Deal, England

Unposted.

Deal: The beach and Seafront.

Deal is a small fishing town on the Kent coast.  Now a quiet seaside resort, it was once the busiest port in England.  In 1278 it was made one of the "limbs" of the Cinque Ports: five ports, two towns and seven "limbs" making up a confederation for the defence of the area.  Deal is approximatel 25 miles from the coast of France.  It is mentioned in Dickens' novel, Bleak House and Jane Austen's Persuasion.

Gallup, New Mexico, USA

Postmarked Gallup, dated 15 November 2008.

The card depicts the neon sign designed by Route 66 author Jerry McClanahan which sits over the Chamber of Commerce entrance in Gallup.

Gallup, the "Indian capital of the World" lies in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, in a region called The Four Corners, so-called because you can be in four states at the same time: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. Gallup is the largest Indian centre in the South west and the ceremonial capital of Native America.  There are many Native American people in the Gallup/Four Corners region, the most numerous being the Navajo.  The historic Route 66 (Interstate 40) runs though Gallup. It is the main area for trading posts and galleries of

Benbulben, Ireland

The postmark and date are so blurred they are unreadable, but the address and message imply a date of 2004.

Benbulben, Co. Sligo: The coastal plain of north Sligo is dotted with trim thatched cottages, behind which rise the flat-topped limestone hills.  Best known of these hills is Benbulben.  This mountain is famed in legend as the place where Diarmuid, hero of the epic love tale "The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne", was killed when taking part in a boar hunt on the slopes of the mountain.

W.B. Yeats wrote a poem called Under Ben Bulben, and the area is known as Yeats country.  The mountain is host to a unique variety of plants, some found nowhere else in Ireland.

Nordkapp, Norway

Postmarked Nordkapp, dated 25 June 1984.

Nordkapp
71º 10' 21"
Norge

Nordkapp is best known for its 397 metre high cliff which is referred to as the northernmost point in Europe.  In fact a nearby point is further north but is accessible only by foot.  The North Cape first became famous when the English explorer Richard Chancellor rounded it in 1553 while attempting to find a sea route through the Northeast Passage.

I add that last piece of information about Chancellor, because at one time I attended a school in England that had four houses, all named after famous seafarers, and one of them was Chancellor.  I never had any idea at the time what the names meant.  The others were Frobisher, Grenville and Gilbert.  I must look them up.

Versailles - the Hall of Mirrors, France

Postmarked Sceaux, dated 2 August 1964.

Palais de Versailles
Galerie des Galces, créée en 1680 par Mansard et Le Brun,
75 m de long sur 10,50 de large.
Gallery of Mirrors, created in 1680 by Manserd and Le Brun.
82 yards on 11 yards 50.

The Palace of Versailles, a magical place, a place to take your breath away when you first see it.  Once I lived not very far away, I saw it frequently and it continued to take my breath away.  It still does.

The Hall of Mirrors in the State Apartments is possibly the most well known feature of Versailles though not my own personal favourite (I love the gardens but I'll save that for another day).  It is considered to be most beautiful because of the reflections of the mirrors opposite the windows.  The Treaty of Versailles which officially ended World War I was signed in the room.

If you want a real treat, visit the Versailles website.  It is wonderful although the navigation is a little erratic.                                                                                

Sibelius Monument, Finland

Although it is stamped and has been through the postal system, it has escaped being postmarked altogether.   It is dated 1 November 2008.

Helsinki Suomi - Finland
Sibelius Monument (Eila Hiltunen, 1967)

This monument caused some controversy when it was unveiled in 1967 because of its abstract nature, and for this reason the face of Sibelius was included.  The main part is made up of more than 600 hollow tubes and weighs 24 tons.  It is one of the most visited sites in Helsinki and according to the sender of the card the "place is always crowded by tourists".  I can see why - I think it is outstandingly beautiful.  There is a smaller version in Paris at the UNESCO headquarters.

Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, Canada

Bought in 1994 when visiting Canada.  Never posted.

Niagara Falls

A whirlpool of mist and water surround the Maid of the Mist as it tours through the turbulent waters.

I'm sure Niagara Falls need no introduction - massive waterfalls on the border of Canada and the USA.  Not only are they beautiful, but they are a source of hydro-electric power.  The Maid of the Mist is a boat tour of the Falls.