Ukraine

Received from: Ukraine
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 691 km
Time of travelling: 5 days

Ukrainian cuisine has significant diversity and historical traditions. Common foods used include meat, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, berries, and herbs. In Ukraine, bread is a staple food, there are many different types of bread, and Ukraine is sometimes referred to as the "breadbasket of Europe." Pickled vegetables are utilized, particularly when fresh vegetables aren't in season.

Lanzarote

Received from: Spain (with Irish ID)
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 1831 km
Time of travelling: 10 days

Lanzarote, a Spanish island, is the easternmost of the autonomous Canary Islands, in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 125 km off the coast of Africa and 1,000 km from the Iberian Peninsula. Covering 845.9 km2, it stands as the fourth largest of the islands. The first recorded name for the island, given by Angelino Dulcert, was Insula de Lanzarotus Marocelus, after the Genoese navigator Lancelotto Malocello, from which the modern name is derived. The island's name in the native language was Titerro(y)gatra, which may mean "the red mountains".

Dresden

Received from: Germany
Category: Poland - rest of the world tag
Date: March 2012

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was known as the Jewel Box, because of its baroque and rococo city centre. A controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end of World War II killed thousands of civilians and destroyed the entire city centre. The impact of the bombing and 40 years of urban development during the East German communist era have considerably changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semper Oper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has regained importance as one of the cultural, educational, political and economic centres of Germany.

Mir

Received from: Belarus
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 474 km
Time of travelling: 11 days

The Mirsky Castle Complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Belarus located in the town of Mir in the Karelichy District of the Hrodna voblast, at 53°27′4.46″N 26°28′22.80″E, 29 km to the north-west from another World Heritage site, Nesvizh Castle.
The construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century, in the Gothic architecture style. Building of the castle was completed by Duke Ilinich in the early 16th century near village Mir (formerly of Minsk guberniya). Around 1568 the Mir Castle passed into the hands of Mikołaj Krzysztof "the Orphan" Radziwiłł, who finished building the castle in the Renaissance style. A three-storey palace was built along the eastern and northern walls of the castle. Plastered facades were decorated with limestone portals, plates, balconies and porches.

Vienna

From: Austria
Category: My collection
Date: March 2012

The Vienna U-Bahn (an abbreviation of Untergrundbahn, or underground railway) is a rapid transit (metro) system consisting of five lines. It is the backbone of one of the best performing public transport systems worldwide according to UITP (International Association of Public Transport) in June 2009. More than 1.3 million passengers use the Vienna U-Bahn every day. The network is undergoing expansion and rolling stock renewal. Since 1969, 200 million euro have been invested annually into the extension of the Vienna U-Bahn.

Berlin

Received from: Germany
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 520 km
Time of travelling: 15 days

Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science. Its economy is primarily based on the service sector, encompassing a diverse range of creative industries, media corporations, and convention venues. Berlin also serves as a continental hub for air and rail transport, and is a popular tourist destination. Significant industries include IT, pharmaceuticals, biomedical engineering, biotechnology, electronics, traffic engineering, and renewable energy.

Poland - Ukraine (Euro 2012)

Received from: Ukraine
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 1285 km
Time of travelling: 15 days

The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2012, will be the 14th European Championship for national football teams sanctioned by UEFA. The final tournament will be hosted by Poland and Ukraine between 8 June and 1 July 2012. It is the first time that either nation has hosted the tournament. This bid was chosen by UEFA's Executive Committee in 2007.

Thailand

Received from: Thailand
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 8095 km
Time of travelling: 5 days

The Royal Barge Procession, in the present, consists of 52 barges: 51 historical Barges, and the Royal Barge, the Narai Song Suban, which King Rama IX built in 1994. It is the only Barge built during King Bhumibol's reign. These barges are manned by 2,082 oarsmen. The Procession proceeds down the Chao Phraya River, from the Wasukri Royal Landing Place in Khet Dusit, Bangkok, passes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the Grand Palace, Wat Po, and finally arrives at Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn).

Sandomierz

Received from: Poland
Category: 'Odgadnij hasło' lottery
Date: March 2012

Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants (2006). Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship (since 1999), previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship (1975–1998). It is the capital of Sandomierz County (since 1999). Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction. Administrative borders directly Tarnobrzeg.

Russian Federation

Received from: Russia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 2865 km
Time of travelling: 10 days

Russia has the world's 11th largest economy by nominal GDP or the 6th largest by purchasing power parity, with the 5th largest nominal military budget. It is one of the five recognized nuclear weapons states and possesses the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. Russia is a great power and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, a member of the G8, G20, the Council of Europe, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the Eurasian Economic Community, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and is the leading member of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Helsinki

Received from: Finland
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 913 km
Time of travelling: 5 days

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is 596,233 (31 January 2012), making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is located some 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden, 300 kilometres (190 mi) west of St. Petersburg, Russia and 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of Tallinn, Estonia. Helsinki has close historical connections with these three cities.

Panevėžys

Received from: Lithuania
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 440 km
Time of travelling: 7 days

Panevėžys is the fifth largest city in Lithuania. As of 2011, it occupied 52 square kilometers with 113,653 inhabitants.
The largest multifunctional arena in Panevėžys, Cido Arena, hosted the Eurobasket 2011 group matches.

Moscow

Received from: Russia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 1052 km
Time of travelling: 11 days

The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III in commemoration of the conquest of Smolensk in 1514. It was built as a fortress at a curve of the Moskva River and became an important part of the southern defensive belt of the capital, which had already included a number of other monasteries. Upon its founding, the Novodevichy Convent was granted 3,000 rubles and the villages of Akhabinevo and Troparevo. Ivan the Terrible would later grant a number of other villages to the convent.

Taipei

Received from: Taiwan
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 8514 km
Time of travelling: 13 days

Taipei 101 comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. The building was architecturally created as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition (see Symbolism). Its postmodernist approach to style incorporates traditional design elements and gives them modern treatments. The tower is designed to withstand typhoons and earthquakes. A multi-level shopping mall adjoining the tower houses hundreds of fashionable stores, restaurants and clubs.

Rotterdam

Received from: the Netherlands
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 1131 km
Time of travelling: 3 days

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre. Its strategic location at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea and at the heart of a massive rail, road, air and inland waterway distribution system extending throughout Europe is the reason that Rotterdam is often called the "Gateway to Europe".

Riga

Received from: Latvia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 612 km
Time of travelling: 13 days

Riga Cathedral is the Protestant cathedral in Riga, Latvia. Built near the River Daugava in 1211 by Livonian Bishop Albert of Riga, it is considered the largest medieval church in the Baltic states. It has undergone many modifications in the course of its history. David Caspari was rector of the cathedral school in the late 17th century. His son Georg Caspari also served at the cathedral. It is often known in English as the Riga Dom Cathedral (although it has no dome, the nickname comes from the Latvian Doms and German Dom meaning "cathedral")

Taipei

Received from: Taiwan
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: March 2012

Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan). The building ranked officially as the world's tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. In July 2011, the building was awarded LEED Platinum certification, the highest award in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system and became the tallest and largest green building in the world. Taipei 101 was designed by C.Y. Lee & partners and constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture and Samsung C&T. The tower has served as an icon of modern Taiwan ever since its opening, and received the 2004 Emporis Skyscraper Award. Fireworks launched from Taipei 101 feature prominently in international New Year's Eve broadcasts and the structure appears frequently in travel literature and international media.

Iceland

Received from: Iceland
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 2764 km
Time of travelling: 5 days

Iceland, sometimes officially called Republic of Iceland by foreign authorities and sometimes its counterpart Lýðveldið Ísland in Icelandic (for example this is a part of the name of the Constitution of Iceland, Stjórnarskrá lýðveldisins Íslands). It is a Nordic European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The country has a population of about 320,000 and a total area of 103,000 km2 (40,000 sq mi). The capital and the largest city is Reykjavík, with the surrounding areas in the southwestern region of the country being home to two-thirds of the country's population. Iceland is volcanically and geologically active. The interior mainly consists of a plateau characterised by sand fields, mountains and glaciers, while many glacial rivers flow to the sea through the lowlands. Iceland is warmed by the Gulf Stream and has a temperate climate despite a high latitude just outside the Arctic Circle.

Finland

Received from: Finland
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 949 km
Time of travelling: 10 days

The Finnish flag is used in three main variants. The usual national flag is used by all citizens, organizations and Finnish municipalities and regions. Anyone is allowed to fly the national flag whenever they deem it suitable. The rectangular state flag is used by bodies of the Finnish national and provincial governments (except the police and the district courts), by the Cathedral Chapters of the two national churches (Evangelical Lutheran and Orthodox), and non-naval vessels of the state.

Belarus

Received from: Belarus
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 474 km
Time of travelling: 10 days

The Common Crane (Grus grus), also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes. It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100–130 cm (40–52 in) long, with a 180–240 cm (71–96 in) wingspan and a weight of 4.5–6 kg (10–13.2 lbs). It is grey with a white facial streak and a bunch of black wing plumes. Adults have a red crown patch. It has a loud trumpeting call, given in flight and display. It has a dancing display, leaping with wings uplifted.

St Petersburg

Received from: Russia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: March 2012
Distance: 1030 km
Time of travelling: 21 days

Palace Bridge is a road traffic and foot bascule bridge spanning the Neva River in Saint Petersburg between Palace Square and Vasilievsky Island. Like every other Neva bridge (except for Big Obukhovsky Bridge), it is drawn by night, making foot travel between various parts of the city virtually impossible. It was built by the French firm Société de Construction des Batignolles. The total length of Palace Bridge is 260.1 metres, width is 27.8 metres. It is actually composed of five spans, the southernmost joining Palace Embankment between Winter Palace and Admiralty and leading to Palace Square.

Ukraine

Received from: Ukraine
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: March 2012
Time of travelling: 8 days

Ukraine is a country in Central and Eastern Europe. Ukraine borders the Russian Federation to the east and northeast, Belarus to the northwest, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast, respectively. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after the Russian Federation.

South Carolina

Received from: the USA
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: March 2012
Time of travelling: 7 days

The flag of the state of South Carolina has, in some form, existed since 1775, being based on one of the first Revolutionary War flags. South Carolina's flag was ranked as the 10th best designed state or provincial flag in North America by the North American Vexillological Association in 2001.

Pas-de-Calais

Received from: France
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: March 2012
Time of travelling: 3 days

Pas-de-Calais is a department in northern France. Its name is the French equivalent of the Strait of Dover, which it borders. Pas-de-Calais is in the current region of Nord-Pas de Calais and is surrounded by the departments of Nord and Somme, the English Channel, and the North Sea. Its principal towns are, on the coast, Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer, and in Artois, Lens, Liévin, Arras, and Saint-Omer.