Leopard cub - South Africa

 Claus was only supposed to send me the Turkemenistan cards but he also sent this extra cute card, one of my favs too. 

The Leopard – Panthera Pardus – Is another of the Big Cat Species and in South Africa it is known to be the smallest member of the Big  5.

 

 Photo: Chris Daphne

They're probably Africa's most beautiful and elusive cats, seldom seen due to their solitary behaviour.
Of all the big cats, they are the most at home in trees where they rest or store their prey out of reach of lions and hyenas. 

Male leopards defend large territories which overlap the territories of two or even three females. Females defend their territories against other females. Young are born any time of the year as they are non-seasonal breeders.

Leopard cubs are born after a gestation period of three and a half months and females usually give birth to two or three cubs in hidden lairs of natural holes or thick bush. The Leopard mother takes great care to hide the cubs from predators like Lion, Cheetah and Hyena, who would jump at the chance to make an easy meal of the cubs.

Cubs stay with the mother for at least a year, during which time they learn the ways of the wild and how to survive on their own. . in: https://www.krugerpark.co.za

The best places to see leopards in South Africa are:
- Sabi Sands Game Reserve: Renowned for the highest density of leopards and the best, most habituated, and relaxed viewing opportunities on the continent.
- Kruger National Park: Offers excellent chances, particularly in the southern regions and around riverine areas.

- Private Reserves: Phinda Private Game Reserve (KwaZulu-Natal), Shamwari Game Reserve (Eastern Cape), and Karoo National Park (Western Cape) are top locations.
- Cape Fold Mountains: The Cederberg Wilderness is home to the smaller, elusive "Cape Leopard.

Meana Baba Mausoleum - Turkemenistan

 The second card Claus sent me is this one with the Meana Baba Mausoleum, located in Kaahka district.

 

This mausoleum is
 a sacred site linked to one of the most influential Sufi mystics of the Islamic world:
 Abu Sa‘id ibn Abi’l-Khayr al-Mayhani (967–1049 CE). 
Born in the town of Mayhana — now Meana —
he became known here as Meane Baba, the “Father of Meana.”
The mausoleum, built in the 11th century,
 still holds the atmosphere of devotion — with its rare double dome, colorful ornament, and traces of ancient calligraphy.
 - in: https://ayan-turkmenistan.travel

 

Kunya-Urgench - Turkemenistan

Kunya Urgench is a UNESCO site in north-western Turkmenistan, on the list since 2005. I got my 1st card from there back in 2009, when Claus sent it on behalf of Wendy, I postcrosser from Jamaica I used to talk with. It was a wonderful surprise, and now, all these years later, he sent 2 other cards that I had in ma favorites wall. 

On the 1st card we can see  the Mausoleum of Tyurabek Khanym and on the second the Mausoleum of  Sultan Tekesh. 

 

Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region, part of the Achaemenid Empire. The old town contains a series of monuments mainly from the 11th to 16th centuries, including a mosque, the gates of a caravanserai, fortresses, mausoleums and a 60-m high minaret. The monuments testify to outstanding achievements in architecture and craftsmanship whose influence reached Iran and Afghanistan, and later the architecture of the Mogul Empire of 16th-century India. - in: https://whc.unesco.org

Tyurabek-khanym was a real historic figure, a Mongolian princess, the favorite daughter of the governor of Golden Horde - Uzbek-khan and the spouse of his deputy in Khoresm Kutlug Timur . Tyurabek - khanym was the patroness of women. Eventually she was canonized and declared a saint.
The Tyurabek Khanum Mausoleum is the largest and most impressive of the surviving monuments at Kunye Urgench. It is widely recognized as one of the earliest and finest monuments to make extensive use of mosaic faience, or multi-colored ceramic tiles, most notably in its inner dome which depicts an arrestingly detailed conception of the heavens. Though the site is traditionally believed to be the final resting place of Tyurabek Khanum, the wife of Qutlugh Timur—who ruled Khorezm between 1321 and 1336 on behalf of the Golden Horde—the monument may actually date to the reign of Timur (Tamerlane, r. 1370 to 1405), or even somewhat later. - in: https://www.orientalarchitecture.com

 

 The Sultan Tekesh Mausoleum stands as one of the few surviving monuments from pre-Mongol Urgench. Alongside the Il-Arslan Mausoleum, it forms part of a necropolis dedicated to one of the ruling Khwarezmian dynasties.

Constructed for the Khwarezmshah Tekesh, who passed away in 1200, this mausoleum epitomized the grandeur and detailed craftsmanship expected of royal tombs. The structure reaches a height of 30 meters, with its architectural significance highlighted by its roof, adorned with blue tiles inscribed with verses from the Quran, and its tower, which features 24 compartments.
During his reign, Tekesh not only preserved the boundaries of his state but also expanded them, uniting a vast expanse from the Aral Sea in the north to the Persian Gulf in the south, and from the Pamirs in the east to the Iranian Plateau in the west. He was known for constructing mosques and schools and for his patronage of scholars and poets. 

The Tekesh Mausoleum once dominated the skyline of Urgench, serving as a beacon in the desert. Exhausted travelers would catch sight of it from afar, signaling the nearing end of their arduous journey. - in: https://eurasia.travel

RU - 10638561

 And this is the 1st official of this year. It took a long 107 days scenic road to get here. 

Palace Bridge, a road- and foot-traffic bascule bridge, spans the Neva River in Saint Petersburg between Palace Square and Vasilievsky Island.

 

 

RU-10638561, sent by Mary.

Like every other Neva bridge (except for Big Obukhovsky Bridge), it is drawn by night, making foot travel between various parts of the city virtually impossible. The bascule span was designed by an American firm, the Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge Company, and built by the French firm Société de Construction des Batignolles between 1912 and 1916.
The total length of Palace Bridge is 260.1 metres, width is 27.8 metres. It is actually composed of five spans, the southernmost joining Palace Embankment between the Winter Palace and the Admiralty and leading to Palace Square. - in: wikipedia

DE-15852765

 Lets talk about official cards. This one from Germany was the last one I received in 2025. I've received a total of 59 cards from 19 countries, being Germany, USA and Netherlands, the three I've received the most from. 

I've sent 50 cards to 22 countries, most of them to Germany, USA and Russia. I'm a bit disappointed because the cards that I've sent in October and November are expired now. Is unsual to have expired cards to USA and Germany. 

Anyway, 2025 was one of the years I've sent the fewest postcards and considering how much postage will increase next month, I belived I won't sent much more this one. 

St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Severus’ Church, in Erfurt, are examples of the International Gothic style of church architecture and are closely linked to the city and its history.

 

DE-15852765, sent by Hauke.

St. Mary’s Cathedral (on the left), which was built in the 14 century, is the place where Martin Luther attended theological lectures from 1507 to 1511, was ordained as a priest and gave his inaugural lecture. Particular highlights are the Gothic choir-loft windows, the extensive choir stalls (14th century) and the Romanesque sculptures of an enthroned Madonna and a monumental candle holder in the interior. The cathedral is also famous for the “Gloriosa”, the world’s largest free-swinging medieval bell with a diameter of 2.56 m.
Right next to the cathedral, at the top of the hill, is St. Severus’ Church. The five-nave early Gothic hall church was the collegiate church of an Augustine community of Augustinian canons. Here, you will find, in addition to the sarcophagus of St. Severus, a 15-metre-high baptismal font and an alabaster relief portraying the Archangel Michael.
Along with the neighbouring Catholic church dedicated to St. Severus, St. Mary’s Cathedral is supposed to be a place of peace for Christians and non-Christians. Together, they tower over the large Domplatz and shape Erfurt’s wonderful cityscape as architectural gems. - in: https://www.luther-land.com

Sandeman

Óscar could have sent a card with Santa Claus to wish me Happy Holidays, but he sent this card with Don, the logo of the Sandeman Port wine brand, and I liked it much better. 

 The brand was founded in 1790 by the Scotsman George Sandeman (1765–1841). Besides Port wine, it also produces Sherry, Brandy, and Madeira wine.

 

Foto: David de Abreu

The brand is well known for its logo featuring a man named Don, dressed in a Portuguese student's cape and a wide-brimmed Spanish hat, known as "the Man in the Black Cape." This logo was created in 1928 by Scottish artist George Massiot Brown. 

The black cape represents the students of the universities of Coimbra and Salamanca. The Spanish hat symbolizes the production of sherry wine in Spain. 

This combination reflects Sandeman's production of Port wines in Portugal and sherry in Spain, conveying mystery, tradition, and quality.

 

Monthly Fav. Surprise RR - Nov. 25

 Happy New Year!!

I haven't had this much free time in years, but despite that, I've never gone this long without posting updates. The truth is, I haven't been getting many postcards and I've had a few tricky weeks. Let's see how the next few weeks go.

 Last year I joined the MFS RR eleven months and only two months are still not complete, meaning that a few cards are still missing. That's not the case of November.

www.papersisters.de

  

In Chinese zodiac, the snake is associated with wisdom, charm, elegance, and transformation. People born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be intuitive, strategic, and intelligent. 

The Snake occupies the sixth position in the Chinese zodiac. 2025 was the year of the Wood Snake. 

 In Chinese culture, the Snake is the most enigmatic animal among the 12 zodiac animals. People born in a year of the Snake are supposed to be the most intuitive. 

Snakes tend to act according to their own judgments while remaining private and reticent. They are determined to accomplish their goals and hate to fail. 

Snakes represent the symbol of wisdom. They are intelligent and wise. They are good at communication but say little. Snakes are usually regarded as great thinkers.

 Snakes are materialistic and love keeping up with the Joneses. They love to possess the best of everything but they have no patience for shopping. - in: https://www.chinahighlights.com

Card sent by Marena.

  

www.papersisters.de

 

Hang sent me a new German Happy Postcrossing from Germany card, this one a castles version. The castles mentioned on the card are: Hohenzollern Castle; Drachenburg Castle; Moritzburg Castle; Heidelberg Castle; Schwerin Castle; Wartburg Castle; Glücksburg Castle and of course, Newschwanstein Castle.

www.papersisters.de

Another Germab HP card, this one sent by Bille, and from a very specific region, the "Pott". 

The Ruhrpott is a former industrial area of coal mining and heavy industry that has transformed into a diverse cultural and economic hub, famous for its industrial heritage (like Zollverein), green spaces, major cities (Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum), and vibrant cultural scene, including being a European Capital of Culture in 2010. 

The region takes its name partly from the river Ruhr and the word “Pott” which comes from “Kohlenpott” (meaning “coal pot”) alluding to the area’s coal-mining past.

 

When I think I already have enough cards of the Trinity St. Sergius Lavra, I get another one!! This one was sent by Tanya.