Lviv, Ukraine

I Love Lviv, Lemberg, Leopoli

the sender writes:

Hello from Ukraine!

On this postcard you can see parts of churches and buildings in the historical part of Lviv.

postmarked in 2010 with a Ukraine quill and ink stamp

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Lviv / Virmenska Street

photo by Yurko Dyachyshyn

postmarked in 2010 with a Ukraine Candles stamp

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Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine. The historical heart of Lviv with its old buildings and cobblestone roads has survived World War II largely unscathed.

The city is also a home to many world-class cultural institutions, including a philharmonic orchestra and the famous Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. The historic city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Gibraltar, Straits of Gibraltar, Hercules

Gibraltar a British colony since 1704 is a bold mountainous promontory 3 miles long, 3/4 mile broad, 1,396 feet high protruding into the Mediterranean and joined to Spain by a narrow isthmus.

postmarked with a Gibraltar stamp

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Gibraltar became known as one of the Pillars of Hercules, after the Greek legend of the creation of the Strait of Gibraltar by Heracles. 

the legend:

According to Greek mythology when Hercules had to perform twelve labours, one of them was to fetch the Cattle of Geryon of the far West and bring them to Eurystheus.

According to some Roman sources, while on his way to the island of Erytheia, Hercules had to cross the mountain that was once Atlas. Instead of climbing the great mountain, Hercules used his superhuman strength to smash through it. By doing so, he connected the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and formed the Strait of Gibraltar. One part of the split mountain is Gibraltar and the other is either Monte Hacho or Jebel Musa. These two mountains taken together have since then been known as the Pillars of Hercules. some say however,  that instead of smashing through an isthmus to create the Straits of Gibraltar, Hercules instead narrowed an already existing strait to prevent monsters from the Atlantic Ocean from entering the Mediterranean Sea.

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree: New York City

postmarked in Dec. 2009 with a 28 cent stamp


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The Tree at Rockefeller Center is an annual Christmas tree lighting that takes place in New York City's Rockefeller Center. The tree is erected and lit in early December or late-November. In recent years, the lighting has been broadcast live nationwide on NBC's Christmas in Rockefeller Center show. The tree, usually a Norway spruce 75 to 90 feet (23 to 27 m) tall, has been put up every year since 1931.

The tradition began during the Depression-era construction of Rockefeller Center, when workers decorated a small balsam fir tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans" on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1931.


David Murbach, Mgr. of the Gardens Division of Rockefeller Center, scouts in a helicopter for the desired tree in areas including Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, New Jersey, and even Ottawa, Canada. Once a suitable tree is located, a crane supports it while it is cut, and moves it to a custom telescoping trailer that can transport trees up to 125 feet (38 m) tall.

Once at the Rockefeller Center, the tree is supported by wire attached at its midpoint, and by a steel spike at its base. Scaffolding is put up around the tree to assist workers in putting up 30,000 lights attached to 5 miles (8 km) of wiring.
The star that has topped the tree since 2004 is 9.5 feet (3 m) in diameter and weighs 550 pounds (249.5 kg).

The decorated Christmas tree remains lit at Rockefeller Center until the week after New Year's Day, when it is removed and recycled for a variety of uses. In 2007, the tree went "green," employing LED lights. After being taken down, the tree was used to furnish lumber for Habitat for Humanity house construction.

Cat Singing in the Shower

I love this postcard!  It looks like it is the top of a greeting card that someone cut off and made a postcard out of it.  

postmarked in 2010 with a great stamp from Russia

Skansen Museum in Stockholm Sweden

Stockholm. Skansen

Fargfoto: Giovanni Trimboli

postmarked in 1965 with a Sweden 35 King stamp

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Skansen is the first open air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located on the island Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius (1833-1901) to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era.

Skansen attracts more than 1.3 million visitors each year. The many exhibits over the 75 acre site include a full replica of an average 19th-century town, in which craftsmen in traditional dress such as tanners, shoemakers, silversmiths, bakers and glass-blowers demonstrate their skills in period surroundings. 

There is also an open-air zoo containing a wide range of Scandinavian animals including the bison, brown bear, moose, grey seal, lynx, otter, red fox, reindeer, wolf, and wolverine. There are also farmsteads where rare breeds of farm animals can be seen.

In early December the site's central Bollnäs square is host to a popular Christmas market that has been held since 1903, attracting around 25,000 visitors each weekend. In the summer there are displays of folk dancing and concerts.

                                                  

Postcards to the Chief of Police about Stolen Items and a Wanted Man

Headquarters 

Police Department

Lynn, Mass.

Stolen in Lynn, Massachusetts, May 10, 1907

One Gold Plated Cornet "Lehnert Maker" name of Joseph Gove engraved on the bell, A and B combination on bell.  Number 257 on Cornet in several places.  Valued at $125.00.

One Dark Colored Violin, name De Casper on same.  Number 1,556 or 1,536.  Value $200.00.  One Weichold and one Louis violin bows, valued at $60.00.  Kindly look over pawn shops, and second hand stores, and make inquiries of musicians, and especially Theatre Orchestras.

Send all information to,

Thomas M. Burckes, Chief of Police

postmarked on Feb. 28, 1908

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Wanted for Embezzlement

Fred Neef, 56 years of age, 5 ft. 4 in. tall, 180 lbs., dark hair mixed with gray, light mustache turning gray.  Wart on right side of nose, bow legged, little finger of left hand crooked.  Is a wire and iron worker.  Nationality German.  Speaks broken English.

I hold warrant for the above named party, who is charged with embezzleing $1,500.00 from the Red men's Lodge.  This, however, he is supposed to have squandered, but before he disappeared he drew about $1,000.00 from the bank in which he had his private funds deposited, leaving a balance of one dollar.

If located, arrest, hold and wire, and I will send officer at once.

Columbus, O. Jan. 8, 1910

John F. O'Connor, Chief of Police.

postmarked on Jan. 12, 1910

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Both cards are mailed to the Chief of Police in Malden, Massachusetts with a one cent McKinley stamp pre-printed on the postcard (no other address than: Chief of Police, Malden, Mass.)

Playing Tennis on the Wings of an Airplane

Ivan Unger and Gladys Roy Playing Tennis on Wings of Airplane in Flight, c. 1925.  Photographer Unidentified

postmarked in 2010 with a Forever, Liberty Bell stamp

the sender drew a very elaborate frame and wrote inside it:

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. - Helen Keller

What I wonder is how much in front of them did they have to hit the ball for it actually to get to the next person!  

                    

National Dress of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Tenerife (Canarias)

The girls dress is sewn on - This is a postcard showing the national dress of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. 

unused 

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Tenerife is the largest of the seven Canary Islands, Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It has a population of around 900,000 people and is the most populated island of the Canary Islands.  About five million tourists visit Tenerife every year and I hope to be one of them someday :)

Happy Thanksgiving - Please Pass the Swan

Thanksgiving Greetings

postmarked in 1911 with a one cent stamp

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I did a search to see if turkeys were on the table at the first Thanksgiving dinner with the pilgrims and the indians.   Here are actual items I found that people are saying were served at the first feast ...

lobster, goose, duck, seal, eel, deer, cod, cranberries but not as a sauce or relish, boiled pumpkin - not as a pie, rabbit, chicken, squashes, beans, mussels, clams, swan - yes, one website said they ate swans, chestnuts, hickory nuts, onions, leeks, corn, dried fruits, maple syrup and honey, radishes, cabbage, carrots, eggs, and one says maybe goat cheese too.
I know what you're thinking - what??? they didn't have green bean casserole?!? Sadly, French Fried Onions weren't invented until the 1920's.

I wish you all a Very Happy Thanksgiving!

Taos Indian Pueblo - New Mexico

Pueblo De Taos, Northern New Mexico

The most remarkable residences in the United States

The First Apartment Building in the World 

Ancient Taos - consists of many adobe communal dwellings - and said to be the finest example of Ancient Pueblo architecture.

Silhouetted against the sky like white robed sentinels, the Taos Indians make an unforgettable picture. Back of the Pueblo is the sacred mountain and lake where secret ceremonials are carried on.

unused

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South Pueblo, Taos


With its backdrop of Pueblo Mountain and colorfully costumed inhabitants, thousand year old Taos Pueblo is a popular subject for artist.  Taos Indians are industrious farmers and are relatively well-to-do.  They are usually well educated and frequently speak three languages: their own Tewa, Spanish and English.

Color phhoto by J. Hobson Bass

The front of the card had a printing error.  You can even see through to the back where the stamp goes.  The back is perfect, no marks or color errors.

Pompei, Italy

Immagini dell' Antica Pompei

Images of Ancient Pompeii

Both of these postcards are unused.  They were bought in 2009. 

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Pompeii is a ruined and partially buried Roman town-city near modern Naples. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD. The eruption buried Pompeii under 4 to 6 meters of ash and pumice, and it was lost for nearly 1,600 years before its accidental rediscovery around 1592. Since then, its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of a city at the height of the Roman Empire.

Today, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.

Leaning Tower of Niles - La Quinta

Greetings From Route LQ (Hotel chain La Quinta)

Pretend you're in Rome

Leaning Tower of Niles

Built in 1934, this half-sized replica of The Leaning Tower of Pisa came 600 years after the original. But if this one falls, it's sure to make an even bigger splash - and not just in the news. The Leaning Tower of Niles is actually a water tower. Recently revitalized with a fountain and terrace, it's a great place for a family picnic and photo opportunity.

Say mozzarella!

6300 Tougy Avenue, Niles, IL

Nearest La Quinta: 12 miles

Photo courtesy of Michelle Reitman.

With over 780 Locations, La Quinta Inns & Suites is everywhere you travel.

postmarked in 2010 with a 32 cent stamp

Historic Barns of Vermont

Historic Barns of Vermont

Top> Robillard Flats Barn, Irasburg. Hay Barn, Vergennes. Robinson Barn, W. Woodstock.
Bottom> Monitor Barn, Greensboro. Round Barn Farm, Morrisville.  Ranz Barn, Breensboro.

Photo: Alois Mayer

This is postmarked in 2010 with a 28 cent stamp.

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From Historic Vermont (dot) org:

BARN GRANTS

Vermont's agricultural buildings are an important part of our working landscape. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation has had a 50/50 matching grants program to assist owners of historic agricultural buildings (barns, corn cribs, sheds, grist mills, etc.) since 1991. These can be in private ownership. Up to $10,000 can be awarded to assist the restoration and repair of these endangered buildings. This program encourages the continued use of farm buildings for agricultural use. Eligible work includes restoration and repair of roofs, structure, windows, foundations and other important components of historic agricultural buildings.

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How wonderful!  I think it is great that these old barns are kept up and restored instead of being torn down.  Bravo to the state of Vermont!