Monday, July 25, 2011

Novodevichy Convent revisited!


This photo shows the Belfry on the right (built 1689-1690) and Prokhorov Chapel in the foreground (built 1911). 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novodevichy_Convent

When I started writing this post, I thought the name Novodevichy Convent was quite familiar. Then I realized I had received another postcard of this convent, and discovered it was more than a year ago. My previous card was a winter scene. Here is the link to my previous post on that card:

http://acollectionofpostcards.blogspot.com/2010/07/novodevichy-convent-moscow.html

Here is what I wrote about this Convent:

The location itself has quite an interesting history.  The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524, and originally built as a fortress. In the years following, it has served as a fortress, a convent and monastery, a shelter for royal Russian ladies (those that had to "take the veil"), a military hospital, orphanage, museum and apartments. There is also a cemetery on the grounds.  In 1812, Napoleon's army tried to  destroy it, and Tolstoy used it as a setting for scenes in both 'War and Peace' and 'Anna Karenina'.





Thursday, July 14, 2011

Monument in Poznań, Poland.



 Crosses in Poznań commemorating the 1956 protests and subsequent Polish protests against the Communist political system. 


This photo shows the monument from a different angle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Poznański_Czerwiec_reforma_RB1.JPG





Interesting stamps!

Palace of Rumyantsaus-Paskevichs, Gomel, Belarus


The Palace of Rumyanstsaus-Paskevichs, or the Gomel Palace in Gomel, Belarus. I love the fact that it is yellow! 



Saturday, July 9, 2011

Russian Village watercolor


"Russian Village" by Anna Sosenskaya. Watercolor on paper, 2007.



The stamps. 

A Happy Home in Finland


My sender says this is her yard, and the photo was taken by her husband from the roof of the cowshed. It is very pretty.


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Scenes from Taiwan


This card comes from a high-school student in Taiwan. She's told me about the photos on the card:

The top photo is of the highest mountain in Taiwan.
The second photo is a famous train up a mountain in Taiwan.
The third photo is of a coral reef in the shape of a heart.
The bottom photo is a popular beach.