Route 66

Route 66 no longer exists, I'm told.  Once it stretched from Chicago to Los Angeles but after much improvement and re-routing, it was removed from the US highway system in 1985.
Because of its popularity and historic significance, it has started re-appearing on maps as Historic Route 66 or State Route 66 in some states.  The card implies these would be Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico.  Wikipedia goes for Illinois, Missouri, Arizona and New Mexico, so at least there is a 50% agreement.  I know it goes through Gallup in New Mexico.

My thanks to Ria for this card.

Cfsitp

Don't ask me, I've no idea whatsoever.  The sender from Finland didn't explain, the website is defunct.  One of the mysteries of Postcrossing.

A map of Canada

On the face of it, this looks like a perfectly ordinary map card of Canada, but the sender tells me something interesting about it:

The postcard shows the map of Canada how it looked until April 1st, 1999.  On that day the Northwest Territories were divided into areas.  The western portion is still called the Northwest Territories and the eastern portion is our newest territory called Nunavut.  It is governed by the Inuit.

Nunavut means our land in Inuktitut.  Another little piece of history on a postcard.

Aberaeron

Aberaeron looks here to be an attractive old seaside town.  It's certainly attractive but it's a planned town and not especially old.  In 1807 the landowner was given permission to improve the harbour and rebuild the quay.  It developed into one of the major ports on the Welsh coast.

In time, especially with the advent of the railways, the trade through the port declined and nowadays its major industry is tourism.  It is known as the jewel of Cardigan Bay.

Champagne

This sorry looking card really has only its age going for it, but it's quite interesting.  On the address side it's impossible to read a date (though 1876 is printed on it), but it's addressed to M. Ackermann "negociant en vins" in Saumur.

Ackermanns are still in Saumur in the Loire Valley of France, producing sparkling wines using the champagne method of production.  The reverse of the card, clearly once stuck into someone's album, is interesting too.  It says:

Je vous prie de vouloir bien m'envoyer vos prix courants de champagne : et de me dire si vous avez vins avec etiquette champange. (underlining is the sender's)

Translated this is:

Please be so kind as to send me your current prices for champagne: and to tell me if you have wines with the label champagne.

Interesting, for a number of reasons.  First the date appears to be 1877, certainly not 1977.  Then the question about champagne.  From 1891 it was forbidden to use the word champagne for any wine made outside the Champagne district in France, in fact since 1994, even using the words "champagne method" has been forbidden.

And finally, the "avocat", M. Montier, seems keen that the wine he buys should be labelled as champagne.  You have to assume that he's out to impress someone that he's bought the real thing and not a cheaper imitation!

This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

Golden Gate Bridge

The unmistakeable Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  It was once the longest suspension bridge in the world, now 9th.  It carries over 100,000 vehicles a day.  It also has the rather dubious distinction of being the most popular suicide venue in the world.

Constellation

The New Type Constellation, made famous by Eastern Airlines, is the Queen of all air transportation.  It is one of the largest and most powerful airliners in commercial service today.

There's no substitute for Eastern's experience, "Tried and Proven" over billions of passenger miles.

Subotica

Subotica ia a city in northern Serbia, just 10 km from the Hungarian border.  It was at one time the second largest city in Hungary.  The largest building in the picture is of the Town Hall.

Greetings from Poland

Two cards from different sources arrived within days of each other.  they are both from resorts on the Baltic coast and both clearly from the same series of cards.

The first  reads "Greetings from the sea" and the second "Holiday greetings".  Google Translate is a wonderful thing.

Sète in the south of France

Before the summer ends, a postcards from a seaside resort.  On one side is the Mediterranean and on the other the Bassin de Thau, a salt water lake yielding mussels and oysters.  Via the Bassin, it links with both the Canal du Midi and the Canal du Rhone.  Fishing is a very important part of the economy but tourism too, is important in the summer months.

Izaac Walton revisited

This card, almost certainly dating from the same time as the previous one, "Study to be Quiet", shows the full window dedicated to Izaak Walton.  It's in Prior Silkstede's chapel in the south transept of Winchester Cathedral, just above the simple black marble slab marking the tomb of Izaak Walton. 

Tomb inscription

Here resteth the body of Mr Isaac Walton who dyed the 15th of December 1683
Alas hee's gone before, Gone to returne noe more
Our panting breaths aspire, After their aged sire
Whose wellspent life did last, Full ninety years and past
But now he hath begun, That which will nere be done
Crownd with eternal bliss, We wish our souls with his.

The Tasman Map

This card is special in a number of ways. First, it shows part of an ancient map, the Tasman Map. The original was compiled from Abel Tasman's two voyages and earlier voyages by Dutch navigators, and was drawn on very fine Japanese paper. It shows a surprisingly accurate outline of Australia.

Second, the map shown in the picture is a reproduction that consists of a marble mosaic on the floor of the State Library in New South Wales, in the Mitchell Wing vestibule. The construction of the started in 1939 and took two years to finish.

Third, and probably most important, is the message:

I knew you were the person I bought [this card] for way back in April!  .... In April 1998 my husband and I had a wedding reception in this venue, and we drank champagne standing on this very map.  So when I was back there just a few months ago, I was thrilled to see there is now a postcard of the map in the floor, and bought one and waited.  And now it's in your hands.

I feel very privileged to be the custodian for the present.  Now who is going to tell me that an unpostmarked, unwritten card is better than that?

This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

The Crab and Winkle Line

THE INVICTA RAILWAY ENGINE, CANTERBURY
Built in 1825 by George Stephenson and was used on the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway.

Possibly the first thing that came to mind for the subject of locomotion was a railway engine, and I found one.  The card shows the Invicta, the engine built immediately after the Rocket and Stephenson's twentieth locomotive.  It didn't last very long in service because the gradient was too much for it.  As a result it spent years on display in Dane John Gardens near the Riding Gate, the largest of Canterbury's medieval gates.  It is now in Canterbury Museum but there are plans for it to be moved to a new museum in Whitstable.


The Canterbury and Whitstable Line, C&WR, was known locally as the Crab and Winkle Line as a reference to the seafood for which Whitstable is well known.

The card was published by a Kent firm, CG Williams Ltd.  My parents moved to Kent in about 1970 and the Invicta was undergoing restoration by 1977, so dating the card, at least approximately, is not too difficult.  On the other hand, I bought a card today, from a museum shop, with an image that is at least 10 years old, possibly more.

Festival headquarters

Newcastle Airport

This card came from my father's collection and how he came to have it is something of a mystery to me.  As far as I know he had no connection with either Newcastle or its airport.  As a result I don't really know its age.

There are a few clues though.  BOAC became British Airways in 1974, so it must date from earlier than that.  I would imagine someone who knows about aeroplanes could say what make it is, possibly helping with the date too.

Further clues may be had from the airport building itself, because it was redeveloped during those years.  And at some point passengers would have been prevented from walking around unrestricted and unaccompanied while waving goodbye to their friends.

The card was produced by Dennis Productions who published this type, Photocolour, from the 1960s right through to the end of the 70s.

This is the first of two posts on the theme of "Locomotion" for:

 Festival headquarters

Buenos Aires

Another first for me, a card from Argentina.  The message tells me that although this looks like an old photo but that's the way the avenue looks today.  It's full of theatres and bookstores.  Sounds good!

The obelisk is one of the main icons of Buenos Aires, and was built to mark the 400 year anniversary of the founding of the city.  In 2005, to commemorate World aids Day, it was covered in a giant condom.

Teotihuacan revisited

A very different view of Teotihuacan from the one in the card I bought in 1995.  This view shows the site being altogether much greener than the the view on the card, and the impression I had when there.  My memory is of a vast dark and dry area.  That was 15 years ago of course, so I could be completely wrong.



The message on the back of the card was a puzzle - not only mirror writing, but in a spiral too. :)

Yomeimon Gate

"The most gorgeous gate in Japan, and is often called 'the day spending Gate' because it is so beautiful that the whole day will be spent while we are admiring it."

It is one of five structures at the Shinto shrine of Nikko Tosho-gu, as a whole part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which are designated National Treasures of Japan.

Jordan's Meeting House

From the back of the card:

Jordan's Meeting House (Interior)
With Jordan's meeting House and old Jordan's Farm are inseparably linked many stories of religious enthusiasm and persecution.  George Fox never worshipped in the Meeting House, though in 1673 he was at Old Jordans.  Penn, Ellwood, William Russell, and Thomas Story probably all worshipped here.

The writer assumes a certain amount of knowledge of Quaker history.  George Fox is considered the founder of the the Quakers, the Religious Society of Friends. William Penn, whose grave is in the graveyard at Jordans, was the founder of Pennsylvania in what was to become the USA.  Thomas Ellwood was a writer and close friend to William Penn and George Fox.

The early Quakers faced persecution for their beliefs.  Pennsylvania was to be a safe place for anyone to worship in peace.

Nearby is the Mayflower Barn, said to be made from the timbers of the Mayflower, the ship that transported the Pilgrims across the Atlantic.

Good Luck

Americans, don't look!  In the UK at least, black cats are a sign of good luck but I'm sure I've heard that the same isn't true in all countries, including the USA.  On this Friday 13th I feel the need for some luck and I'm afraid it has to be black cats, this being the only card I have.

 We're due for a meteor shower tonight.  I don't know if that's a good sign or bad, but there seems to be some sort of conjunction of events.  I will do what I can. :)

This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

Bahrain

My first card from Bahrain and if I'm realistic, it's like to be my only card from that small island in the Persian Gulf.  The map appears to be made up of stamps depicting fish, very attractive.

The name Bahrain means "two seas".  It is linked to Saudi Arabia by a 25 km (16 miles) causeway.  There are plans for another causeway to link the island to Qatar.

Castletownshend

Is this not beautiful?  I could sit there all day long.  Casletownshend is a small village in County Cork, Ireland.  It takes its name from Castle Townshend which is still occupied by the Townshend family, and is NOT the ruin in the picture as I first thought.

Michigan, the upper peninsula

I'm beginning to love these maps with the little pictograms.  It's a great way to spend some time in trivial pursuit of answers.

I know almost nothing about this area at all (hence the pursuit of answers) but one thing has struck me, that Mackinaw City is spelt with a final "w" whereas the Island has a final "c" in spite of having the same pronunciation, or so I'm told.

The message from the sender tells me that the upper and lower peninsulas are connected by the Mackinac Bridge (again the "c") and that people in the upper peninsula are called Yoopers (UPers).  They call lower peninsula inhabitants trolls because they live under the bridge. :)

Customs House, Dublin

The Customs House and River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.  I'm looking at all those barrels on the quayside and wondering if they're incoming or outgoing.  The truck in the foreground has Guinness written on it so I suppose that's the clue.  The card must date from the 1950s but I'm guessing because it's unused.  The style of the cars may tell those who know about that sort of thing, but I don't.

The Custom House was first built towards the end of the 18th century at a cost of £200,000, a huge amount for those days.  It was set on fire during the Irish Civil War 1921-22, and the dome was completely destroyed.  When it was restored, Ardbraccan limestone was used instead of the original Portland stone, giving it a noticeably darker colour.  It's apparent even on this card.

A bike and some books

Someone has just come back from the library!  The bike makes you think it must be the Netherlands, and you'd be right.

Not so much snail mail......

.... as tortoise mail.  Sent to me very recently from Austria.  Irresistible! You can't help but smile.

A post for Weekend Mailbox run at Gemma's Greyscale Territory. If you have any mail related post, go on over and join in.

Study to be quiet

The much quoted motto "Study to be quiet" appears in Izaak Walton's book "The Compleat Angler", published in 1653.  On the surface this is a book all about fish and fishing but closer reading reveals philosophy and politics amongst the songs, stories and anecdotes.  He revised and added to the book several times and the original 13 chapters expanded to 21 in the final version. Who knew there was so much to be said about fishing?!

He lived in Winchester, in the Cathedral Close, died there and is buried in the Fisherman's Chapel in the south transept.  This stained glass window shown on this postcard, bought during the 1980s, is above his tomb.

The motto will have recalled not only the quotation from the Bible but also a book by George Webbe:

"The practice of quietnes. Or A direction how to live quietly at all times, in all places, upon all occasions, and how to avoid or put off, all occasions of unquietnesse.  Delivered in six sermons at Steeple Ashton in Wiltshire by George Webbe, preacher of the word and pastor there."

I can only be grateful not to have had to listen to six sermons on how to be quiet.

This is a post for Postcard Friday, which is hosted by Beth Niquette at The Best Hearts are Crunchy.

Mir Castle

Here we have another red brick building but completely unlike anything in Albi.  Mir Castle is one of two World heritage Sites in Belarus, the other being Nesvizh Castle. 

It was built in the early 16th century in place of a 15th century wooden farmstead.  There is a three storey palace along the eastern and northern sides of the castle.