US-1080525 California

This is a state PC from California where I spent my childhood. I found it to be a magical place, but then again most people think that of their childhood. I go back at least twice a year and still have tons of family and friends there.  I grew up in Long Beach, which you'll find noted by the surfer and movie reel. I can tell you though, I dont miss the cost of living or gas prices.

-Most Populus State
-3rd largest state (following Alaska and Texas)
-Elevation changes from 14,494 ft at the peak of Mount Whitney to -282 ft in Death Valley
-Capital City Sacramento
-California was the name given to a mythical island populated only by beautiful Amazon warriors using gold tools and weapons in the popular early 16th-century romance novel Las Sergas de Esplandian (The Adventures of Esplandián) by Spanish author Garci Rodriquex de Montalvo. The Island was ruled by Queen Calafia
     -The name California is the 5th oldest surviving European place-name in the US
-It is also suggested that the word California may signify that it is a place that is "hot as an oven", because in Cataln "cal" means hot and "forn" means oven. (From the latin roots calida > hot, fornax > oven). Or from portuguese: "cal" means Calcium oxide (quicklime) and "forno" means, again, oven. It may signify quicklime oven.
-Another suggested source is kali forno, an indigenous phrase meaning "high mountains"

NL-616989 Netherlands

Here is an adorable postcard of a puppy in a basket. It is the first 'protected' postcard I've gotten (i.e. it came in an envelope) as well as the first I've been sent that hasn't had a location or cultural attachment. Its postmarked April 10th 2011 though Im sure in the future I'll look back and think it was sent October 4th as its dated in European fashion with the date first and then the month (10-04-2011).

GB-215288 England

I love this postcard from Exeter in the county of Devon. I've been to England myself but didn't make it to this region so was excited to get a card with a bit of the scenery and some local history on the back. The cathedral was built in the 12th century but has been refurbished multiple times since. Like most English cathedrals is suffered in the Dissolution of Monasteries when the king took papal authority and sought to turn ecclesiastic revenue to that of the state. The dissolution, which began in 1536 with over 800 monasteries, nunneries and friaries in England, displaced thousands and left the nation with none by 1541. Those who resisted like the abbots of Glastonbury, Colchester, and Reading where hanged, drawn and quartered for treason.

Because Exeter Cathedral was not of monastic foundation it did not suffer as heavily as other Cathedrals in the area, but the cloisters were destroyed in the English Civil War (1642-51). More recently, on 4 May 1942, an early morning air raid took place over Exeter and the cathedral sustained a direct hit by a large high-explosive bomb on the chapel of St James, completely demolishing it. Luckily it was repaired and now stands as is seen above.

The town itself was originally a Roman settlement  and was the southern starting point for the Fosse Way Roman Road which links Exeter to Lincoln via Ilchester, Bath, Cirencester, and Leicester. The last bit of historical information I'll offer is for those of you who find value in the study of words. The name Exeter is an anglicized version of the Old English Exanceaster or Escanceaster from the Lation Isca (taken from the Celtic Exe already in place during Roman occupation) and Old English ceaster to denote a 'Roman Town.'

On a more cheerful note it came with these great stamps of the Queen and Merlin, both very iconic of Britain.

NL-607525 The Netherlands

I received a postcard from The Netherlands that made me smile in a way I haven't in a while. Not because of the image on the front or what was written on it, but because it reminded me of a good friend and some great times. 

In my last semester at University I became great friends with a guy from The Netherlands and still remember the first time he explained to me his exasperation that most Americans thought of the country as Holland when that was just a province (and not the one he was from). On top of that, the last time I'd seen any Dutch writing is when I broke my computer and was using his to write essays/reports for class. Thank god Microsoft uses easy to understand pictures for most of the essential functions of short keys to copy, past, save, and print or I'd be doomed. I think the extent of my Dutch after a month on his computer was afbeeldingen which is the word for picture/image.

The waffles also reminded me of the amazing crepes he made me when I stayed awake until 4am to watch Dutch Soccer (read football) with him even though I don't watch sports and listening was no help as it was being broadcast in another language. It was definitely and experience, and I have to say- any time you can meet a boys family over skype because they are broadcasting a match so every can see it together you should take the chance. If nothing else you'll get some great stories.

TW-278568 Taiwan

I received this postcard from May in Taiwan. I love the image on the front even if it got a little damaged in the mail, but I really love the little picture she drew on the back and the sticker of the Taiwanese Flag she put on it.

This actually came a few days ago but my scanner is refusing to work. Eventually I gave up and just took a picture with my camera, which is why the image is slightly skewed. (I had it leaning up against my window to use the light)

It was nice to receive a postcard from Taiwan as I actually have an uncle from Taipei. Who has told me a bit about the country as well as China where his family is from. So below is a bit of his wisdom.

-Taipei is the capital city of The Republic of China (commonly know as Taiwan) and is the largest city as well and is the Asian capital of Art and Culture.

-The Republic of China once ruled most of mainland China as well but it became the Peoples Republic of China after the Chinese Civil War.

-Portuguese sailors gave it the mane "Ilha Formosa" beautiful island in the 16th Century.

-The National Sport is Baseball and Taiwan won the Little League World Series in 1996.

-Taiwan is slightly larger than Belgium and much more densely populated. 

-The Vice President of Taiwan, Lu Hsiu-lien was the first woman to be awarded the World Peace Prize from the World Peace Corps Academy.

And last but now least in my Uncles words, 'its the best place in the world' but I'll have to withhold my judgment until I've been there and anywhere else because you never know what might compare.

US-1058296 Wisconsin

  

Today I received my first official postcard from postcrossing. It is from Kim in Wisconsin and took 10 days to arrive. It is the first I've received from this state and gives quite a bit of information about the state right on the front of the postcard. Besides what can be seen on the front Kim let me know it was below freezing on the day it was sent (3/28) which is crazy considering it was in the mid to high 70s here in Las Vegas. We even had one day last week that reached 88. 

Here are some more facts about Wisconsin:

-The state capital is Madison but the largest city is Milwaukee

-It is the 23rd largest state in the USA and is ranked 20th in terms of population

-The state name originates from the name given to the Wisconsin River by an Algonquian speaking American Indian group living in the area at the time of European contact. It was first recorded as Meskousing and later corrupted to Ouisconsin by the French and then anglicized and changed to its modern spelling in the early 19th century.

- The Little White Schoolhouse in Ripon held the nations first meeting of the Republican Party and is heralded as the birthplace of said party.

-Recorded temperatures vary from a high of 114F recorded in July of 1936 to a low of -55F recorded in February of 1996

-While the state animal is the badger (as seen on the postcard) the state domesticated animal is the dairy cow and the state beverage is milk. (I supposed this is where the unhappy cows come from if the happy ones are all from California)

Direct Swap 1: Alaska

 

Today I received my first postcard from Postcrossing. It wasn't an official card but a direct swap I requested as I am attempting to collect a postcard from every state. I've always wanted to travel to Alaska because of the sense of adventure and danger it is often portrayed with but know almost nothing about the state itself and what I do know was learned from the television show "Men in Trees." It is a great show if your looking for something new to watch. Its full of the gorgeous scenery in Alaska but wont tell you much about the state.

So, after receiving this I did a small amount of internet research and this is what I can tell you about the State.

-Alaska is the largest State at more than the size of Texas, California, and Montana combined and stretches the width of the Lower 48 States.

-It was purchased from Russia in 1869 for 7.2 Million Dollars which is about 2 cents per acre.

-The Capital is Juneau though Anchorage is the largest and only city in Alaska with over 100,000 people.

-Daylight hours range from 5.28 hours to 19.21 hours.

-There are more than 70 active volcanoes, 100,000 glaciers and 17 of America's 20 highest peaks.

-State Motto: North to the Future

-Nicknamed the Land of the Midnight Sun and the Last Frontier

Also, if anyone is interested, the postcard photo was taken by Mark Kelley. If you'd like to see more of his photographs of Alaska visit: http://www.markkelley.com/