3455 GERMANY (Hamburg) - Rickmer Rickmers

Rickmer Rickmers is a three masted barque permanently moored as a museum ship in Hamburg, near the Cap San Diego steamer, also a museum ship. After almost 90 years of sailing the seven seas, the ship was turned into a museum in 1983. Today, visitors can roam the decks, exploring the crew's and officers' quarters, the galley and even the engine room (this windjammer was powered by wind and, if required,  by steam and diesel engines). The hull is 97 meters long, 12.20 meters wide, the depth was 6 meters.

3444 UNITED STATES (California) - Big Sur Coast Highway

Big Sur Coast Highway is a section of California State Route 1 that is widely considered to be one of the most scenic driving routes in the United States, if not the world. It was the first California Scenic Highway and the first federal All American Road. It is generally considered to include the 114 km segment adjoining the region of Big Sur between Malpaso Creek near Carmel Highlands in the north and San Carpóforo Creek near San Simeon in the south.

0214, 3397 THAILAND - Tuk-tuk (putt-putt, brum-brum and so on)

0214 Different tuk-tuk models

Posted on 21.05.2012, 26.01.2020
I know this type of means of transport from two sources: of Indian movies and from communist Romania during 1960-1970 (when they were used by the confectioneries and by the company - yes, it was only one - which deliver food at home). I note with surprise that this three-wheeled cabin cycle, in fact a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw, was or is used on almost every continents, except Australia. Those who invented it were Italians, namely company Piaggio, which made in 1948 Piaggio Ape (Italian for bee), based on the Vespa (Italian for wasp) scooter. Clever play on words, that perfectly reflects the change of purpose, going on the same line.

3397 Tuk-tuks at Wat Pho, Bangkok

In Thailand (because about it is about in the sentence) this auto rickshaw, called tuk-tuk, is a widely used form of urban transport, particularly where traffic congestion is a major problem. About 20,000 tuk-tuks are registered as taxis in Thailand. Bangkok alone is reported to have 9,000 tuk-tuks. The name is onomatopoeic, mimicking the sound of a small engine, often two-cycle (an equivalent English term would be "putt-putt"). Drivers may also use their tuk-tuks to transport fresh produce or other goods around the city in absence of passengers.

2699, 3391 UNITED KINGDOM - Elizabeth II

2699 Queen Elizabeth II addresses politicians and
members of the House of Lords during the
State Opening of Parliament in Westminster.

Posted on 21.08.2016, 25.01.2020
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is, and has been since her accession in 1952, Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and Head of the Commonwealth. She is also Queen of 12 countries that have become independent since her accession: Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

3391 Queen Elizabeth II travelling in Queen Victoria's 1842 ivory-mounted
phaeton drawn by two Windsor Grey horses. The driver is dressed in full state
postillion livery.

Elizabeth was born in London to the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and was the elder of their two daughters. She was educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936. She began to undertake public duties during the WWII, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she has four children: Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.

3182 FRANCE (Saint Barthélemy) - Colombier Beach

Located in the northwestern part of the island, Colombier Beach is a secluded beach - an entire bay area only accessible by boat or foot. It is a lovely white sand beach lined with vegetation, and the only building which can be seen from there is the home of billionaire David Rockefeller, origin of the development of a high-end tourism in Saint-Bartholomew. L'Anse de Colombier is now part of the natural marine reserve of Saint Barthemlemy.

2957 FRANCE (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) - Valence, Drôme

2957 Valence, Drôme - Republic Square with
Hôtel de la Croix D'or (Hotel Golden Cross)
probably in 1960's

Situated on the left bank of the Rhône, about 100km south of Lyon, along the railway line that runs from Paris to Marseille, Valence is often referred to as "the door to the South of France", the local saying à Valence le Midi commence (at Valence the Midi begins) pays tribute to the city's southern culture. Inscribed on the list of flowery towns and villages of France, it is one of the seventeen municipalities of the Rhône-Alpes region to be labeled "four flowers" by the Concours des villes et villages fleuris, i.e. the maximum level.

2633 TAIWAN - An 1950's shop

Unlike the mainland China, which in 1949 became People's Republic of China, taking the road of communism, Taiwan, the Republic of China's refuge, has kept the pro-American orientation. Initially, the United States expected that Taiwan would fall to the Communists, but in 1950 the conflict between North Korea and South Korea caused it to change its attitude, and began an aid program. The products displayed in this  store from 1950's illustrate complete the American influence.

2631 FINLAND (Uusimaa) - Motorcyclists on the Linvävaregatan in Tammisaari

Tammisaari (Ekenäs in Swedish) is a coastal town and former municipality in Southern Finland, that included the former municipalities Snappertuna and Tenala together with the town of Ekenäs. It was merged with Pohja and Karis to form the new municipality of Raseborg on January 1, 2009. The town is bilingual, with the majority being Swedish speakers (81%), and the minority Finnish speakers (17%).

2630 UNITED KINGDOM (England) - The red double decker buses of London

London's bus network is one of the largest in the world, running 24 hours a day, with about 8,500 buses, more than 700 bus routes and around 19,500 bus stops. In 2013, the network had more than 2 billion commuter trips per annum, more than the Underground. The distinctive red double-decker buses have become a national symbol of England and United Kingdom, and are an internationally recognised trademark of London transport along with black cabs and the Tube.

2626-2628 ROMANIA (Braşov) - The Pentecost in Şona

2626 The Pentecost in Şona - Lads and girls in the courtyard of the host.

For residents of Şona, a village located on the right bank of the Olt River, at 5 km from Făgăraş, in the ethnographic area of Târnava Mare, the Pentecost (the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus), celebrated by Christians at 50 days after the Easter, is the most important holiday. On this occasion, the group of lads constituted at the Christmas resumes its activity and sing carols to the householders homes, along with the village girls.

2627 The Pentecost in Şona - The cart with girls in the courtyard of the host.

The group of lads on horseback, accompanied by a cart to which, until the 1950s, were yoked the most beautiful oxen, and now the most beautiful horses, is the pride of the village. Even if the celebration has undergone in time changes, it kept some significant archaic elements. After Christmas, the lads chose another leader, named summer mayor, which coordinate the activities of the year, and designated the host (the owner of the most beautiful horses), from who will start the showiness on the day of Pentecost.

2628 The Pentecost in Şona - The showiness of lads

In the past, on the Pentecost eve, the lads gathered oak leaves and twigs of hazel in the woods, and the girls picked field flowers to decorate the cart and horses. In nowadays are made crepe paper flowers. The next morning, the lads wash the horses in the River Olt, and go to the girls, who put woolen blankets with tassels (lepedeu) under saddles, and adorn the harnesses with flowers (căpeţel). Then the lads and girls gather in the courtyard of the host, where is the adorned cart, and go to the church.

2614 UNITED STATES (California) - Old Town San Diego State Historic Park

The first European settlement on the West Coast of the present-day United States was the San Diego Presidio, a military outpost of Spanish California, founded by Gaspar de Portolà in 1769, in an area inhabited by the Kumeyaay people. Mission San Diego de Alcalá was founded by Father Junípero Serra the same year. Both were built on Presidio Hill, which remained the primary settlement for several decades because it was defensible.

2606 UNITED STATES (New York) - NYPD Highway Patrol Patrolling Midtown Manhattan

The NYPD Highway Patrol is a specialized unit under the auspices of the NYPD's Transportation Bureau primarily responsible for patrolling and maintaining traffic safety on limited-access highways within New York City. Its other duties include accident investigations, advanced driver and radar training for NYPD officers, dignitary and parade escorts, hazardous material and truck traffic enforcement, anti-drag racing programs, and anti-terrorist checkpoints.

2505 UNITED STATES (New York) - Taxicabs of New York City

The taxicabs of New York City are widely recognized icons of the city, come in two varieties: yellow and green. Taxis painted canary yellow (medallion taxis) are able to pick up passengers anywhere in the five boroughs. Those painted apple green (commonly known as boro taxis), which began to appear in August 2013, are allowed to pick up passengers only in some areas. In March 2014, in New York City were 51,398 men and women licensed to drive medallion taxicabs. Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC).

0428, 2488 GERMANY (Berlin) - Images of Berlin

2488 Berlin: 1. Siegessäule (Victory Column); 2. Art Deco stairs;
3. A view with new buildings; 4. Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate);
5. River Spree; 8. Reichstagsgebäude (Reichstag Building);

Posted on 24.12.2012, 25.04.2016
First documented in the 13th century, Berlin was the capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg (1417-1701), the Kingdom of Prussia (1701-1918), the German Empire (1871-1918), the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) and the Third Reich (1933-1945). After WWII was divided into East Berlin (the capital of East Germany) and West Berlin (a West German exclave), and following the German reunification in 1990 it regained the status as the capital of Germany. In the 1920s it was the third largest municipality in the world, and now, with a population of 3.5 million people, is the second most populous city in the  European Union, after London.

0428 Berlin: 1. Konzerthaus Berlin; 2. Unter den Linden;
3. Rotes Rathaus (Red Town Hall); 4. Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace);
5 Reichstagsgebäude (Reichstag Building); 6. A view with new buildings;
7. Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral); 8. Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate).

Because is situated in an area of low-lying marshy woodlands with a mainly flat topography, on both sides of the River Spree, which empties into the River Havel in its westernmost borough, around one third of the Berlin's area is composed of forests, parks, gardens, rivers and lakes. Of course that the history has left the city with a highly eclectic array of architecture and buildings, its appearance today being predominantly shaped by the key role it played in Germany's history in the 20th century.

0085, 0506, 2387 SLOVENIA (Ljubljana) - Ljubljana, the city of dragons

0085 Ljubljana - Images from the city

Posted on 28.12.2011, 11.02.2013, 17.03.2016
Situated on the river Ljubljanica, between the Alps and the Karst, Ljubljana (Laibach until 1918) was for centuries the capital of the historical region of Carniola, and even the capital of the Illyrian Provinces in the Napoleonic French Empire (1809-1813). In 1918, following the end of WWI and the dissolution of Austria-Hungary, the region joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, subsequent known as Yugoslavia. After WWII, it became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, and remains the capital of independent Slovenia, which joined the European Union in 2004.

0085 Ljubljana - Aerial view of Ljubljanica, and of the castle

The city's architecture is a mix of styles, because it was rebuild twice, first, in a Baroque style, after the 1511 earthquake, and second after the 1895 quake, this time in a Vienna Secession style. Many sectors built after the WWII have a personal touch by the Slovene architect Jože Plečnik, who also has practised in Vienna, Belgrade and Prague, and Ivan Vurnik. In the second half of the 20th century, parts of Ljubljana were redesigned by Edvard Ravnikar. The extent of Ljubljana has changed considerably in the past 40 years, mainly because some of the nearby settlements have merged with Ljubljana.

2387 Ljubljana - Cafes and bars along Cankar Enbankment

Ljubljana Castle is located on Castle Hill, overlooking the old town. The hill became a Roman stronghold after fortifications built by Illyrians and Celts, but the oldest mention of the castle dates from 1112-1125. In 1144 it was the seat of the Carinthian dukes. When in 1335 the Habsburgs took over the area, they demolished the fortress, and in the 15th century started building a new one that still stands today. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the castle became arsenal and military hospital, and later prison, which it remained until 1905, when Municipality of Ljubljana settled poor families into it. The residents stayed there until the mid-1960s, when began its renovation.

0075, 0091, 2281 FINLAND (Uusimaa) - The trams of Helsinki

2281 Tram HKL 184 on line 9, in Helsinki Senate Square, on 20.04.1972

Posted on 16.12.2011, 04.01.2012, 10.02.2016
The Helsinki system is one of the oldest electrified tram networks in the world (1891), and the only one still in use in Finland. In 2013, 38km of double track was in operation with 13 regular lines. Helsinki City Transport (HKL) has up to 124 tram units that can be used in scheduled passenger service (2015). Traditional colors were and remained yellow and green. Several times were tried other combinations, which however have proved unpopular. In the postcard 2281 is the tram HKL 184, which was part of a lot of 6 (HKL 181-186), series A12, manufactured between 1939 and 1941 by ASEA, back then a Swedish company. It was delivered on December 11, 1941, and was in service until April 22, 1974.

0075 Tram HKL 150 on line 1A,
in Helsinki Senate Square, on 27.04.2005

 

From 1998 to 2003, HKL purchased a new fleet of low-floor Variotram, which proved to be unreliable, so the company was forced to buy 10 second-hand trams from Mannheim (Germany) to cover for the shortage. In the postcard 0075 can be seen even one of them, HKL 150, a 8-axle GT8, manufactured by DÜWAG in 1970, which came into use in Helsinki on May 30, 2004. In 2016 it is the only of this type which is part of the rolling stock of HKL, as a charter tram.

0091 Tram HKL 151 on line 6, on Hämeentie Street, on 20.09.2005

 

The tram from the postcard 0091, HKL 151, is also one of those buy from Mannheim, more precisely is one of the four 6-axle GT6 (HKL 151-154) manufactured also by DÜWAG in 1970. It was used for the first time in Helsinki on April 18, 2005, and was in service until June 29, 2012. To help pay for the second-hand trams, HKL was allowed to cover six of the extra trams completely in advertising, a sight rarely seen before on the streets of Helsinki.