The Laptop Traveler

The Laptop Traveler Has Moved

2011-07-24T19:41:00.002-04:00

Point your browser and change your bookmark to www.TheLaptopTraveler.com for the latest posts and pictures!

Why did I move? Glad you asked.

A few weeks ago, I went to visit my blog to see how long it had been since I posted. I was shocked to find a message there that said my blog had been removed!

I could not log in ... I could not find it anywhere. I was gone!

After a little research, I discovered that Google / Blogger had decided to take a stand against SPAM blogs, and thus removed great numbers of blogs without checking on them -- and without notifying blog owners!

I followed the "procedure" for reinstatement, and thankfully my blog was reinstated. However, I decided at the very moment I saw my blog back up again that I could never allow all this work and investment to be subject to the whim of some uncaring button pusher!

I bought TheLaptopTraveler.com and hired someone to move my old blog over.

Now, my blog is mine, and I don't have to worry about it being removed.

So -- what are you waiting for? Head on over, check out the new "digs," and subscribe to continue receiving blog posts as I travel virtually--and really!

See you there!

Etiquette of Home Exchange

2011-05-08T10:02:00.003-04:00

Greetings, friends!

It has been so long since I have posted that I am almost ashamed! But life has been busy; I have not had time to scan and share all of the lovely postcards I have collected since I last wrote--and there are a lot!

One of these days I will do it. I am just not sure when.

But I did want to write about a topic of interest right now, which is the etiquette of home exchanges. Actually, since I have not yet actually done a home exchange, I am thinking more of the etiquette of requesting a home exchange.

My husband and I recently joined www.homeforexchange.com. We want to travel but find the cost prohibitive for our family of five. For example, do you know that, right now, round trip airfare to Munich (a place I'd LOVE to vist) is running about USD $1,400 per person? That comes out to USD $7,000 for a family of five. I don't know about you, but that's way too much money to spend on airfare alone.

A family outside of Paris recently wrote to us asking for an exchange this summer. While we would have LOVED to do so--PARIS!--airfare would have been the same as if traveling to Munich--$7,000. So, unfortunately, we had to decline. In my email reply though, I did ask if they would be interested in considering an exchange during other times--perhaps in the winter months when fares are lower, or maybe even Summer 2012, as I understand that fares may be lower if you book far out in advance.

However, to that proposal, I received no reply.

Another exchanger in Florida also wrote, asking to exchange homes this summer. The area was not one where we'd like to visit, so I proposed a possible three-way exchange: perhaps I could find someone in an area where we'd like to visit who wanted to visit Florida? Then I would stay in the 3rd party's home; the third party would stay in Florida; the Florida party would stay in my home, which is what they wanted all along.

However, to that proposal, I received no reply.

I have also written to two parties myself asking about possible domestic exchanges this summer--one more than a week ago, the other yesterday.

However, to both proposals, I have not yet received replies. (I'm not as concerned about the proposal sent yesterday; it takes even me at least one full day to ponder a request and to reply!)

And this leaves me wondering about the etiquette of requesting and responding to home exchanges.

Is it not hospitable to respond to every request, even if the response is negative?
Is it not hospitable to respond to requests promptly, within three days or so?

The people making requests are trying to plan--if the dates and details can be worked out, there are airfares to book, travel plans to make, lots of planning and dreaming and scheming to do! :)

I don't know about others, but I will not be offended if you cannot or do not want to take me up on my proposal. If you do not want to come to my area, or if you are otherwise engaged, just say so. But please, don't leave me hanging. I sent my request to you in full readiness to start acting--now! :)

I think this is a reasonable request. And I think that perhaps home exchange websites ought to publish information to members so that they know to respond courteously and promptly to all requests.

But--since I know I can't change the world, I will simply continue to do what I do and hope that others will follow my lead: I will respond to all requests promptly!

So if you're interested in an exchange, please review our listing online--and then write!

Even if it is negative, I promise a prompt reply.... :)

Official card from Mauritius

2010-10-04T20:38:00.001-04:00

Sept1_0002, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A very pretty art card representing a local tree! I love it -- all the way from Mauritius, "an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about 900 kilometres (560 mi) east of Madagascar." [Thanks, Wiki!]

Official card from Mauritius

2010-10-04T20:35:00.001-04:00

Sept1_0001, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A lovely postcrossing card, with lovely round stamps!

Character stamps from Finland!

2010-10-04T20:34:00.001-04:00

Character stamps from Finland!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I recently swapped with a lovely postcard collector in Finland, choosing a selection of cards from her very nice album. When the cards arrived, I was so pleased to see them in this envelope, with many interesting Finnish stamps worth keeping! I like the two stamps in the upper right corner, showing books and reading. And then are the character stamps, which come with little stickers that allow the sender to "dress up" the characters themselves! Very neat -- I'd like to see more of these types of unusual stamps, as we have nothing like this in the U.S.

Cats, an oil painting by Anna Hollerer

2010-10-04T20:33:00.003-04:00

Cats, an oil painting by Anna Hollerer, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This card, received from a swap with a Finnish collector, was printed in Austria. I love cats, art cards and foreign languages, so this card triply appealed to me! The titles of the books are: My Friend the Dog, Cats, Cats, and Big Cats.

I could not quickly find information about Anna the artist, but I did discover that she has painted many cat scenes that now appear on postcards! I will have to add her cat cards to my wish list :)

Inge Löök's Old Ladies Celebrating a Birthday!

2010-10-04T20:33:00.001-04:00

Inge Löök's Old Ladies Celebrating a Birthday!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love these cards :) When I received my first from a penpal several years ago, she described the scenes as two old ladies enjoying each other and their golden years. She also said that she hopes to have a friend like that one day. And I have always wished that, too :) So I was very pleased to find that a Finnish swapper had a collection of Inge Löök's cards available! This one shows the old gals celebrating a VERY OLD birthday, with a gazillion candles on the gigantic cake :) They are enjoying large mugs of beer, and lots of other yummy goodies as well :) Looks like fun!

Inge Löök's Old Ladies Waiting for the Mail!

2010-10-04T20:32:00.001-04:00

Inge Löök's Old Ladies Waiting for the Mail!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this card, because it's just like me :) The grannies are sitting by the door, with their clock and tea and munchies, just waiting to see what fabulous goodies the mailman will bring! :) And look how delighted they are with today's delivery! I have felt that way many times, myself :)

This text on Inge Löök comes from 9teen87spostcards.blogspot.com/2010/02/inge-look-grannies.... I also found the information in Finnish on Wiki, but the translation did not come out so well. This, however, is written in English :)

"Inge Löök (Ingebor Lievonen) is an artist and gardener from Pernaja, Finland. She was born in Helsinki 1951. Her artistic name Löök means onion in swedish.

She graduated from high school 1972 and got her gardening degree in 1974 and graduated 1979 from the Arts and Crafts University in Helsinki as a graphical designer. She worked as an gardener for six years but then her art work became a full time job.

She has drawn over 300 postcards, half of which are Christmas themed. She also designed more than 800 greeting cards and illustrated numerous exlibris book-tags. She has illustrated various childrens and young adults books and Christian literature and schoolbooks, couple of CD-covers and magazines especially gardenig magazines. She has worked for different publishers in Finland.

** The anarchistic grannies **
She is best known for her anarchistic grannie figures. Her first Grannies illustrations where born in 2003. The motto of the grannies is “Time is not money and spending it isn’t a sin.” At first her grannies were rejected by the publisher when she offered them as Valentines Day cards ( commonly known as ystävänpäivä friends day in Finland). Pirjo Laakso noticed the grannies at a postcard fair and they were included in the Paletti card manufacturers prints. Then the grannies started their world-wide success. In a couple of years grannies have sold more than hundred thousand copies. They represent a humorous approach to the world.

In spring 2008 a book and a wall calendar was published called “Paljain jaloin mummojen puutarhassa”- barefooted at the grannies garden. Grannies have now appeared in various prints and textiles and Finland has used them in stamps.

The visual appearance of the grannies comes from the artist's childhood and the old ladies who lived in her neighborhood. Grannies picture a gentle caricature of the artists own attitude towards life."

Inge Löök's Old Ladies

2010-10-04T20:31:00.003-04:00

Inge Löök's Old Ladies, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This time, enjoying treats in a "fort," just like the kind my children build, and just like the kind that I bet most of us also built as children :)

Turning Torso, Malmo, Sweden

2010-10-04T20:31:00.001-04:00

Turning Torso, Malmo, Sweden, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

What a very unusual building -- and since I love unusual buildings, I could not resist this card :)

From Wiki: The Turning Torso is a deconstructivist skyscraper in Malmö, Sweden, located on the Swedish side of the Öresund strait. It was designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and officially opened on 27 August 2005. The tower reaches a height of 190 metres (623 feet) with 54 stories. Upon completion, it was the tallest building in Scandinavia, the tallest residential building in the EU and the second tallest residential building in Europe, after the 264-metre (866 ft)-high Triumph-Palace in Moscow.

Reindeer in Kaamos-time, Lapland

2010-10-04T20:30:00.001-04:00

Reindeer in Kaamos-time, Lapland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this card. The image is serene, beautiful.

I also love what I learned about Kaamos-time while doing research.

"Kaamos-time is not the coldest time of year. The winter’s most freezing part begins at the end of Kaamos, the time of year when people in northern Finland live in a dim blue twilight. There are only four hours of light during the day. It is not pitch dark but visibility is almost as good during bright moonlit nights as during the days, because the moon light shimmers on the snow and reflects off of it. As well as the snow reflecting light the winter sky is lit with northern lights.

Animals living up north during winter have adapted to this lack of sun light. The scantiness and total lack of natural light cause more problems for humans than animals. Constant darkness has many effects on the human mind and body; some tire easily, some lose their sleep rhythm and others crave sweets. On the other hand, Kaamos is a perfect time to wind-down and regain one’s strength.

Kaamos is the opposite of the summer’s midnight sun. Both phenomenons are based on the axis of the Earth and our planet’s tilted position towards the sun. During winter the North Pole is tilted away from the sun and is therefore left in shade.

The further north one travels the shorter the time of daylight is each day and the longer Kaamos lasts. The North Pole is for this reason the darkest point. The time of blue twilight begins at the end of September and lasts to the middle of March. In the northernmost village in Finland, Nuorgam the sun drops below the horizon at the end of November and stays there to the middle of January, the darkness thus lasting bout two months. In the Ivalo area Kaamos lasts 37 days. When the northernmost part of the planet is draped in the deepest darkness at the end of December the South Pole is washed over by the midnight sun."

From www.luontoon.fi/news.asp?Section=5715&Item=16194

Icebergs in Iceland

2010-10-04T20:29:00.001-04:00

Icebergs in Iceland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

On the Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon, by Peter Gebhard.

From Wiki: Jökulsárlón is the best known and the largest of a number of glacial lakes in Iceland. It is situated at the south end of the glacier Vatnajökull between Skaftafell National Park and Höfn. Appearing first only in 1934-1935, the lake grew from 7.9 km² in 1975 to at least 18 km² today because of heavy melting of the Icelandic glaciers. Approaching a depth of 200 m, Jökulsárlón is now probably the second deepest lake in Iceland.

Jökulsárlón is separated from the sea by only a short distance, and the combined action of the glacier, the river that empties from the lake, and the ocean may eventually transform it into an inlet of the sea. There are plans to prevent this from happening, since the only road in the area passes over the narrow isthmus.
It is not far from the Icelandic Ring Road, and buses travelling between Höfn and Reykjavík usually stop there. The lake is filled with icebergs, which are calving off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier."

North Cape, Norway

2010-10-04T20:28:00.001-04:00

North Cape, Norway, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

The nothernmost point of Europe! This would be an awesome place to visit!

Snow light -- a photo by Ove Eriksson

2010-10-04T20:27:00.003-04:00

Snow light -- a photo by Ove Eriksson, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I do not know if there is an electric light under this snow, or if it is a small fire? I have never seen such a thing, but it is so lovely! Printed in Finland.

Lapland, Finland

2010-10-04T20:27:00.001-04:00

Lapland, Finland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Preparing of flame salmon. The gal who swapped with me writes that you can sleep behind the fire and stay toasty warm :) This is such a lovely, peaceful image!

Snowy Swedish Scene

2010-10-04T20:26:00.003-04:00

Snowy Swedish Scene, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A photograph by Peter Lange. I don't know where this is, but it is so idyllic, so lovely! I would like to be one of the people walking in this scene :)

Revontulet - Northern Lights - Auror borealis

2010-10-04T20:26:00.001-04:00

Revontulet - Northern Lights - Auror borealis, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Would love to see this in person someday. "Caused when charged particles from Sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere at the altitude of 90-250 km. Due to the collision, oxygen and nitrogen are emitting auroral light." Printed in Finland.

Revontulet, Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis

2010-10-04T20:25:00.003-04:00

Revontulet, Northern Lights, Aurora Borealis, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

The lights in the card appear much greener than they do in this scan.

Northern Scandinavia, Arctic Circle

2010-10-04T20:24:00.001-04:00

Northern Scandinavia, Arctic Circle, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Love this map card, which shows the Arctic Circle on it. I also like the smaller images on the card, especially the sign at the lower right corner. But, alas, I cannot read what it says! :)

Europa, 2009

2010-10-03T12:20:00.001-04:00

Europa, 2009, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I like this neat map card showing the EU, put out by eurooppatiedotus.fi, "Europe Information, a network of 20 regional EU information officers providing information services for general public. Its task is to inform about EU issues in Finnish and Swedish.

Europe Information is part of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, constituting one unit of the Ministry’s Department for Communication and Culture. Its publishing and other activities are managed from the Ministry’s premises in the Katajanokka district of Helsinki.

Europe Information produces and distributes information about European integration and Finland’s activities in the EU. The information is based on a Finnish viewpoint and reflects an interaction between the public and the country’s decision makers."

The map shows both member and candidate countries of the EU.

Finland, Aurora Borealis

2010-10-03T12:19:00.001-04:00

Finland, Aurora Borealis, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is a beautiful, oversized card. How I would love to be in that cabin! :)

Martinique, French West Indies

2010-10-03T12:18:00.001-04:00

Martinique, French West Indies, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Thanks again to my sister Jessica for all of these awesome island cards, which she picked up on her last cruise.

Martinique, French West Indies

2010-10-03T12:17:00.003-04:00

Martinique, French West Indies, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I wish the cards had text on the back! What a lovely view!

View from Martinique, Antilles francaises

2010-10-03T12:17:00.001-04:00

View from Martinique, Antilles francaises, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Only a little French text on the back, which says, according to Google Translate, "peaks of the hut and Englise balata."

In looking up balata, I found that "Balata Church is a small size replica of Sacré-Coeur Basilica in France. Located on a hill outside of Fort-de-France, the area offers good views over the city and surrounding country."

St. Barthelemy, French West Indies

2010-10-03T12:16:00.003-04:00

St. Barthelemy, French West Indies, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

You are looking at what is called Flemish Cove. How beautiful!

St. Barts, French West Indies,

2010-10-03T12:16:00.001-04:00

St. Barts, French West Indies,, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A view of Marigot Bay Cove and Grand Cul-de-sac. So pretty.

St. Barthelemy from 9000 feet

2010-10-03T12:15:00.001-04:00

St. Barthelemy from 9000 feet, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

In reading about this beautiful island on Wiki, I learn that:

St. Barts is considered a playground of the rich and famous and is known for its beautiful pristine beaches, gourmet dining in chic bistros and high-end designers.
St. Barts has about 25 hotels, most of them with 15 rooms or fewer. The largest has 58 rooms. Hotels are classified in the traditional French manner 3 Star, 4 Star and 4 Star Luxe. Most of the rooms allocated to tourism on St Barts are found in private villas. There are approximately 400 privately owned villas available for rent on the island.

Would be a lovely place to unwind and experience peace and quiet, no?

Barbados

2010-10-03T12:14:00.003-04:00

Barbados, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Underwater world of the Atlantis Submarine.

Tent Bay, Barbados

2010-10-03T12:14:00.001-04:00

Tent Bay, Barbados, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"This picturesque bay is home to a small fish market and local fishing boats can be seen making their way in and out of the bay in the morning and evening. Like the other stretches of beach along this coast, there are strong currents at Tent Bay and swimming in open water is not recommended." The back of the card is blank; the text comes from the Internets :)

Hidden in the Shadows, Linda Richter

2010-10-03T12:13:00.006-04:00

Hidden in the Shadows, Linda Richter, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I really like this Bonaire art card (thanks, Jess!), so I decided to look up artist Linda Richter online. Her work is really fabulous; check out her site and see for yourself! www.lindarichter.com/

I also like the thought of moving to a far-removed island destination one day, when the cold is too harsh for my bones. Perhaps to Papamoa, New Zealand? As long as I had Internet connectivity, I could continue to work. I imagine the silence, but for the non-human sounds ... of the waves sloshing on the shore ... the endless breezes creeping through tree leaves ... the chattering birds ... the hum of the insects (outside, I hope)....

Ahhh. Maybe it's time for a parents-only vacation! :)

Oh yes, and back to the card: "A baby iguana barely five inches long holds statue still beneath the shade of a spiny tree. The bright neon green is a surprisingly good color to camouflage this little creature from its predators. As the iguana grows, the bright green will fade to be replaced with bars of deep green and gray."

Bonaire, Netherland Antilles

2010-10-03T12:13:00.005-04:00

Bonaire, Netherland Antilles, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"Donkey child in the wild."

Very interesting information from Wiki, now posted here on my blog on October 3, 2010!

"As part of the Netherlands Antilles, Bonaire is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The structure of the relationship between Bonaire, the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom is planned for change under proposed legislation. The Netherlands Antilles is scheduled to be dissolved as a unified political entity on 10 October 2010, so that the five constituent islands would attain new constitutional statuses: the BES islands Bonaire, Saba and Sint Eustatius will become special municipalities of the Netherlands, while the islands of Curaçao and Sint Maarten will become independent states within the Kingdom of the Netherlands."

Karel's by Night, by Jake Richter

2010-10-03T12:13:00.001-04:00

Karel's by Night, by Jake Richter, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"Karel's Beach Bar takes a rest -- offering bright lights intermingled with a serene sort of tranquility, as all one hears is the water lapping the shores of the promenade, and all one sees is the ever changing reflection of Karel's lights on the dappled surface of the sea."

This is a really cool photo -- or is it a digitally painted photo, which is what photographer/artist Jake Richter likes to do? I like that's it a slice of life in Bonaire, and I like how the postcard text matches my imaginings of a quiet island life :)

Karel's even has a website: www.karelsbeachbar.com/index.php/page/beachbar/

As does Jake Richter: www.jakerichter.com/index.html

Thanks to my sister Jessica for these two postcards representing a husband/wife pair who left the hustle and bustle for a quieter existence on the Caribbean island of Bonaire!

Bonaire

2010-10-03T12:12:00.003-04:00

Bonaire, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This must be where all the action is!

Bonaire

2010-10-03T12:12:00.001-04:00

Bonaire, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I wish I knew what this scene is ... the backs of the postcards are blank.

Bonaire

2010-10-03T12:11:00.003-04:00

Bonaire, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Have you ever seen flamingos in the wild? I've seen them in zoos, but never just out and about. I suppose they are often seen here in Bonaire! :)

I usually don't like cards with animals on them, or cards with images that could be from anywhere. But this is different, because it represents a true picture from Bonaire!

Grenada & the Grenadines

2010-10-03T12:11:00.001-04:00

Grenada & the Grenadines, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Scenes and the Saturday Market. The cards my sister Jessica brought from Grenada show what appears to be one of the least touristy islands in the Caribbean. The images appear to show real towns, real people, real slices of life, as you will see.

From Wiki: Grenada is an island country and sovereign state consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Grenada is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela, and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Grenada is also known as the "Island of Spice" due to the production of nutmeg and mace crops of which Grenada is one of the world's largest exporters. Its size is 344 square kilometres (133 sq mi), with an estimated population of 110,000. Its capital is St. George's. The national bird of Grenada is the critically endangered Grenada Dove."

Grenada

2010-10-03T12:10:00.003-04:00

Grenada, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

St. George's, Grenada

2010-10-03T12:10:00.001-04:00

St. George's, Grenada, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

The Island of Spice

Martinique

2010-10-03T12:09:00.005-04:00

Martinique, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

What a lovely scene: Faula Point.

Pointe du Bout, Martinique

2010-10-03T12:09:00.003-04:00

Pointe du Bout, Martinique, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Loverly, loverly

Sainte Anne, Martinique

2010-10-03T12:09:00.001-04:00

Sainte Anne, Martinique, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Each Martinique view is lovely than the one before it....

Under the coconuts of Martinique

2010-10-03T12:08:00.001-04:00

Under the coconuts of Martinique, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Divi Divi Tree, Eagle Beach, Aruba

2010-10-03T12:07:00.005-04:00

Divi Divi Tree, Eagle Beach, Aruba, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this view :) What an interesting tree! "The Divi Divi tree is Aruba's own unique tree that grows on the island's shoreline. Its growth and shape are formed by the gentle and steady trade winds."

Aruba map card

2010-10-03T12:07:00.003-04:00

Aruba map card, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Renaissance Island, Aruba

2010-10-03T12:07:00.001-04:00

Renaissance Island, Aruba, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This private island is part of the Renaissance Hotel, located in downtown Oranjestad. The secluded island is one of the best places to relax and enjoy Aruba.

Holland America Cruise Ship

2010-10-03T12:06:00.003-04:00

Holland America Cruise Ship, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Holland America Cruise Ship

This is the ship my sister and parents cruised on during their visit to the Caribbean islands. I believe this is the ship Statendam.

Occidental Grand Resort and Casino, Aruba

2010-10-03T12:06:00.001-04:00

Occidental Grand Resort and Casino, Aruba, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Located on the exclusive Palm Beach. Looks lovely!

Fontein Caves, Aruba

2010-10-03T12:05:00.003-04:00

Fontein Caves, Aruba, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Very cool! A card from Arikok National Park in Aruba! From the back: "The Fontein Cave is the most popular of the caves in Aruba as it is the only one that has the drawings of Arawak Indians on the ceilings, providing a real sense of island history to this cave."

Oranjestad, Aruba

2010-10-03T12:05:00.001-04:00

Oranjestad, Aruba, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this street-level view, showing Lloyd G. Smith Boulevard in the middle of Oranjestad, Aruba's capitol. The street, or so we are told, is lines with many enjoyable restaurants, shops, cafes, and casinos.

Willemstad, Curacao

2010-10-03T12:04:00.003-04:00

Willemstad, Curacao, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

What a lovely place this looks to be!

Curacao

2010-10-03T12:04:00.001-04:00

Curacao, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

No text on the rear; just a lovely image.

Curacao

2010-10-03T12:03:00.003-04:00

Curacao, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This looks like a great place to visit :)

Punda, Otrobanda, Curacao

2010-10-03T12:03:00.001-04:00

Punda, Otrobanda, Curacao, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

From the back of the card: "Harbour entrance with view of Governor's Palace, Queen Emma Bridge (swinging old lady), and Queen Wilhelmina Bridge."

From a website I found: "Curaçao is one of the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles in the Caribbean. It is located 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela, 42 miles east of Aruba, and 30 miles west of Bonaire. Curaçao is the largest of the five islands and the government of the Netherlands Antilles is located here. The island is about 62 km long and 14 km wide (4 km at its narrowest point in the middle of the island). About 150.000 people live on the island. The local language is Papiamentu (or Papiamento), the official language is Dutch, and English and Spanish are widely spoken. Curaçao is an island with many small and beautiful beaches surrounded by clear and refreshing water." (This text was written by someone who lived on the island ~~ see the rest of the informative text here: www.narin.com/curacao/index.html.)

Horseshoe Bend Colorado River

2010-10-03T08:59:00.001-04:00

Horseshoe Bend Colorado River, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is a very cool and beautiful image!

Route 66, Main Street of America

2010-10-03T08:58:00.001-04:00

Route 66, Main Street of America, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"From beneath the trees in Chicago's Grant Park, historic Route 66 takes in the beauty of the heartland, the plains, and the desert southwest, before coming to rest on the edge of the Pacific Ocean."

A few interesting factoids from the Internets:

--One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926.

--The famous highway originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, before ending at Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles (3,940 km).

--Route 66 underwent many improvements and realignments over its lifetime, changing its path and overall length. Many of the realignments gave travelers faster or safer routes, or detoured around city congestion. One realignment moved the western endpoint farther west from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.

--US 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985[3] after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been replaced by the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway of the name "Historic Route 66". It has begun to return to maps in this form.

Get your kicks on Route 66!

Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona

2010-10-03T08:53:00.001-04:00

Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"Laughlin is a growing gaming community, located along the banks of the Colorado River, and a booming vacation spot that features first class hotels and casinos, excellent fishing sites and some of the finest golf courses in the area."

Cactus Bloom

2010-10-03T08:52:00.001-04:00

Cactus Bloom, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

So pretty! The strawberry hedgehog, cholla, beavertail prickly pear, organ pipe, sagauro, and claret cups.

Sedona, Arizona and the Sedona Vortexes

2010-10-03T08:44:00.003-04:00

Sedona, Arizona, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

What is that very interesting building in the rocks? A quick search on Sedona online shows that it is the Chapel of the Holy Cross, one of the area's best tourist attractions. I'd sure like to visit!

Here's what Wiki has to say about the interesting structure:

"The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic chapel built into the mesas of Sedona, Arizona, which was inspired and commissioned by sculptor Marguerite Brunswig Staude, student of Frank Lloyd Wright. The chapel was completed in 1956. The American Institute of Architects gave the Chapel its Award of Honor in 1957. In the sculptor's words, “Though Catholic in faith, as a work of art the Chapel has a universal appeal. Its doors will ever be open to one and all, regardless of creed, that God may come to life in the souls of all men and be a living reality.” In 2007 Arizonans voted the Chapel to be one of the Seven Man-Made Wonders of Arizona, and it is also the site of one of the so-called Sedona vortexes. The Chapel is one of the main tourist attractions in the Sedona area."

I also had to look up vortexes, to see what that was all about. Here's what I learned from About.com: "In Sedona vortexes are created, not by wind or water, but from spiraling spiritual energy. The vortexes of Sedona are named because they are believed to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, mediation and healing. Vortex sites are believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions. The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person’s inner self. It is not easily explained. Obviously it must be experienced." Hmmmm.......

Sedona, Arizona

2010-10-03T08:44:00.001-04:00

Sedona, Arizona, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This looks so strange to me, an east coaster familiar with oceans, palm trees and mountains :)

This is the view from Bell Rock. "Sedona attracts artists, naturalists, outdoors enthusiasts and connoisseurs who have discovered the red rock experience and the abundance of things to do and see at the base of the Mogollon Rim."

Organ Pipe Cactus

2010-10-03T08:43:00.003-04:00

Organ Pipe Cactus, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is really cool. My son loves cacti, so I know he'd love to see something like this in person. From the card: "The organ pipe cactus is susceptible to frost damage, which kills the tips of its branches. The afflicted branches cease any further vertical growth but new branches are started from the ground level."

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

2010-10-03T08:43:00.001-04:00

Goblin Valley State Park, Utah, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Isn't that a strange name for a park -- Goblin Valley?!?

Gregory Butte

2010-10-03T08:42:00.001-04:00

Gregory Butte, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A rock formation in Lake Powell

Delicate Arch

2010-10-03T08:41:00.003-04:00

Delicate Arch, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

On a sandstone mountain. The arch is 65 feet wide by 85 feet high. Wow!

Snow in Bryce Canyon National Park

2010-10-03T08:41:00.001-04:00

Snow in Bryce Canyon National Park, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

To this lover of snow, the view is so lovely!

Grand Staircase, Escalante National Monument

2010-10-03T08:40:00.003-04:00

Grand Staircase, Escalante National Monument, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Spooky Gulch, so named for its weird shapes and forms.

Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon National Park

2010-10-03T08:40:00.001-04:00

Inspiration Point, Bryce Canyon National Park, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Beautiful!!!

The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah

2010-10-03T08:39:00.005-04:00

The Subway, Zion National Park, Utah, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Excavated by the Virgin River eons ago, Zion Canyon is a deep cavern in the earth, showcasing fantastic rock formations in concert with water in motion. The Subway is a powerful example of this theme.

Thors Hammer, Bryce Canyon Utah

2010-10-03T08:39:00.003-04:00

Thors Hammer, Bryce Canyon Utah, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Thors Hammer, as viewed from Sunset Point, appears to be sculpted of gold as it greets the sun and begins a brand new day in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Thors Hammer, Bryce Canyon Utah

2010-10-03T08:39:00.001-04:00

Thors Hammer, Bryce Canyon Utah, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Thors Hammer, as viewed from Sunset Point, appears to be sculpted of gold as it greets the sun and begins a brand new day in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Vancouver, British Columbia

2010-09-21T08:49:00.001-04:00

Vancouver, British Columbia, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this awesome aerial view of Vancouver--an official Postcrossing find! We'd like to take the kids to Vancouver, and have been talking about someday flying out to Portland or Seattle for an "urban adventure," and then taking Amtrak up to Vancouver, where we'd stay for a few days.

The trick is to conjure congruence between having the time for such a trip and finding affordable airfare for five to get us out to the Pacific Northwest. Maybe one of these days....

Zurich Rennweg

2010-09-21T08:48:00.001-04:00

Zurich Rennweg, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I absolutely adore this color street scene card, showing a view of Rennweg, a pedestrian/tourist street in the old town of Zürich. According to Wiki, Rennweg was the main street of Zürich in the Middle ages.

Thanks to my sister Maria for this fantastic view of a place I would very much like to visit someday--soon! She picked up this and the batch of cards that follow during her recent trips to the States and to Europe!

Zurich Limmatquai

2010-09-21T08:46:00.005-04:00

Zurich Limmatquai, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Another lovely Zurich card showing yet another popular shopping street: Limmatquai. Look at those mountains in the background!!! Thank you, Maria ... I really want to travel here!

London Houses of Parliament

2010-09-21T08:46:00.003-04:00

London Houses of Parliament, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

My mom and three sisters have all been to London. I would like to visit as well :) This gorgeous night view shows Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and the River Thames.

London, England

2010-09-21T08:46:00.001-04:00

London, England, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Another pretty card with scenes of London!

San Francisco, CA

2010-09-21T08:45:00.003-04:00

San Francisco, CA, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Yet another card from Maria (thank you!) showing the pretty San Francisco with one of its S-T-E-E-P streets and a trolley that, I guess, runs along Van Ness Ave., California and Market Streets :)

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay

2010-09-21T08:45:00.001-04:00

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"Once a Federal Penitentiary, Alcatraz Island is now part of the National Park system and can be visited by tour boats that leave Pier 41 at Fisherman's Wharf."

Another neat card from Maria -- thanks! :)

The crookedest street in the world!

2010-09-21T08:44:00.001-04:00

The crookedest street in the world!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is another really neat card my sister Maria picked up when she was in San Fran. What a neat street! :)

"Colorful hydrangeas line Lombard Street, 'The crookedest street in the world.' This street, paved with red brick, makes eight turns in one block."

Switzerland map card

2010-09-21T08:43:00.005-04:00

Switzerland map card, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Love this map! One of my recent magazines included a map of Switzerland, so I had already been mentally plotting my trip when this card from Maria arrived :) I want to visit Zurich, of course, as well as Lucerne, Lugano, and St. Moritz. Mostly though, I want to hear the languages and explore the streets and visit the churches--and experience the wonders of the Swiss Alps!

My favorite Paris postcard!

2010-09-21T08:43:00.004-04:00

My favorite Paris postcard!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Surprisingly, out of all the tourist cards I have from Paris, this is my favorite because it reflects a little slice of what life would be like were I to visit the city. I imagine myself waking up to the sounds of cars and trucks and people on the street below ... peeking out my window down to the street, seeing the sunshine and getting a rush of excitement about exploring the city! First thing--find a cafe where I could indulge in strong coffee and fresh bread while watching and hearing the lyrical French world go by!

Zurich city map card

2010-09-21T08:42:00.003-04:00

Zurich city map card, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Thanks, Maria!

Zurich, Switzerland

2010-09-21T08:42:00.001-04:00

Zurich, Switzerland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

And here is an aerial view of Zurich -- Switzerland, Schweiz, and Suisse, depending upon your language :)

Multi-view Switzerland with map

2010-09-21T08:41:00.003-04:00

Multi-view Switzerland with map, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I usually don't like multi-view cards, but this one, from Switzerland, the country I most want to visit, is an exception :) It packs a lot of information (and sparks a ton of imagination!) in such a little space. You can see the Matterhorn; a picture from Bern; Mounts Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau; a lovely pier at Lake Lucerne; Zurich from the water--and more :)

By the way, Lake Lucerne (Luzern), means "Lake of the four forested cantons."

Switzerland map card

2010-09-21T08:41:00.001-04:00

Switzerland map card, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A nice colorful card showing what I assume are regions? There is no text on the back to explain. But I still enjoy the card! :)

Stamps on Sendai City card

2010-09-21T08:40:00.001-04:00

Stamps on Sendai City card, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I also love the pretty stamps--especially the heart-shaped stamp!--on the Sendai City card ... thus this extra image :) (Blog readers, the card is coming up next ... I blogged this in the reverse order from which I wrote it!)

Night view of Sendai City

2010-09-21T08:37:00.001-04:00

Night view of Sendai City, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

An official postcrossing card showing Sendai, which the sender explains is very famous for its beautiful green trees. The sender also writes that Sendai is called "The City of the Forest" in Japan.

The card features the night view from the rim of Sendai Castle. Sendai was developed in the 17th century ... today it is home to one million people!

I am always amazed to learn of large cities with over a million people ... and yet I had never heard of them before! I suppose, though, that there are many cities with over a million people ... and the world is a very big place!

Princeton, New Jersey

2010-09-21T08:36:00.003-04:00

Princeton, New Jersey, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

About 45 minutes north from Cinnaminson, NJ, where I spent my most formative years, is Princeton, NJ, home of Princeton University. Maybe I would have gone to Princeton had we stayed in Jersey. Then again, maybe not :) But I love college towns, and this is no exception.

I received this card in a private swap.

From the card: "Princeton lies in central New Jersey and is home to Princeton University, the 4th oldest institution of higher learning in the U.S. During the Revolutionary War, George Washington defeated British troops in a battle at Princeton."

Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey

2010-09-21T08:36:00.001-04:00

Barnegat Lighthouse, New Jersey, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Ah ... this brings back memories of my childhood, when my extended family would stay at Wildwood for two weeks each summer. I remember the boardwalk ... seeing Jaws in the theater (it was scary!) ... listening to Elton John's "Diamond Girl" ... and going out in a boat at Barnegate!

From the card: "Barnegat Light, the second tallest lighthouse in the United States, was commissioned January 1, 1859. The tower light was 165 feet above sea level. It remained a first-class navigational light until August 1927, when the 'Barnegat Lightship' was anchored 8 miles off the coast. The tower's light was reduced over 80 percent, but it was not extinguished until January 1944."

Zion National Park

2010-09-15T21:11:00.001-04:00

Zion National Park, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Another card from my sister Jessie! I really like this card because it points out various features in the park.

On the back it says: "Zion National Park isn't just a collection of cliffs, canyons and slick rock chasms, but a complex and varied natural ecosystem."

American Philatelic Center, Bellefonte, PA

2010-09-15T21:10:00.003-04:00

American Philatelic Center, Bellefonte, PA, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This card appealed to me as 1) a former resident of PA, 2) as a philatelist, and 3) as a collector of both art and architecture cards!

I also scanned the back of the card, which features a very nice Center postmark!

American Philatelic Center, Rear view

2010-09-15T21:10:00.001-04:00

American Philatelic Center, Rear view, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

What a nice crisp, clear postmark!

Southern Bohemia, Czech Republic Map Card

2010-09-15T21:09:00.001-04:00

Aug2__0031, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

From Google Translate:

On the front:

It was not, but only in South Bohemia could be...
Magical South Bohemia, Map Carp James (?)

On the back:

Collectors of postcards with carp, James will get in a fabulous office for every 10 cards slosovatelny coupon. On the autumnal fairy tale in Ceske Budejovichich will be drawn on a collector who will receive a mountain bike brand Anlen.

I'm not sure what this all means, but I am sure thankful for Google Translate, which at least gives me a chance to try to understand :) I am guessing that the fish all over this card is a carp named James :)

Downtown Asheville, North Carolina

2010-09-15T21:08:00.003-04:00

Downtown Asheville, North Carolina, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Love this older art card that shows a reproduction of an original watercolor of downtown Asheville as seen from Charlotte Street and College Street by local artist Ann Vasilik. I have some cards that showcase her work already, so was pleased to be able to add this to my collection!

Table Mountain, Cape Town Views

2010-09-15T21:08:00.001-04:00

Table Mountain, Cape Town Views, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"The cable car soars above Cape Town on its way to the summit of Table Mountain. Top right -- The dassie, or rock hyrax is the closest living relative of the elephant. Bottom left - King Protea, South Africa's national flower."

Wow -- not only is that a great view over Cape Town, but the dassie?!? I've never heard of such a creature! The photoshopping in this photo makes it look elephant-sized, alright! Wiki tells me that these creatures are known as dassies in South Africa, and sometimes rock rabbits. The Swahili names for them are pimbi, pelele and wibari, though the latter two names are nowadays reserved for the tree hyraxes.

Table Mountain, Cape Town

2010-09-15T21:07:00.005-04:00

Table Mountain, Cape Town, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"The South African national flower, 'Protea Cynaroides' commonly known as the King Protea, is one of 2,285 indigenous plant species found on the Table Mountain chain."

This card is really beautiful, with the white border and the fancy script--not to mention the beautiful flowers! It almost looks like an art card, but the photo comes from the Mark Skinner Image Library.

Printed in Cape Town.

Volendam, The Netherlands

2010-09-15T21:07:00.003-04:00

Volendam, The Netherlands, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is another cool multi-view, showing the neat, historical area of Voldendam, in North Holland. When reading about it, I was intrigued to learn that only maybe 50 people today wear the traditional costume of Volendam on the streets--and they are mostly elderly people.

I also found a very cool website that shows the different costumes of the different Dutch regions: www.octulipfestival.com/provinces.htm. You'll see the costume of Volendam on there, too!

Pastis Brasserie & Wine Bar, Hartford CT

2010-09-15T21:07:00.001-04:00

Pastis Brasserie & Wine Bar, Hartford CT, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This looks like it would have been a nice place to unwind and enjoy a meal. I understand that Pastis is closed, now, so this postcard is a piece of Hartford history. I enjoy it because it's an art card! The signature looks to read O'Maxfield '98. O'Maxfield is a fine art photography firm, but I'm not sure which O'Maxfield did the lovely art :)

Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao

2010-09-15T21:04:00.001-04:00

Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

From Wiki: "The Banaue Rice Terraces (Tagalog: Hagdan-hagdang Palayan ng Banawe) are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the "Eighth Wonder of the World" It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rain forests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe."

Another great find from my box of free cards!

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, south africa

2010-09-15T21:03:00.003-04:00

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, south africa, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

View of V&A Waterfront built as part of the old docks below Table Mountain. The waterfront abounds with shops, restaurants, historical buildings and places of entertainment."

What a lovely view card! I usually don't like multi-views, but this card is an exception. Notice the Christmas wreath and festive decorations on the left photo? And the SeaLink Tours sign on the right? Awesome!

Cape Point: Where 2 Oceans Meet

2010-09-15T21:03:00.001-04:00

Cape Point: Where 2 Oceans Meet, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I love this view and the idea of two oceans meeting at Cape Point, South Africa. "Sheer cliffs at the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean ... with the warmer waters of the Indian Ocean."

Published in Johannesburg.

The text is also printed in Afrikaans: Steil hange waar die Atlantiese Oseaan die warmer waters van die Indiese Oseaan ontmoet.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

2010-09-15T21:02:00.003-04:00

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Somehow, a part of me is saddened to post all of these wonderful cards when I haven't actually been to the places pictured!

For example, Victoria Falls, also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders. When will I ever get to Zimbabwe?!? I'll be lucky to get to Europe, much less Africa. Well, maybe some day ... I can never stop hoping!