Battle of the Pelennor Fields

Eowyn fighting the Witch King

10 Mar 2015 | From Uladzya of Czech Republic

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Éowyn is a fictional character in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, who appears in his most famous work, The Lord of the Rings. She is a noblewoman of Rohan who is described as a shieldmaiden. She was a shieldmaiden of Rohan, daughter of Éomund and Theodwyn, younger sister of Éomer and niece of King Théoden. After the War of the Ring, she married Faramir and had one son with him, Elboron.

In Return of the King, she disguised herself as a man and under the alias of Dernhelm, travelled with the Riders of Rohan to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields outside the White City of Minas Tirith in Gondor, carrying with her Merry Brandybuck, who had also been ordered to remain behind, on her horse Windfola.

During the battle of the Pelennor Fields, she confronted the Witch-king of Angmar, Lord of the Nazgûl, after Théoden was injured. In a rage, the Witch-King attacked her, but she cleaved the head off his Fell Beast. The Witch-King shattered her shield with a blow of his mace, breaking her arm, but stumbled when Merry stabbed his leg from behind with a Barrow-blade of Westernesse make. Éowyn stabbed her sword through the Witch-King's head, killing him, and thus fulfilling Glorfindel's prophecy a thousand years earlier at the Battle of Fornost that "not by the hand of man" would the Witch-King fall.

Éowyn soon passed out from the pain in her arm, and was believed dead until Prince Imrahil of Dol Amroth realized she still lived. Éowyn was brought to the Houses of Healing, hovering near death from the effects of having struck the Witch-king. There Éowyn met Faramir, with whom she soon fell in love. 

Czech Traditional Dress

The Kroje

12 May 2014 | From Gábi of Czech Republic

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Czech traditional costumes are beautifully embroidered and vary from region to region. Kroje is a traditional Czech costume which normally consists of skirt, blouse, vest, apron, and hat for the women. Men wear the embroidered trousers, shirts, vests and hats.

The Archer

Legolas

14 Mar 2014 | From Katerina of Czech Republic

FACEBOOK SWAP

Legolas was a Silvan Elf of the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood. He was actually of Sindarin heritage as he was the only recorded son of King Thranduil. His most important events of his life are surrounded by the War of the Ring during which he was the Elven representative member in the Fellowship of the Ring; his Elven characteristics were a valuable asset because of his superior sight, hearing, lightness of foot, and unrivaled archery.

Legolas is one of Orlando Bloom's most famous characters. Also, it is one of his best portrayals, I think. In the movie, I really love the friendship between Legolas and Gimli as it goes beyond race. And Legolas is probably the neatest character - he never gets dirty fighting all those orcs and traveling far and wide. Also, he never runs out of arrows. Both must be elf magic :)

Source: Tolkien Gateway

The Elf Maiden

Arwen Undómiel

14 Mar 2014 | From Katerina of Czech Republic

FACEBOOK SWAP

Arwen Undómiel, often called Arwen Evenstar, was the betrothed of Aragorn II. She is the daughter of Elrond and Celebrían (and therefore grand-daughter of Galadriel). She rejects her Elven immortality (which she had the ability to do, since she was a half-elf, thus having the choice to be counted as an elf or a man) to marry Aragorn and die with him.

Liv Tyler's portrayal of Arwen gave her international recognition. One of my favourite lines from the movie (Fellowship of the Rings) was when Arwen said these words to Aragorn: "I would rather share one lifetime with you than face all the ages of this world alone."

Source: Tolkien Gateway

The Ring-bearer

Frodo Baggins

14 Mar 2014 | From Katerina of Czech Republic

FACEBOOK SWAP

Frodo Baggins was a hobbit of the Third Age, the most famous of all Hobbits in the histories for his leading role in the Quest of the Ring. During this epic quest, he bore the One Ring to Mount Doom and there destroyed it, giving him renown like no other Halfling throughout Middle-earth. He is also peculiar for being, as a Ring-bearer, one of the three Hobbits who sailed from Middle-earth to Aman, there to die in peace.

Elijah Wood portrayed the character in the LOTR franchise. I think he did a fine job as Frodo. Frodo's definitely not a popular-favourite character. But I don't hate or dislike him at all. The ring's trying to destroy him - how would he respond to such a burden?

Source: Tolkien Gateway

Christmas postcard from Czech Rep.

Snowy Czech Village

8 Feb 2014 | From Pavlina of Czech Republic

SURPRISE POSTCARD

Pavlina and I swapped postcards some months ago through Postcrossing. She sent me this surprise postcard to extend her "snowy" Christmas and New Year greetings to me. Thanks a lot, Pavlina! I really appreciate it :) 

Altarpiece of St. John the Baptist

St. Vincent Cathedral, Castle, Prague

25 Oct 2013 | From Jana of Czech Republic

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard shows the Altarpiece of St. John the Baptist (Monogramist IP, after 1501) in one of the most famous cathedral in Prague, The St. Vincent Cathedral.

For more than 600 years, the roofs of Prague Castle have been overlooked by the towers of St Vitus Cathedral. The cathedral, whose original name is St Vitus, St Wenceslas and St Adalbert Cathedral, is the biggest and the most important church in the Czech Republic. It’s the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and the place where saints, kings, princes and pmperors of Bohemia are buried. The coronations of the kings of Bohemia were held there until 1836. It’s one of the best examples of Gothic architecture.

Where myth and reality collide

České Švýcarsko National Park

18 Sept 2013 | From Pavlina of Czech Republic

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Pavlina sent me this postcard for swap when the first one she sent me got lost. She shared that this National Park is near her home on the North of Czech Republic. It is the Bohemian Swiss, and this rock is a Czech national monument - Pravcicka stone gate.

Scenes from the movie "The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian" took place here.

A Czech Rock Band

Segment Frontman

30 May 2013 | From Gabi of Czech Republic

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is my first postcard sent from Czech Republic. It is a photo-postcard featuring one of the members of the Czech rock band Segment. He happens to be her friend, and she took this photo (and turned it into a postcard) herself.

Czech Rural Architecture - an illustration

Jiri Skopek | Pod hradem Liticí

30 Apr 2013 | From Lucie of Czech Republic

POSTCROSSING SWAP | POSTCARD SENT FROM UK

Another postcard from Lucie. On this picture you can see a typical rural architecture from the Czech Republic all covered in snow. This place is near the Litice Castle in Eagle Mountains. She added that she loves this place because it is very relaxing and peaceful, and great for skiing.

Jiri Skopek is a Czech-born architect who left the country of his birth with his when he was just 19. Studying in London Jiri soon became involved in projects that included building a recording studio for the legendary The Who, and in the 1970s designing the first solar house in Britain's Milton Keynes. In later years he worked on the Arabian Peninsula, and - in the eve of the 90s - drew up the master plan for one of the most recognisable sites in Toronto.