scenic cities

In Granada, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, is perhaps the most famous example of Islamic architecture.  It was originally a small fortress (1258-1358), but was significantly rebuilt after 1492 and used as a palace.

I have never been to Chattanooga, and have no idea what these buildings would be in this 1940s postcard showing the city center and the Tennessee River and Lookout Mountain.  It's official nickname is the "Scenic City".

day 20 of NaBloPoMo 

looking skyward

 

sunsets

white on white

grey skies and a rainbow

valencia

the region has been declared a disaster zone after devastating floods, the deadliest in decades

andalucia

 

puppies and horses

'Puppy', a massive floral sculpture by artist Jeff Koons, stands in front of the Bilbao Guggenheim.  A West Highland terrier, he is 40' tall and gets a makeover twice a year with fresh flowers.

The Kelpies in Falkirk, Scotland. Kelpies are mythological beasts and these ones were created by Andy Scott in 2013. Their names are Duke and Baron.  They are 100' tall and, yes, you can go inside.

some sculptures for Thursday Postcard Hunt

wall art

 mosaics in Spaintiles in Portugalmurals in Canada

some public art for Thursday Postcard Hunt

semi finals

 thing one...

 

 

 

 

 France v Spain

thing two

 

 

 

 

Canada v Argentina

houses

 An Edward Hopper house, alone in a bleak landscape

A bed and breakfast house in Cantabria, Spain

A bed and breakfast house in Ontario, Canada

some houses where you may want to stay for Thursday Postcard Hunt

dangerous, weird, and beautiful

 

the world's most dangerous bird, a southern cassowary

 

 

followed by the world's most bizarre animal, the duck billed platypus

maybe a trip to sunny Spain would be more up your alley

something blue for Sunday Stamps

alhambra

This was my first introduction to Islamic architecture. I was 18, on a school trip, when I fell in love with the symmetry, tiles, Arabic writing... and Spain
 

rooftops and people

 

renewable energy

 

geothermal energy

some science for Sunday Stamps

altamira palace

The Palmeral de Elche is the largest palm grove in Europe. Today, there are over 200,000 palm trees around the historic centre. This card shows the Altamira Palace which is currently an Archaeological Museum.

umbrella house

 Casa Bruno Cuadros

on Las Ramblas, built in 1858 by Bruno Cuadros and refubished in 1883 with architect and artist Josep Casanovas

mountains

 

A 1960 view of the tiny village of Torla in the Pyrenees

Mt Logan, near the border of Yukon and Alaska, is the highest peak in Canada

some mountain heights for Sunday Stamps

mosque-cathedral

 

The Grand Mosque was built in 784 by the Emir of Cordoba, Abd al-Rahman I. In 1236 it became a Roman Catholic church

gaudi

boat street

 

sounds so much better in Spanish

lush

 Garajonay National Park in the Canary Islands is 40 sq. km. This stamp shows some of the large rock formations which are former volcanoes carved by erosion and a small hint that it is also a lush forest. It has been a World Heritage Site since 1986.

From Spain

 to Singapore

and the Singapore Botanic Gardens which only became a World Heritage Site in 2015 (and Singapore's first UNESCO site and the first and only tropical garden on the heritage list) but it was created in 1859. The stamps feature the gazebo at the Bandstand, Burkill Hall (the original residence of the superintendent) and Tanglin Gate (the main entrance)

For Sunday Stamps - World Heritage Sites

rambles

featuring the tree lined Las Ramblas
and Christopher Columbus on a very tall 40m column