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.

Australia - Fraser Island

From: Elaine - Postcrossing - AU-72573 , Very colorful card. Thanks! :)

Where: Fraser Island - Australia

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

Subject:   Fraser Island, is an island located along the southern coast of Queensland, Australia, approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) north of Brisbane. Its length is about 120 kilometres (75 mi).[1] It was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 1992.[2] The island is considered to be the largest sand island in the world at 1840 km².[3] Its resident human population was 360 at the census of 2006, of whom 11 were Indigenous Australians.

1. Wanggoolba Creek rainforest

2. Lake McKenzie

3. Sand blow , Eastern Brach

4. Fraser Island at twilight

Stamps:  Russell Falls are located on the eastern boundary of Mount Field National Park, in Tasmania, Australia. 

China - Zhi Xin Middle School

From: Daisy - Postcrossing - CN-160729

Where: Zhi Xin Middle school, China

Subject:  Female students of Zhi Xin Middle school, ambulance corps having simulated training in 1927. Located in Guangzhou city. 

Stamps:  Thanks Daisy for the lovey rose stamps too :)

Chile - Osorno

From: Hernán (Santiago, Chile) - Just because :)  What an awesome view! :) 

Subject:  Osorno Volcano is a 2,652-metre (8,701 ft) tall conical stratovolcano lying between Osorno Province and Llanquihue Province, in Los Lagos Region of Chile. It stands on the southeastern shore of Llanquihue Lake, and also towers over Todos los Santos Lake. Osorno is known worldwide as a symbol of the local landscape, and is noted for its similar appearance to Mount Fuji. Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes of the southern Chilean Andes, with 11 historical eruptions recorded between 1575 and 1869. The basalt and andesite lava flows generated during these eruptions reached both Llanquihue and Todos los Santos Lakes. The upper slopes of the volcano are almost entirely covered in glaciers despite its very modest altitude and latitude, sustained by the substantial snowfall in the very moist maritime climate of the region. Osorno sits on top of a 250,000-year-old eroded stratovolcano, La Picada, with a 6-km-wide caldera. To read more about it click on the link. Osorno Volcano

Chile - San Pedro De Atacama

From: Hernán (Santiago, Chile) - Just because :)  

Where:  San Pedro De Atacama  is a Chilean town and commune in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It is located east of Antofagasta, some 106 km (60 mi) southeast of Calama and the Chuquicamata copper mine, overlooking the Licancabur volcano. It features a significant archeological museum, the R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum, with a large collection of relics and artifacts from the region. Native ruins nearby now attract increasing numbers of tourists interested in learning about pre-Columbian cultures. Tourists also visit for other popular activities including sandboarding and stargazing, with the views of the stars from the Atacama unrivalled across the continent.

Subject:  The back of the card lists these 4 photos. 

1- Zorro (South American Gray Fox ) also known as the Patagonian Fox, the Chilla, or the Grey Zorro, is a species of zorro, the "false" foxes. The South American Gray Fox is a small South American canid, weighing 2.5–4 kg (5–9 pounds), and measuring 43–70 cm (17–27 inches) in length.

2 - Valcanes Miscanti y Lejia: A mountain called Miscanti and Lejia.... I will look more into it. There is a salt lake called Laguna Lejía in the area.

3 - Cercanias: I could not find anything on this one. 

4 - Vicuña: is one of two wild South American camelids, along with the guanaco, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes. It is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to be the wild ancestor of domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their fibre. Vicuñas produce small amounts of extremely fine wool, which is very expensive because the animal can only be shorn every 3 years. When knitted together, the product of the vicuña's fur is very soft and warm. It is understood that the Inca raised vicuñas for their wool, and that it was against the law for any but royalty to wear vicuña garments. To read more about them click on the link. Vicuña

Chile - Different Views of Chile

From: Hernán (Santiago, Chile) - Just because :)  

Subject:  Different Views of Chile.  

Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui, Spanish: Isla de Pascua)

Osorno volcano 

The Atacama Desert 

Stickers:  Thanks Hernan for the neat stickers :)

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. 

Malaysia - Rhinoceros Hornbik

From: Nurul (Newrule) Postcrossing - Thematic Stamps RR Group #57

Where: KL Bird Park, Malaysia

Subject: Rhinoceros Hornbill,  is one of the largest hornbills, adults being 110-127 cm (43-50 in) long and weigh 2-3 kg (4.4-6.6 lbs). The Rhinoceros Hornbill lives in captivity for up to 35 years. It is found in only the highest form of rain forest. Like most other hornbills, the male has orange or red eyes, and the female has whitish eyes. This bird has a mainly white beak and casque (the tip of the casque curves upward strikingly), but there are orange places here and there. It has white underparts, especially to the tail. Read more about the Rhinoceros Hornbill 

by clicking the link. :)

Stamps:  

Oriental Honey Buzzard: is a bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, eagles and harriers.

Leptobarbus hoevenii: a fish species native to northern Malaysia, Thailand, and Borneo. It is a primarily freshwater fish. It may reach up to about 60 centimetres (24 in) long. This fish is omnivorous and is a midwater to near bottom dweller. This fish lives in groups.

Red Leaf Monkey (Presbytis rubicunda): Read all about it by clicking the link. :)  

Ukraine - Polar Bears - Animal Stamps

From: Yulia (Little_Rat), Postcrossing - Thematic Stamp RR Group #57

Subject:  The Polar Bear is a bear native largely within the Arctic circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak bear, which is approximately the same size.[3] An adult male weighs around 350–680 kg (770–1,500 lb),[4] while an adult female is about half that size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrow ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet.[5] Although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time at sea (hence their scientific name meaning "maritime bear") and can hunt consistently only from sea ice, so spend much of the year on the frozen sea. Read more about it here. Polar Bears.

Stamps:  Lovely animal stamps. Thanks Yulia! :)

Japan - Yoneimon Gate

From: Natsumi - Postcrossing - JP-101668

Where: Yomeimon Gate of Toshogu Shrine

Subject:  Yomeimon Gate of Toshogu Shrine is in Nikko City, Japan.  Toshogu , the mausoleum of leyasu Tokugawa was gorgeously constructed on 1636 after the removal from Mt. Kunozan. The Yomeimon Gate is the most representative building of Momoyama Era (1568-1600). 

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. :)

Finland - Lappi

From: Seija - Postcrossing - FI-774957

Subject:  Scenic Finland

Stamps:  Seija added other stickers to the broccoli.  Cute :)  Thanks! 

Switzerland - Daisy

From: Audrea - Postcrossing - CH-47465

Subject:  Lovely photo of a daisy. 

Stamps:  Owl... Thanks Audrea :)

Netherlands - Alphen aan den Rijn - Castellum

From: Alex - Postcrossing 

Where: Castellum

Subject:  Castellum is a theater in Alpen aan de Ruin, Neatherlands.

Stamps:  I will look into the stamps. Thanks Alex!

Netherlands - Alphen aan den Rijn

From: Alex - Postcrossing - NL-296933

Where: Alphen aan den Rijn

Subject:  Alphen aan den Rijn is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, between Leiden and Utrecht. The town is situated on the banks of the river Oude Rijn (Old Rhine), where the river Gouwe branches off. The municipality had a population of 72,128 in 2008, and covers an area of 57.68 km² (22.27 mile²) of which 2.61 km² (1.01 mile²) is water. It also contains the remnants of a Roman castellum. The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn also includes the communities of Aarlanderveen and Zwammerdam. The town is located in what is called the 'Green Heart' of the Netherlands, which is a somewhat less densely populated center area of the Randstad. The name "Alphen" is probably derived from the name of the Roman castellum Albanianae, meaning "settlement at the white water".

Stamps:  I will look into the stamps. One looks like a Red Cross one.  :) Thanks Alex!

China - Donglin Temple

From: Gao - Postcrossing - RR#4 Cards with thematic stamps

Where: Donglin Temple, China

Subject: This is a very lovely card. :) The back of the card says in Spanish... "Tempo Donglin (Bosque del Este) de la Montana Lushan construido en el siglo IV... so translated is "Donglin Temple (Forest East) of the Lushan Mountain was built in the fourth century.  I think. *smirk*

Donglin Temple (Chinese: 东林寺; pinyin: Dōnglínsì; literally "East Wood Temple") is a Buddhist monastery approximately 20km away from Jiujiang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China. It was built in 386 at the foot of Lushan by Hui-yuan, founder of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism. It is a very famous building for how long it has stood up and not collapse. The monastery reached its peak of influence during the Tang Dynasty, but was severely damaged during the Taiping Rebellion and all but destroyed during the Republican period. It currently houses a small community of monks supported by a small farming village in its immediate vicinity.

Stamps:  Lunar - Year of the Tiger.  I love the Tiger with an "attitude" paws on his hips. :)  I also love the very colorful child looking stamps too!  I will look into what they mean. Thanks Gao! :)

Canada - Canadian Rockies

From: Jamie (canbcpost) - Postcrossing - RR#4 Cards with thematic stamps

Where: Canadian Rockies, Canada

Subject: The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA. The northern end is at the Liard River in northern British Columbia. The Canadian Rockies have numerous high peaks and ranges, such as Mount Robson (3,954 metres (12,972 ft)) and Mount Columbia (3,747 metres (12,293 ft)). The Canadian Rockies are composed of shale and limestone (unlike their American cousins). Much of the range is protected by parks and a World Heritage Site.

Stamps:  Lunar - Year of the Tiger.  I love the "top section" you put on the side!  Thanks Jamie! :)

Indonesia - Java Island

From: Shinta - Postcrossing - RR#4 Cards with thematic stamps

Where: Java Island, Indonesia

Subject: Java (Indonesian: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. Once the center of powerful Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms, Islamic sultanates, and the core of the colonial Dutch East Indies, Java now plays a dominant role in the economic and political life of Indonesia. Home to a population of 130 million in 2006[1], it is the most populous island in the world, ahead of Honshū, the main island of Japan. Java is also one of the most densely populated regions on Earth. Formed mostly as the result of volcanic events, Java is the 13th largest island in the world and the fifth largest island in Indonesia. A chain of volcanic mountains forms an east-west spine along the island. It has three main languages, though Javanese is dominant and is the native language of 60 million people in Indonesia, most of whom live on Java. Most residents are bilingual, with Indonesian as their second language. While the majority of Javanese are Muslim, Java has a diverse mixture of religious beliefs and cultures.

There are two amazing UNESCO - World Heritage Sites on the island.  Borobudur & Prambanan.

Stamps:  Lunar - Year of the Tiger.  Even two different styles.  Thanks Shinta! :)

France - Le Monêtier-les-Bains

From: Robert :)

Where: Le Monêtier-les-Bains, France

Subject:  Le Monêtier-les-Bain is the highest village of the French ski resort of Serre Chevalier at 1,500m. Le Monêtier-Les-Bains has two hot-water springs, one at 34°C and one at 38°C, and the village has been a thermal spa since Roman times. The village is on the periphery of the Ecrins National Park.  What a peaceful looking village :)  

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!