porto de galinha

this is a card from the Porto de Galinha in Ipojuca, Pernambuco... It has been voted "Best Brazilian Beach" for the eighth time in a row by the readers of Voyage & Tourism Brazilian magazine...According to history the town was called Porto Rico, until 1850 it became a place where they landed and traded slaves to work the sugar cane plantations, since at that time and was the prohibition of the slave trade from Africa. To evade the control of the illegal transaction, slaves were transported together with Guinea fowl and password created by the dealers was not temporary porto galinha nova, hence the origin of current name.

sender: Rapha Peixoto

ein bisschen wienerisch...!

WIENERISCH is the city dialect spoken in Vienna and is counted among the Bavarian dialects
when i was in Vienna, i has a big problem to understand them.. examples:

• Standard German Verschwinde! – Viennese Vaschwind! – intensified Vaschawind!
• Standard German Verbrecher! – Viennese Vabrecha! – intensified Vabarecha!
• Standard German abgebrannt – Viennese oobrennt – intensified oobarennt
• Standard German Geradeaus! – Viennese Groodaus! – intensified Garoodaus!

ich hab noch ein paar Wörter: Masl (Glück), Beisl (Bar), Hemad (Hemd), Zähnd (Zähne), and 2 or 3 more i cant remember right now...
the stamps are also amazing

Sender: Nina Kramlinger, Vienna, Austria

CH-RR #35 from zASA

the most beautiful handwritting i've ever seen

the petronas towers

The Petronas Towers are twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to the CTBUH's official definition and ranking, they were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 until surpassed by Taipei 101, but remain the tallest twin buildings ever built, surpassing the World Trade Center. The building is the landmark of Kuala Lumpur with nearby Kuala Lumpur Tower. The Petronas Towers were the tallest buildings in the world for six years, until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004. The height of the towers is measured to the top of their structural components such as spires, but do not include antennas. Spires are considered actual integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Towers still remain the tallest twin buildings in the world. Designed by Argentine architect César Pelli and Filipino-Malaysian Engineer Deejay Cerico under the consultancy of J. C. Guinto, and Filipino Designer Dominic "Minick" Saibo, the Petronas Towers were completed in 1998 after seven years of construction and became the tallest buildings in the world

sender: Tiko Ong

date: november, 2011

my first one from Belgium

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official palace of the King of the Belgians in the centre of the nation's capital Brussels. However it is not used as a royal residence, as the king and his family live in the Royal Castle of Laeken on the outskirts of Brussels. The website of the Belgian Monarchy describes the function of the palace as follows: "The Palace is where His Majesty the King exercises his prerogatives as Head of State, grants audiences and deals with affairs of state. Apart from the offices of the King and the Queen, the Royal Palace houses the services of the Grand Marshal of the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household and the Intendant of the King's Civil List. The Palace also includes the State Rooms where large receptions are held, as well as the apartments provided for foreign Heads of State during official visits."

The palace is situated in front of Brussels Park. A long square called the Paleizenplein/Place des Palais separates the palace from the park. The middle axis of the park marks both the middle peristyle of the palace and the middle of the facing building on the other side of the park, which is the Palace of the Nation (the Belgian Federal Parliament building). The two facing buildings are said to symbolize Belgium's system of government: a constitutional monarchy.

The facade we see today was only built after 1900 on the initiative of King Leopold II. The first nucleus of the present-day building dates from the end of the 18th century. However, the grounds on which the palace stands were once part of a very old palatial complex that dated back to the Middle Ages.

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park :)

Uluru is one of Australia's most recognisable natural landmarks. The sandstone formation stands 348 m (1,142 ft) high (rising 863 m/2,831 ft above sea level), with most of its bulk lying underground, and has a total circumference of 9.4 km (5.8 mi). Both Uluru and the nearby Kata Tjuta formation have great cultural significance for the Aṉangu people, the traditional inhabitants of the area, who lead walking tours to inform visitors about the local flora and fauna, bush foods and the Aboriginal dreamtime stories of the area.

Uluru is notable for appearing to change colour at different times of the day and year, most notably glowing red at dawn and sunset. Kata Tjuta, also called Mount Olga or The Olgas, lies 25 km (16 mi) west of Uluru. Special viewing areas with road access and parking have been constructed to give tourists the best views of both sites at dawn and dusk.

Uluṟu, también conocida como Ayers Rock) es una formación rocosa compuesta por arenisca que se encuentra en el centro de Australia. Es junto con Kata Tjuṯa una de las mayores atracciones del Parque Nacional Uluru-Kata Tjuta siendo uno de los mayores monolitos del mundo, con más de 348 metros de alto, 9 kilómetros de contorno y 2,5 kilómetros bajo tierra.

Uluṟu es un lugar sagrado para los aborígenes australianos y desde 1987 es Patrimonio de la Humanidad. También es conocida como el ombligo del mundo. El primer occidental en llegar a Uluru fue, en 1873, el explorador William Gosse quien tras alcanzar su cima junto a su guia, el afgano Jamran, le impondría el nombre del entonces primer ministro de Australia Meridional.

Uluṟu es uno de los iconos naturales más famosos de Australia. La formación rocosa se eleva 348 metros sobre el terreno circundante, y 863 m. sobre el nivel del mar, aunque la mayor parte se encuentra bajo tierra. El contorno del monolito mide 9.4 km. Tanto Uluṟu como Kata Tjuṯa tienen una gran significado cultural para los habitantes tradicionales Aṉangu, que organizan visitas guiadas para informar a los turistas sobre la fauna y flora locales, el monte bajo, y las leyendas autóctonas. La superficie del monolito cambia de color según la inclinación de los rayos solares, tanto a lo largo del día como en las diferentes estaciones del año. Es particularmente famosa la imagen de Uluṟu al atardecer, cuando se vuelve de un color rojo brillante. A pesar de que la lluvia es poco frecuente en esta zona semiárida, durante los períodos húmedos la roca adquiere una tonalidad gris plateada, con franjas negras debidas a las algas que crecen en los cursos de agua.

sender: Heather Massese, September 12, 2011

*it was my first postcard from Australia :D

from Australia

Lake McKenzie (Boorangoora) is a perched lake on Fraser Island in Queensland, Australia. The lake is located 6.2 km southeast of Kingfisher Resort. It is 1200 meters long and up to 930 meters wide. It is approxmately 80 hectares in area. The sands around the lake are composed of pure, white silica and the water in the lake is also so pure it is unsuitable for many species. Facilities for visitors around the lake include camping and picnic areas as well as toilets and bar-be-ques.

THE FRASER ISLAND was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992. The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1840 km². It is also Queensland's largest island, Australia's sixth largest island and the largest island on the East Coast of Australia.

I love this postcard! and i will definitely go there before i die

Sender: Heather Massese

The Serra da Canastra National Park (Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra) is located in Minas Gerais state
Sender: Luiz
date: september, 2011

matar o morir en el intento (PROBLEMAS AMOROSOS)

aiiiii aiiii aiii por donde empezar no? empezemos porque mi ex novio es un PELOTUDO con mayusculas, para los que no saben es alemán, fue el primer y único hombre al que amé hasta ahora, es una excelente persona, muy noble, inteligente y gracioso (lo dejo ahi porque no quiero ponerme a hablar de el y *morir*, hoy no!) bien resulta que despues de vivir juntos y estar excelentemente bien 3 meses, nos toco separarnos por primera vez, el tenia vacaciones y venia a Brasil con el hermano....
aclaremos... yo, argentina estaba en Alemania con el y el en sus vacaciones vino a Br con el hno, entonces para aprovechar ese momento en que el se iba de Berlin yo decidi emprender viaje a Europa del este (yo solita a 3 paises, Ucrania, Bielorrusia y Rumania), ya saben, la historia de Ucrania y en algun momento voy a contar las otras... resulta que estuvimos 3 semanas sin vernos y cuando nos encontramos (despues de esas 3 benditas semanas ni siquiera un beso me dió!!! NI SIQUIERA UNA FUCKING SONRISA nada...) fue un hola de un diariero hacia otro diariero que ni conoce) nada... resumiendo el conglomerado (de situaciones horribles) que prosigue al acto y dura 3 dias.. EL TIPO (hablando mal y pronto) ME CORTA EL CHORRO!
sin decirme por qué?! y aludiendo unicamente a que no podíamos seguir estando juntos...
demas esta decir que sufri como un hidroacrofóbico a punto de saltar desde el bungie mas alto al agua!... no es para exajerar??? FUE EL UNICO TIPO QUE ME MOVIO EL PISO EN MI VIDA, sisiii este es el momento en que todas mis amigas/compañeras me decian cuando vos fuiste yo fui y vine 25 veces! todas ya habian pasado por varios y a mi nunca me gustaba nadie, yo estaba empezando a preocuparme hasta que me enamore de este pelotudo...
bueno resulta que el señor decide sin razon terminar todo y listo... porque simplemente no podiamos estar mas juntos pero que si queria podia seguir quedandome en berlin con el, que el no queria que dejemos de hablar, que queria ser amigo mio y que me re quiere y blaaaaablabla
yo me recupere del problema hombres y dije bueno me chupa un huevo.... total soy joven, total yo ni me queria casar, cuando termine la carrera voy a tener hijos yo sola, o adoptar, pero sin hombres... son un problema para mi...
igual me mato.... pero continué mi vida... ydespues de 4 meses cuando abandono mi queridisima Alemania para volver a mi amada sudamerica al señor se le ocurre escribirme (dicho sea de paso me adrego al msn, que anteriormente me habia eliminado y lo mismo con el facebook)
imaginense el bolonqui que tenia yo en el cuore y el coco que el pibe me corto, me dijo que seamos amigos, pero me elimino del fb y del msn y no me hablaba...
BUENO CUESTION ES QUE ME ESCRIBE Y ME AGREGA A TODO DE NUEVO... Y ME DICE QUE SE HABIA EQUIVOCADO.... (no les miento que esto fue 3 dias despues de que yo haya pisado suelo sudaca) el pibe me dice que es un idiota, que me adora, que no entiende por qué lo hizo? que se comporto como un inmaduro, que no va a encontrar jamas otra mina como yo, que blablabla y que volvamos a estar como antes! ME VOLVIO A MATAR

..... NO ERA QUE LAS MUJERES ERAMOS COMPLICADAS LOCO?

quise hacerme la dura... le dije que no creo, porque estabamos a 12mil km, que yo ya seguia mi vida, ya no teniamos nada mas que ver.. que me habia lastimado mucho y que yo ya estaba en otra y el quizas deberia hacer lo mismo! (logico que yo si lo queria cuando le dije eso, hasta ahora la sigo queriendo, pero no quise complicarnos la vida al pedo)
el me siguio insistiendo y hablando bastante del tema, disculpandose mil veces y recordandome lo idiota que fue! mi cerebro dejo de hablar y empeze a aflojar... inconcientemente pensaba que podiamos volver, que si podia darle la oportunidad que el a mi no me dio, que las personas se equivocan
CUANDO AFLOJE UN 80% EL PIBE ME CUENTA QUE VIENE A BRASIL y que seguro venia unas semanitas a bs as... genial pense... aca solucionamos todo!
AHORA ME ENTERO QUE ESTA EN BRASIL y por lo que veo sin planes de venir a bs as
me da bronca porque sabemos la fama de las brasileritas... de mis amiguitas brasileras!
y quiera o no esto sigue afectandome al corazon!
DESPUES DICEN QUE NO ENTIENDEN A LAS MUJERES!
yo definitivamente no me voy a casar... ni novio quiero! los hombres son demasiado complicados... cuaando termine la carrera me busco un donante de esperma con alto coheficiente intelectual ... tengo hijos y soy la mejor mama soltera que hay
basta de complicaciones!
ASI SE ARRANCA UN PROBLEMA DE RAIZ... ASI SE MATAN LOS PROBLEMAS CON LOS HOMBRES!

ya fue!

thank you flora! :D

i sent her an official card from one of the new 7 wonders, the Iguazu waterfalls... and she sent me another postcard in gratitude... i really like how much she wrote :) is a postcard of the shoe museum in mexico city :) the card was a surprice! and im very happy that she liked my Iguazu postcard

official LV-40621

i like when people write something on the card! that's for me the most important thing when i get a postcard :D this card has also a beautiful stamp, an orange flower that looks hand painted ... in the photo can not be seen much, but is really beautiful :) was also my first card from Latvia

München

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, behind Berlin and Hamburg. About 1.35 million people live within the city limits. Munich hosted the 1972 Summer Olympics.

The city's motto is "München mag Dich" (Munich likes you). Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" (Cosmopolitan city with a heart). Its native name, München, is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat of arms. Black and gold—the colours of the Holy Roman Empire—have been the city's official colours since the time of Ludwig the Bavarian.

Modern Munich is a financial and publishing hub, and a frequently top-ranked destination for migration and expatriate location in livability rankings. Munich achieved 7th place in frequently quoted Mercer livability rankings in 2010. For economic and social innovation, the city was ranked 15th globally out of 289 cities in 2010, and 5th in Germany by the 2thinknow Innovation Cities Index based on analysis of 162 indicators. In 2010, Monocle ranked Munich as the world's most livable city.
Sender: Daniela Hargaßner
date: July 23, 2011

my first one from Vietnam

Sender: Lyra
date: July 15, 2011

from India. 16.June ´11

Ayer recibí una de mis postales favoritas hasta el momento.... viene de Bangalore, de un oficial del cuerpo del ejército Hindu (Col, amigo mío) con el que intercambio postales!

me mando esto https://picasaweb.google.com/116059192443760896427/India#5656439663455754242

Yo había visto hombres como este en documentales o peliculas pero nunca le preste demasiada atención, o no recuerdo haber escuchado que es exactamente, porque se pinta? que hace? (DEBO DECIR QUE DESDE QUE EMPEZÉ CON LO DE LAS POSTALES, APRENDO UN MONTON! y además me fascina!) este SEÑOR ES UN SADHU!

Un Sadhu es un asceta hindú que busca purificar el espíritu por medio de la negación de los placeres materiales; al conjunto de procedimientos y conductas de doctrina moral que se basa en la oposición sistemática al cumplimiento de necesidades de diversa índole que dependerá, en mayor o menor medida, del grado y orientación de que se trate. Un Sadhu sigue el camino de la penitencia y la austeridad para llegar a la iluminación. Es la cuarta fase de la vida en la religión hindú, después de estudiar, de ser padre y de ser peregrino. Por norma general un shadu vive incluido en la sociedad, pero intenta ignorar los placeres y dolores humanos.

Muchos sadhus imitan la vida mitológica de Shiva, el más grande de todos los ascetas. Llevan un tridente simbólico y se pintan tres rayas de ceniza en su frente para representar los tres aspectos de Shiva en su búsqueda asceta para destruir las tres impurezas (egoísmo, acción con deseo y el maya). Llevan túnicas de color azafrán, que significan que han sido bendecidos con la sangre fértil de Parvati, la consorte de Shiva.

Dedican la mayor parte de su tiempo a la meditación. Muchos de éstos se reúnen en determinadas fiestas como es el Kumbha Mela.

Los sadhus son la respuesta (en India) para el sistema de valores. Han dejado atrás todas las ataduras materiales para liberarse a un mundo con la realidad divina, y viven en cuevas, bosques y templos por toda la India. Existen alrededor de 4 ó 5 millones de sadhus hoy en día en el país, y son personas respetadas, veneradas e incluso temidas. Son mantenidos por todos los ciudadanos que les donan alimentos.

Hay muchas clases de sadhus. Dentro de los sadhus, los Nagas son los más prominentes ya que se mantienen desnudos, cubiertos solamente con un "vibhuti" o cenizas sagradas. Dejan crecer su pelo en bucles llamados "jata". Los sadhus se dividen en tres principales "akharas" o denominaciones, las cuales fueron establecidas en el siglo VIII por el gran sabio Adi Shankaracharya. Este estableció cuatro "maths" o centros en las cuatro puntas extremas de India. En estos akharas, los sadhus aprenden el control de la mente y del cuerpo hasta ser maestros del yoga.

Los sadhus generalmente pasan el primer año de su vida, después de la renuncia a lo mundano, con sus gurus o maestros. Los sadhus tradicionales se pelan como un signo de renuncia. Una vez que hayan aprendido las artes espirituales y de yoga, tienen que dejar al guru para caminar por las calles y bosques, nunca quedándose en un solo lugar ya que creen que moverse mantiene al cuerpo en alerta, mientras que quedarse en un lugar los hace inactivos.

El mayor número de sadhus se encuentra en Juna Akhara, un lugar famoso por las penitencias extremas y los éxitos yogísticos de sus miembros.

MUUUUUUUUUUUUUY INTERESANTE!

Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century. It is known by quick and complex moves, using mainly power, speed, and leverage for leg sweeps.

The word capoeira probably comes from Tupi, referring to the areas of low vegetation in the Brazilian interior.

Capoeira's history probably begins with the adoption of African slavery in Brazil. Since the 16th century, Portugal extensively adopted slavery to man their colonies, coming mainly from West and Central Africa. Brazil, with its vast territory, was the major destination of African slaves, receiving 38.5% of all slaves sent by ships across the Atlantic Ocean.

Capoeira has a long and controversial history, since historical documentation in Brazil was very scarce in its colonial times. Evidences, studies and oral tradition leave little doubt about its Brazilian roots, but it is impossible to precisely identify the exact Brazilian region or time it began to take form.

Sender: Carlos Ramalho

date: July 1, 2011

CRISTO REDENTOR

the CRISTO REDENTOR is a statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world. It is 39.6 metres (130 ft) tall, including its 9.5 metres (31 ft) pedestal, and 30 metres (98 ft) wide. It weighs 635 tonnes (625 long,700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city. A symbol of Brazilian Christianity, the statue has become an icon for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931... The ideas for erecting a large statue atop Corcovado was first suggested in the mid-1850s, when Catholic priest Pedro Maria Boss requested financing from Princess Isabel to build a large religious monument. Princess Isabel did not think much of the idea and it was dismissed in 1889, when Brazil became a republic with laws mandating the separation of church and state. The second proposal for a landmark statue on the mountain was made in 1921 by the Catholic Circle of Rio.The group organized an event called Semana do Monumento ("Monument Week") to attract donations and collect signatures to support the building of the statue. The donations came mostly from Brazilian Catholics.The designs considered for the "Statue of the Christ" included a representation of the Christian cross, a statue of Jesus with a globe in his hands, and a pedestal symbolizing the world. The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, a symbol of peace,and was chosen.

Sender: Carlos Ramalho
date: July 1, 2011

the first official from austria

Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. The palace and gardens illustrate the tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. (uhuuuu one of my favorites stories)

In the year 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien river beneath a hill, situated between Meidling and Hietzing, where a former owner, in 1548, had erected a mansion called Katterburg. The emperor ordered the area to be fenced and put game there such as pheasants, ducks, deer and boar, in order to serve as the court's recreational hunting ground. In a small separate part of the area, "exotic" birds like turkeys and peafowl were kept. Fishponds were built, too.

The name Schönbrunn (meaning "beautiful spring"), has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court.

During the next century, the area was used as a hunting and recreation ground. Especially Eleonora Gonzaga, who loved hunting, spent much time there and was bequeathed the area as her widow's residence after the death of her husband, Ferdinand II. From 1638 to 1643, she added a palace to the Katterburg mansion, while in 1642 came the first mention of the name "Schönbrunn" on an invoice. The origins of the Schönbrunn orangery seem to go back to Eleonora Gonzaga as well.

Sender: Tuor (postcrossig)
date: May 26, 2011

Gloriette at Schönbrunn Palace

Gloriette

The garden axis points towards a 60 meters higher hill, which since 1775 has been crowned by the Gloriette structure (Fischer von Erlach had initially planned to erect the main palace on the top of this hill).

Maria Theresa decided Gloriette should be designed to glorify Habsburg power and the Just War [a war that would be carried out of 'necessity' and lead to peace], and thereby ordered to recycle "otherwise useless stone" which was left from the almost-demolition of Schloss Neugebäude. The same material was also to be used for the Roman ruin.

The Gloriette today houses a café and gives the visitor a view of the city.

sender: Tuor

date: May 30, 2011

my first one from Thailand

Basilica di San Pietro

my first card from Italy and from the Basilica di San Pietro