World on my postcards

Interesting Facts About Iran The word Iran means the ‘Land of the Aryan’s. The for­mer name of Iran was Per­sia, which was in use till 1935. Iran ranks sev­enth among coun­tries in the world as regards num­ber of World Her­itage Sites rec­og­nized by UNESCO . Iran ranks sec­ond in the world in nat­ural gas and third in oil reserves. Alexander’s wife, Rox­anne, was an Iran­ian. “Roshanak” in Farsi Per­sians have a dif­fer­ent lan­guage and iden­tity from the rest of the Mid­dle East. Iran has bor­ders with ten coun­tries, namely Arme­nia, Azer­bai­jan, Turk­menistan, Afghanistan, Pak­istan, Oman, United Arab Emi­rates, Kuwait, Iraq and Turkey. The largest eth­nic group of Iran is Per­sian, con­sti­tut­ing about 51 per­cent of the population. Major­ity of the pop­u­la­tion of Iran is Shi­ite Muslim. Famous west­ern poets influ­enced by Per­sian poets: Ralph Waldo Emer­son, Wolf­gang Von Goethe. Iran’s con­sti­tu­tion and Par­lia­ment were cre­ated on A...

 Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, enjoys great fame among tourists not only because the region features a consistently warm climate, but also thanks to its wonderful vistas and landscapes. Among the most dramatic of these attractions is the Stone Forest (Shilin), known since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) as the 'First Wonder of the World.' It  is in Lunan Yi Nationality Autonomous County. It covers an area of 400 square kilometers  and includes both large and small stone forests, as well as many other scenic spots. An old local saying says that 'If you have visited Kunming without seeing the Stone Forest, you have wasted your time.' Truly, the site is one of the most important attractions of Yunnan. Walking through the site, visitors marvel at the natural stone masterpieces and are bewitched by the intricate formations. The magnificent, strange and steep landscape creates countless labyrinthine vistas, including: Major Stone Forest, Mi...

 Intresting facts about Norway The name “Norway” means “path to the North”. Norway along with Sweden and Denmark make up Scandinavia. The Jostedalsbreen, in Norway, is the largest glacier in Northern Europe. Norway has over 20,000 km of coastline. Gas prices are among the highest in the world, even though Norway is one of the biggest exporters of oil in the world. The Laerdal road tunnel is the world’s longest road tunnel at 24.5 km (15 miles)   You can only buy alcohol from stores called Vinmonopolet. There are only one or two in each city, and none in the countryside towns. Norway also has the world’s deepest underwater tunnel at 287 meters deep. Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. It is also the most peaceful country, according to the Global Peace Index.

                      A wedding in Romania can be one of the most authentic and inspiring way to understand and see, with your own eyes, how this eastern european country is an unique mix of old and new, joined together in times when cultural identity tends to fade as globalisation takes its place.The tradition of the bride being kidnapped by the groom’s friends is not a specific Romanian tradition, but a custom outspread in all the eastern part of Europe. There are some differences in „the ritual” depending on the country, but, at large, we are talking about the same root custom. As many might imagine, this is a tradition reminding of old times when a bride was a very important „possesion”.However, in Romania, the custom goes like this: a group of close friends of the groom take the bride (usually by hand) and sneak her out of the building where the wedding party is ...

While the Sami, or Lapps, are commonly thought of as the inhabitants of Lapland, they have never had a country of their own. They are the original inhabitants of northern Scandinavia and most of Finland. Their neighbors have called them Lapps, but they prefer to be called Samer or Sami , since Lapp means a patch of cloth for mending and was a name imposed on them by the people who settled on their lands. The Sami refer to their land as Sapmi or Same. The Sami first appear in written history in the works of the Roman author Tacitus in about AD 98. Nearly 900 years later, a Norwegian chieftain visiting King Alfred the Great of England spoke of these reindeer herders, who were paying taxes to him in the form of fur...

The research on the traditional dress of Finland indicates that the origin of such costumes date back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Finland has a mixed culture having the combination of the European and the Indigenous influences and there exist significant variations in the cultural values of different parts of Finland.  Finns, traditionally wore the combination of a vest, skirt and a shirt altogether and in the formal wear the articles like a lacey cap, apron and a silk scarf could be added to the outfit.Having the attachment with the countryside, the most of the Finn population had the fundamental inclination towards nature and this was also reflected through their clothing style. In the start of the nineteenth century, there was much awareness among the Finns to adopt their cultural and traditional values and thus the common people also started to wear their traditional dresses. The people of Finland declared themselves their traditional d...

Certainly everybody knows Santa Claus. He is the old good will ambassador that has travelled the world for Centuries, bringing presents people around Christmas. The original home of Santa Claus was at Korvatunturi, the Ear Fjell, as it is sometimes called and It’s been there for as long as Santa can remember. About a hundred years ago the word spread with the helpof a certain uncle Markus about the whereabouts of this magical place. Soon people from near and far travelled there to look for Santa and his home. This of course was impossible because Santa’s home has always been the most secret place on earth. Santa has dedicated his life to bringing up kindess and taking care of children’s rights. Enjoying and cherishing nature is very iportant to Santa. Maybe the most recognizible feature of Santa is his skill to evoke happiness. Hundreds of millions of people thoughout the world dream of meeting Santa on Christmas. Through these pages you can start your coun...

Gaasbeek Castle today a national museum, is located in the municipality of Lennik in the province of Flemish Brabant, Belgium. The fortified castle was erected around 1240 to defend the Duchy of Brabant against the County of Flanders. The castle was destroyed however by Brussels city troops in revenge for the assassination of Everard 't Serclaes, which was commanded by the Lord of Gaasbeek. At the beginning of the 16th century the Horne family constructed a brick castle on the ruins of the medieval fortress. In 1565 Lamoral, Count of Egmont, acquired the castle and its domain, including feudal rights in 17 surrounding villages. Accused of high treason by Philip II of Spain, the Count of Egmont was beheaded three years later. In the following centuries the castle was inhabited by several noble families. It obtained its pseudo-medieval appearance as the result of a renovation during the years 1887-1898. The works were executed by the architect Charles Albert and ordered by ...

Devil’s Bridge is a name given to dozens of ancient bridges, found primarily in Europe.  Each of the Devil’s Bridges has a corresponding devil-related myth or folktale Devil’s Bridge in Bulgaria legend says that the devil is ordered to make a bridge with its image. Here are some of the legends - One version of the tale presents the bridge builder and the Devil as adversaries. This reflects the fact that frequently, such as in the case of the Teufelsbrücke at the St. Gotthard Pass, these bridges were built under such challenging conditions that successful completion of the bridge required a heroic effort on the part of the builders and the community, ensuring its legendary status.Other versions of the legend feature an old lady or a simple herder who makes a pact with the Devil. In this version the devil agrees to build the bridge, and in return he will receive the first soul to cross it. After building the bridge (often overnight) the devil is outwitted by hi...

Snezka is the highest mountain in the Czech Republic and in the Krkonose mountains (Giant Mountains). It is located at the Czech-Polish border in the Krkonose National Park and rises up to 1602 meters. Krkonose belong to a larger geological system, which reaches to the United Kingdom, where it forms the Snowdonia with its highest summit Snowdon. 250 thousand years ago, during the glacial period, the glacier formed Snezka to a unique shape, unusual for central Europe, which makes Snezka so interesting for geologists, naturalists and tourists. Since 1992, Krkonose are in the UNESCO list of biosphere reserves. The trilateral round pyramid of the Snezka massif falls 600 meters (2000 ft) to Obri Dul (Giant Valley) on Czech south side and to Lomnicky Valley at the north Polish side. The slopes are bare and rocky, formed of gneiss. The trees are only at the foot of the mountain and the vegetation gradually disappears during the ascent, remaining just moss. The eastern slop...

     The Brandenburg Gate is an 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch in Berlin, one of the best-known landmarks of Germany. 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. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002 by the Berlin Monument Conservation Foundation During the post-war Partition of Germany, the gate was isolated and inaccessible immediately next to the Berlin Wall, and the area around the gate was featured most prominently in the media coverage of the opening of the wall in 1989. Throughout its existence, the Brandenburg Gate was often a site for major historical events and is today considered a symbol of the tumultuous h...

       The Republic of San Marino was founded in 301 A.D. and is the most ancient European Republic. An enclave situated in central Italy, 15 km from the Romagna Riviera, the Republic sits at 700 meters above sea level on Mount Titano, a prominence which gives the first hint of the presence of the Central Apennine Mountains. Each year the Republic of San Marino is visited by millions of tourists from Italy and from all over the world. San Marino is an extraordinary example of independence and intense international activity. Recognized by all the principal world organizations, the Republic of San Marino can boast an undisputed preeminence on themes regarding peace, freedom and the universal rights of man. Its legal and administrative systems form the basis of the most wide-spread form of government worldwide; namely, a democracy. Of the world's 193 independent countries, San Marino is the fifth smallest and – arguably – the most curious. ...

The Venice Carnival is the most internationally known festival celebrated in Venice, Italy, as well as being one of the oldest. This congregation of masked people, called Venice Carnival, began in the 15th century, but the tradition can be traced back to the beginning of the 14th Century. During those years one of the first laws made by the Serenissima was that masks cannot be used around the city at night . Later, Venice Carnival attracted foreigners - including princes - from all over Europe, who came to enjoy the wild festivities while spending fortunes. The streets of Venice Carnival were full of people in masks, and no differentiation could be made between nobility and the common people. Generally, the costume worn was a cloak with a long-nosed mask. Also popular were masked couples, where a man and a woman would dress as allegorical characters. In the squares street-artists and singers entertain with songs and music from their guitars, the guests of the Ven...

My name is Emily. Originally, I'm from Ukraine. I'm postcrosser for 2 years. There are more than 300 postcards in my collection, but due to the war in my home town I have none left. Temporary I live in Wales and swap postcards from here.   Postcrossing makes me happy.  I love stamps very much also. And I leave peace of my soul in each postcard I write. I love reading intresting facts about what is on a card, so often I'm writing them on a card.  It all started accidentally, when my mom saw a note about postrossing. We thought: Why not? After that my life changed. I know much more than before and I LOVE IT! ❤ Every single postcard brings me love and happiness from different corner of the world.    I love: ☑ Maps   ☑ Famous places ☑ Traditions ☑ Local people ☑National costumes