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.

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."

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."

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

RUSSIA - OPHELIA by Konstantin Makovsky

 Thanks to Oksana for the card.

UNITED KINGDOM- The Holy Island of Lindisfarne

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne. One of the most important centers of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England. Founded by St Aidan in AD  635, the causeway floods at high sea, check tide times before crossing.

Thanks to Gill for the card.

 

GERMANY - My Sea

 Thanks to Martin for the card.

GERMANY - Sanssouci Castle in Potsdam

 Thanks to Carmelo for the card.

Sanssou"ci was the summer palace of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, in Potsdam, near Berlin. It is often counted among the German rivals of Versailles. While Sanssouci is in the more intimate Rococo style and is far smaller than its French Baroque counterpart, it too is notable for the numerous temples and follies in the park. The palace was designed/built by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff between 1745 and 1747 to fulfill King Frederick's need for a private residence where he could relax away from the pomp and ceremony of the Berlin court. The palace's name emphasises this; it is a French phrase (sans souci), which translates as "without concerns", meaning "without worries" or "carefree", symbolising that the palace was a place for relaxation rather than a seat of power."

RUSSIA - St Petersburg

 Thanks to Yuliya for the card.

GERMANY - Schlosser

 Thanks to Ilona for the card.

 

RUSSIA - Yaroslavl

Thanks to Tanya for the card.

"Yaroslavl is the largest and oldest (founded 1010) city on the Golden Ring, a fact underscored by its place of honour on the Russian 1000-rouble note (including the 15-domed church of John the Baptist on the back). Embraced by two rivers, the mighty Volga and the smaller Kotorosl, Yaroslavl’s centre is dotted with onion domes like no other place in Russia. This religious zeal dates back to the times of Kyivan Rus, when the town was founded by Prince Yaroslav to guard his realm’s northeastern flank."

RUSSIA - Sergey Sochivko "Holiday Morning"

Thanks to Oksana for the card.

GERMANY - Berlin

Thanks to Carola for the card.

"Berlin, capital and chief urban centre of Germany. The city lies at the heart of the North German Plain, athwart an east-west commercial and geographic axis that helped make it the capital of the kingdom of Prussia and then, from 1871, of a unified Germany. Berlin’s former glory ended in 1945, but the city survived the destruction of World War II. It was rebuilt and came to show amazing economic and cultural growth."

NETHERLANDS - Illustration

Thanks to Jeffrey for the card.

POLAND - Polish Mountain

 Thanks to Merta for the card.