Russia MAXICARD - Traditional Deli

Thank to Olga for the card.

RUSSIA - Church of the Assembly of the Virgin

Kostroma. Church of the Assembly of the Virgin from the village of Kholm, 1552.

The card was printed in USSR in 1980. Thanks to Elena for the great card.

RUSSIA - View of an Ancient Russia City. A Maksimov

Thanks to Nastya for the card.

MASSACHUSETTS - Hammond Castle Museum

 Thanks to Bethany for the card.

"Hammond Castle Museum is a unique treasure on the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts. It was constructed between the years 1926 to 1929, by inventor John Hays Hammond, Jr. to serve as his residence. Its architectural style is that of a medieval castle, and was custom built to encompass his private collection of artifacts spanning from ancient Rome through the Renaissance. Visitors are welcome to explore the many rooms of the castle with its medieval architecture and artifacts, as well as enjoy the beauty of the castle grounds and view of the Atlantic shore line. In addition, the Museum offers a number of educational programs and prearranged tour opportunities for school and tour groups."

POLAND - Greetings from Krakow

Thanks to my dear Angie for the meet-up card.

RUSSIA - Kizhi

Thanks to Alla for the card. 

RUSSIA - Irkutsk

Thanks to Natasha for the card.

"Irkutsk is the administrative center of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, and one of the largest cities in Siberia. Many distinguished Russians were sent into exile in Irkutsk for their part in the Decembrist revolt of 1825, and the city became an exile-post for the rest of the century. Some of the fine wooden houses still survive, contrasting with the dominant Soviet architecture. When the railway reached Irkutsk, it had earned the nickname of "The Paris of Siberia." The city saw bitter fighting in the Russian Civil War of 1918–20, and then became a major centre of aircraft manufacture."

CHINA - Childhood on Loess Plateau

Thanks to Mario for the car

"Loess Plateau, Chinese (Pinyin) Huangtu Gaoyuan or (Wade-Giles romanization) Huang-t’u Kao-yüan, highland area in north-central China, covering much of Shanxi, northern Henan, Shaanxi, and eastern Gansu provinces and the middle part of the Huang He (Yellow River) basin. Averaging about 4,000 feet (1,200 metres) in elevation and covering some 154,000 square miles (400,000 square km), it is the world’s largest loess plateau. The region is overlain by a mantle of fine-grained, wind-deposited, yellowish alluvium known as loess, which is also carried in suspension by the Huang He. The loess layers average 165–260 feet (50–80 metres) in thickness and mask the detailed relief of the underlying surfaces. The loess is highly subject to erosion because of sparse vegetation, heavy precipitation in summer, and gullying."

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CHINA - Girl

Thanks to Chen for the card.

GERMANY - I bought you a bouquet!

Thanks to Monica for the card.

FINLAND - The Lapps

Thanks to Kati for the card.

"The Lapps, or Sämi as they prefer to be called, reside in a vast area of land that is nearly 400,000 square kilometers and crosses the boundaries of four countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Russia. They are the oldest known inhabitants of Finland. The Sämi are in the minority in each of these countries and are often faced with discrimination. Their territory once extended even farther to the south, but as the rest of the world’s population grew and moved closer to the Sämi, they retreated farther north. To the Sämi, the name “Lapp” is derogatory."

MACAU - Macau Street

Thanks to Vincent for the card.

TAIWAN - Cat

TAIWAN - Walking

Thanks to Iling for the card.

HONG KONG - City Roof

Thanks to Chok Lam for the card.

BRITAIN- Rochester Castle

Thanks to Elaine for the card.

"Rochester Castle located in Kent, England, was first constructed shortly after 1066 CE by the Normans, was converted into stone between 1087 and 1089 CE, and then added to over subsequent centuries, notably between 1127 and 1136 CE, and again in the mid-14th century CE. The imposing castle keep or donjon seen today was added in the 12th century CE and is one of the best-preserved and tallest of any medieval castle. Odo of Bayeux, half-brother of William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087 CE), was a famous resident as well as the bishops of Rochester. In 1215 CE Rochester was the scene of a major siege by King John of England (r. 1199-1216 CE) when rebel barons temporarily took over the castle. Today the site is managed by English Heritage and is an important surviving example of 12th-century CE castle architecture." Source

CHINA - Mazu Temple

Thanks for the card.

JAPAN -Chidorigafuchi Moat during cherry blossom season

Chidorigafuchi Moat during cherry blossom season.   Thanks to Hiroki for the card.

INDIA - Victoria Terminus, Bombay

 Thanks to Canute for the card.

"Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (officially Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus) also known by its former name Victoria Terminus, is a historic terminal train station and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. 

The terminus was designed by British born architectural engineer Frederick William Stevens, in an exuberant Italian Gothic style. Its construction began in 1878, in a location south of the old Bori Bunder railway station, and was completed in 1887, the year marking 50 years of Queen Victoria's rule, the building being named, Victoria Terminus. 

The station's name was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (station code CST) in March 1996 to honour Shivaji, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire, whose name is often preceded by Chhatrapati, a royal title. In 2017, the station was again renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (code CSTM), where Maharaj is also a royal title. However, both the former initials "VT" and the current, "CST", are commonly used."

RUSSIA - OPHELIA by Konstantin Makovsky

 Thanks to Oksana for the card.