Germany - Brandenburger Tor

From: Julia - Postcrossing - Just because :)

Where: Brandenburger Tor, Berlin, Germany

Subject: Brandenburger Tor, is a former city gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany. It is located west of the city center at the junction of Unter den Linden and Ebertstraße, immediately west of the Pariser Platz. It is the only remaining gate of a series through which one formerly entered Berlin. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building. The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which formerly led directly to the city palace of the Prussian monarchs. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. The Brandenburg Gate was restored from 2000 to 2002 by the Stiftung Denkmalschutz Berlin (Berlin Monument Conservation Foundation). Today, it is considered one of Europe's most famous landmarks. Read more about it here: Brandenburger Tor.

Stamps:  Another "Smelly" stamp! Thanks Julia!  This one smells like a Rose.  And the tall lighthouse (leuchtturme in German) is in Norderney.  I think. 

Germany - Baltic Sea

From: Karen - Postcrossing - DE-552681

Where: Baltic Sea, Germany

Subject:  These are photos in Northern Germany of the Baltic Sea at night. 

Stamps:  I will look into the stamps. :)

Germany - Porta Nigra - Trier

From: Willi - Postcrossing - Forum - USA to any other country

Where: Porta Nigra - Trier

UNESCO: World Heritage Site (main url) or Wiki definition

Subject:  The Porta Nigra (Latin for black gate) is a large Roman city gate in Trier, Germany. It is today the largest Roman city gate north of the Alps. The name Porta Nigra originated in the Middle Ages due to the darkened color of its stone; the original Roman name has not been preserved. 

The Porta Nigra was built in grey sandstone between 186 and 200 AD. The original gate consisted of two four-storied towers, projecting as near semicircles on the outer side. A narrow courtyard separated the two gate openings on either side. In Roman times, the Porta Nigra was part of a system of four city gates, one of which stood at each side of the roughly rectangular Roman city. The Porta Nigra guarded the northern entry to the Roman city, while the Porta Alba (White Gate) was built in the east, the Porta Media (Middle Gate) in the south, and the Porta Inclyta (Famous Gate) in the west, next to the Roman bridge across the Moselle River. The gates stood at the ends of the two main streets of the Roman Trier, one of which led north-south and the other east-west. Of these gates, only the Porta Nigra still exists today.

Read more about it by clicking here... The Porta Nigra

Stamps:  Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author. She was the first female writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, and most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).  I will have to find some of her books!  I LOVE children's books!  Thanks for the stamp and PC Willi!

Germany - Gottorf Castle, water stairs

From: R4 Family - Postcrossing - DE-538617

Where: Gottorf Castle, Germany 

Built: The castle: (1697-1703)  Not sure about the water fountain.

Subject:  Gottorf Castle (German: Schloss Gottorf, Low German and Danish: Gottorp) is a castle (Schloss) and estate in the city of Schleswig, Germany . It is the ancestral home of the Holstein-Gottorp branch of the House of Oldenburg. It is situated on an island in the Schlei, about 40 km from the Baltic Sea. Right now.. 2010 it is owned by a foundation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein and houses the State Art and Cultural History Museum and the State Archeological Museum. 

Stamps:  I am not sure.  I will look into it :) 

Germany - Porta Westfalica

From: Julia - Postcrossing - Just because :) 

Where: Porta Westfalica, Germany 

Built: Not sure

Subject:  The name “Porta Westfalica” is Latin and means “gate to Westphalia”. Coming from the north, the gorge is the entry to the region of Westphalia. Despite the Latin name the term was not coined in Roman times, but by scholars of the 19th century.  The town Porta Westfalica was established in 1973 by merging fifteen villages surrounding the gorge. The centre of the modern town is the former village of Hausberge, which was first mentioned in 1096.

The monument is for Kaiser Wilhelm I also known as Wilhelm the Great (22 March 1797–9 March 1888) of the House of Hohenzollern was the King of Prussia (2 January 1861–9 March 1888) and the first German Emperor (18 January 1871–9 March 1888).

Stamps:  On the right, is of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin. 

The strawberry stamp is another one that Julia sent me to "scratch-n-stiff". Smells great! :)

I love the colors of the postcard too! :)  Thanks Julia!

Germany - Westerheversand Lighthouse

Gudnen & Fenjan from Germany sent me this pc of Westerheversand lighthouse. It is situated on the German North Sea coast in the northern part of the peninsula of Eiderstedt.  Many ships were stranded in this dangerous area, so in the beginning of this century it was decided to build a lighthouse at this site.  Work on the lighthouse began in 1906. Since the tower was to be built in the sands outside the diked area, a hill as protection against high floods was created. Then it was tightened by letting horses stamp the area.  One hundred twenty seven wooden piles were driven into the ground as a base for the tower. The lighthouse itself is constructed of hundreds of pre-manufactured plates of cast iron. The light was finally lit for the first time in 1908. The light has a total of nine white, red and green sectors to lead vessels through these difficult and dangerous waters, with a range of 21 nautical miles.  The two keepers houses were used until 1978 when the station was automated. Today the quarters are used by the Wattenmeer National Park and a university.  The Westereversand Lighthouse is believed to be the most photographed German Lighthouse and its image can be found on advertisements and book covers throughout the nation.

Stamps: The one on the right says Tier des Jahres 2010 "Animal of the Year"  Dachs "Badger"  

Germany - Cattle in Village

Gina from Germany sent me this postcard of cattle in a German Village. The buildings remind me of Leavenworth here in Washington State.   I love the two stamps she used. One is of the Museum für Naturkunde in Berlin.  Thanks :)