Stop 101 - Ahkionlahti

Our last postcard has been sent to Ahkionlahti, in Finland, 3242 kilometers away!

The postcard was sent to Anu. It was sent by Paco, a C1.2 student who wrote on a postcard featuring one of the paintings of Alfonso Costa. It is a design we have abused of in the past: we'll need to be on the lookout for new pictures!

On the back, Paco informs our Finnish friend about our town, with its history, general location and traditions.

Thanks, Paco!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): MARI from JAPAN

This postcard was sent to us from Japan. It was sent by Mari, who lives in Nagoya, 10708 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a lovely picture of a mother boar and her offspring, with Mount Fuji in the background and some lovely calligraphy. It seems this is the Year of the Boar, by the Sino-Japananese zodiac!

On the back, Mari sends us some good wishes, and includes lovely stamps (with more animals!) and pictures.

ありがとうございます, Mari!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): AURÉLIE from BELGIUM

This postcard was sent to us from Belgium. It was sent by Aurélie, who lives in Mons, 1296 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a view of a street with some murals. Looking at the back we learn it is the Athénée royal d'Auderghem, en Bruxelas.

On the back also, Aurélie sends some short greetings.

Merci, Aurélie!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): ARINA from RUSSIA

This postcard was sent to us from Russia. It was sent by Arina, who lives in Saint Petersburg, 3248 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a beautiful picture showing part of her city's landscape, along with a huge, cute, cat-like cloud.

On the back, Arina, who is one of our youngest correspondants, tells us about herself and her hobbies.

Спасибо, Arina!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): INNA from RUSSIA

This postcard was sent to us from Russia. It was sent by Inna, who lives in Kaluga, 3492 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a reproduction of a painting that shows some of the major landmarks of Saint Petersburg: the equestrian statue of Peter the Great, the founder of the city (a statue that was memorably sung about in Puskhin's poem 'The Bronze Horseman') and the high steeple of the Peter and Paul cathedral.

On the back, Inna tells us that she used to live in the old capital, and that she sings in her own band!

Спасибо, Inna!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): THORALF from GERMANY

This postcard was sent to us by Thoralf, who lives in Hermsdorf, 1808 kilometers away!

On the card we can appreciate a man with a dog (Pekinese, I think?) along with a statement that seems to match dogs and style. Are the man's clothes supposed to match his dogs?

On the back, Thoralf informs us that music is his passion, including what Spanish band he likes.

Danke, Thoralf!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): CELINE from FRANCE

This postcard was sent to us from France. It was sent by Celine, who lives in Elbeuf, 1049 kilometers away!

On the card we can see an image of a cat amidst some pink flowers. It would look very proper on a tin of biscuits, wouldn't it?

On the back, Celine sends us some nice words and a lot of stamps! I imagine they weren't all necessary, but they do make the card prettier.

Merci, Celine!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): SANDRA from THE USA

This postcard was sent to us from the USA. It was sent by Sandra, who lives in Asheville, 6195 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a lovely view of a mountain landscape, with white mists, evergreens and mountain tops. They belong to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

On the back we are sent some nice wishes and informed that the card-sender lives near these mountains, and has driven through its extensive parkway.

Thanks, Sandra!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): PEIFERN from MALAYSIA

This postcard was sent to us from Malaysia. It was sent by Peifern, who lives in Bukit Mertajam, 11151 kilometers away!

On the card we can glimpse a lovely, tropical view of a beach, the sea, a hut and some coconut trees. A warm reminder of other places in the middle of our Galician winter!

On the back we have some nice stamps and wishes from our Malaysian correspondent, and some personal information about her likes and dislikes.

Terima kasih, Peifern!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): SUSANNE from GERMANY

This postcard was sent to us from Germany. It was sent by Susanne, who lives in Regensburg, 1758 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a lovely, vintage photograph of the sender's city, with a cast-iron bridge in the foreground and the old Greman town with its spires and buildings in the background. It appears to be one of those 19th century black-and-white photos that have been artificially coloured.

On the back, tells us about Regensburg and wishes us a "Merry Christmas".

Danke, Susanne!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): TERRI from THE USA

This postcard was sent to us from the USA. It was sent by Terri, who lives in New Paltz, 5226 kilometers away!

The image on the card is one of the typical we would expect from the Christmas season: a lovely, child-like drawing of some snowmen with scarves, hats and big carrot noses under the snowflakes.

On the back, Terri sends us some good wishes and specifies that she lives in the Hudson river area, near New York.

Thanks, Terri!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): DAVID from THE UNITED KINGDOM

This postcard was sent to us from the UK. It was sent by David, who lives in Altrincham, 1273 kilometers away!

On the card we can appreciate a beautiful terracotta panel showing a couple of cormorants; these birds eat fish, and have been used in some places (Japan) by fishermen as a fishing tool.

On the back, he tells us about his town and that he has seen our postcrossing blog! Well, here's your very own postcard now!

Thanks, David!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): DIANE from THE NETHERLANDS

This postcard was sent to us from The Netherlands. It was sent by Diane, who lives in Haarlem, 1467 kilometers away!

On the card we can appreciate a beautiful view of Amsterdamse Poort, one of the medieval city gates of Haarlem which, with some renovations, has almost miracously survived till the present day.

On the back, Diane tells us some interesting pieces of information: she used to help foreign women trying to learn Dutch, and says that Spanish ones had the greatest difficulties with some of her language's sounds.

Bedankt, Diane!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): PHILIPPE from FRANCE

This postcard was sent to us from France. It was sent by Philippe, who lives in Crémieu, 1170 kilometers away!

On the card we can see a mailbox, with a design that looks very similar to the ones that we can buy in Spain. I wonder where that coat of arms comes from... (I think it's Italian). In the background, we have a nice brick wall.

In his own words, Philippe tells us about his life (he used to work with computers), the old age of his village, and transmits some Christmas good wishes to us.

Merci, Philippe!

Postcrossing Meetup (Received Cards): BIRGIT from AUSTRIA

This postcard was sent to us from Austria. It was sent by Birgit, who lives in Graz, 1961 kilometers away!

The date when she sent this to us was near Christmas, so it was a seasonal cards, with a view of a tree and some red, round ornaments.

On the back, we had a lovely stamp conmemorating the 100th anniversary of the famous carol 'Silent Night' and some gingerbread figures.

Finally, we had a message inside, telling us about where Birgit lives and sending us some warm holiday greetings.

Danke, Birgit!