016 POLAND - Ustka

Ustka is a Polish city, located in the north of Poland. It's connected to the Baltic Sea. Since the postcard shows more than one picture, I can describe the pictures.

1.) This part shows the beautiful Baltic sunset with a small fisher boat and gulls which are waiting for food.
2.) Ustka has two long sand beaches and this is one of them, where a lot of tourists like to go when it's warm in the sommer.
3.) Ustka and its old houses.
4.) Ustka has a very old  harbour where you can rent a boat or just ride one.
5.) The old city center.
6.) the Baltic Sea
7.) Harbour again

About the sender

Ania (postcrossing) sent from Radomsko (Poland) on 03.09.2013

015 INDIA - Howrah Railway Station

This postcard shows the Howrah Railway Station in Kolkata. This city is located in the very East corner of India, next to the border to Bangladesh. It's one of India's biggest cities with around 4,5 Mio. inhabitants. The Howrah station is India's largest station by area. Its sheer size and awe-inspiring train handling capacity are unmatched in India. Howrah is situated on the West bank of the Hooghly river, linked to Kolkata by the magnificent Howrah bridge which is an icon of Kolkata. It's the oldest station and the largest railway complex in India.

These taxis in front of the railway station are the lifeline of the people living in this city. The color is unique and the car model is "Ambassador" made by "Hindustan Motors". Hindustan Motors is one of the three oldest Indian automobile manufacturers. It was found in 1942 and they are still producing until today. The model Ambassador has a cult status in India.

About the sender

Rizwan Shaikh (direct swap) sent from Dharwad (India) on  26.08.2013

014 RUSSIA - Varvarka Street

This postcard shows the Varvarka Street, located in the centre of Moscow. Moscow is Russia's capital city and it's located in the the european part of Russia.

Moscow is with around 11,55 Million inhabitants Russia's biggest city. It's the political, but also the cultural centre of the country with lots of churches, museums, parks and galeries. Moscow is also the centre of the Russian-orthodox church.

About the sender

Helena (postcrossing) sent from Moscow (Russia) on 20.08.2013

013 INDONESIA - Prambanan Temple Compounds (WHS)

Located on the Indonesian island Java, Prambanan Temple is the biggest hindu temple in South-East Asia. The rebuilding of this huge temple compound was started in 1918 and is not finished until today. In 2007, a big earthquake destroyed most of this temple complex, but the Indonesian government decided to rebuild this temple since it is a UNESCO-WHS since 1991. 

Built in the 10th century, this is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Rising above the centre of the last of these concentric squares are three temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the epic of the Ramayana, dedicated to the three great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and three temples dedicated to the animals who serve them.

About the sender

Ayu Supriadi (direct swap), sent from Yogyakarta (Indonesia) on 19.8.2013.

012 CZECH REPUBLIC - Kutná Hora (WHS)

Located in the centre of the Czech Republic, Kutná Hora has been one the richest and most activ cities in Bohemia behind Prague which is located around 70km West of Kutná Hora. 

Kutná Hora developed as a result of the exploitation of the silver mines. In the 14th century it became a royal city endowed with monuments that symbolized its prosperity. The Church of St Barbara, a jewel of the late Gothic period, and the Cathedral of Our Lady at Sedlec, which was restored in line with the Baroque taste of the early 18th century, were to influence the architecture of central Europe. These masterpieces today form part of a well-preserved medieval urban fabric with some particularly fine private dwellings.

The main attraction in the UNESCO-WHS is Church of St. Barbara since it's known as one of the most amazing gothic churches in Europe. The Bohemians started building this cathedral in 1388 and they finally finished it in 1905 after more than 500 years. 

About the sender

Karolína Sejnová (direct swap) sent from Dobris (Czech Republic) on 26.08.2013

011 AUSTRIA - City of Graz - Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg (WHS)

Graz is located in Sout-Eastern Austria, only 150km South of Vienna and around 60km North of Slovenia. Graz is with around 270 000 inhabitants the biggest city behind Vienna. In the roman empire, Graz has been a popular agricultural city. 

The City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg bear witness to an exemplary model of the living heritage of a central European urban complex influenced by the secular presence of the Habsburgs and the cultural and artistic role played by the main aristocratic families. They are a harmonious blend of the architectural styles and artistic movements that have succeeded each other from the Middle Ages until the 18th century, from the many neighbouring regions of Central and Mediterranean Europe. They embody a diversified and highly comprehensive ensemble of architectural, decorative and landscape examples of these interchanges of influence.

About the stamp

The stamp shows the country Austria and where it is located in Europe.

About the sender

Susula Unfried (direct swap), sent from Vienna (Austria) on 04.09.2013

010 CZECH REPUBLIC - Historic Centre of Prague

Prague is the Czech capital and the largest city in the Czech Republic. The city is located in almost the centre of the Czech Republic. Prague has been the centre of the Holy Roman Empire over centuries and it had also the first Eastern university, found in 1348. Prague has been a multicultural city with Bohemian (Czech), German and Jewish inhabitants who respected and influenced each other.

Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town speak of the great architectural and cultural influence enjoyed by this city since the Middle Ages. The many magnificent monuments, such as Hradcani Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and numerous churches and palaces, built mostly in the 14th century under the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV.

About the stamp

The stamp shows the flower Iris (25Kc).

About the sender

Luca Sebe-Tebe (direct swap) sent from Prague (Czech Republic) on 28.08.2013

009 BULGARIA - Rila Monastery (WHS)

Rila monastery is located in South-Western Bulgaria and is surrounded by mountains. It's around 120 km South of Bulgaria's capital, Sofia and in the middle of the Rila mountains, 1147m above sea level. 

Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation.

About the sender

Irina Kalcheva (direct swap), sent from Sofia (Bulgaria) on 28.08.2013

008 Austria - Historic Centre of Vienna (WHS)

Located in the North-Eastern corner of Austria, Vienna is the biggest city in Austria. Vienna developed from early Celtic and Roman settlements into a Medieval and Baroque city, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It played an essential role as a leading European music centre, from the great age of Viennese Classicism through the early part of the 20th century. The historic centre of Vienna is rich in architectural ensembles, including Baroque castles and gardens, as well as the late-19th-century Ringstrasse lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

The Burgtheater (engl: Court theatre) is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and the second oldest theatre in Europe. The old theatre was created in 1741. 1945, the Burgtheater was largely destroyed in a bombing raid and one month later, it was further damaged by a fire of unknown origin. After the war, the theatre was restored between 1953 and 1955.


About the stamp

The Porsche 356 Nr. 1 "Gmünd" (0,70€)

About the sender

Nina Kramlinger (direct swap), sent from Vienna (Austria) on 30.08.2013

007 GERMANY - 2CV Citroen

The Citroen 2CV was an economy car produced by the French car manufacturer Citroen between 1948 and 1990. It was technologically advanced and innovative, but with uncompromisingly utilitarian unconventional looks and deceptively simple Bauhaus and Junkers early all metal aircraft inspired bodywork that belied the sheer quality of its underlying engineering.

It was designed to motorise the large number of small-holder farmers in 1930s France, who were still using horses and carts. It's considered one of Citroen's most ironic cars. During a production run of 42 years between 1948 and 1990, 3,872,583 2CVs were produced. From 1988 onwards, production took place in Portugal (Mangualde) rather than in France. This arrangement lasted two years until 2CV produced halted. Portuguese built cars, especially those from when production was winding down, have a reputation in the UK for being much less well made and more prone to corrosion that those made in France.

About the stamp

50 years of the Elysee Aggrement, first published 2.01.2013 (0,75€)

About the sender

Sarah (postcrossing), sent from Paderborn (Germany) on 06.05.2013