Chile - Valdivia

From: Hernán - Penpal - As always I love the postcard and the detailed information you add to the back!  Always learn something new. Thanks! :)  

Subject:   Valdivia , Chile - Is located in the southern region of Chile. Read more about it on the back of the postcard written by Hernán. :)  Or click here "Valdivia" to read more about it on Wiki. 

Stamps:  Love the stamps!  The one with the brick wall I will have to ask Hernan about :)  The bottom one says "Afilador" meaning knifegrinder. And the large one is of Pope John Paul II (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005)

Chile - Chiloe Island

From: Hernán - Penpal :)  I love the colors. Thanks! :)

Subject:   Chiloe Island, (Spanish: Isla de Chiloé), also known as Greater Island of Chiloé (Isla Grande de Chiloé), is the largest island of the Chiloé Archipelago off the coast of Chile, in the Pacific Ocean. The island is located in southern Chile, in the Los Lagos Region. The island is the second largest island in Chile (and the fifth largest in South America).  Read more about it on the back of the postcard written by Hernán, or chick here: Chiloe Island.

Stamps: As always very nice stamps! Thanks! The bottom one is a Nativity scene. The next one says "manicero" meaning "Peanut Vendor". The dark one did not scan very well because of the nice gold embossing.  It is in celebration of... I will ask Hernán :)  

Ukraine - Paton Bridge in Kiev

From: Ksenia "Prott" - Postcrossing Forum "Bridge/Dam Tag , Thanks! :)

Subject:   Paton Bridge - Crossing the Dnieper River, in Kiev,  Ukraine.  1,543 metres long, built in 1953.  The bridge was named after Evgeny Paton, the famous welding engineer who developed the technology for the structure. He died a few weeks before the construction was completed, never seeing his masterpiece.

Stamps: I love the colorful stamps!  A Pug and an Irish Setter. I will look into them! Thanks! :)

The Netherlands - Amersfoort, Lange Jan

From: Anja - Postcrossing - NL-330941 , Thanks! :)

Location:   Amersfoort , The Netherlands 

Subject:  Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren - ('The Tower of Our Lady') is a church tower in Amersfoort. The Late Gothic building is 98,33 meter tall and reaches high above the inner city. It's one of the most eye-catching monuments in town and the third highest church tower in the Netherlands. The nickname of the tower is Lange Jan ('Long John'). The church that belonged to the tower was demolished in the 18th century.

The first chapel on site was constructed on this site in the 14th century. In the 15th century this chapel was replaced by new church with three aisles. When the tower was built is not exactly known. Construction started around 1444 and was finished around 1470. The official documents of the construction were destroyed by the Protestants in 1579 during the reformation and the ensuing iconoclasm. The church and tower where taken over by the Protestants and no longer belonged to the Catholics. The church also has been used for other purposes than worshiping. It was used as a storage place for ammunition and as laboratory for the manufacturing of shells. In 1986 some research was done into its history and in the current square one can see the original plan of the church. The spire of the church burned down in 1651 and also in 1804. The tower was restored in 1912–1932, in 1965–1970 and in 1993–1996.

Japan - Shodoshima Island

From: Kayoko - Postcrossing - JP-104548, Looks fun :)

Subject:   Shodoshima Island - located in the Inland Sea of Japan. This island is famous for its stages of the "Twenty-Four Eyes". The name means literally "Island of Small Beans". There are two main towns on the island: Tonoshō and Shōdoshima, comprising the district of Shōzu. The island was the first area of Japan to successfully grow olives, and is sometimes known as "Olive Island".

Stamps:   Very Colorful :)

China - Copy of older postcard

From: Gloria - Postcrossing - CN-188613 - Thanks :)

Subject:   I think it is written in Russian?

Stamps:  Gloria says the large colorful one says "Happy New Year" 

The Netherlands

From: Eeke - Postcrossing - NL-325426, Very colorful card. Thanks! :)

Subject:   The cookies are called "Stroopwafels" 

Stamps: I will look into them. 

Finland

From: Jaana - Postcrossing - FI-788229 - Thanks :)

Subject:   I am not sure. :)  Fashion Guy?  

Stamps:  Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts that make them resemble hippopotamuses. The carefree and adventurous family live in their house in Moominvalley, in the forests of Finland, though in the past their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have many adventures along with their various friends.