2009-10-11 ~ Abhishek's PostCrossing Journey

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Abu Simbel, Egypt

Egypt-7, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Abu Simbel is an archaeological site comprising two massive rock temples in Nubia, southern Egypt on the western bank of Lake Nasser about 290 km southwest of Aswan. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments", which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan).

The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari, to commemorate his alleged victory at the Battle of Kadesh, and to intimidate his Nubian neighbors. However, the complex was relocated in its entirety in the 1960s, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir.

Cairo Citadel, Egypt

Egypt-8, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

The Saladin Citadel of Cairo is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Cairo, Egypt.

The location, part of the Muqattam hill near the center of Cairo, was once famous for its fresh breeze and grand views of the city, and was fortified by the Ayyubid ruler Salah al-Din (Saladin) between 1176 and 1183 AD, to protect it from the Crusaders.

Aljafería Palace, Spain

Spain-12, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

The Aljafería Palace is a fortified palace built during the second half of the 11th century in Zaragoza, Spain. It was the residence of the Banu Hud dynasty during the era of Abu Jaffar Al-Muqtadir and reflecting the splendor attained by the kingdom of the taifa of Zaragoza at the height of its grandeur. The palace currently contains the Cortes (regional parliament) of the autonomous community of Aragon.

Ascona, Switzerland

Switzerland-8, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Ascona is a municipality in the district of Locarno in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
It has a population of about 5000 and is located on the shore of Lake Maggiore.The town is a popular tourist destination, and holds a yearly jazz festival, the New Orleans Jazz Festival Ascona.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska park, Poland

Poland-18, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska park is a Mannerist architectural and park landscape complex and pilgrimage park, built in the 17th century as the Counter Reformation in the late 16th century led to prosperity in the creation of Calvaries in Catholic Europe.

It is the best known sanctuary in Poland, after Jasna Góra in Częstochowa. The park, located near the town of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which took its name from the park, was added in 1999 to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Bryggen, Norway

Norway-2, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Bryggen (Norwegian for the Wharf), also known as Tyskebryggen (the German Wharf) is a series of Hanseatic commercial buildings lining the eastern side of the fjord coming into Bergen, Norway. Bryggen has since 1979 been on the UNESCO list for World Cultural Heritage sites. The name has the same origin as the Flemish city of Brugge.

The city of Bergen was founded in 1070. In 1360 a Kontor of the Hanseatic League was established there, and as the town developed into an important trading centre, the wharfs were improved. The administrative buildings of Bryggen housed clerks from many areas, especially Germany. The warehouses were filled with goods, particularly fish from northern Norway, and cereal from Europe.

Northern Scandinavia, Map Card, Finland

Finland-22, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Finland

Finland-21, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

The Helsinki Olympic Stadium, located in the Töölö district about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952 Summer Olympics. It was built however to host the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were moved from Tokyo to Helsinki before being cancelled due to World War II. The stadium was also the venue for the first World Athletics Championships in 1983 as well as for the 2005 World Championships in Athletics. It is also the home stadium of the Finland national football team.

Hamina, Finland

Finland-20, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Hamina is a town and a municipality of Finland. It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Kymenlaakso region. Hamina is unilingually Finnish speaking. Hamina is also one of the most important harbours of Finland. The port specialises in forest products and transit cargo to Russia.

Helsinki Cathedral, Finland

Finland-19, originally uploaded by Abhishek's Received Postcards.

Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Helsinki, located in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. The church was originally built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia and until the independence of Finland in 1917, it was called St. Nicholas' Church.