World on my postcards

  Funding from banks has helped art galleries thrive, and local artists are in great demand. The National Institute for Culture (INAC) and the school system both support graphics arts education. Other than that support mainly stems from the open market in art and native and local crafts. A private group, the National Association for Concerts, contracts with local and foreign performers for classical music concerts. The best museum is the Museo del Hombre Panameño in the former railroad station. Literature. Panama has a number of writers producing short stories, novels, and poetry. Rogelio Sinán is a successful poet and novelist who has acquired an international reputation, but most writers produce for the local market, where they are well received. Graphic Arts. The Kuna Indians are world-

Brittany is a land of legends and superstition. Many folk customs and legends center on death, symbolized by a character named Ankou. He figures in numerous tales, depicted as a skeleton carrying a scythe and often riding on a wooden cart. Bretons believe that the creaking of the cart Ankou rides in predicts the death of a person in the neighborhood. According to legend, the town of Quimper was founded by King Gradlon. His former capital, the city of Is, is said to have been destroyed when his daughter, bewitched by the Devil, let in the floodwaters of the sea. Escaping with her on horseback, the king received an order from Heaven to throw her into the sea. There she turned into the mermaid Marie-Morgane. It is said that if Mass is ever celebrated in one of Is's churches on Good Friday, the drowned city will be restored and the mermaid will become hum

 The Bretons are an ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. They trace much of their heritage to groups of Brittonic speakers who emigrated from southwestern Great Britain including Cornwall to avoid invading Germanic tribes. They migrated in waves from the 3rd to 9th century (most heavily from 450 to 600) into the Armorican peninsula, which was subsequently named Brittany after them.  The main traditional language of Brittany is Breton ( Brezhoneg ), spoken in Lower Brittany. Today, Breton is spoken by approximately 365,000 people, of whom about 240,000 speak it fluently.    Currently, most Bretons' native language is French.

   Chateau de Chenonceau is among many of Loire Valley Chateaux that boast amazing architecture and historical significance drawing thousands of tourists from all over the world. Chateau de Chenonceau is sometimes called the Ladies Castle by some historians due to feminine figures having greatly influenced the construction and development of this French Chateau over the centuries.     Chateau de Chenonceau that we know today was officially built in 1513 by Charles XVIII of France who used his wife Catherine Briconnet’s great taste in constructing one of the most beautiful and recognizable Castles in French history. Catherine Briconnet found great joy in entertaining royal guests and noblemen on the grounds of this spectacular Chateau.      Chateau de Chenonceau had seen a lot during two major wars, however the largest degree of damage was done during the 1940 Cher River flooding. A young agronomist Bernard Voisin was in charge of a complete Chateau’s restoration starti

 With a population of 90,549,390 inhabitants, Socialist Republic of Vietnam is the 14th most populous country in the world, and is densely populated with 259 inhabitants per km 2 . The most densely populated areas are in the low-lying deltas of the Mekong River in the South, and the Red River in the North. Millions of people live in areas that are prone to flooding, which makes Vietnam a hotspot for the impact of climate change, and most notably, sea-level rise.

 Bulgarian folk costume in Bulgaria is the garments that were worn in Bulgarian villages until the beginning of the 20 th century. These garments were hand made in the villages using materials that were produced locally. The basic structure of the clothing worn by men and women for workdays and holidays remained the same for many hundreds of years, until urban influenced fashion and factory produced clothes became available. The garments that can be seen in ethnographic museums today date from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century which is the period when the most elaborate costumes were made. The costumes on display are often those worn for weddings, which had the most layers, and were worn with heavy metal jewellery. After women were married, and later were widowed the number of garments worn was reduced, with those being worn have little or no decoration. By the 193

 The Mazu Pilgrimage can be counted as one of the most important and largest folk culture events in Taiwan.Mazu is the most admirable goddess in Taiwan people's heart. Wherever you are, the Mazu Temple can be seen. The sacrifice activities relating to Mazu are so various, such as the celebration of Mazu's birthday, burning incense and the welcoming ceremony of Mazu's coming. Divinities have their own birthdays. Mazu's birthday is March 23rd of the Lunar Calendar. All the sacrifice activities are staged around this day. Burning incense takes place ahead of her birthday in order to call back Mazu's spirit. Almost all villages have their own Mazu and each Mazu dominates its own village. On Mazu's birthday, the villagers take the hostess Mazu to get around in the village to pray for security. Sometimes, the villagers invite another Mazu to come to their village. This Mazu is a guest Mazu. The host and guest Mazus join the patrol together.

Heidi - a child who made a worldwide impression! The most famous Swiss author, Johanna Spyri, and the most successful and well-known fictional character, Heidi, became hugely popular and the story has been translated into almost 50 different languages and just as many million copies have been printed; it has been read, watched on television or seen in cinemas, all over the world. The Heidi Village in Maienfeld, restored under the theme "Heidi yesterday - today - tomorrow", delights children and adult Heidi fans too. Visitors from around the globe come to see Heidi's world.

Interesting Facts about Greece With an area of 50,949 square miles (131,958 square kilometers), Greece is roughly the size of Alabama. The population of Greece is more than 10 million people.—comparatively, the population of Alabama is around 4.5 million. Approximately 16.5 million tourists visit Greece each year, more than the country’s entire population. Tourism constitutes nearly 16% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). c No one in Greece can choose to not vote. Voting is required by law for every citizen who is 18 or older. About 7% of all the marble produced in the world comes from Greece. Greece has more international airports than most countries because so many foreign tourists want to visit. The world’s third leading producer of olives, the Greeks have cultivated olive trees since ancient times. Some olive trees planted in the thirteenth century are still producing olives. i According to Greek mythology, Athena and Po

  The Czech Republic (formerly known as Czechoslovakia) is very young. On January 1, 1993 it decided to end its union with Slovakia after more than three-quarters of a century. Most Czechs dress in modern, Western-style clothing. Traditional folk costumes, featuring lace and embroidery, are still worn on special occasions. The men's costume features a white shirt with wide sleeves gathered at the wrists. Women wear gathered skirts and blouses made of simple materials such as linen and cotton. In the 1800s, many dresses were made from fabrics dyed with indigo. Indigo was brought to Europe by traders from Asia, and the deep blue color became popular among many European culture groups.

 Schönbrunn Palace with its surrounding buildings and the huge park is one of the most significant cultural monuments in Austria. The castle was build to rival French Versailles in Baroque beauty and importance but House Habsburg lacked funds to outdo its rivalling nation France. In earlier times it served as summer residence to various Habsburg rulers. Emperor Franz Joseph (ruled 1848-1916), who was born here in 1830, spent the last years of his life entirely in Schönbrunn. In 1918, the palace became the property of the new republic. Due to this historical importance, its beautiful location and its gardens this palace is one of the very top sights in Vienna. Furthermore the entire complex was added to the UNESCO'

 The Māori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. They were believed to have settled into New Real Maori Warrior Chief Wielding a Mere in New Zealand around 1280 AD. The Maori people believed that combat was sacred to their ancestors and they fought to acquire mana spiritual power and prestige. Cannibalism was fueled by the desire to gain the mana of a foe defeated in battle. Unlike most native cultures, the Maori were never conquered. In 1807-1842, the Maori tribes began The Musket Wars, where Maori bought muskets from foreigners to use against enemy Maori tribes. The UK invaded New Zealand in the New Zealand Wars (1845-1872) and made New Zealand into a puppet state. The Maori still exist today, but their tribes are losing their native culture from modernization and over 150 years of British influence.

1.Panama assumed full control of the Panama Canal in 1999, which was previously taken care of by the U.S. troops. 2. Panama is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic. 3. At its narrowest distance, only 80 kilometers is the land in Panama, which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean. 4. Panama has set multi-world records in the area of bird watching and fishing, as it shelters more birds than United States and Canada combined. 5. Panama has the most diversified wildlife of all the countries in Central America. It is home to north as well as South American species. 6. Panama houses over 10,000 different plants species, including 1,200 varieties of orchids, 678 ferns and more than 1,500 varieties of trees. 7. The US Dollar is the official currency and is used for bills but the national currency is called Balboa. 8. Panama is situated south of the hurricane alley, so is generally not affected by tropic

 The Navajo Nation extends into the states of Utah , Arizona and New Mexico , covering over 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. Diné Bikéyah, or Navajoland, is larger than 10 of the 50 states in America.   Visitors from around the world are intrigued and mystified when they hear the Navajo language – so, too, were the enemy during World War II. Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create a secret code to battle the Japanese. Navajo men were selected to create codes and serve on the front line to overcome and deceive those on the other side of the battlefield. Today, these men are recognized as the famous Navajo Code Talkers, who exemplify the unequaled bravery and patriotism of the Navajo people. Today, the Navajo Nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever increasing population that now surpasses 250,000. In years past, Navajoland often appeared to be little more than a desol

The Maranao people derive much of their identity and history from Lake Lanao. Within the surrounding region the primary source of livelihood is agriculture, including the production of such crops as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, papayas, bananas, and betel nuts. Lake fishing is also a traditional source of livelihood. The Maranao have a very rich cultural heritage which they seem to enjoy sharing with those outside their culture. Textiles, metalwork, woodcraft, and architecture are all important cultural expressions. The AWANG, or dugout boat used in Lake Lanao, is possibly the most unique and ornate of dugouts. Maranao textiles, which indicate the status of the wearer, are known for their very ornate designs and colors. The predominate instrumental music of the Maranao people is the KULINTANG, performed on a unique set of eight melodious gongs. The KULINTANG musical tradition predates Islam, and is thus shared by both Muslim and non-Muslim people groups through

The city of Carthage   is a city in Tunisia and was the centre of the ancient Carthaginian civilization. The city developed from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC into the capital of an ancient empire. The area of Carthage was before inhabited by Berber people who also became the bulk of Carthage's population and constituted a significant part of its army, economy and administration. Native Berbers and settling Phoenicians in Carthage mixed in different ways including religion and language, creating the Punic language and culture. The name of Carthage, Latin: Carthago or Karthago ,meaning "New City". The first civilization that developed within the city's sphere of influence is referred to as Punic (a form of the word "Phoenician") or Carthaginian. The city of Carthage is located on the eastern side of Lake Tunis across from the centre of Tunis. 

 Thailand, the only Southeast Asian nation never to have been colonized by European powers, is a constitutional monarchy whose current head of state is HM Bhumibol Adulyadej. A unified Thai kingdom has existed since the mid-14th century, and Thailand was known as Siam until 1939 when it officially became the Kingdom of Thailand. The population of Thailand comprises of roughly 65 million citizens, the majority of whom are ethnically Thai, though peoples of Chinese, Indian, Malay, Mon, Khmer, Burmese, and Lao origin are also represented to varying degrees. Approximately 7 million citizens live in the capital city, Bangkok, though this number varies seasonally and is otherwise difficult to accurately count. More than 92% of the population speaks Thai or one of it’s regional dialects. While the Thai language is the official language of Thailand, as a result of its cosmopolitan capital city and established tourism infrastructure, English is spoken and understood throughout m

 Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction.

There are hundreds of different national costumes in Latvia, every region has its own.  The development of the national costumes reflects the history of the nation, from the first centuries A.D. till   the19th century. There are 2 types of  Latvian national costumes- archeological (9-12 centuries) and traditional (  2 nd  half of  19th century). In Latvia national costumes people wear d uring the Song and Dance Festivals that take place every four years in Riga; more and more  people wear the costumes on Midsummer Night (23rd June), which is the most popular national holiday in Latvia. And of course- f olklore groups, folk dancers and singers wear national costumes on stage.  Costume shows not only  ethnic features, but  the social and marital status, age and wealth of the individual wearer, traditions.

Bavaria, home to 12.5 million inhabitants , is located in the southeast of Germany and is the largest of the 16 federal states of Germany. Bavaria covers almost one-fifth of the total land area of Germany and has an area of 70,548 square kilometers (27,200 squaremiles). The capital city of Bavaria is Munich (München). The two major rivers that flow through Bavaria are the Danube (Donau) and the Main . The Bavarian Alps are home to Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze 2,962 meters / 9,717 feet, and form a natural border with Austria. The landscape of Bavaria can be subdivided into four major regions: the Alps, with the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany at 2,962 meters; the Alpine foothills with their numerous lakes; the Eastern Bavarian central mountains with the first ever national park in Germany; the Swabian-Franconian cuesta landscape. Bavaria was the first ever region in Europe to be precisely measured. Nature conservation and environm

  The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a landlocked country in northern Europe surrounded by Belgium to the west, France to the south and Germany to the east. Per capita, it is the richest country in the EU as well as being one of its smallest. It is largely made up of rolling hills and forests. The most important sectors of Luxembourg’s economy in 2012 were the financial and insurance activities (24.7%), wholesale and retail trade, transport, accommodation and food services (17.8%) and public administration, defence, education, human health and social work activities (15.7%). Luxembourg’s main export and import partners are Belgium, Germany and France.

There are several languages of New Zealand. English (New Zealand English) is the dominant language spoken by most New Zealanders and is one of three official languages [ of New Zealand. The country's de jure official languages are Māori and New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL). Other languages are also used by ethnic communities.New Zealand adopted sign language (New Zealand Sign Language or NZSL) as an official language on 10 April 2006. It is now legal for use and access in legal proceedings including in court and access to government services. There are around 70,000 native speakers of Maori out of a population of over 500,000 Māori people,with 161,000 of the country's 4 million residents claiming conversational ability in Māori

Moroccan folklore expresses and enhances everyday life of which it is an integral part. Although loyal to its forms of expression for generations, it is being continually enriched by popular imagination, under the influence of new events on the national, tribal or individual levels. Moroccan folklore is extremely diverse. It varies not only from one area to another but each tribe, nomadic or sedentary, has its own repertory, the extent and wealth of which will surprise the layman. Besides the exotic, picturesque, colorful or romantic aspects of the setting, folk dancers form an ensemble of traditions, a world of symbols which are undecipherable today.

 Unfortunately I've got the postcard damaged, but what surprised me is a letter that I got from Swedish post. If it was in my country they would just throw it away with thoughts: " What is wrong with this people? Why not to send picture in Facebook!? "

                                        Intresting facts about Norway (part 2) The official Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square in London has come from Oslo for over the last fifty years. The cheese slicer was invented in Norway. Norway is the 6 th largest country in Europe, but only ranks 28 th as far as population. If caught driving under the influence, there is an automatic 30 days in jail, lose your license for a year, and pay fines up to 10% of your annual income! Binge drinking on the weekends is a well-established tradition. Just don’t drive home! Food stores cannot be open on Sundays. If you need groceries then, you have to get them at the local gas station, which are allowed to sell food on Sundays. Food prices are so high in Norway that many people travel to Sweden to buy their groceries. The Grandiosa frozen pizza is the unofficial national food dish. Norway is the birthplace of modern skiing. The word “ski” is Norwegian for “piece of wood”. There are about

Lake Misurina s the largest natural lake of the Cadore. There are at least two different legends associated with Lake Misurina. In the first one, which was also made famous by a song named "Sabato pomeriggio", Misurina is a little capricious and spiteful girl who lives literally held in the palm of the hand of her gigantic father, the king Sorapiss that, to fulfill another desire and obtain for her the magic mirror from the Queen of Monte Cristallo, he is transformed into a mountain. During the last stages of the transformation he sees his daughter fall and her tears flow like rivers and form the lake beneath which his daughter will forever lie with the magic mirror. In the second one, Mesurina (who is later nicknamed) is a daughter of wealthy merchants from Venice who send her away in the mountains by her father anxious not to fulfill a prophecy that would see the girl give away all their possessions. Following some tragic amorous events than vaguely remini