ISLE OF SKYE

The Isle of Skye exerts a magnetic pull on visitors. It is a byword for spectacularly craggy mountains. Thus it is forgiven its relentlessly wet climate, which is inevitable as the big hill masses get in the way of the prevailing Atlantic weather fronts moving out of the south west. The new bridge linking Skye with the mainland may do little for the immediate scenery of the strait between. Sky has plenty of scenic wonders, thanks to its complex geology of overlapping ancient lava flows. 

Waller Hugh Paton (1828-1895) Entrance to the Cuiraing, Skye 1873

This painting is a spectacular example of Paton’s mature landscape work. It shows the Cuiraing (or Quiraing in modern usage), a remarkable landslip on the Trotternish peninsula of Skye. Here, the jagged spike of the thirty-seven meter high pinnacle known as ‘The Needle’ dominates the middle of the composition. Paton described the Quiraing as ‘an awful place’, despite the fact that it had become a top destination for artists and tourists alike. 

Received from Hazel, Scotland. As she says it is a very spiritualist place and great scenery!

DUNEDIN

Dunedin is New Zealand’s largest city by area and arguably the most spectacular in terms of contrasting landscapes. Dunedin is a thriving city set amidst a magical landscape edged by the sea. It’s a place where the streets hum vibrantly with colour and culture, and the beauty of nature is everywhere. Setting it apart from other New Zealand cities, Dunedin has the finest examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the Southern Hemisphere. It has close historical links with the Scottish city of Edinburgh. 

Dunedin, Otago, NZ

The city is renowned for its proximity to incredible wildlife and is often referred to as the eco-capital of New Zealand. The 24 km-long Otago Peninsula (19000ha) is home to a colony of one of the world’s rarest penguins, stretching along the southern edge of the Otago harbour is an easy drive from central Dunedin. Dunedin is a city of rare and charm.

DENVER

A young, active city at the base of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Denver is the 23rd most populous city in the U.S. Local boosters named the frontier mining camp on the South Platte River "Denver" after Kansas Territorial Governor James Denver in hopes of gaining political favor. Central City, located about 45 minutes west of Denver, is known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth" due to the half billion dollars of gold that was mined there.

Denver, Colorado, "The mile high city" where the Great Plains meet  the Rocky Mountains.

Denver is near the mountains, not in them. The Mile High City is located on high rolling plains, 12 miles east of the "foothills," a series of gentle mountains that climb to 11,000 feet. Just beyond is the "Front Range of the Rocky Mountains," a series of formidable snowcapped peaks that rise to 14,000 feet. Denver might not be in the mountains, but the mountains still dominate the city. The picturesque mountain panorama from Denver is 140 miles long. There are 200 visible named peaks including 32 that soar to 13,000 feet and above.

Postcrossing Postcard US-1142290

VANCOUVER

The natural geography of Vancouver makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. As a vital part of the Pacific Rim, Vancouver is rapidly becoming more international in flavour and is very much a modern city. Defined by the North Shore mountains and rimmed by the Strait of Georgia, Vancouver is dotted with beaches and forested parks, all linked by the arms of the great Fraser River Delta. Vancouver is also known as Hollywood North because it is north of Hollywood and of its film industry.

Beautiful downtown Vancouver B.C. with the North Shore Mountains blanketed in snow (front). Burrard Bridge and Granville Island (back).

Nestled right in the downtown core is Stanley Park, spreading over 1,000 acres it is the largest inner city park in Canada. Modern architecture and skyscrapers blend in with heritage amidst spectacular natural backdrop of mountains and sea. Large shopping malls, squares and parks are scattered throughout the downtown core and the outlying areas. Vancouver is named after a British explorer, Captain George Vancouver.

HAMPSHIRE

Hampshire is a county of chalk downlands above winding valleys of the swift little Itchen, Test and Meon streams and the open heathland and woods of the New Forest in the south. In the middle sits Winchester - boasting one of the noblest cathedrals and most beautiful old schools in the country. There are pockets of real rural beauty to discover here.

Neither new, nor really a forest, the New Forest remains without doubt one of the most individual stretches of countryside in the South of England. It was set aside by William the Conqueror in 1079 as a royal hunting ground. The heathland and wooded enclosures of the New Forest offer interesting rambles. Deer are still common, though you're more likely to meet wild ponies. 

Cottages at Southwick, Hursley, The New Forest and Longparish show the character of Hampshire's vernacular style.

The pretty village Longparish with its abundance of thatched and period properties is situated on the beautiful River Test and bordered to the north by the remains of Harewood Forest. It boasts two excellent pubs and is a perfect location for walking, cycling and exploring the North Wessex Downs.

Visit Hampshire

HONG KONG

 Placed on the southeast coast of China, Hong Kong’s strategic location on the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea has made it one of the world’s most prospering and cosmopolitan cities.

Kowloon and Hong Kong Island

Dominating the Kowloon waterfront stands the 118-storey International Commerce Centre. The land in front of it is designated for the West Kowloon Cultural District. At centre lies Harbour City and Ocean Terminal and beyond, on Hong Kong Island, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"A Symphony of Lights" over Hong Kong Harbour.

This spectacular display, already named the 'World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show' by Guiness World Records, has now been expanded to include more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. It is an all round vision of coloured lights, laser beams and searchlights, synchronised to music and narration, creating a stunning, unforgettable spectacle celebrating the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong.

Neon fantasy on Nathan Road.

This is a composite creation made up of many of the best neon signs on both sides of the harbour. Many of the signs represent some of Hong Kong's best restaurants and night spots. The street is real and is Nathan Road in Kowloon, also known as "the Golden Mile".

CHICAGO

The American spirit has long felt at home in Chicago. Steeped in the motto, “I Will,” Chicago reaffirms America as a land of endless possibilities in ways most cities can only imagine. It’s a city that reversed the flow of a river. Gave birth to the electric blues. And rebuilt itself toward the heavens after a devastating fire — inventing the skyscraper along the way.

John Hancock Center 

Today, Chicago greets you with a sweeping skyline punctuated by the tallest building in America. A bold first impression to a world-class city rich with unexpected surprises. Chicago is well known for its architecture and tall buildings. The 100-story John Hancock Center is a self-contained world of apartments, restaurants and shops. The 94th floor observatory offers a breathtaking view of Chicago's spectacular lakefront and the city spread along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Wringley Field 

Baseball is a popular American sport. Chicago has two professional baseball teams. The Chicago Cubs play at Wringley Field. Built in 1914, Wringley Field is the second oldest major league ballpark in the country. The stadium first welcomed the Chicago Cubs in 1916 and the two have been synonymous ever since. Wringley Field is the nation's most picturesque ballpark with its ivy-covered brick outfield walls and the manually operated scoreboard.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

British Columbia is Canada's most westerly province. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal and Rocky Mountain ranges. It is a neighbour to Alberta on the east and to the USA on the south.

Beautiful British Columbia

British Columbia, with its varied landscape, is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Mighty rivers and ocean shoreline, fishing lakes and sandy beaches, wild flowers and old-growth forests, comprise the 952,263 square kilometers of "Beautiful" British Columbia. The entire province is four times the size of the United Kingdom and yet has a population of just over 3 million people. With over 400 parks, and numerous mountain ranges, there is no shortage of wilderness area offering opportunities for everyone from the casual walker to the adventure enthusiast.

Farm near Fort Steele

Historians are fascinated by the wealth B.C. has. Throughout British Columbia traditional cultures continue to thrive and one can see huge totem poles in their original surroundings or retrace the 1870's Gold rush and early settlers. The climate varies throughout as much as the landscape. Variety is the key to British Columbia's popularity.

STREAKY BAY

Streaky Bay is a picturesque coastal town and the hub of the rural and fishing community. It is situated on Flinders Highway on the west coast of Eyre Peninsula, in South Australia and, with 366.15 kilometres of the most spectacular coastline on the Great Australian Bight.

The small town of Streaky Bay proclaimed in 1872 is 727 kilometres north-west of Adelaide on the western coastline of Eyre Peninsula. The town is on a stretch of fascinating coastline changing between long pristine sandy beaches and rugged cliffs. Streaky Bay was originally named Flinders, but in 1940, after continued local usage, the name of the town was offcially changed to Streaky Bay.

Streaky Bay and districts offers three breathtaking scenic drives on the Great Australian Bight: Westall Way Loop; Cape Bauer Loop and, the Point Labatt Conservation Park/Murphy’s Haystacks Scenic Drives.

BLOUBERGSTRAND

Holiday resort with a spectacular view of Table Mountain and Cape Town. Wild flowers abound in spring. A clear day affords a view of Robben Island. 'Ons Huisie', a restored fisherman's cottage, and a national monument, now a restaurant. Safe swimming opposite lifesaver's club where a lifesaver is on duty. Fishing is good, as is surfing and swimming, despite the cold surf. A small beach (Little Bay) for swimming, sunbathers and families; a large one (Big Bay)for angling, surfing and paddle-skiing competitions. Braaing permitted on grassy verge behind car park. International windsurfing competitions are held here annually.

The beach from across the waters of Table Bay - with magnificent panoramic vistas of Devil's Peak, Table Mountain and conical Lion's Head

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

THE ISLE OF WIGHT

Though a separate county since 1974, the lozenge-shaped ISLE OF WIGHT still has difficulty shaking off its image as a mere adjunct of rural southern England - comfortably off, scrupulously tidy and desperately unadventurous. Yet the island, which measures less than 23 miles at its widest point, packs a surprising variety of landscapes and coastal scenery within its bounds. 

North of the chalk ridge that runs across its centre, the terrain is low-lying woodland and pasture, deeply cut by meandering rivers, while southwards lies open chalky downland fringed by high cliffs. Two Heritage Coast paths follow the best of the shoreline, and a splendid array of well-preserved Victoriana provides added interest. It is a popular opinion that among the best things on the Isle of Wight are the Downs. They command wonderful views, and the air, which comes straight from the sea, is most invigorating.

Postcrossing Postcard: NL-805107

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Come North, for the experience of a lifetime!

The Northwest Territories encompasses a third of the land mass of Canada, some 3,300,000 square kilometres. It stirs the soul and captures the imagination; vast, unspoiled, diverse, and unforgettable. The Northwest Territories is a land of geographic wonders and infinite naturalist opportunities. It is a remarkable area some 1.3 million square miles in size that can, happily, still boast of clean air and pristine waterways, wide open spaces and an abundance of extraordinary wildlife and unusual plant life. This massive region has come to be recognised as one of the last great refuges left on this planet.

Caribou number in the hundreds of thousands in the Northwest Territories and provide a mainstay in the diet of the local people.

Few memories can compare with your first view of a herd of caribou. A sense of unreality prevails as you realize their sheer numbers. The land itself seems to move, a tide of life flowing across the tundra. And they do flow, moving at a fast walk, occasionally breaking into a trot, grazing briefly here and there, then marching on.

CALIFORNIA

Greetings from California! 

Nickname: The Golden State. 
Area in Square Miles: 158,297. 
Population: 25,000,000. 
Entered the Union:  September 9th, 1850
Endless sunshine, amazing cities, best-in-class theme parks, incredible natural treasures. From beaches and deserts to 14,000-foot mountains, from ultimate cities to its broad heartland, the Golden State invites you to play all year long.

The land of movie stars and make believe, California occupies the imagination of the entire world. Dreams of swaying palm trees lining manicured Beverly Hills boulevards with enormous mansions, sunny beach boardwalks with fun fairs and rollerbladers, scenic highways skirting dramatic coastal drop-offs, and secluded paths meandering through groves of giant redwood trees are all part of the magic of this wildly popular state.

But far from the bustling streets of the big cities, the stunning landscape of California offers scenic photo opportunities ranging from the giant redwoods of Sequoia National Park, to the twisted branches of Joshua Tree. Travellers can ski or swim at Lake Tahoe, and cavort with dolphins on Catalina Island… leading many to wonder if there's anything you can't find in California!

Read more: visitcalifornia.com

MUIZENBERG

At the north-west end of False Bay, cradled between the sea and high mountains, this famous seaside resort boasts a magnificent 35-km stretch of beach and a relatively warm surf. This sea is shallow, and bathing safe. The beach is distinctive with its rows of Victorian bathing boxes. Popular amongst families and young surfers, the pavilion at the beach also offers great fun and entertainment.

Cape Peninsula. A scene of the pavilion at this popular holiday resort.

Places of interest include:

1. De Post Huys. The original garrison building, one of the oldest surviving structures from settlement days. Built as a lookout post and signal station in 1673.
2. Rhodes Cottage. The cottage in which Cecil Rhodes died in 1902, maintained as a memorial museum. Contains many of his possessions and photographs.
3. The Natale Labia Museum contains fine furniture and works of art. 

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

SOUTH DEVON

With its rolling meadows, narrow lanes and remote thatched cottages, Devon has long been idealized as a vision of preindustrial, "authentic" England. But while many of its cosy, gentrified villages are inhabited largely by retired folk and urban refuges, having little common with its county's strong agricultural, mercantile and maritime traditions, at least the stereotyped image has helped to preserve the countryside and coast in the undeveloped condition for which they are famous, and the county offers an abundance of genuine tranquility, from moorland villages to quiet coves on the spectacular coastline. The south coast's traditional resorts are at their liveliest along the English Riviera around Torbay. The coastline is at its prettiest around the Darmouth and Kingsbridge estuaries - both yachting meccas - while the best of the beaches are at Bigbury Bay.

Postcrossing postcard: GB-174366

ADELAIDE

 The South Australian capital of Adelaide is a most attractive city, and unusual in that it was carefully planned from its beginning in 1836. Surrounded by parkland, bisected by the River Torrens, and with an orderly grid of central city streets, Adelaide was the vision of surveyor Colonel William Light. The city's one million residents enjoy a Mediterranean-style climate and a relatively peaceful lifestyle. The inner city of Adelaide is best explored on foot; it is compact, well laid out and flat. The balmy climate and excellent local food and wine have given rise to an abundance of streetside restaurants and cafés.

 

 Adelaide O'bahn. This card shows 'O'Bahn' track that buses go on and off of to travel faster

 

The South Australian capital was founded by free settlers and Adelaide prides  itself on its convict-less history. Surrounded by the gentle Adelaide Hills and the gulf, this is perhaps the nation's most attractive capital. Adelaide has a multicultural population of of just over a million and the city has gained a reputation as an important centre for the arts.

Read more: City of Adelaide

 

 

Received from Rosemaree

 

SLEA HEAD

 The Dingle Peninsula, stretching westwards for 30 miles from the low-lying country near Tralee, is the most northerly of the hilly promontories of County Kerry. It offers some of Ireland’s most beautiful scenery. Some parts of the peninsula – especially the more remote areas – are still Gaelic speaking, so many road signs are written only in Irish.

SLEA HEAD, DINGLE, CO. KERRY

 

At Slea Head the visitor reaches one of the cornerstones of the Dingle Peninsula. Off the shore are the group of seven islands and numerous rocks known as the Blaskets. The Great Blasket is the largest and the old village settlement was at the northeast end of the island. The inhabitants were moved to the mainland in 1953. Many of the islanders were adept at recounting folk-tales, and Blasket islanders have produced such well-known books as 'Twenty Years A-growing' (M. O'Sullivan) and 'The Islander' (T. Ó Crohan).

NEWFOUNDLAND

A World of Difference

Off in the northwest Atlantic Ocean, Newfoundland is both geographically and culturally a place between the Old and New Worlds. Here you'll find a fantastic natural environment. More than a dozen species of whales, millions of nesting seabirds and the wild ocean itself beckon. On land are scores of parks, the world's largest caribou herd and friendly, open people who speak a dialect that not's quite Devon, not quite Cork, but definitely familiar. 

Original art by Jim Lemieux

The province is fast becoming known for its winter activities, especially skiing. For campers there are scores of provincial parks and two national parks. This is also the land of fjords. There are trails galore and even sand beaches!

There's one constant in Newfoundland: friendly people who love to see a new face and have a good time. Come on over and discover North America's natural adventures destination - A World of Difference. 

For further information:  Welcome to Newfoundland and Labrador 

Postcrossing Postcard: CA-434611 

DRAKENSBERG

Natal's western border is a rugged chain of basalt peaks - the Drakensberg. It is the country's grandest mountain range. The slopes are alive with clear ountain streams, waterfalls, wild flowers, ferns and ancient yellowwood trees. In winter, the summits are capped with snow.

Giant's Castle, Drakensberge (Natal)

Giant's Castle Game Reserve. One of the major reserves in the southern Drakensberg dominated by a 3,000 m wall of basalt incorporating the peaks Giant's Castle (3,314 m) and Injasuti (3,459 m). The Bushman's and Little Tugela Rivers flow through the reserve. Vegetation encompasses grasslands, woodlands, scrub and forest. The reserve serves as a sanctuary for the eland, other antelope and a variety of birds. 
Giant's Castle has one of of southern Africa's richest stores of Bushman rock art and Main Caves boasts more than 500 paintings in a single, large shelter.

WASHINGTON D.C.

With its impressive monuments and museums, its stately government buildings and mansions, Washington D.C. is easily recognizable as the United State's capital city. The city is mainly based on government and everything from museums to mansions bring millions of tourists each year. Washington D.C. is the second most visited city in the United States (after New York) and is among the top travel destinations in the world. Most Walkable City in the U.S.

Points of interest in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. has dozens of world-class museums and galleries to visit, and many of them are free. The permanent collections of the Smithsonian Museums are second to none, and the temporary exhibits there and elsewhere around Washington bring in spectacular art and artifacts.Many of the architectural landmarks in Washington, D.C. commemorate important chapters in American history. Monuments and memorials like the breathtaking Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the unprecedented Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the inspiring Marine Corps War Memorial.  

Official Visitors Guide: Washington DC

Postcrossing Postcard: US-1326343

NOVA SCOTIA

Nova Scotia is Canada's Ocean Playground, known for its splendid coastal scenery, fascinating marine history, colourful marine culture and warm, hospitable people.
Along its 4,625-mile-long coastline is  almost every conceivable geographical marine feature - beaches, lagoons, salt marshes, harbours, inlets, coves, estuaries, bays, basins, channels, straits, passages, capes, points, heads, sandbars, mud flats, and sand-dunes.

Lobster traps and fishing boats - a familiar sight at Peggy's Cove.

There's deep-sea fishing, coastal canoeing, clam digging, rockhounding, bird watching, boat tours, dory races, wind surfing, swimming, camping, hiking, and sightseeing on highways that travel along some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Known as the Festival Province of Canada, Nova Scotia annually hosts some 350 summertime community festivals, fairs, gatherings and special events.

Travel to Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia

HOUT BAY

An unspoilt, picturesque village, with a large fishing harbour. The centre of the snoek industry, and headquarters of the crayfishing fleet. The beach is noted for 'trek' (drag-net) fishing. Wood was one obtained here for many of the buildings in Cape Town. Beach is attractive, but cold for swimming.

SPRING FLOWERS ALONG CHAPMANS PEAK

DRIVE - HOUT BAY IN THE BACKGROUND

FISHING BOATS IN HOUT BAY HARBOUR

HOUT BAY FROM FLORA BAY

• Hout Bay Museum Depicts the story of the bay and its environs, as well as the development of the fishing industry.
• Hout Bay Harbour A unique seafood 'emporium', encompassing a fresh fish and Cape rock lobster market.
• Chapman's Peak One of the world's most spectacular scenic drives, the road is an engineering feat. Cut into the cliffs around the peak, the 10 km drive begins at Hout Bay, and traverses Chapman's Peak Mountain, its cliffs falling sheer to the sea.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

Despite its worldwide fame, Stratford is, at heart, an unassuming market town. Spreading back from the River Avon, Stratford's town centre is flat and compact, its mostly modern buildings filling out a simple gridiron. Running along the northern edge of the centre is Bridge Street, the main thoroughfare lined with shops and chock-a-block with local buses.

Clopton Bridge and pleasure boat. Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church. Holy Trinity Church. Canal boats by the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. Punting on the River Avon

Famous as the birth place and final home of playwright William Shakespeare, Stratford has suffered from an overdose of visitors for decades. There are five sites associated with Shakespeare and his family. Three sites are within walking distance of each other in the town centre:

• Shakespeare's Birthplace, where the dramatist was born, in 1564, and grew up;
• Hall's Croft was the home Shakespeare's elder daughter, Susana, and her husband, Dr. John Hall;
• Nash's House, home of Thomas Nash, husband of Shakespeare's granddaughter. Next door was New Place, where Shakespeare died. Only the foundations remain, with an Elizabethan-style knot garden.

The Birthplace, Holy Trinity Church, Nash's House, Mary Arden's House, Anne Hathaway's Cottage.

Out of town are two sites:

• Anne Hathaway's Cottage, where Shakespeare's wife lived as a child;
• Arden's House, the childhood home of Shakespeare's mother.

KANGAROO ISLAND

Located off the coast of South Australia, Kangaroo Island, the nation's second-largest island (145 km long and 60 km wide) is very aptly named. Named by explorer Matthew Finders in 1802 for its great abundance of kangaroos, Kangaroo Island is home to to a unique subspecies of its namesake.

Kangaroo Island features dramatic granite cliffs, strangely shaped rocks and limestone caves, and it is also historically significant; the town of Kingscote was South Australia's first official settlement.

Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island, Flinders Chase National Park, South Australia

The island is famous for its rugged scenery, which includes windswept heathland, beaches, coves and craggy cliffs. Located in Flinders Chase National Park at the island's western end, the Remarkable Rocks are a group of huge granite boulders that have been sculpted by wind and rain into curiously smooth shapes.

South Australian's Kangaroo Island is renowned for its  rugged coastline and weathered granite, which takes on a particularly smooth appearance at Remarkable Rocks on the wind-battered south coast.

Received from Rosemaree

PHILADELPHIA

Greetings from Philadelphia, PA: America starts here!

One of the most historic cities in America. The fifth largest city in the U.S., Philadelphia is known as the city of brotherly love, the birthplace of cheese steaks, the home of liberty, and the land of Rocky. It is also known as the "city of firsts" because so many of the country's firsts happened here. Philadelphia has more outdoor artwork and sculptures than any other city in the world. Philadelphia is truly a melting pot of cultures and races - having the second largest Irish, Italian and Jamaican-American populations within the US. William Penn founded Philadelphia in the late 1600's and called it his "religious experiment" because of his desire to see it as a city where people of all religions could live.

Interesting center city architectures, highlighted by Liberty Place - Philadelphia's tallest building, and Saints Peter and Paul in the foreground.

With its majestic facade, vaulted dome, ornate main altar, eight impressive side chapels, and main sanctuary the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is one of the largest brownstone and architecturally-eminent structures in the City of Philadelphia. It is ranked among the outstandingly beautiful and architecturally perfect structures in Philadelphia and in the United States.

As twilight settles upon this historic city, Philadelphia's City Hall, the largest municipal building in the country, becomes illuminated.

City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States and exceeds the Capitol in Washington. The granite and marble exterior is embellished with a vast number of sculptures in keeping with the tastes of the French Second Empire style that was popular in the 1870s.  The bronze statue of William Penn at the summit of the tower is 37 feet tall and is the largest statue on any building in the world. Of particular interest are the four spiral stairways whose granite slabs jut out of the walls with no visible means of support.

Philadelphia Museum of Art. Overlooking the Schuylkill and the city, the Museum is one of the finest in the world.

This museum has perhaps the most dramatic location of any in the world being situated on a hill at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway overlooking the Schuylkill. The building was constructed of a golden color stone in the 1920s and recalls the architecture of ancient Greece. Alas, the installation of elaborate multicolor sculpture for the triangular pediments was cut short by the Great Depression.

WINNIPEG

One great City!

Winnipeg - Manitoba capital city - is a place you will find hard to leave and impossible to forget. Fondly recognised as the "emerald of the prairies", Winnipeg boasts the largest mature urban elm forest in North America.
Multi-dimensional. Multi-charactered. Multi-cultural. Winnipeg has all of the features that make it the ideal urban holiday spot. This grand prairie city hums with the ecstatic rhythm of many nations and cultures. Winnipeg is a multi-ethnic city, and proud of it. Its ethnic fabric consists of Slavic, French, German, Native, Oriental, East Indian and Mediterranean traditions. And nowhere is this more evident that in the food the city offers.

The wonderful cluster of high rise buildings at Portage and Main in downtown Winnipeg.

Winnipeg's diverse background is also reflected in its museums: The Museum of Man and Nature, a children's museum, a French-Canadian museum, a Ukrainian museum, an aviation museum and many others.
For over 6,000 years people have come here to meet, trade, live and explore. Discover the spirit of these early explorers at The Forks (the birthplace of the city). Located at the junction of two great rivers, in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. Today, it is a place where recreactional, cultural, commercial and historic activities again bring people together.Explore St. Boniface - Winnipeg's French quarter, an historic and cultural corner-stone of the city and home to Canada's largest Francophone community west of Quebec.

The Royal Canadian Mint

The Winnipeg branch of the Royal Canadian Mint officially opened in 1976, as part of the decentralizing initiative of the Trudeau government, replacing the Ottawa branch (1908) as the facility where the entire supply of circulation coins would be produced. The Winnipeg branch also produces coinage for several foreign countries. The Ottawa branch, able to strike coins in gold as well as silver, continues to strike collector coins.

Postcards received from Pat

DURBAN

The slogan 'Durban - Where the Fun Never Sets' is particularly apt when applied to the Golden Mile. Sumptuous  hotels command superlative views of the sea; restaurants represent every facet of the city's cosmopolitan nature; discos, night clubs and coffee bars scintillate until late. Durban offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere, endless summer, an effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches, and thousands of pleasure options.

The "Golden Mile" begins to glitter as night approaches and the many entertainment venues come alive.

The city is an intriguing blend of East, West and Africa.
On the palm-fringed beachfront where the chic rich stroll, Zulu women sell baubles and baskets, and colourful ricksha pullers pose for photographers. And within a stone's throw of the office blocks, the theatres and shops of the business centre, you will discover a world of mosques, temples, oriental festivals and bazaars, fragrant with spice and incense. The cosmopolitan vibe is further enhanced by a constant floating tourist population. It's a centre of commerce and industry. It runs the busiest harbour in Africa. 

Dolphin and trainer often play together.

Durban's got the lot. From world championship surfing, a military tattoo and the country's most glamorous horse race to Indian temples, street entertainers, nature trails and the fastest growing time-share developments in the country.

Received from Lynne, Cape Town

WARWICK

Warwick, county town of Warwickshire, is a pleasant blend of 16th- and 17th- century timbered buildings with 18- century brick. It's famous for its massive castle, but it also possesses several charming streetscapes, as well as an especially fine church chancel.

  "Classic view" and River Avon

 

The magnificent 14th-century castle, beside the Avon River, is both medieval fortress and palatial mansion, set within a Victorian rose garden with peacocks and extensive parkland.

Victorian Rose Garden

The Conservatory

Exhibits range from medieval weapons and armor to opulently furnished state rooms. Two waxwork presentations bring the history of the castle to life: Kingmaker - A Preparation for Battle, 1471 and A Royal Weekend Party, 1898.

Aerial View

Towering  above the River Avon at the foot of the town centre, Warwick Castle is locally proclaimed the "greatest medieval castle in Britain". At Warwick Castle you can experience a thousand lifetimes in just one day!

South View

BLUE MOUNTAINS

The Blue Mountains is a national Park and a World Heritage Site. The rugged Blue Mountains, so called because the air in the region often appears to be a bluish colour (a phenomen caused by the evaporation of eucalyptus oil from the gum tree forests). This wilderness is popular with bushwalkers, and the area is home to swamp  wallabies, possums, wombats and an incredible range of colourful birdlife. Distinguished by escarpments, forested valleys and spectacular rock features like this at Hanging Rock, which frustrated many early explorers in their search for a route over the mountains. Many species of flora and fauna that are unique to Australia can be easily seen in the Blue Mountains. In 1959, the Blue Mountains National Park was gazetted, ensuring the preservation of the large tracts of remaining wilderness.

The Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, were carved from sandstone by rivers rushing to the ocean. There, spectacular scenery and wild places can be found, such as Hanging Rock jutting out of the golden sandstone walls of the Grose Valley.

Received from Don

QUEBEC

Canada's largest province has fjords, mountains, sea-lashed cliffs, wildlife, and adventure - all within easy reach of cosmopolitan Montreal and charming Old Quebec City, the provincial capital. The vibrant cities blend the best of Europe with the best of North America - easy going hospitality, fabulous cuisine, elegant hotels, cosy inns, nightlife with flair, unique museums and lively festivals of international theatre, comedy, film, fireworks and music.

Quebec and its regions - its motto "I remember"

From the silken sands and blood-red cliffs of the Magdalen Islands, to the wind-blown Arctic tundra of the Far North, to the flaming maple countryside and French-style manor houses of the Charlevoix region and the festive streets of Montreal, Quebec is a land of dazzling variety.

From whale watching to maple-sugar tasting, sand castle building to museum hopping, Canada's "Belle Province" has something for every fancy. 

Postcrossing Postcard: DE-720537