Paparoa National Park

This is a typical scene on the West coast of South Island, New Zealand. I believe driving along the coast here is superb, though it does get quite wet at times. One can see the native Punga ferns and rushes framing the picture on this card sent to me by Aaron. This is a scene from the Paparoa National Park Area. Melville Bay is in the distance.

Black Forest gateau

This card was sent to me by Melanie from Rastatt, a city and baroque residence in the District of Rastatt, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the Murg river, 6 km (3.7 mi) above its junction with the Rhine and has a population of around 50'000 (2011). Rastatt was an important place of the War of the Spanish Succession (Treaty of Rastatt) and the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states. This town is in Southern Germany but, North of the famous Black Forest.

Maybe, you know of the Black Forest gateau? You see the two pretty women in this picture on the card. The ones in the traditional costumes! They are in the colours of the cake. The red hat for the lovely cherries, the white shirts represent whipped cream and the dark dresses for the chocolate cake itself. Delicious (the cake of course J). 

Black Forest gâteau and Black Forest cake are the English names for the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte, literally "Black Forest cherry torte". Black Forest cake originated in Germany.

What exactly is this cake? Typically, Black Forest cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. Then the cake is decorated with additional whipped cream, maraschino cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some European traditions sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top. Traditionally, Kirschwasser (a clear liquor distilled from tart cherries) is added to the cake, although other liquors are also used (such as rum, which is common in Austrian recipes). In the United States, Black Forest cake is most often prepared without alcohol. German statutory interpretation states Kirschwasser as a mandatory ingredient, otherwise the cake is legally not allowed to be marketed as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte. True Black Forest cakes are decorated with black cherries. A small tip: if black cherries are not available, use glacee cherries dipped in melted chocolate.

"Stamp Day" Turku

This maxi card was issued on 9.10.2013 at Turku, Finland to commemorate Philately Day or “Stamp Day”as the locals in Turku call it. The stamp is a personalised one by the Post Offices in Turku. The sailing vessel featured on this card is the famous SS Soumen Joutsen, better and more affectionately known as the “Swan of Finland”. Thank you Pia for this nice card.

The Finnish Training Ship Suomen Joutsen is featured on this stamp on the FDC commemorating the Tall Ship Race in 1972. Suomen Joutsen (Swan of Finland in English) (former names are Laënnec, Oldenburg) is a three-mast, steel hull, full rigged ship. She was built in 1902 in St. Nazaire, France to serve in the trade between Atlantic and Pacific ports. In 1930 she was bought by the Government of Finland to serve as Finnish Navy training ship. Before World War II she made eight long ocean voyages. From 1956 she was a stationary Seamen's School for the Finnish Merchant Navy. Since 1991, she has been a museum ship owned by City of Turku, Finland.

Annual Conference of Heads of Government of the Working Community of the Danube region

This pretty maxicard was issued by Yugolavia on 15.5.1991 to commemorate the Regular Annual Conference of Heads of Government of the Working Community of the Danube region which was held in Belgrade from 15th to 17 May 1991.

Thank you Karoly from Serbia for this nice card.

The Eiffel Tower

David from France sent me this nice card. The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people ascended it in 2011. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in 2010. I consider myself one of the lucky ones, as I had the privilege of going up to the first level. And what a view it was from there. But, that was a long long time ago, and a fit tale for the grand children on a soon approaching winter’s evening!

The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. During its construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. Because of the addition of the antenna atop the Eiffel Tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 17 feet (5.2 m). Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the Millau Viaduct.

The tower has three levels for visitors. The third level observatory's upper platform is at 279.11 m (915.7 ft) the highest accessible to the public in the European Union. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift (elevator), to the first and second levels. The walk from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to the second level. Although there are stairs to the third and highest level, these are usually closed to the public and it is usually accessible only by lift. The first and second levels have restaurants.

The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.

Aleksandrovsky Square, Minsk

Aleksandrovsky Square is a small public garden in the heart of Minsk has a rich history and not by chance serves as the centre of “gravity” of a city life. And, in this card look at the car, we would call it a vintage model today.

 Its official, faded name is the Central Square. Long ago people renamed it in its historical version - Aleksandrovsky, probably, due to closeness to the residence of the head of Belarus Aleksander Lukashenko.

Thank you Eugenie for this nice old card.

Convent of Intercession

Suzdal is a town and the administrative center of Suzdalsky District of Vladimir Oblast, Russia, situated northeast of Moscow, 26 kilometers (16 mi) from the city of Vladimir, on the Kamenka River. Population: 10,535.

One of the important sites in the town of Suzdal is the Convent of Intercession shown on this card. The convent was founded in 1264. In the centre of this beautiful white walled convent is the cathedral of the Intercession; it was an add on built in 1518 by an unknown person. The interior of the cathedral has no paintings or stained glass, it is just plan white stone walls all around. The church was and still is, one of the richest convents in Russia. The convent is the home of many nuns and is also the burial vault for twenty nuns of noble birth. Connected to the white stoned wall cathedral is an art museum you can tour. There are many beautiful paintings but none in the actual cathedral itself. This building is filled with beautiful arches and art created in the 16th and 17th century.  

This nice card was sent to me bu Irina.