Gulf of Naples

Respective from: Italy
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: April 2012

The Gulf of Naples is a c. 15 km wide gulf located in the south western coast of Italy, (province of Naples, Campania region). It opens to the west into the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered on the north by the cities of Naples and Pozzuoli, on the east by Mount Vesuvius, and on the south by the Sorrentine Peninsula and the main town of the peninsula, Sorrento. The Peninsula separates the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno.

Bled

Respective from: Slovenia
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: April 2012

Bled Castle is a medieval castle built on a precipice above the city of Bled in Slovenia, overlooking Lake Bled. According to written sources, it is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia.

Tyumen

Received from: Russia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 2865 km
Time of travelling: 13 days

Tyumen is the largest city and the administrative center of Tyumen Oblast, Russia, located on the Tura River 2,144 kilometers (1,332 mi) east of Moscow. Population: 581,758 (2010 Census preliminary results); 510,719 (2002 Census); 476,869 (1989 Census). Tyumen is the oldest Russian settlement in Siberia. Founded in 1586 to support Russia's eastward expansion, the city has remained one of the most important industrial and economic centers east of the Ural Mountains. Located at the junction of several important trade routes and with easy access to navigable waterways, Tyumen rapidly developed from a small military settlement to a large commercial and industrial city. The central part of Old Tyumen retains many historic buildings from throughout the city's history.

Taiwan

Respective from: Taiwan
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: April 2012

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a state in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China now governs the island of Taiwan (known in the past as Formosa), which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu, and other minor islands. Neighboring states include the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east and northeast, and the Philippines to the south. Taipei is the capital city and economic and cultural centre of the country, and New Taipei is the largest city by population.

China

Received from: China
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 8261 km
Time of travelling: 19 days

17-hole Bridge - the bridge lies on the Kunming Lake and connects the East Dike and Nanhu Islet. The name of the bridge indicates that there are 17 holes, which spreads for more than 150 meters long. There are over 500 stone lions on the top of the poles with different poses, and four stones animals at both terminals of the bridge. Near the bridge there is a big bronze buffalo, which was emplaced in 1755. There is a saying that the bronze buffalo was made for repressing the flood. (information taken from this page)

Istria

Respective from: Croatia
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: April 2012

Istria County is the westernmost county of Croatia which includes the biggest part of the Istrian peninsula (2,820 km2 (1,089 sq mi) out of 3,160 km2 (1,220 sq mi), 89%). The area of the county is called Istra in Croatian and Slovene. The county administrative center is Pazin and the Croatian regional anthem is "Krasna zemljo".

USA

Received from: UK

Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 1524 km
Time of travelling: 7 days

The national flag of the United States (or the American flag) consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton (referred to specifically as the "union") bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 states of the United States of America and the 13 stripes represent the thirteen British colonies that declared independence from the United Kingdom and became the first states in the Union. Nicknames for the flag include the "Stars and Stripes", "Old Glory", and "The Star-Spangled Banner" (also the name of the national anthem).

Copenhagen

Respective from: Denmark
Category: Choose a country RR
Date: April 2012

Nyhavn is a 17th century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. Serving as a "heritage harbour", the canal has many historical wooden ships.

Minsk

Received from: Belarus
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 474 km
Time of travelling: 18 days

Minsk is located on the southeastern slope of the Minsk Hills, a region of rolling hills running from the southwest (upper reaches of the river Nioman) to the northeast – that is, to the Lukomskaye lake in northwestern [Belarus]. The average altitude above sea level is 220 metres (720 ft). The geography of Minsk was formed during the two most recent ice ages. The Svislach river, which flows across the city from the northwest to the southeast, is located in the urstromtal, an ancient river valley formed by water flowing from melting ice sheets at the end of the last Ice Age. Minsk was initially founded on the hills. However, in the 20th century, it grew to include the relatively flat plains in the southeast. The western parts of the city are the most hilly.

Naakuto Laab Church

Received from: Czech Republic
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 520 km
Time of travelling: 6 days

According to this blog Na'akuto La'ab is a small church built under a natural cave found about 7 km outside of Lalibela, in the little village of Na'akuto La'ab on the way to the airport. It was built on the site of what was probably an older shrine by Lalibela's successor, King Na'akuto La'ab (13th century). The relatively modern inner red-brick building was added by the Empress Zewditu (20th century).

Ethiopia

Received from: Czech Republic
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 520 km
Time of travelling: 6 days

Ethiopia, officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south. With its capital at Addis Ababa, it is also the most populous landlocked nation in the world.

Berlin

Received from: Germany
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 894 km
Time of travelling: 6 days

Berlin is home to renowned universities, research institutes, orchestras, museums, and celebrities, as well as host of many sporting events. Its urban settings and historical legacy have made it a popular location for international film productions. The city is well known for its festivals, diverse architecture, nightlife, contemporary arts, public transportation networks and a high quality of living.

Finland

Received from: Finland
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 1399 km
Time of travelling: 6 days

Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.

Paris

Received from: France
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 1379 km
Time of travelling: 6 days

Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities. It hosts the headquarters of many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce or the informal Paris Club. Paris is considered one of the greenest and most liveable cities in Europe. It is also one of the most expensive.

Russia

Received from: Russia
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 1152 km
Time of travelling: 20 days

Anne of Green Gables is a bestselling novel by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery published in 1908. It was written as fiction for readers of all ages, but in recent decades has been considered a children's book. Montgomery found her inspiration for the book on an old piece of paper that she had written at a young age, describing a couple that were mistakenly sent an orphan girl instead of a boy, yet decided to keep her. Montgomery also drew upon her own childhood experiences in rural Prince Edward Island. Montgomery used a photograph of Evelyn Nesbit, which she had clipped from New York’s Metropolitan Magazine, and pasted the framed clipping on the wall of her bedroom, as the model for the face of Anne Shirley, the book's main character.

Kamianets-Podilskyi

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

The different peoples and cultures that have lived in the city have each brought their own culture and architecture. Examples include the Polish, Ukrainian and Armenian markets. Famous tourist attractions include the ancient castle, and the numerous architectural attractions in the city's center, including the cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Holy Trinity Church, the city hall building, and the numerous fortifications.

Belarus

Respective from: Belarus
Category: Mountain Tag
Date: April 2012

Vatican - Euro coins

From: Vatican
Category: My collection
Date: February 2012

Vatican euro coins are issued by the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Vatican City State and minted by Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato (IPZS), in Rome, Italy. The euro is the official currency of the Vatican City, although the Vatican is not a member of the European Union.

Vatican

From: Vatican
Category: My collection
Date: February 2012
Vatican City, or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800. This makes Vatican City the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population.

Rome

From: Italy
Category: My collection
Date: February 2012

Rome

From: Italy
Category: My collection
Date: February 2012

Rome

From: Italy
Category: My collection
Date: February 2012
Rome is a city and special comune ("Roma Capitale") in Italy. Rome is the capital of Italy, the capital of Lazio (Latin: Latium) and the principal town of the Province of Rome. With over 2.7 million residents in 1,285.3 km2 (496.3 sq mi), it is also the country's largest and most populated city and comune. The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.

Vienna

From: Austria
Category: My collection
Date: March 2012

Vienna

From: Austria
Category: My collection
Date: March 2012
Vienna is the capital and largest city of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million, and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre. It is the 9th-largest city by population in the European Union. Vienna is host to many major international organizations, including the United Nations and OPEC. The city lies in the east of Austria and is close to the borders of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. These regions work together in a European Centrope border region. Along with nearby Bratislava, Vienna forms a metropolitan region with 3 million inhabitants. In 2001, the city centre was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Vienna

From: Austria
Category: My collection
Date: March 2012

The Hundertwasserhaus is an apartment house in Vienna, Austria, built after the idea and concept of Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser with architect Joseph Krawina as a co-author. This expressionist landmark of Vienna is located in the Landstraße district on the corner of Kegelgasse and Löwengasse.

Sochi

Received from: Russia
Category: Tag within Europe
Date: April 2012

Sochi will host the XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games in 2014, as well as the Russian Formula 1 Grand Prix from 2014 until at least 2020. It is also one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Sochi has a humid subtropical climate with mild winters (average +11 °C (52 °F) during the day and +4 °C (39 °F) at night in the period from December to March) and comfortable summers (average +24 °C (75 °F) during the day and +16 °C (61 °F) at night period from May to October).

Vienna

Received from: Austria
Category: Postcrossing - official card
Date: April 2012
Distance: 558 km
Time of travelling: 4 days

The Donauinsel (Danube Island) is a long, narrow island, in central Vienna, Austria, between the Danube river and the parallel excavated channel Neue Donau ("New Danube"). The island is 21.1 km (13.1 mi) in length, but is only 70–210 metres (230–690 ft) broad. The New Danube waterway is practically an elongated (swimming) lake, technically a diluvian bed.