Oporto, Portugal

Porto, also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits (an area of 41.66 km²/16 sq.mi) include a population of 237,559 (2011) inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes. The Porto Metropolitan Area includes approximately 1.7 million people, and is recognized as a Gamma-level global city by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group, being one of the four cities in the peninsula with global city status (the others being Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon).

Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin for the name "Portugal," based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin. In Portuguese the city is spelled with a definite article as "o Porto" (English: the port). Consequently, its English name evolved from a misinterpretation of the oral pronunciation and referred to as"Oporto" in modern literature and by many speakers.

One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named for Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the adegas of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine. This card shows a few very nice views of Oporto.This card was sent to me by Maria of Oporto.

Pafos Harbour

Pafos, a small charming harbor town, on the west of the island, which has been, during certain times in antiquity, the capital of Cyprus, has a history which goes back literally thousands of years, and has always attracted visitors from the rest of the island and abroad.

Pafos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's legendary birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C.The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historical value. This pretty card is thanks to Merja.

A cloudy day in Paris

A wonderful view of Paris on this lovely painting, which includes the Alexander III Bridge in the fore ground ant the Eiffel Tower in the background. This is a lovel card from my dear friend Maria.

A Saloon of the French Postal Adinistration

I must say the French Postal Staff did work and live in wonderful and very pretty surroundings, if this chic Saloon is anything to go by. Thank you my dear Maria for this lovely card.

Medieval Castle in Limassol

The medieval castle is one of the nine castles of Cyprus (the others are at Kolossi, Larnaca and Paphos now in the Republic of Cyprus controlled area, and Famagusta, Kantara, Buffavento, St. Hilarion and Kyrenia now within the de facto but internationally unrecognised state of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus). It was built by the Byzantines around 1000 AD. Around the same period, a chapel was also built there. Richard the Lionheart is supposed to have married his fiancée Princess Berengaria of Navarre on this site after her ship was grounded nearby in 1191 as she accompanied him to the Third Crusade, on his way to Holy Land. The Castle was used as a prison, between 1790–1940 and it now serves as a medieval museum. The collection that the museum provides covers the era of 400 - 1870 AD. A visitor can see numerous exhibits: cannons, wood carvings of the 17th and 18th century, paintings and tombstones, statues, suits of armour, coins, terracotta, metalware and pottery, glass and marble articrafts. This pretty card was sent to me by my dear friend Merja.

Bear Island Light

Bear Island Light is a lighthouse on Bear Island near Mt. Desert Island, at the entrance to Northeast Harbour, Maine. It was first established in 1839. The present structure was built in 1889. It was deactivated in 1981 and relit as a Private Aid to Navigation by the Friends of Acadia National Park in 1989. Bear Island Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Bear Island Light Station on March 14.

In the foreground can be seen the lovely Windjammer Angelique. Since acquiring the windjammer Angelique in 1986, Mike and Lynne and their children Katie and Ryan have enjoyed the lifestyle, the people and the beautiful scenery of Maine. This pretty postcard was sent to me by Maria.

Navy Day

The picture on the card is of the Navy Day being celebrated in the days of the erstwhile Yugoslavian Navy. This card was sent to me by Karoly of Serbia.