A Portrait of an elf queen

An Elven Woman

24 Apr 2015 | From Eliette of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This reminds me of the Lord of the Rings Middle-earth elves. They are considered to be the fairest and wisest race.  The Elves are not subject to disease or physical aging, though they could be killed by violence or by wasting away and losing the will to live. They were otherwise immortal. With her long pointer ears, long hair, and ethereal - she does seem to belong to another world, created through the poetic imagination. 

Details about the card were sadly covered in stamps, and I am still tying to find out anything about this celestial woman - the beauty behind the artwor, the postcard. Eliette finds her to be melancholic - and she does seem sad or longing for someone. Maybe eternity has taken its toll on her...

L'Alsace Pittoresque

La place du Marché d'Obernai

24 Apr 2015 | From Catherine of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This picturesque place is located Northeast of France. The market square in Obernai in the Bas-Rhin, is truly the heart of the city, gathering around her many monuments and striking architecture. Its town hall is preserved in perfect Gothic style, and so particular is the Fountain Sainte-Odile, built in honor of the patron saint of Alsace. This place is a real medieval center, written traces proving its existence from 1301. At Christmas many craftsmen meet here for the traditional Alsatian Christmas market.

Vegas Dream

Chacun trouve son rêve à Las Vegas

7 Jan 2015 | From Sophie of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

'Chacun trouve son rêve à Las Vegas' is translated to 'Everyone finds his dream in Las Vegas' in English - something that Sophie finds hard to believe. Incidentally, there is a Production show in Vegas titled 'Le Rêve' or The Dream. It combines water, fire, swimming, acrobatics and spectacular effects. Le Rêve is all about leaving reality behind to explore the sometimes surreal and dark world of the subconscious during sleep. The water-based show at Wynn Las Vegas, was inspired by a 1932 painting of the same name by Pablo Picasso. The painting, which portrays Picasso's mistress, is colorful and abstract -- qualities that are also embodied in the show.

'Le Rêve' welcomes you into an exciting and mysterious world inside an incredible aqua theater-in-the-round. From a thrilling high dive to an underwater tango, the stunning performers and breathtaking aerial feats of strength and agility will mesmerize you from beginning to end.

Source: Lasvegas.com

The Walled Port city of Brittany

Saint-Malo, France

8 OCT 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HONG KONG

Akubi sent me this postcard clueless on how he even had this postcard in the first place. He has been to France before and have friends there as well. That may solve the then-unwritten Saint-Malo postcard mystery in his hand. 

Saint-Malo is a walled port city in Brittany in northwestern France on the English Channel. Traditionally with an independent streak, Saint-Malo was in the past notorious for piracy. Today it is a major tourist destination, with many ancient, attractive buildings. It remind me of our Intramuros, the walled city of Manila. Both were fortified against foreign attacks. And it also has its atmospheric walled city, largely destroyed in the Second World War but painstakingly reconstructed.

The walled city is easily covered on foot, but tourist trains are also available which takes you on a ride all over the city. The modern towns of Parame and Saint-Servan lie outside the walls.

Toulouse at night

The Pont-Neuf and Hotel Dieu

4 Oct 2014 | From Adeline of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Toulouse is the capital city of the department of Haute-Garonne, and of the region Midi-Pyrénées, in southwestern France. A city with unique architecture made of pinkish terracotta bricks, which earned it the nickname la Ville Rose ("the Pink City").

The Pont Neuf is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. Its name, which was given to distinguish it from older bridges that were lined on both sides with houses, has remained. It stands by the western point of the Île de la Cité, the island in the middle of the river that was the heart of medieval Paris.

The Hôtel-Dieu Saint-Jacques is a former hospital in Toulouse. Already operating from the twelfth century on the left bank of the Garonne, it became the largest Toulouse hospital after numerous expansions in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The building is registered and declared a historic monument in 1986 and 1988, and the last patients left the building in 1987. It now houses the administrative center of the University Hospital of Toulouse, the European Institute of Telemedicine, and a museum of the history of medicine.

The French for 'vanguard'

Avant-garde

10 Sept 2014 | From Patricia of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This is the second postcard that Patricia sent me to replace the lost one that she initially sent. Both postcards were sent in an envelope.

The avant-garde (from French, "advance guard" or "vanguard", literally "fore-guard") are people or works whose techniques and ideas are markedly experimental, innovative or in advance of those generally accepted, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics. The avant-garde pushes the boundaries of what is accepted as the norm or the status quo, primarily in the cultural realm. The avant-garde is considered by some to be a hallmark of modernism, as distinct from postmodernism.

Source: Wikipedia

Walking in Montmartre circa 1950s

Staircases at Montmartre, Paris. 1950  

12 Aug 2014 | From Christine of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Montmartre is one of the most colorful neighborhoods in Paris and is designated historic district. The word Montmartre is translated to mean "mountain of the martyr" and was derived from the martyrdom of Saint Denis - the bishop of Paris - who was decapitated atop the hill in 250 AD.

The Rue Foyatier is a street on the Montmartre butte ("outlier"), in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Opened in 1867, it was given its current name in 1875, after the sculptor Denis Foyatier (1793–1863).[1] It is one of the most famous streets in Paris, because it consists essentially of flights of stairs giving access to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The Montmartre funicular runs alongside it.

Sources: A view on cities, Wikipedia

Souvenirs from Spain and France

From Spain and France to HK then PH

27 Feb 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HK

Akubi sent me a parcel with some pleasant surprises inside: a huge Paris, France postcard, a classical music compilation CD from Spain, an HK banknote, and some photographs from his Spain-France trip :)

Akubi shared that it is customary in HK to give monetary presents to newly-weds. He attended a friend's wedding in France so he shared that info :p

Akubi in France :)

Paris, France

8 Feb 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCARD SENT FROM FRANCE

POSTCROSSING FRIEND

Akubi sent me this postcard during his last day in France. He shared that he truly enjoyed his stay in Spain and France, and that it was such an unforgettable experience. How I wish I can see Europe too one day :)

Paris, the world's most popular city destination, is the capital of France. It is an enticing and romantic city. Paris is often dubbed as the City of Love.

From Akubi's French Tour :)

Les Gorges de Kakouetta

8 Feb 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM FRANCE

Akubi sent me this postcard from his visit to France for his friend's wedding. The Gorges de Kakouetta is a narrow (down to 5 metres in places) gorge, over 300 metres deep and about 2 kilometres long. It is one of three gorges in the area and is the most popular with tourists. The Gorges de Kakouetta is looked after by a Basque family who live at the entrance of the Gorges.

Source: Jeremy Taylor

A Rebecca Dautremer illustration

Cyrano pensait a Roxanne

8 Feb 2014 | From Anne of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This postcard took quite a while before reaching me, to the point that Anne already sent me an e-mail message regarding it. It traveled for 53 days from France to the Philippines. I received it a day after Anne messaged me. It was postmarked Jan. 22, 2014 - but sometimes mails are not delivered on time.

The postcard shows an illustration by Rebecca Dautremer, a young French artist.

A Postcrossing Meet-up postcard from Lille, France

Une Delicieuse Adresse lilloise: Meert, Au 27 de la Rue Esquermoise

17 Jan 2014 | From Melissa of Belgium

FACEBOOK SWAP | POSTCARD SENT FROM FRANCE

This postcard is from a Postcrossing Meet-up in Lille last Nov. 11, 2013 that Melissa attended. It is full of greetings and signatures of the attendees. I have never attended a Postcrossing Meet-up before. It would be nice to attend one and get to know fellow postcrossers.

Lille is a city in the North of France. It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in France after those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

French Cuisine: La tourtière

Pie from greedy south west

29 Nov 2013 | From Sebastien of France

FACEBOOK SWAP

For 6 persons: 250g flour, 125g butter, a spoon of water of flower orange tree, 250g stoned Agen's prunes, 1kg apples, 125g caster sugar, 10 cl Armagnac, a pinch of salt, half-glass water, 1 package of vanilla sugar

Gradually incorporate flour and salted water, form a ball then spread the pastry on a floured table. Spread the softened butter on all surface, and fold back the four corners, and put it back down for 20 minutes. Peel and slice apples in thin strips, and divide the prunes into two. Powder them with vanilla sugar then sprinkle with Armagnac and flower of orange tree. Stir well so that the fruits are impregnated of sugar and aromatics.

Spread out the pastry again and fold it into three, start again six times, and put it back down 10 minutes between each turn. Butter the cake tin, paper it with one part of the pastry, then add the fruits, and cover with the rest of the pastry. Close the pie with floured fork. Cook for 30 minutes in average heat, sweeten the pie at the end.

French Cuisine: Marveilles

French Doughnuts

29 Nov 2013 | From Sebastien of France

FACEBOOK SWAP

50g flour, 4 eggs, 100g sugar, 125g butter, 1 packet baking powder, a pinch of salt, lemon peel or a tablespoon of rum or Armagnac or orange flower water, icing sugar, frying oil

Put the flour in a mixing bowl, and make a well in the centre. Beat the eggs, and add them to the flour along with the butter, icing sugar, pinch of salt, and whichever flavoring you have chosen. With the tips of your fingers, mix all the ingredients together incorporating the flour little by little. Add the packet of baking powder. Knead until you obtain a smooth dough. If necessary, add a little more flour so that the dough will not stick to your fingers. Leave it to sit for 1 hour. Roll out the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of 1/2cm. Cut it into different shapes, such as rounds and triangles. Heat the oil and deep fry. When they are golden brown, take them out and place on a paper towel. Sprinkle with icing sugar. Eat and enjoy :)

French Cuisine: Foie gras en terrine

Fatted goose liver in terrine

29 Nov 2013 | From Sebastien of France

FACEBOOK SWAP

For 450g fatted goose/duck liver, 50g salt, 10g pepper. Very easy to cook. Salt and pepper the fatted goose liver. Cook it with a very soft fire in an anti-adhesive frying pan for 25 minutes. During cooking, turn it over on several occasions. With precaution, withdraw the liver from pan and put it into the terrine, pack it down lightly and pour the liverfat on the top. Keep it at the refrigerator (minimum of 4 days) before tasting. After being force-feeded with corn for a 20-day period, ducks and geese offer one of the most appreciated dish of all very good tables. As people from "Les Landes", "Le Gers", "Lot et Garonnais" (farmers of certain areas from "le Pays Basque) also are preparing this delight. It could be relished half-cooked, with grapes, or after cooking on toasted bread slices.

A letter from France

Codie's Letter

25 Oct 2013 | From Codie of France

POSTCROSSING SWAP

Corentin, or Codie, sent me this letter after I added one of his sent postcards on my favourites wall. We e-mailed for a while, then decided to send each other a letter through snail mail. Instead of a postcard, he wrote me a long letter - the contents mainly about his life, his family, work (he works as a chocolate maker, and I can tell he really loves it), how he was then, how he is now, his hopes, wishes, aspirations...

He also attached a little card he got from a chocolate shop in Japan (he worked as an apprentice in Japan for a few months), a picture, and a map of France which he drew himself.

My first Italian postcard... is from France

Café Crème

12 Jul 2013 | From Laura of Italy

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING | POSTCRAD SENT FROM ITALY

This postcard came from Laura of Rapallo, Italy - a tourist, seaside town in the province of Genoa, in Liguria, northern Italy. She wrote that she loves the cafés in Paris, and especially love this card for the colors.

A nice city

Nice, France

21 May 2013 | From Sophy of France

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, and it is the capital of the Alpes Maritimes département. Located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast and the second-largest city in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region after Marseille.

The city is called Nice la Belle (Nissa La Bella in Niçard), which means Nice the Beautiful, which is also the title of the unofficial anthem of Nice, written by Menica Rondelly in 1912.

My first postcard from France

The Island of Corsica

4 Feb 2013 | From Martina

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

My first postcard from France, thanks to Martina. This is the beautiful island of Corsica. Corsica is a French Island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is 183 km long and 83 km wide.