Leipzig of Germany

The postcard shows a piece of Leipzig's city center. 

Leipzig is the largest city in the federal state of Saxony, Germany. 

Leipzig is derived from the Slavic word Lipsk which means "settlement where the lime trees stand. In 1937, under the ruler of Nazi government, the city was then renamed as Reichsmessestadt Leipzig. 

Ten Tips to Think Positively & Positive Things will Happen

I definitely like the quote of this postcard send by Jana of Deutschland (Germany). 

“See the positive side, the potential, and make an effort.” ~Dalai Lama

Here are the ten things that I've learned here to shift my focus to positive thoughts :

1. Meditate or do yoga

2. Smile

3. Surround yourself with Positive People

4. Change the tone of your thought from negative to positive

5. You create your own life. It is always a way out.

6. Help someone

7. No one is perfect, so do I. 

8. Sing (but I prefer doodling) 

9. Check back your gratitude list. Do not have it ? Create one now.

10. Read positive quotes. There will come to you, just ask. 

Lighthouse @ Cape Arkona, Germany

Lighthouses are not only landmarks of the coastal landscape, they symbolize for many people in a special way, the romantic notions of sea, wind and waves. Also on the Baltic Sea are beacons longing places: surrounded by the nature reserve of Cape Arkona (a 45-metre-high cape on the island of Rügen in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany). 

Cologne Cathedral and Romanic churches

Dom und Altstadt von Koln

Cologne Cathedral and the old town

A beautiful night panorama view postcard sent by Elke, Germany. 

The magnificent Cologne Cathedral hovers above the roofs and chimneys of the city. 

Alongside the Cathedral and museum, there are twelve Romanic churches which are also the main cultural highlights of Cologne. The Golden Chamber of St Ursula is amongst one of mystical and creepy. Golden Chamber (a small room at the left hand side of entrance) is filled with the brim with bones and skulls, which is said that these are bones of the 11000 virgins and St.Ursula herself.  

Photo Credit : Oh Ursula by Jessice Straus

Gustav Klimt's art work

So glad to receive this beautiful artwork postcard from Jessica of Germany. 
Jessica send me the 'Lady with Fan' , a gorgeous paintwork of Gustav Klimt (1862 – 1918) who was an Austrian symbolism painter. 

Frau mit Fächer 1917As in Wally and Girlfriends II this half portrait of a young lady shows an awesome background with Asiatic ornaments. The lady wears a dress in the style of a kimono imprinted with motives of a Chinese dragon dress.  

  

A place to go in my plan to visit Vienna, one day :) 

Quedlinburg, Germany

Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the Land of Sachsen-Anhalt, was a capital of the East Franconian German Empire at the time of the Saxonian-Ottonian ruling dynasty. 

It has been a prosperous trading town since the Middle Ages. 

In 1994 the medieval court and the old town were included on the UNESCO world heritage list. The number and high quality of the timber-framed buildings make Quedlinburg an exceptional example of a medieval European town. 

The Collegiate Church of St Servatius is one of the masterpieces of Romanesque architecture.

Royal Castle Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle, royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, the most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig, who grew up nearby at Hohenschwangau Castle.

The entire facade of the castle was covered with slabs of limestone. This material was found in Alterschrofen near Swan Lake (Swansee). The supporting walls were built of brick

Historisches Leipzig

Leipzig is derived from the Slavic word Lipsk, which means "settlement where the lime trees (American: linden trees) stand".

Loreley, Burg Rheinfels, Burg Maus, Burg Katz

Loreley
The Lorelei (also spelled Loreley)is a rock on the eastern bank of the Rhine near St. Goarshausen, Germany, which soars some 120 metres above the waterline. It marks the narrowest part of the river between Switzerland and the North Sea. A very strong current and rocks below the waterline have caused many boat accidents there.


Burg Rheinfels
Burg Rheinfels is a castle ruin located in Sankt Goar, Germany overlooking the Rhine river. It was started in 1245 by Count Diether V of Katzenelnbogen and was partially destroyed by French Revolutionary Army troops in 1797. It is the largest castle overlooking the Rhine, and historically covered five times its current area.


Burg Maus
Burg Maus (meaning Mouse Castle in German) is a castle above the village of Wellmich (part of Sankt Goarshausen) in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It lies on the east side of the Rhine, north of Burg Katz (Cat Castle) in Sankt Goarshausen and opposite Burg Rheinfels at Sankt Goar across the river.Burg Maus was never destroyed, though it fell into disrepair in the 16th and 17th centuries.


Burg Katz
Burg Katz is a castle above the German town of St. Goarshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate. The magnificent setting for the castle is on a ledge overlooking the Rhine. It was first built around 1371 by Count Wilhelm II of Katzenelnbogen. The castle was bombarded in 1806 and was re-built between 1896 - 98.
It is now privately owned, and not open for visitors.

Tags: Loreley | Burg Rheinfels | Burg Maus | Burg Katz

UNESCO : Bamberg

Heather Forrey send me this beautiful postcard.

She wrote on the postcard, " From the 10th century onwards, this town bacame an important link for the Slav people, especially those of Poland and Pomerania. During its period of greatest prosperity, from the 12th century onwards, the architecture of Bamberg strongly influenced by northern Germany and Hungary. In the late 18th century it was the centre of the Enlightenment in southern Germany, with eminent philosophers and writers such as Hegel and Hoffmann living there.

Weimar

Weimar is a city in Germany mostly known for its cultural heritage. The oldest records about Weimar date back to the year 899. Its name changed over the centuries from "Wimares" through "Wimari" to "Wimar" and finally "Weimar" (sainted marsh).

Don't forget to enter your name in my postcards giveaway here.

BONN am Rhein

Iuara send me this multiview card from Bonn.

Bonn is a nice & beautiful city.


I manage to surf for a Travel brochure "Bonn am Rhein," circa 1935. Published by the "Städtischen Verkehramt Bonn." Signed "Jupp Wiertz," printed by "Hch. Ludwig, Bonn."

Regensburg an der Donau

There is not much information can be found in either google or yahoo search about this Stone Bridge.

The text on the back of the postcard saids,
" Die Steinerne brucke ist ein meisterwerk mittelalterlicher Bruckenbaukunst ; uber eine Lange von 310m markierte diese einst die Grenze zwischen Bayern und der Freistadt Regensburg. Den wohl eindrucksvollsten Ausblick auf die Stadt hat man von hier aus. Die Steinbogenbrucke wurde Vorbild fur viele Brucken ihrer Zeit, so z.B. di'e Elbbrucke in Dresden und die Moldaubrucke in Prag."


And with the help of Google Translation

The Stone Bridge is a masterpiece of medieval architecture, Bruck, about a length of 310m, this once marked the border between Bavaria and the free city of Regensburg. Probably the most impressive views of the city one gets out of here. The stone arch bridge was modeled for many bridges of their time, such as The Elbbrucke in Dresden and the Vltava River Bridge in Prague.

I learned some Germany language today :)

Christmas Postcard from Germany

Janina from Germany so kind to send me a Christmas postcard.

She is Malaysian-Chinese living in Germany. How cool was that !

Thank you !

Wish all of you a Merry Christmas !

Post from Christkind

Last month, I was sending postcard to Petra Krista (via postcrossing),Engelskirchen of Germany. In her profile , she wrote that

" In our hometown Engelskirchen (church of angels), we have one of the special christmas offices in Germany, in x-mas time you can write your christmas wishes to our x-mas-Child (looks like an angel):

* Christkind, DE-51777 Engelskirchen

and your letter and wishes will be answered. Last year we had round about 100.000 letters from children and adults from all over the world.

Perhaps you like to try it ? "

YES. I tried to send one. And about 1 month later, I've received the reply from Angel.



The German post office on the occasion of the Christmas angel city based on 5 December 2009.

I've received the postcard (WHoaa, not 1 but 4 in one row).

(love them all)

(In German lore, the Christkind, or Christmas Angel leaves presents under the tree on Christmas Eve.)

and letter

Oops... The letter was in Germany language. (Can someone help ?)

(Edited : Thank you to Christine H. from The Daily Postcard help me in translate this sweet letter. Thank you thank you. )

Dear earth child,

It’s almost that time again: the sky is getting dark and everywhere around the world glittering dust clouds decorate the sky for a brief moment. Do you know what I mean? Yes, exactly, Christmas Eve. Followed by my angels I hover about and bring gifts to all dear children.
Before that I always have much to do in my office in Engelkirchen. Actually, I live there the whole year with my busy little angels in the heavenly workshop. But at Christmastime, we come down to earth in order to answer all of your beautifully designed letters that the nice postman brings me every day.
Wish lists from all over the world arrive this way. There are so many that I require the assistance of many little angels and postal workers to make sure I can answer them before Christmas Eve.
Surrounded by the fragrance of freshly baked Christmas cookies and beautifully decorated Christmas trees, we sit down and read the letters. Every now and then we nibble on delicious Cinnamon stars and bite into red candied apples. Finally, in soft candlelight we affix the stamps and mark them with our signature cancellation.
Maybe you have noticed the lucky magic cloud that escaped from this letter. I enclosed it just for you. It will protect you and up above it will help make your wishes come true.
Dear earth child, I wish you and your family a happy and magical Christmas with lots of presents and especially tasty treats. I’m already looking forward to your letter next year.

Yours,

Christchild

Happy PFF !

Tags: Engelskirchen | Christkind | Christmas Angel | Christmas Postcard

PFF : Mask Carnival

Postcards about Mask Carnival always on top my wishlist.
Thank you to Eleua from Italy and Hiltrud I. Warntjen from Germany send me the postcards.

What make me so impressed about this Carnival is I can't imagine how 'crazy' and fun carnival was celebrated and wonder whom was behind the beautiful mask, full of myterious.

The mask in the city of Venice has ancient origins and was used for many months of the year. Masks were allowed from the day of Santo Stefano, which marked the start of the Venetian carnival, to midnight of Shrove Tuesday which marked the end. (Naturally, they were forbidden on days of religious festivals).

The oldest document pertaining to the use of masks in Venice dates back to 2nd May 1268. In the document it is written that it was forbidden for masqueraders to practice the game of the "eggs".


Read more about the impressive mask carnival here.

Venice Carnival 2010 will be held on Feb 6 - 16th.

Do visit others postcard fans on Marie Reed's Postcard Friendship Friday.

UNESCO ~ Essen

Zollverein is the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in Essen is the symbol of the whole region, an ”Industrial Heritage Cathedral“ and an impressive example of what the city of Essen has planned for its celebrations as the European Cultural Capital in 2010: ”Change through Culture – Culture through Change“.

It's a coal mine in the Western part of Germany.

Thank you to Hexentrio to send this in UNESCO RR #27.

Tags: Essen | UNESCO | Zollverein

Hamburg of Germany

Hamborg is the second-largest city in Germany (after Berlin) and the sixth-largest city in the European Union.

Hamburg's official name is the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.

Today, the harbor ranks second in Europe and sixth to seventh world-wide. Consequently, one of Hamburg's tag lines is "The Gate to the World". Hamburg is known to be one of the richest metropolitan area in the European Union, like Bruxelles and London.

Something light and easy

Postcard from Krabbenkind, Germany

Map Postcard ~ Der Bodensee

Der Bodensee

Unter der Bezeichnung Bodensee fasst man die drei im nördlichen Alpenvorland liegenden Gewässereinheiten Obersee, Untersee und Seerhein zusammen. Es handelt sich also um zwei selbständige Seen (Stillgewässer) und einen sie verbindenden Fluss (Fließgewässer).

Under the name Lake summarizes the three Alpine foothills in the northern waters lying Obersee units, submarine and Seerhein together. So it is two separate lakes (Still Waters) and a river connecting them (riverine).

According to postcard,
"The Lake of Constance is about 1300ft above sea level.
Total surface about 208sq.miles.
Coastline about 162 miles.
Maximum length about 40miles (Bregenz - Bodman).
Maximum width about 9 miles (Rorschach - Langenargen).
Maximum depth about 830 ft."


The Seespiegelschwankungen of Lake Constance, which - as everyone knows, the lake can observe an extended period of time - in the course of a year varies greatly: In February, the lowest water level, because a large portion of the water as snow in the Alps is bound. In the spring the lake will rise quickly, because the snow melts in the Alps. It is usually in June / July reached the maximum. Significant fluctuations is also the annual average height of the lake. Obvious is that with the level of the lake area also varies: the higher the water, the greater the lake.


The postcard send from Klaus (one of the post crosser).
Thank you so much.

But unfortunately, one of the corner of the postcard torn off during transmit :(
I'm so sad about it.

Tags: Der Bodensee | Lake Constance | Germany postcard