A Bug's Life

Today was such a lovely postcard in my mailbox. Sent by Mimi, Texas. Thanks! :)

Australia

This cute postcard is sent by Flynt from Australia. Thank you so much :)
Kangaroos look so curious on that card, arent they?:)

Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Polonnaruwa was the medieval capital of Sri Lanka between the 11th and 13th Centuries. Strategically, it commanded all the crossings over the Mahaweli River, Sri Lanka's longest, guarding the increasingly powerful southern province of Ruhuna. In 993 AD, the Cholas, invaders from southern India, looted and burnt Anuradhapura and used Polonnaruwa as their military base for 77 years, resulting in an interesting blend of south Indian Hindu culture and Sinhalese Buddhist art and architecture.

Near the Audience Hall (sometimes called the Council Chamber) is the unidentified structure of the Nissanga Malla, this is made of solid rock and probably held a wooden roof. The building has been held by 48 stone pillars laid in 4 rows. The throne is a massive lion carved in stone. “Throne of the King” is carved at the bottom of the lion figure.
This building has a high importance to the historians as all the pillars are carved with the person’s designation who would sit there.

Thank you, Isuru!:)

Toruń, Poland

Toruń is a city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River, with population over 205,934.
Listed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1997, Toruń has many monuments of architecture beginning from the Middle Ages, including 200 military structures. The city is famous for having preserved almost intact its medieval spatial layout and many Gothic buildings, all built from brick, including monumental churches, the Town Hall and many burgher houses. Toruń, unlike many other historic cities in Poland, avoided significant destruction during World War II. In particular, the Old Town was left intact, so all its important monuments of architecture are original, not reconstructions.

and yes, Dominika...you were right, Toruń is similar to Tallinn:)))
Thank you for sending such a beatiful card!:)

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. As of 2009 the population of the city was 244,250. Scottsdale is regarded as an upscale tourist and shopping destination and as a representation of western American style. The New York Times described downtown Scottsdale as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach" and as having "plenty of late night partying and a buzzing hotel scene".

A lovely postcard from Anne, thank you!:)

Eiffel Tower, Paris

The Eiffel Tower is a 19th century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower, which is the tallest building in Paris,[10] is the single most visited paid monument in the world; millions of people ascend it every year. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch for the 1889 World's Fair.
The tower stands at 324 m (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building. It was the tallest structure in the world from its completion until 1930, when it was eclipsed by the Chrysler Building in New York City. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, behind the Millau Viaduct, completed in 2004. And while the Eiffel Tower is a steel structure, and weighs approximately 10,000 tonnes, it actually has a relatively low density, weighing less than a cylinder of air occupying the same dimensions as the tower.

Thank you Patricia!

Doi Luang Ching Dao, Thailand

Doi Luang Chiang Dao is a limestone mountain in the Chiang Dao Wildlife Reserve area, Amphoe Chiang Dao. This cone-shaped mountain is 2,195 metres from sea level, which makes it the third highest mountain in Thailand after Doi Inthanon and Doi Pha Hom Pok. Narrow plains on top of the mountain overlook spectacular views that include a sea of fog on the Amphoe Chiang Dao side, Doi Sam Phi Nong, the Chiang Dao mountain range, and the far end of Doi Inthanon. The peak is cool and windy. It is full of rare highland flowers, birds, and butterflies.

Thank you Nan for this lovely postcard!

Bulgaria

Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe. Bulgaria borders five other countries: Romania, Serbia, the Republic of Macedonia , Greece and Turkey. The Black Sea defines the extent of the country to the east.
With a territory of 110,994 square kilometers, Bulgaria ranks as the third largest state in Southeast Europe.

I absolutely adore this postcard! thank you so much, Paola! :)))

Belfort, France

Belfort is a town and commune of north-eastern France, préfecture (capital) of the Territoire de Belfort département in the Franche-Comté région. Population approximately 60,000 including suburbs.
It is located on the Savoureuse, on the strategically important natural route between the Rhine and the Rhône - the Belfort Gap or Burgundian Gate .
Belfort is the home of the Lion of Belfort (The colossal work is 22 meters long and 11 meters high and dominates the local landscap), a sculpture by Frédéric Bartholdi expressing people's resistance against the siege in the Franco-Prussian War (1870) — who shortly afterwards built the Statue of Liberty in New York.

This beatiful postcard is sent by Christian, tnx!:)

Can anyone translate the text on stamp to me?:))

Magdeburg, Germany

Magdeburg, the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, is situated at the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe. Emperor Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor, lived during most of his reign in the town and was buried in the cathedral after his death. Magdeburg's version of German town law, known as Magdeburg rights, spread throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The city is also well-known for the 1631 Sack of Magdeburg, which hardened Protestant resistance during the Thirty Years' War. Population 230,140.

Thank you Inge!:)

Ptarmigan

A lovely postcard from Lea, Finland. Thanks:)

Lord Shiva, India

Shiva ( meaning "Auspicious one"), also known as Rudra (the "Feared One") or "'The Destroyer" is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God. In the Smarta tradition, he is one of the five primary forms of God.
Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas (Sanskrit Śaiva). Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Devi are three of the most influential denominations in Hinduism.
Shiva is usually worshipped in the form of Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon Maya, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance.
In some Hindu denominations, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva represent the three primary aspects of the divine, and are collectively known as the Trimurti. In this school of religious thought, Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the maintainer or preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer or transformer.

France

Lovely map card from Louise, France. Thank you so much:)

Meknes, Morocco

Meknes is a city in northern Morocco, located 130 kilometres (81 mi) from the capital Rabat and 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Fes. It is served by the A2 expressway between those two cities and by the corresponding railway. Meknes was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail (1672–1727), before it was relocated to Marrakech. The population is 950,322 (2006 estimate). It is the capital of the Meknes-Tafilalet region. Meknes is named after a Berber tribe which was known as Miknasa in the medieval Arabic sources. Meknes the ismaili capital, founded in the 11th century.
Meknes is a vibrant, modern city bustling with nightlife, restaurants and an impressive royal palace. Since it's relatively ignored by most tourists, it's also free of the usual hassles (touts, faux guides, etc) that plague the other tourist centers.
Meknes is also famous by the delicious olives and fruits farms.
like any other moroccan city, meknes hotels and riads are making of it a jewel.
Life a "fata morgana" (mirage) looming up out of the rock in the heart of the Moroccan countryside, the former royal city of Meknès is yet another unexpected delight this country has to offer. One of Morocco's most beautiful historical cities, its twenty-two kilometres of town wall, monumental gates and the ruins of an immense palatial complex form an impressive and curious backdrop for the meeting point of Morocco's main roads.
The 17th century sultan Moulay Ishmail wanted to create a royal capital here that would rival Versailles. He had an army of bricklayers, black slaves and several hundred captured Christian slaves build 120km of town wall, dream palaces, stables for 12,000 horses, hanging gardens watered by a 4 hectare pond and immense storage sheds. After almost a century of construction, he left one of the most beautiful cities in Moorish-Arabic style in the world.
Meknès was chosen as an UNESCO world legacy of civilization, for its medina and the ruins of the royal palace. A crowd of merchants, fire-eaters and acrobats gather together at dusk, in Place El-Hedime with its huge market. The city has an unforgettable and easy-going medieval ambience. In addition, Meknes has several palaces, spectacular mosques and madrassas behind its fortified walls that feature many grand entrances, and the world famous Bab Mansour.

So many thanks to my lovely friend, Hadib

Sailing-ship, from Netherlands

Unfortunally I do not know the name of this beatiful sailing-ship, if anyone can help me, I would be very pleased:))
This lovely postcard came from Netherlands, thank you so much Willemijn :)