace.

Sent by Kate from Cherepovets in Vologda Oblast, Russia.

The 'Venice of the North', with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. Later known as Leningrad (in the former USSR), the city is closely associated with the October Revolution. Its architectural heritage reconciles the very different Baroque and pure neoclassical styles, as can be seen in the Admiralty, the Winter Palace, the Marble Palace and the Hermitage (read more).

Gypsy Jazz Festival : 24-27 April 2025 A Flashback Habitat

Gypsy Jazz Festival : 24-27 April 2025 A Flashback Habitat

Sent by Marina from Torino, Italy.

There's a new jazz festival in town, from April 24 to 27, 2025: Gypsy Jazz Festival from April 24 to 27 at Flashback Habitat. Considered one of the pioneers of 𝘫𝘢𝘻𝘻 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦, from April 24 to 27 the musical genius of Django Reinhardt will live again amidst the art of #FlashbackHabitat for four unmissable events and interpretations of the genre - between improvisation, gypsy sounds and scratchy sound. Here is the complete line-up of the festival: April 24 - Hot Club and Turin, the project of five young musicians who rework in an innovative way the manouche sounds à la manière de Django; April 25 - 20 Strings, from the study of the style of the great Django Reinhardt, the repertoire of the 20 Strings focuses on the recordings that the musician made in the second half of the 40s; April 26 - Anouman Quartet, with the refined sound of the quartet has as a point of reference the repertoire of Django from the early 50s; April 27 - Distilleria Manouche, an ensemble of talented musicians who interpret classic pieces from the swing and jazz repertoire of the 30s & 40s (read more).

Canada - Alberta - Athabasca Falls

ATHABASCA FALLS

JASPER NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA

Athabasca Falls 32 kilometers (50 miles) south of the town of Jasper, thunders through a narrow gorge in a torrent of tumbling water.

Sent by Vasilisa from Edmonton in ALberta, Canada.

Athabasca Falls is a waterfall in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of the townsite of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Icefields Parkway (read more).

Germany - Bavaria - Town of Bamberg

Bamberg Little Venice.

Sent by Kerstin from Bavaria, Germany.

From the 10th century onwards, this town became an important link with the Slav peoples, especially those of Poland and Pomerania. During its period of greatest prosperity, from the 12th century onwards, the architecture of Bamberg strongly influenced northern Germany and Hungary. In the late 18th century it was the centre of the Enlightenment in southern Germany, with eminent philosophers and writers such as Hegel and Hoffmann living there (read more).

Germany - North Rhine Westphalia - Cologne (2)

Greetings From Cologne.

Rhine boat trip against the backdrop of Cologne's old town.

Sent by Katharina from Hilden, Germany.

My oher Greetings from Cologne postcard is here.

USA - Bald Eagle (2)

National Audubon Society

Our national symbol, the Bald eagle.

Protected by the Endangered Species Act, the majestic Bald eagle has made a spectcular comeback from the brink of extinction.

Sent by Renée from Austin in Texas, USA.

My first postcard of Bald eagle is here.

Finland - Southwest Finland - Turku (2)

TURKU, FINLAND 

Sent by Mirjami from Turku, Finland.

This is my second postcard of Turku in a month. My first one is here.

Germany - Saxony - Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour Train

Steam locomotive 52 8079-7 of Leipzig Steam Cultural Tour near Staßfurt.

Sent by Hanko fro Schmelz, Germany. Thanks for the stamp of train on the postcard.

No matter whether you love nature; like to explore buildings of past centuries; want to go hiking, cycling, horseback riding; or just want to be pampered; there will be something for everyone. All visitors planning to explore the landscape of Saxony's castle and heathland region by car, railway or in a different way, will have the chance to make their own discoveries. The warmth of Saxons and the exemplary Saxon cosiness along with the delicious regional cuisine will give your stay a really special atmosphere.

In the heart of Saxony's castle and heathland region, you will find the woodlands of Dahlen Heath as well as Wermsdorf Forest offering extensive hiking and biking trails. And where, other than in the heart of Saxony's stunning castle and heathland region, could be a better place for the Saxon STEAM RAILWAY ROUTE to start? You could start your journey through the Free State by taking a ride on the Döllnitzbahn railway. The Döllnitzbahn railway will take you from the town of Oschatz, where restored historic buildings and alleys keep the pulse of a former epoch, out into the country. Passing rivers, meadows and fields, you will reach districts of the commune of Sornzig-Ablass in addition to the commune of Naundorf and the town of Mügeln (read more).

Finland - Mapcard (2)

Map of Finland.

Sent by Anne from Tampere, Finland. Tampere is on the 7th red dot if you follow the route from the top.

My other mapcard of Finland is here.

U.S.A. - Connecticut - Mapcard (2)

Greetings from CONNECTICUT

Nickname : The Nutmeg State

2010 Population : 3,574,097

Area in Square Miles : 4,965

Entered the Union : January, 9th. 1798

Sent by Grace from East Windsor in Connecticut, USA.

My other mapcard of Connecticut is here. Coincidentally, this first card was also sent by Grace 12 years ago via Direct Swap.

uncancelled stamp

Bicycle (50)

As if in homage to a man who had chronicled New York City life for so long and so tirelessly, there was a move en masse to Bill's vehicle of choice : the bicycle.

Postcard Bill Cunningham, Photo Fashion Polka Dot Dress Bike Rider.

Sent by Simone from Switzerland.

HAPPY TO RECEIVE MY 50TH POSTCARD OF BICYCLES..

Bicycle (49)

Vintage Victorian Couple on Tandem Bicycle.

Sent by Kerstin from South Germany.

The nineteenth century’s bicycle craze included bicycles for two. Some gave pals (both male) an opportunity for sport, exercise, and freedom. Others were leveraged for courtship and time alone with a man’s best gal. Some were truly tandem (situated one in front of the other). Others allowed the lady to pedal while others simply sat her in a place of prominence allowing her a view of the road ahead. And some existed for a brief period of time until the next great thing came along (read more).

Ukraine - Chernihiv

Damaged windows of Chernihiv, Ukraine. Spring 2022.

Sent by Daria from Lviv, Ukraine.

Chernihiv (Ukrainian: Чернігів, IPA: [tʃerˈn⁽ʲ⁾iɦiu̯] ; Russian: Чернигов, romanized: Chernigov, IPA: [tɕɪrˈnʲiɡəf]) is a city and municipality in northern Ukraine, which serves as the administrative center of Chernihiv Oblast and Chernihiv Raion within the oblast. Chernihiv's population is 282,747 (2022 estimate).

The city was designated as a Hero City of Ukraine by the Ukrainian government during the Russian invasion of Ukraine (read more).

Ukraine - Ternopil

Ternopil, Ukraine.

Sent by Anna from Ternopil, Ukraine.

Ternopil, known until 1944 mostly as Tarnopol, is a city in western Ukraine, located on the banks of the Seret River. Ternopil is one of the major cities of Western Ukraine and the historical regions of Galicia and Podolia. The population of Ternopil was estimated at 225,004 (2022 estimate).

The city is the administrative center of Ternopil Oblast (region), as well as of surrounding Ternopil Raion (district) within the oblast. It hosts the administration of Ternopil urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine (read more).

Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia - Cologne's Flora Botanical Garden

Flora Botanical Garden.

Sent by Jacqueline from Cologne, Germany.

The Flora und Botanischer Garten Köln (11.5 hectares) is a municipal formal park and botanical garden located adjacent to Cologne Zoological Garden at Amsterdamer Straße 34, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is open daily without charge.

The garden dates to 1863 when a private company was organized to create Flora park (5.5 hectares) as a replacement for the city's older botanical garden near the Cologne Cathedral, which in 1857 was destroyed for construction of the central railway station. This new park was designed by Peter Joseph Lenné in 1864 in a mixed German style, incorporating French Baroque, Italian Renaissance, and English landscape garden elements. In its center is a glass palace (orangery) structure of cast iron and glass patterned upon the Crystal Palace (London) and Jardin d'hiver (Paris), which served as an exhibition site through the late 19th century, including horticultural exhibitions in 1875 and 1888, and an industrial exhibition in 1889. Frauen-Rosenhof, an Art Nouveau garden, was added in 1906 (read more).

Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia - Gasometer Oberhausen

Gasometer at Night.

Sent by Markus from Oelde in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

The Gasometer Oberhausen is a former gas holder in Oberhausen, Germany, which has been converted into an exhibition space. It has hosted several large scale exhibitions, including two by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. The Gasometer is an industrial landmark, and an anchor point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and the Industrial Heritage Trail. It was built in the 1920s, and reconstructed after World War II.

n the 1920s the coal and steel industry in the Ruhrgebiet produced blast furnace gas and coal gas as a by-product of iron production and coking. The steel industry and coking processes used large amounts of these gasses or alternative fuels. As supply and demand of gas varied independently, sometimes excess gas had to be flared off, while at other times additional fuel had to be purchased. The Gasometer was built as a buffer: storing excess gas and releasing it again when demand exceeded production (read more).

Germany - Bavaria - Nuremberg (3)

Nuremberg - city view with Imperial Castle.

Sent by Heidi from Nuremberg, Germany

My other two postcards of Nurember are here, and here.

Nuremberg Castle (German: Nürnberger Burg) is a group of medieval fortified buildings on a sandstone ridge dominating the historical center of Nuremberg in Bavaria, Germany.

The castle, together with the city walls, is considered to be one of Europe's most formidable medieval fortifications. It represented the power and importance of the Holy Roman Empire and the outstanding role of the Imperial City of Nuremberg (read more).

Germany - Neuschwanstein Castle (3)

Royal Castle Neuschwanstein, Germany.

Built 1869-1886 under King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

Sent by Kurt from South Bavaria, Germany.

My other two postcards of Neuschwanstein Castle are here, and here.

Germany - North Rhine-Westphalia - Müngsten Bridge

Müngsten Bridge.

Sent by Ralf from Remscheid, Germany.

The Müngsten Bridge is the highest railway bridge in Germany. The bridge is 107 metres (351 ft) high and spans the valley of the river Wupper, carrying the Wuppertal-Oberbarmen–Solingen railway between the cities of Remscheid and Solingen. It is used by line S7 of the Rhine-Ruhr S-Bahn and the RE47 Regional-Express service, although the RE47 service is being operated by a replacement bus service until 2026.

Originally the bridge was named the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Brücke (Emperor Wilhelm Bridge) to honour Emperor Wilhelm I. After the end of the monarchy the bridge was renamed after the nearby settlement of Müngsten, which is close to the city limits of Solingen, Remscheid and Wuppertal. Today, the settlement no longer exists, so Müngsten is simply a landmark (read more).

Australia - Mapcard

Australia Blue Map.

Sent by Ros from Tasmania, Australia.

Germany - Oktoberfest München 1981

Official Oktoberfest posters started being produced each year beginning in 1952. This poster was created by German artist Ernst Strom, who also created Oktoberfest posters for 1957, 1958, and 1967.

Sent by Anastasiia from Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany.

USA - North Carolina - Mapcard (4)

Mapcard of North Carolina.

Sent by Sandra from Asheville in North Carolina, USA.

My other three mapcards of North Carolina are here, here, and here.

India - Kaavadi Bearer

During Thaipusam, not everyone pierces their bodies or bears painful Kaavadi (burden), but the ones who do create quite a spectacle.

Sent by Kishore from Tamilpādi in the State of Tamil Nādu, India.

The Kavadi Attam is the sacrificial offering performed by devotees to Lord Murugan during the auspicious festival day of Thaipusam. The Kavadi itself is a physical burden through which the devotees implore offering prayers for fulfiled or some future requirements from Lord Muruga
.
Devotees prepare for the celebration by cleansing themselves through prayer & fasting for 48 days before Thaipusam. Kavadi-bearers have to perform ceremonies at the time of assuming the kavadi & at the time of offering it to Murugan. The kavadi-bearer observes celibacy, consumes only vegan food & are on a continuous thinking of God. On the day of the festival, devotees shave their heads & undertake a pilgrimage along a set route, while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadis (read more).

Canada - Indians Of The Southwest

COLORFUL INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST.

Sent by Lynda from Stouffville in Ontario, Canada.

The "Indians of the Southwest Canada" refers to Indigenous peoples who lived in the southwestern regions of Canada, specifically within the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. These groups include First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, each with their own distinct cultures, languages, and histories. 

France - Provence

Images of Provence.

Sent by Françoise from Piégon, France.

Provence is a geographical region and historical province of southeastern France, which stretches from the left bank of the lower Rhône to the west to the Italian border to the east; it is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It largely corresponds with the modern administrative region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and includes the departments of Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as parts of Alpes-Maritimes and Vaucluse. The largest city of the region and its modern-day capital is Marseille.

The Romans made the region the first Roman province beyond the Alps and called it Provincia Romana, which evolved into the present name. Until 1481 it was ruled by the counts of Provence from their capital in Aquae Sextiae (today Aix-en-Provence), then became a province of the kings of France. It also hosted the Avignon papacy in the middle ages, when the Pope and his Curia fled Rome. While the region has been part of France for more than 500 years, it still retains a distinct cultural and linguistic identity, particularly in the interior of the region (read more).