Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Anu Pentik


Anu Pentik, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This beautiful card is one of a set; Pentik is a Finnish manufacturer of handcrafted dishware and other beautiful things!

Lisbon, Portugal


Lisbon, Portugal, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is an offical postcrossing card -- I love it! It's so busy and full of life -- my favorite kind of card!

Zeeland


Zeeland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Native costumes of people in Zeeland, a province in the Netherlands!

Great Smoky Mountains


Great Smoky Mountains, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I picked this card up during one of my rides through Tennessee -- I have extras in my inventory if anyone wants one :) I love the Great Smokies!

Karaj Dam, Iran


Karaj Dam, Iran, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Solomon's Porch


Solomon's Porch, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is Solomon's Porch, a Christian retreat center and the hub of several mission outreaches to Lynch, Kentucky. Lynch is an old coal-mining town that's defunct now; Solomon's Porch is in the building that housed the old hospital.

Harbor View Sunzhuang Garden


Harbor View Sunzhuang Garden, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is an official postcrossing card from China -- I learned that the island here is also known as "the piano island."

Natural Tunnel State Park, Virginia

We stopped at this park on our way home from our mission trip to Kentucky. The Natural Tunnel has been called the eighth wonder of the world. The tunnel is over 850 feet long and is surrounded by rock walls over 400 feet high. Access to the mouth of the tunnel is by trail or chairlift. And trains still use it today!

Giacomo Fountain


Giacomo Fountain, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Lovely! In Italy.

Kingdom Come State Park, Kentucky

My family and I visited here during our mission trip to Kentucky. Beautiful park!

Dragon Tiger Towers


Dragon Tiger Towers, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This beautiful card comes from my penpal Andrea in Taiwan. She said these pagodas are located in the "Love River."

Guardian Angel


Guardian Angel, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is not a postcard either, but a beautiful greeting card from my penpal Marja. I love this so much that I'd like to have a poster of it for my walls! The artist is Minna Kortti, I think.

Map of India


Map of India, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This interesting card shows a map of India at the Botanical Garden in Ooty, India.

Administrative and Cultural Center of Seinajoki, Finland

This card shows the city hall, the church and the wall of the theatre, all designed by Alvar Aalto.

St. Maria's Cathedral, Finland

This is a medieval cathedral in Pohja -- one of my penpal Aila's favorites!

Cross of the Plain


Cross of the Plain, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is inside the church -- the view the priest sees when he is doing his priestly duties :)

Stained Glass


Stained Glass, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is from the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Turku, Finland. My friend Aila tells me that the glass shows St. Henry and the Swedish King and St. Erick and the Holy Virgin Mary. St. Henry was a Finnish apostle. During the middle ages, every Swedish King used to travel around their lands to visit their kingdom. Love this stained glass!

Cross of the Plains Church, Seinajoki, Finland

This is not a postcard. Instead, it is from a brochure sent to me by my penpal Marja in Seinajoki, home of the famous architect Alvar Aalto. His work is beautiful! I especially love this church building! Marja sent this to me after my request for more information about it! This church is marvelous, inside and out. And although I know that God does not dwell in buildings made with human hands, I still am in awe of the talent He has given to man to create such wonders!

Provincial Farmhouse Museum, Finland

The farmhouse of Liinamaa. I just love how simple and beautiful this is. My penpal Marja tells me that the straw mobile hanging from the ceiling is a typical traditional orament.

Fishing Village, Estonia


Fishing Village, Estonia, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Fishing nets are kept in these sheds in Altja, a fishing village in Estonia. Lovely!

The Beatles


The Beatles, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Let It Be. Thanks to my sister Maria for this -- it's a real treasure in my collection :) (I used to love the Beatles; bought my first Beatles album, The Red Album, the very night John Lennon was shot.)

Summer church, Umea, Sweden


Summer church, Umea, Sweden, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

How cute and quaint! I love to see the various places people gather to worship!

Healing Yakei, Tokyo


Healing Yakei, Tokyo, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Another card from the series: "The night scene of seaside city in Tokyo. Ordinary, well-composed. Its shiny lights excites you." :)

Icon of Christ and Mother


Icon of Christ and Mother, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is in the convent of Lintula, in northeastern Finland -- from what my penpal tells me, the only Finnish Orthodox Convent.

Healing Yakei Tokyo


Healing Yakei Tokyo, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

My sister brought me a series of eight of these neat cards. The text on the bottom reads: "The beautiful white night sight. It sublimates your spirit. Be more ambitious; You'll make it!" I love their use of English :)

Naantalin Kirkosta


Naantalin Kirkosta, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Sorry for the poor scan; our scanner doesn't quite know what to do when cards have black borders. Anyway, this is one of the oldest churches in Finland and a former convent. Naantali = vallis gratize = valley of Grace.

Calabria, Rocca Imperiale


Calabria, Rocca Imperiale, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Bisbilhoteca!


Bisbilhoteca!, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I usually don't post ad cards here, but this is an ad card from my penpal Claudia in Brasil! She has just opening a new bookstore specializing in children's books! Awesome!

Melborne, Australia


Melborne, Australia, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Again, this beautiful card goes against what I consider stereotypical Australia -- you know, kangaroos, deserts, the great barrier reef and Crocodile Dundee :) This is a beautiful, colorful card!

Hong Kong


Hong Kong, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This is Johnston Road, Wanchai. The tram service began in 1904 and continues to be a vital part of Hong Kong's transportation system. Today's trams are probably the largest, most inventive collection of moving billboards in the world! Thanks to Ameko for this wonderful card!

Franksten, Australia


Franksten, Australia, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This just doesn't look like the stereotypical Australia. I guess that's why we should work hard NOT to stereotype!

Epcot Center


Epcot Center, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This photo doesn't do this gorgeous silver, shiny postcard justice. I've been to Epcot several times, seeing I lived in Florida for more than 20 years. My mom recently went and got me this postcard :) I'd like to go back with the kids someday.

Hispanic Mexican Ballet


Hispanic Mexican Ballet, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Performing in Old Town, San Diego, California; such beautiful outfits!!

Mission Space: Epcot


Mission Space: Epcot, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

"Feel the full force of a space launch as you blast off on the most intense thrill ride in any Disney Park." Well...I've always wanted to feel what a launch is like, but this might be too intense for me now in my old age :)

Istanbul, Turkey


Istanbul, Turkey, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

Beautiful! What more can I say?!

Convent in Estonia


Convent in Estonia, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This, according to the sender, is the only Russian Orthodox convent in Estonia. Look how neat the buildings are!

Iceland


Iceland, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

I was amazed to get this card as an official postcrossing card! If you like travel essays, read this one called A Morning in Iceland about a long layover in Iceland: www.idlewords.com/2003/11/a_morning_in_iceland.htm. It's fascinating!

Parana, Brasil


Parana, Brasil, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

This card comes from an other continent round robin; beautiful!

Greetings from Manila


Greetings from Manila, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

City view of Ortigas Avenue. As the sender points out, you can see the Robinson's Galleria Mall and Edsa Shrine. An amazing view of a country I will probably never see in person!

Callo Cave, Philippines


Callo Cave, Philippines, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

A series of caves, the most prominent of which looks like a natural cathedral and is used by the town folk for native rituals.

Chichen Itza, Mexico


Chichen Itza, Mexico, originally uploaded by CarolinaRen.

My parents brought this for me from their latest cruise. The Temple of the Warriors, seen here, was once an important site in this ancient Mayan capital.