A Dance artform

Flamenco

6 May 2015 | From Cecilia of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Flamenco is a folk art and culture of Spain. It is particular to the province of Andalusia, Spain. Historically, it has always been the musical outlet of the poor and oppressed. It is passed on by oral tradition which the individual artist uses as the basis for his own variations.

Flamenco is made up of three parts: guitar playing ("guitarra"), song ("cante") and dance ("baile"). Flamenco originated in the southern regions of Spain, but it's thought to be influenced by many world cultures, including Latin American, Cuban and Jewish traditions.

Originally flamenco dancing was not set to music; it was only singing and clapping of hands called “toque de palmas." Some flamenco dancing still follows ancient tradition, but the use of guitars and other musical instruments has become more popular in modern flamenco.

menco dancing can have many different purposes. Whether the dance is intended to be entertaining, romantic or comforting, flamenco is a very emotional style of dance.

Sources: Classical Guitar Midi, Wonderopolis

Spain's Secret Seaside

Procession Maritime Virgen de Guía

Ribadesella, Asturias

6 May 2015 | From Lucia of Spain

POSTCROSSING SWAP (INSTAGRAM) | POSTCARD SENT FROM SPAIN

Ribadesella is a small (84 km2) municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias, Spain. Known for its location on the Cantabrian Sea, as well as for the outlet of the River Sella, Ribadesella is a town that forms part of the Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe).

This village, located in the North of Spain, is famous because of two things: the Tito Bustillo Cave (Cueva de Tito Bustillo), known for prehistoric wall paintings of animals and figures, and the famous Descenso Internacional del Sella (International Descent of the Sella) takes place, where oarsmen from all over the world gather to attempt the final 20 km of the Sella River in record time.

Ribadesella also offers its visitors history, sport activities, beautiful scenery, nature, and impeccable food, which mostly surround the outlet of the most famous river of Asturias.

The Forest Spirit

My Neighbor Totoro

6 May 2015 | From Lucia of Spain

POSTCROSSING SWAP (INSTAGRAM) | POSTCARD SENT FROM SPAIN

My Neighbor Totoro is a heartwarming, sentimental masterpiece that captures the simple grace of childhood. It is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. It tells the story of the two young daughters (Satsuki and Mei) of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan.

'My Neighbor Totoro' has become one of the most beloved of all family films, and the film's central character, Totoro, is as famous among Japanese children as Winnie-the-Pooh is among British ones. They have become such Japanese cultural icons.

Miyazaki has said that Totoro is "not a spirit: he's only an animal. I believe he lives on acorns. He's supposedly the forest keeper, but that's only a half-baked idea, a rough approximation.

Spain's Autonomous Community

Catalonia

10 Oct 2014 | From Llara of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard is from Catalonia, which is in the east coast of Spain. Catalonia is an autonomous community and historic region of Spain encompassing the northeastern provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Lleida. The autonomous community of Catalonia was established by the statute of autonomy of December 18, 1979. Catalonia is the richest and most highly industrialized part of Spain.

The postcard shows a view of Alt Urgell, a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. Torres d'Alàs is a scattered village in the municipality of Alàs in Alt Urgell. It is located on a hill to the right of the Segre River unlike other towns in the municipality. The church of San Pedro de Torres is located here.

The tallest sight in Barcelona

Torre Agbar

12 Aug, 2014 | From Goran of Macedonia

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM SPAIN

This postcard was sent from Goran's recent trip to Spain. He shared that the tower shown in the postcard is much more beautiful and grand in person. The tower illuminates at night and the glass panels constantly change their colours. It is best viewed not too close to the tower to fully appreciate the colors and lights.

The word “Agbar” is made up of the Castilian Aguas de Barcelona or Aigües de Barcelona in Catalan. Aguas de Barcelona is the municipal water company which today belongs to the Grupo Agbar.

The Torre Agbar is a 38-story skyscraper / tower located between Avinguda Diagonal and Carrer Badajoz, near Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, which marks the gateway to the new technological district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel.

The building is made up of two non-concentric oval cylinders topped by a glass and steel dome. There are no internal columns in the structure, but rather, the building's services and emergency stairwells are located in the central concrete core.

Sources: Wikipedia, A view on Cities

I am not weird

A weirdo's statement

19 Jun, 2014 | From Edit of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard shows an interesting statement: I'm not weird. I'm a limited edition. As Johnny Depp once said, “I think everybody's weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.” Yep, we are all weird. It is just a matter of perspective :) Embrace your being weird and eccentric, and be open to differences.

Palacio de Cristal, Madrid, Spain

Crystal Palace and a typical couple

3 Jun, 2014 | From Ana of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The Palacio de Cristal, or Crystal Palace, is a glass and metal structure in the centre of the Buen Retiro Park in central Madrid. The Palacio de Cristal, in the shape of a Greek cross, is made almost entirely of glass set in an iron framework on a brick base, which is decorated with ceramics. The structure was designed in a way that would allow it to be re-erected on another site. It was built in 1887 to exhibit flora and fauna from the Philippines.

The little kids in the postcard are dressed as chulapos and chulapas (typical Madrilenian dress). The boy is dressed with a checked black and white cap, a vest, a tight and black trousers, and his boots. And the most important detail: a carnation in the lapel. The girl is really beautiful wearing a long white dress with black dots. Covering her head, she has put a white headscarf with a red carnation on the top. She is a chulapa and each chulapa has to wear a Manila shawl, like she does.

Sources: Go Madrid, Madrid Tourism

Mahon Harbour

Mahon Harbour circa 70s

23 Apr, 2014 | From Elena of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Maó-Mahón, sometimes written in English as Mahon, is a municipality, capital city of the island Menorca, and seat of the Island Council of Menorca. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbour in the world. The water is deep but it remains mostly clear due to it being slightly enclosed.

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

From Akubi's Spanish Tour :)

 

Port Vell, Barcelona

8 Feb, 2014 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM SPAIN

Akubi, a friend in HK, sent me this panoramic view of Port Vell during his brief stay in Spain. He was in Europe for a few weeks for his friend's wedding in South of France.

Port Vell, literally in English 'Old Harbour', is a waterfront harbour in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and part of the Port of Barcelona. It was built as part of an urban renewal program prior to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

It is now a focal point of the city and tourist attraction. The Marina Port Vell, located in the heart of the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona - recently voted 'the world's top beach city' in 2011 by National Geographic - and - voted "the second best place to visit in the world" by U.S. News Travel.

Sources: Wikipedia, Marina Port Vell

UNESCO WHS in Spain

Costa Isla de Tenerife Norte

29 Nov, 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (4 of 4 postcards)

Situated on the island of Tenerife, Teide National Park features the Teide-Pico Viejo stratovolcano that, at 3,718 m, is the highest peak on Spanish soil. Rising 7,500 m above the ocean floor, it is regarded as the world’s third-tallest volcanic structure and stands in a spectacular environment. The visual impact of the site is all the greater due to atmospheric conditions that create constantly changing textures and tones in the landscape and a ‘sea of clouds’ that forms a visually impressive backdrop to the mountain. Teide is of global importance in providing evidence of the geological processes that underpin the evolution of oceanic islands.

Vista nevada de San Sebastian

Vista nevada de San Sebastian

29 Nov, 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (3 of 4 postcards)

San Sebastián or Donostia is a coastal city and municipality located in the Basque Autonomous Community, Spain.

Despite the city’s small size, events such as the San Sebastián International Film Festival have given it an international dimension. San Sebastián, along with Wrocław, Poland, will be the European Capital of Culture in 2016.

Bull Party

Bull Party in Costa Blanca

29 Nov 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (2 of 4 postcards)

Costa Blanca refers to over 200 kilometres of Mediterranean coastline in the Alicante province of Spain. The name "Costa Blanca" was devised as a promotional name used by BEA when they launched their air service between London and Valencia in 1957. It has a well-developed tourism industry and is a popular destination for British and German tourists. It extends from the town of Dénia in the north, beyond which lies the Costa del Azahar (Costa dels Tarongers), to Pilar de la Horadada in the south, beyond which lies the Costa Cálida. It includes the major tourist destinations of Benidorm, Alicante, Dénia, La Zenia, and Xàbia.

The Osborne Bull

Toro de Osborne

29 Nov 2013 | From Dani of Spain

FACEBOOK SWAP (1 of 4 postcards)

The Osborne bull (in Spanish: Toro de Osborne) is a 14-metre (46 ft) high black silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile, and is regarded as the unofficial national symbol of Spain. The bull was created in 1956 by Manolo Prieto. Nowadays the conservation of the bulls is handled by the family of Félix Tejada.

Despite common belief, this bull is not a symbol of Spain, but the advertising logo used to promote a brandy-sherry by a group of wineries called “Osborne”. The Osborne group began in 1772, and with more than 200 years of experience it is considered one of the oldest businesses in the world that still remains active today (94th place), and is the second oldest in Spain.

It was founded by Thomas Osborne Mann, an English shopkeeper from Exeter who settled in Cadíz. In the Puerto de San María he struck up friendships with other winery owners who originated from Britain and married the daughter of one of the managers of “Duffy Gordon”, with whom he had five children, the first Osbornes.

A Bull's Shadow

La sombra del Toro

21 Nov 2013 | From Cochi of Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

"La sombra del Toro" is Shadow of the Bull in English. Bullfighting (Spanish: corrida de toros), also known as tauromachia or tauromachy, is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Hispanic American countries (Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru) and the Philippines, in which one or more bulls are baited, and then killed in a bullring for the entertainment of the audience.

The bullfight, as it is practiced today, involves professional toreros (of which the most senior is called a matador) who execute various formal moves which can be interprete and innovated according to the bullfighter's style or school.

Bullfighting traces its roots to prehistoric bull worship and sacrifice in Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean region.

The Secret Pedrera

La Pedrera, Barcelona

1 Oct 2013 | From Akubi of Hong Kong

POSTCROSSING FRIEND | POSTCARD SENT FROM HONG KONG

The Pedrera, also know as the Casa Milà, was built by the famous architect Antoni Gaudí and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The postcard shows the Casa Mila La Pedrera building roof and chimneys.

It was said that in the quiet of the evening you will discover the secrets that the Pedrera only reveals at night - how the building comes to life when the sun goes down.

Incidentally, Akubi shared to me that he will be visiting Spain end of this year.

A Naughty Boy

A Naughty Boy Sculpture

16 Apr, 2013 | From Cristina of Barcelona, Spain

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

The postcard shows a sculpture of a face of a naughty boy in one of the parks in Barcelona, Spain. Cristina says she lives near this park.

Postcard and Candies

Puerto de la Cruz

12 Apr, 2013 | From Alejandro of Spain

This is my first postcard from Spain - and the mail also comes with lots of candies! Alejandro lives in Tenerife, and wrote about how beautiful their island is.

Puerto de la Cruz is a city and municipality located in Spain, on the north coast of Tenerife island, in the Orotava Valley. It was formerly known by its English translation, "Crossport". In Spanish the inhabitants are known as Portuenses. The municipality is the smallest in area in Tenerife.

Puerto de la Cruz occupies a prominent place in the history of tourism of the islands.