Red Panda

Sent by Jetske.This cute red panda lives in Rotterdam Zoo. It came with matching stamp on envelope:)

The Red Panda is a small arboreal mammal and the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs. It eats mainly bamboo, but is omnivorous and may also eat eggs, birds, insects, and small mammals. It is a solitary animal, mainly active from dusk to dawn, and is largely sedentary during the day.

Endemic to the temperate forests of the Himalayas, the Red Panda ranges from Nepal in the west toChina in the east. It is also found in northern India, Bhutan and northern Myanmar. Accurate population figures in the wild are difficult to find, with estimates ranging from 11,000 to 20,000 worldwide. Although it is protected by law in all countries where it lives, its numbers in the wild continue to decline mainly due to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding depression.

The Red Panda is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN red list (2009.01), and is listed in CITESappendix I. It has been previously classified in the families Procyonidae (raccoon) and Ursidae(bears), but recent research has placed it in its own family Ailuridae, in superfamily Musteloideaalong with Mustelidae, Procyonidae, and Mephitidae. Two subspecies are recognized.

The Red Panda is quite adaptable to living in captivity and is common in zoos worldwide. As of 2006 the international studbook listed more than 800 individuals in zoos and parks around the world.

Lisbon Tram

Lovely tram postcard from Paula/Geminiscp/.It is showing a Lisbon tram.Tram numebr 28 .

The most unique way to explore Lisbon is by its yellow traditional trams. This method of public transport in Portugal has become one of the most appealing attractions in the city. The tram 28, considered a national treasure, takes you on a tour by a selection of old Lisbon's sights, past historic buildings and traditional housing. Inaugurated in 1914, between Largo Camões andEstrela, the tram 28 route has been successively extended over the years.

In fact, Tram 28 covers the most picturesque route in Lisbon. It runs from Largo Martim Moniz to Prazeres, via the Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, São Bento and Estrela.

Leaving Martim Moniz, the tram 28 continues through a labyrinth of narrow streets. DiscoverMouraria and Alfama and while you are there, go and see the Miradouro da Graça which boasts fantastic views of the city. Continuing the route along Tram 28 will take you to theRoyal Pantheon, São Vincente de Fora Church, one of the most imposing and notable religious monuments in the city, and the famous Feira da Ladra. It is held from Tuesday to Saturday and is one of the most popular in Lisbon. The Tram continues its route to Largo Portas do Sol, Miradouro de Santa Luzia with its traditional mosaic and the Sé Cathedral.

28 continues is route to Chiado quarter and Largo Luis de Camões until S. Bento. Running upLisbon's hills, the tram 28 arrives to Estrela. Facing the gardens is the Basílica da Estrela, in late baroque and neo-classical style. Taking the streets Domingos Sequeira and Saraiva de Carvalho the tram finally arrives at Campo de Ourique right next to the final resting place of the famous, the Cemitério dos Prazeres (Prazeres Cemetery).

There are many choices amongst the 35 stops of tram 28 for places to get off and discover the Lisbon's heritage.( copy paste from http://blog.apartment-in-lisbon.com/lisbon-tram-28)

Cathedral of Santa Eulalia

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The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is the Gothiccathedral seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. (Though sometimes inaccurately so called, the famous Sagrada Família is not a cathedral). The cathedral was constructed throughout the 13th to 15th centuries, with the principal work done in the 14th century. The cloisters enclosing the Well of the Geese (Fuente de las Ocas) were completed about 1450. The neo-Gothic façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that is common to Catalan churches^[1] in the 19th century.

The cathedral was constructed over the crypt of a former Visigothic chapel, dedicated to Saint James, which was the proprietary church of the Viscounts of Barcelona, one of whom, Mir Gerberto, sold it in 1058 to bishop Guisleberto. Its site faced the Roman forum of Barcelona,

It is a hall church, vaulted over five aisles, the outer two divided into chapels. The transept is truncated. The east end is a chevet of nine radiating chapels connected by an ambulatory. The high altar is raised, allowing a clear view into the crypt.

The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona, a young virgin who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in Barcelona. One story is that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street (according to tradition, the one now called 'Baixada de Santa Eulalia'). The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral's crypt.

Uppo -Nalle

Uppo-Nalle is a series of Finnish children's novels by the Finnish author Elina Karjalainen.

The main character in the books is Uppo-Nalle, an animate teddy bear. The bear was named Uppo-Nalle (Finnish for "sunken bear") because he was originally found underwater during a river cruise. Other characters in the books are a girl named Reeta, her grandmother, and their dog named Laulava lintukoira (Finnish for "singing bird dog").

Kronborg Castle

Kronborg Slot (in english Kronborg castle) is situated near the town of Helsingør (immortalised as Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet) on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. In this part, the sound is only 4 km wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a fortress at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea. The castle has for centuries been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list on November 30, 2000.

The castle's story dates back to a fortress, Krogen, built in the 1420s by the Danish king,Eric of Pomerania. The king insisted on the payment of sound dues by all ships wishing to enter or leave the Baltic Sea; to help enforce his demands, he built a powerful fortress controlling the sound. It then consisted of a number of buildings inside a surrounding wall.

Stamped with Copenhagen Opera House stamp.Value 7.75 DKK.

The Copenhagen Opera House (in Danish usually called Operaen) is the national opera house of Denmark, and among the most modern opera houses in the world. It is also one of the most expensive opera houses ever built with construction costs well over 500 million U.S. dollars.. It is located on the island of Holmen in the center ofCopenhagen.

Hamburg

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A night view card from Evelyn,Hamburg.

This card is showing Binnenlaster lake(also known as Inner Alster Lake) is one of two artificial lakes within the city limits of Hamburg,Germany, which are formed by the river Alster (the other being the Außenalster). The main annual festival is the Alstervergnügen.

The lake has an area of 0.2 square kilometres.

The phrase "inner" refers to the old city walls of Hamburg. The Binnenalster was the part of the lake that was "inside" the city walls. The lake was originally created to serve as a reservoir for a mill. As of 2008 the old city walls do not exist, instead two car and train bridges, the Lombardbrücke and the Kennedybrücke, span the river.

The building with tower is the Rathaus of Hamburg.

The Hamburg Rathaus is the Rathaus—the city hall or town hall—of Hamburg, Germany, it is the seat of the government of Hamburg, located in the Altstadt quarter in the city centre, near the lake Binnenalster and the central station. Constructed from 1886 to 1897, the city hall still houses its original governmental functions with the office of the First Mayor of Hamburg and the meeting rooms for Hamburg's parliament and senate (the city's executive).

Edmonton

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Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta. The city is located on the North Saskatchewan River in the central region of the province, an area with some of the most fertile farmland on the prairies. It is the second largest city in Alberta afterCalgary, and is the hub of Canada's sixth-largest census metropolitan area. The hadrosaurEdmontosaurus is named after the city.

Moldova

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Moldova is quite rare country in Postcrossing.I received this card from Elena.It is showing tiny fragments where she lives:)

Orhei is a city and the administrative centre of Orhei District with a population of 25,680. Prior to 2003, Orhei was a Judeţ, a large administrative region, but the country was divided further in Raion, or districts. Most people speak Romanian and Russian. There is one school that is taught in Russian.

The St. Dumitru Church built by Vasile Lupu is located in this town. Orhei is approximately 50 kilometers north of the capital, Chişinău. Orhei gets its name from Orhei Vechi, an active monastery near the village of Ivancea.

The name "Orhei" is, according to one theory, derived from the Hungarian word Őrhely, meaning "fortress", dating from the 13th century, when Hungarian forces built a series of defences in the area.

Orhei was home to many Jews prior to WWII, and has a large Jewish cemetery There is only one active synagogue left in the community. The main churches are Russian Orthodox. Also in the area are Baptist, a Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Salvation Army and Jehovah's Witnesses.