Swanton and Toledo, Ohio

Beautiful Ohio

Happy Postcrossing from the small town of Swanton in northwest Ohio, USA!
Pictured are the University of Toledo Art Building, Swanton caboose, Toledo Museum of Art, Marblehead Lighthouse, Oak Openings Metropark in Swanton,
wintertime in my backyard, summer reflections, Ohio Map, Lake Erie.

postmarked in 2010 with a 28 cent stamp

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Postcrossing:
If you would like to trade postcards from around the world for free (only price is your postcard and stamp) check out my postcrossing link on the right.

Krsko, Slovenia

Krsko, Slovenia

postmarked in 2010 with a Slovenia flower stamp

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Krško is a town and municipality in eastern Slovenia. The town lies on the river Sava.

Slovenia's only nuclear power plant, the Krško Nuclear Power Plant lies to the southeast of the town.

Map of Washington State

Greetings From Beautiful Washington

Washington State
State Capital: Olympia
Admitted to Statehood: November 11, 1889
Highest Elevation: Mount Rainier (14,410 feet)

Illustration by J. Acoba

postmarked in 2010 with two vintage USA stamps:

Benjamin Franklin
Bicentennial 13 c
1776-1976

and

Airmail
1875-1949
The Universal Postal Union
15 cents

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Washington was named after George Washington, the first President of the United States, and is the only U.S. state named after a president. Washington is commonly called Washington State to distinguish it from the District of Columbia. However, Washingtonians (residents of Washington) and many residents of neighboring states normally refer to the state simply as "Washington" while usually referring to the nation's capital as "Washington, D.C." or simply "D.C."

The Coca-Cola Bottle over the Years

The Coca-Cola Botttle

unused, bought in 2009 at the World of Coke in Las Vegas, Nevada

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The famous Coca-Cola bottle, called the "contour bottle" within the company, but known to some as the "hobble skirt" bottle, was created in 1915 by bottle designer Earl R. Dean. In 1915, the Coca-Cola Company launched a competition among its bottle suppliers to create a new bottle for the beverage that would distinguish it from other beverage bottles, "a bottle which a person could recognize even if they felt it in the dark, and so shaped that, even if broken, a person could tell at a glance what it was."

Earl R. Dean's original 1915 concept drawing of the contour Coca-Cola bottle
Chapman J. Root, president of the Root Glass Company, turned the project over to members of his supervisory staff, including company auditor T. Clyde Edwards, plant superintendent Alexander Samuelsson, and Earl R. Dean, bottle designer and supervisor of the bottle molding room. Root and his subordinates decided to base the bottle's design on one of the soda's two ingredients, the coca leaf or the kola nut, but were unaware of what either ingredient looked like. Dean and Edwards went to the Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library and were unable to find any information about coca or kola. Instead, Dean was inspired by a picture of the gourd-shaped cocoa pod in the Encyclopedia Britannica. Dean made a rough sketch of the pod and returned back to the plant to show Mr. Root. He explained to Root how he could transform the shape of the pod into a bottle. Chapman Root gave Dean his approval.

Faced with the upcoming scheduled maintenance of the mold-making machinery, over the next 24 hours Dean sketched out a concept drawing which was approved by Root the next morning. Dean then proceeded to create a bottle mold and produced a small number of bottles before the glass-molding machinery was turned off.
Chapman Root approved the prototype bottle and a design patent was issued on the bottle in November, 1915. The prototype never made it to production since its middle diameter was larger than its base, making it unstable on conveyor belts. Dean resolved this issue by decreasing the bottle's middle diameter. During the 1916 bottler's convention, Dean's contour bottle was chosen over other entries and was on the market the same year. By 1920, the contour bottle became the standard for the Coca-Cola Company. Today, the contour Coca-Cola bottle is one of the most recognized packages on the planet..."even in the dark!".
As a reward for his efforts, Dean was offered a choice between a $500 bonus or a lifetime job at the Root Glass Company. He chose the lifetime job and kept it until the Owens-Illinois Glass Company bought out the Root Glass Company in the mid-1930s.

United States Pentagon

United States Pentagon

Aerial View of United States Pentagon, Potomac River and Washington, D.C.

Photo by R. Foulds

postmarked in 2010 with a USA 28 cent stamp

The sender writes:

The Pentagon is a very interesting building indeed! Above it you can see the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and almost the Capitol Building (the dome is cut off).

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The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia.

Designed by the American architect George Bergstrom (1876–1955), and built by general contractor John McShain, the building was dedicated on January 15, 1943, after ground was broken for construction on September 11, 1941.

The Pentagon is the world's largest office building by floor area, with about 6,500,000 sq ft (604,000 m2), of which 3,700,000 sq ft (344,000 m2) are used as offices. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian employees and about 3,000 non-defense support personnel work in the Pentagon. It has five sides, five floors above ground (plus two basement levels), and five ring corridors per floor with a total of 17.5 miles (28.2 km) of corridors. The Pentagon includes a five-acre (20,000 m²) central plaza, which is shaped like a pentagon.

On September 11, 2001, exactly 60 years since the building's groundbreaking, hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 was crashed into the western side of the Pentagon, killing 189 people, including 64 people aboard the plane and 125 working in the building.

Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

An aerial view of Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL's Tamp Bay Buccaneers and site of Superbowl XXXV.

unused, bought in 2010

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Raymond James Stadium was built primarily to replace the aging Houlihan's Stadium, formerly located adjacent to the property. It is located on the former site of the now–demolished Al Lopez Field. Once completed, the final cost of the stadium was $168.5 million, publicly financed. It was known as Tampa Community Stadium during construction, but the naming rights were bought for $32.5 million for a thirteen–year deal by St. Petersburg-based Raymond James Financial in June 1998. On April 27, 2006 an extension was signed to maintain naming rights through 2015.

The stadium officially opened on September 20, 1998, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Chicago Bears, 27–15.

The largest crowd ever recorded in Raymond James Stadium came on October 9, 2009, with U2’s 360º Tour. More than 72,000 people were in attendance.

Wedding Poem - Our Anniversary

(Today is hubby and my anniversary - we were married in '9teen87' ) :D

Congratulations to the Happy Couple

Gladly I congratulate
Both, upon this special date,
Happy husband - happy wife
So continue all your life.

postmarked in 1913 with Great Britain - 1/2 postage Revenue - halfpenny - stamp

Tomar, Portugal, Knights Templar

Tomar - Portugal

Diversos aspectos
Plusieurs aspects
Several aspects

(on the right is the Templar church (12th century) It is the main monument of the city and one of the most important in Portugal. Declared a Unesco World Heritage Site)

postmarked in 2010 with a machine stamp from Portugal

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Tomar also known in English as Thomar, is a city with a total population of 43,007 inhabitants.

It was founded as headquarters of the Knights Templar in Portugal in the 12th century and contains some of the most significant Templar monuments in Europe. Tomar was especially important in the 15th century when it was a centre of Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of the Order of Christ, successor organization to the Templars in Portugal.

Myths of Tomar:

It is rumored that there is a secret passageway between the Santa Maria dos Olivais church and the Castle. It is also rumoured that a theatre called Paraíso is haunted, or that there is an old man living in its attic.
The Castle of Almourol nearby is where several bad events (deaths and tragic love stories) have taken place and is supposed to be haunted by a princess.

Constanta, Romania

Constanta - Constantza

Orasul vechi - The old Town

Foto: Nicu Triculescu, 2001

postmarked in 2010 with two great Romania 'Vases' stamps

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Constanţa is one of the oldest cities in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanţa County and the largest city in the region.

The Port of Constanţa has an area of 39.26 km2 (15.16 sq mi) and a length of about 30 km (19 mi). It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe.

Mount Rainier, Washington

Mt. Rainier Mirrored in Lake Spanaway, Wash.

Mt. Rainier, three miles in height, is an isolated extinct glacial volcano. Only mountain in the United states that shows all its form, sea level to the clouds. Tourists visit blown-out caverns, eternal snow banks, steam fissures, wonderful waterfalls, marvelous canyons, great forests, lakes and rivers that burst from the gigantic glaciers upon its sides and proclaim wonders surpassing the Alps. Flora renowned for 364 varieties of flowers, many thrust their heads through snow in June. The sight of "Rainier" from Seattle at 9 P.M. in summer season all aglow in gorgeous colors of our Northland twilight is a heavenly sight. It was discovered in 1792 by Capt. Geo. Vancouver, named by him for Rear Admiral Rainier; is 14,408 feet elevation; reached by Government Auto Roads through Big Tree Forest Reserve to New Paradise Inn, to "Camp of Clouds" in Paradise Valley.

This postcard is unused.

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Here it is at 'the Northland Twilight' .....

Mt. Rainier, Washington
Mount Rainier with full moon

Photo by Edward Nugent

This one is also unused but it has a date of 2008.
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Here is a card with some of the wild flowers .....

Mount Rainer National Park - Washington

Photo: Jacek Kociolek
This one is also from 2008. 

National Library & Francisk Skorina - Belarus

National Library of the Republic of Belarus.
Photo by I. Lukin.

postmarked in 2008 with a Belarus, 'yellow - penguins' stamp

the sender writes, 'Here is a view of the most strange and unusual building in Minsk - the new National Library. There is a gallery on the 11th floor where everyone can overview the city. And the monument near it shows Francisk Skorina - the man who printed the first book in the Belarusian language. He was well-known in the Middle Ages in Europe.'

Ida-Virumaa, Estonia

A map of Ida-Virumaa in Estonia

This is postmarked in 2008 with two Estonia stamps.

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Ida-Viru County (Estonian: Ida-Viru maakond), is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is the most north-eastern part of the country.

Valaste Waterfall (Estonian: Valaste juga) is the highest waterfall in Estonia. It is a popular tourist attraction with its spray freezing up spectacularly in winter.

Mexico - 'porque' -

Play on Words - Spanish

With 'por que' being 'why' and with por being the same as the 'X' used in multiplying and 'Q' as an abbreviations for 'que' this picture reads Why? or Porque (XQ) with the floor being the X and the mug being the Q.

postmarked in 2009 with a Mexico $10.50 'wooden bowl' stamp

very clever postcard!!

Caryatids, Acropolis Museum, Greece

Experimenting with the placement of the Caryatids in the new Acropolis Museum

postmarked in 2010 with a great Unicef stamp from Greece

(thank you to the person who sent this as a gift postcard :)

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A caryatid is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature (moldings and bands which lie horizontally above column) on her head.

The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens. The museum was built to house every artifact found on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies on the archaeological site of Makrygianni and the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine Athens.

The museum was founded in 2003 while the Organisation of the Museum was established in 2008. It opened to the public on June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000 objects are exhibited over an area of 14,000 square metres.

Rome, Italy, Then and Now Comparison

Roma
Il Colosseo e il Forro Romano, ieri e oggo:
ricostruzioni della citta imperiale.

(Rome Colosseum and Roman Forum, yesterday and today:
Reconstruction of Imperial City.)

postmarked in 2009 with an Italy stamp

Marilyn Monroe

Photograph by Joseph Jasgur in 1946
unused, bought in 2009
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By Sam Shaw
postmarked in 2009
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postmarked in 2008 from Australia

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Marilyn Monroe (June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), born Norma Jeane Mortenson, but baptized Norma Jeane Baker, was an American actress, singer, and model. After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early roles were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve (both 1950) were well received. Monroe was praised for her comedic ability in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch.

The typecasting of Monroe's "dumb blonde" persona limited her career prospects, so she broadened her range. She studied at the Actors Studio and formed Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her dramatic performance in Bus Stop was hailed by critics, and she won a Golden Globe Award for her performance in Some Like it Hot.

The final years of Monroe's life were marked by illness and personal problems. The circumstances of her death, from an overdose of barbiturates, have been the subject of conjecture. Though officially classified as a "probable suicide", the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as the possibility of homicide, have not been ruled out. In 1999, Monroe was ranked #6 on the American Film Institute's "50 Greatest Screen Legends" list.

San Juan Islands, Washington USA

San Juan Islands

John Hinde Curteich postcard
postmarked in 2010 with a 28 cent stamp

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The San Juan Islands are a part of the San Juan Archipelago in the northwest corner of the continental United States. The archipelago is split into two groups of islands based on national sovereignty. San Juan Islands are part of the U.S. state of Washington, while the Gulf Islands are part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. There are over 450 islands in the entire archipelago at high tide, but fewer than one-sixth are permanently inhabited.

Frog Prince?

Advertising postcard from the Netherlands ...

Ga samen uit. Bel Good Comany.

Dit kaartje ontvangen? Stuur hem in een envelop voor 1 oktober 1995 naar Boomerang, Postbus 763, 1000 AT Amsterdam Wie weet wordt u samen met de afzender uitgenodiga voor Het laatste bal der dingen' van theatergroep Tender.

postmarked in 2010 with a Netherlands stamp

Loosely translates:

Go out together. Call Good Company.

Received this card? Send it in an envelope before October 1, 1995 to Boomerang, PO Box 763, 1000 AT Amsterdam Who knows, you along with the sender might be invited to the last ball of things theater group Tender.

If anyone can translate the last part better, please send a message :D

1903 Wright Flyer, Smithsonian

National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

1903 Wright Flyer

On a chilly windswept beach at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and Orville Wright inaugurated the aerial age with their historical flight on December 17th, 1903. The Wright Flyer was the world's first heavier-than-air, powered craft to make a sustained controlled flight with a pilot aboard. With Orville at the controls and Wilbur observing, the first flight covered the distance of 120 feet and lasted 12 seconds. A total of four flights were made with the Flyer, the best traveling 852 feet in 59 seconds with Wilbur as the pilot.

Photograph by Mark Avino

Postmarked in 2007 with USA First -Class 'Liberty Bell Forever' stamp

Notre-Dame of Paris, France

Paris et ses Merveilles ...
La cathedrale Notre-Dame (1163-1330) cote sud.

(Paris and it's Wonders ...
The Notre-Dame Cathedral - southern part)

unused, from 2010
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Photo: Andre Edouard / S.D.P.
postmarked with 5 France stamps in 2007
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Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Construite dans l'ile de la Cite' a l'initative de l'eveque Maurice de Sully a partir de 1160, Notre-Dame de Paris set l'une des plus grandes cathedrales gothiques. C'est aux restaurataions menees de 1845 a 1864 par Lassus et Viollet-le-Duc que la cathedrale doit en partie son aspect actuel.

Tour nord, galerie des chimeres.

loosely translated:

Built in the Ile de la Cite (one of two natural islands in the Seine) at the order of Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1160. Notre-Dame of Paris set out to be one of the largest Gothic cathedrals. Some of the cathedrals currant appearance is do to the restorations that were made from 1845 to 1864 by Lassus and Viollet-le-Duc.

North Tower, Gargoyles.

postmarked in 2010 with a France Monde 20 g stamp

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(my daughter sent me this from her Paris trip. She writes: I love this postcard because the gargoyle is totally pondering! I went here and chillaxed with Quasimoto a bit. Love u)

Peanut Butter Pie - From Alabama or Georgia??

Card 1:
From the Dothan Recipe Collection
Dothan Alabama
"Peanut Capital of the World"

Card 2:
From the Georgia Recipe Collection


on the back of both is the same recipe for:

Peanut Butter Pie

1 baked 9-inch pie shell
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy style)
1 cup powdered sugar
3 egg yolks
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 cups scalded milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter

Mix the peanut butter and powdered sugar together in a small bowl and set aside. Place egg yolks in top of double boiler and beat with electric mixer until fluffy - before heating. Combine sugar, salt and cornstarch and beat into yolks. Add scalded milk and heat until thick and smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Spread two-thirds of the peanut butter/powdered sugar mixture on the bottom of bake pie shell. Pour the hot custard over peanut butter and cool Top pie with whipped topping and sprinkle with remaining peanut butter/powdered sugar mixture.

Both are - - -
Photo courtesy of Peanut Advisory Board

Wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla

The Wedding of HRH The Prince of Wales and Camilla The Duchess of Cornwall.
(Windsor 9th April 2005)

HM Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince William, HRH Prince Harry, Major Bruce Shand, Tom and Laura Parker Bowles

unused, 2005

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abbreviations:
HM Her Majesty
HRH: His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness

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The Prince was the first member of the royal family to marry in a civil ceremony in England. Dr. Stephen Chetney, a Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford questioned whether Charles and Camilla could marry in a civil ceremony, as the Royal Family was specifically excluded from the law which instituted civil marriages in England (Marriage Act 1836). On 14 February the BBC's Panorama uncovered documents of official legislative research advice dating from 1956 and 1964, which stated that it was not lawful for members of the royal family to marry in a civil ceremony in England and Wales, though it would be lawful in Scotland. These documents' statements were dismissed by Clarence House on the advice of four unnamed legal experts. These experts' views that the 1836 Act had been repealed by the Marriage Act 1949 were upheld by the British Government. Acting through Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor, the sitting government issued a written statement published by the House of Lords in their debate record:

Quote from "Royal Marriage", Lords Hansard, 24 Feb 2005: "The Government are satisfied that it is lawful for the Prince of Wales and Mrs Parker Bowles, like anyone else, to marry by a civil ceremony in accordance with Part III of the Marriage Act 1949. ¶ Civil marriages were introduced in England, by the Marriage Act 1836. Section 45 said that the Act "... shall not extend to the marriage of any of the Royal Family". ¶ But the provisions on civil marriage in the 1836 Act were repealed by the Marriage Act 1949. All remaining parts of the 1836 Act, including Section 45, were repealed by the Registration Service Act 1953. No part of the 1836 Act therefore remains on the statute book. ¶... We are aware that different views have been taken in the past; but we consider that these were overcautious, and we are clear that the interpretation I have set out in this Statement is correct. We also note that the Human Rights Act has since 2000 required legislation to be interpreted wherever possible in a way that is compatible with the right to marry (Article 12) and with the right to enjoy that right without discrimination (Article 14). This, in our view, puts the modern meaning of the 1949 Act beyond doubt."

Eleven objections were received by the Cirencester and Chippenham register offices but were all rejected by the Registrar General (and National Statistician) Len Cook who determined that a civil marriage would in fact be valid.

Asuncion, Paraguay - check out the full name!

Asuncion - Paraguay
Vista parcial
(Parcial View)

postmarked in 1971 with two 5G stamps and one 1G stamp from Paraguay

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Asunción (full name: La Muy Noble y Leal Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción) is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.

(DANG!!! say that name three times fast!!! - incase you were wondering, the translation is: 'The Very Noble and Loyal City of our Lady Santa Maria of the Assumption')

The Asunción metropolitan area has more than 1.9 million inhabitants.

Le hoggar, Algeria

Le Hoggar

Photo: Mohamed Kouaci

This is postmarked in 2009 with an Algerie (Algeria) stamp from 2008 1,00
Fibules en Argent de la Saoura (I think this stamp, and three more in the series are dedicated to the jewels of southern Algeria)

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The Ahaggar Mountains also known as the Hoggar, are a highland region in central Sahara, or southern Algeria near the Tropic of Cancer.

The Hoggar Mountain range is chiefly volcanic rock and contains a hot summer climate, with a cold winter climate (temperatures fall below 0°C in the winter). Rainfall is rare and sporadic. However, since the climate is less extreme than in most other areas of the Sahara, the Ahaggar Mountains are a major location for biodiversity.

Taiwan Spotted Deer - Manga

the sender writes:

This is a character of APH (comic), her name is Taiwan, we often call her wan-chan "Taiwan spotted deer". I love this manga, becauswe I learn a lof of history about WWII.

postmarked in 2010 with two Republic of China (Taiwan) flower stamps
the one on the right is: Delonix regia (Royal poinciana) 10

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Manga consist of comics and print cartoons -

Since the 1950s, manga have steadily become a major part of the Japanese publishing industry, representing a 406 billion yen market in Japan in 2007 (approximately $3.6 billion). Manga have also become increasingly popular worldwide. In 2008, the U.S. and Canadian manga market was $175 million.