Balloons of Lithuania

Photo by: Evaldas Lasys, 2015

Wah!!! This surprise card came from Lithuania from a really lovely 

friend ,Rita who never forgets that all balloons should come to my 

mailbox! haha thank you so much!

Sent: 3 August 2015   Received: 19 August 2015   Travelled: 16 days

Gediminas' Tower

Long, long ago, the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas was hunting in the woods of Sventaragis valley. The hunting was a success, but a very tiring one. The duke stayed there and spent a night. Gediminas had a dream that on top of the hill, where he had hunted down a taurus that day, a large iron wolf is standing and howling so hard and loud, like a hundred wolves. The Duke asked the mage Lizdeika to explain the dream. He explained that this is an omen indicating to build a city in this place, which would later become known around the world and will become a magnificent capital city of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, obeying to the will of the gods, began to build the future capital city, and a castle in the centre of it. The city was named Vilnius after the nearby river Vilnia. Gediminas tower is one part of the castle, which was built by Gediminas.

This card comes officially via PostcardUnited from my regular swap friend Rita.

Rather funny as some months before I had also sent her a card via PostcardUnited.

Small world indeed! Thanks Rita

Sent: 10 June 2015   Received: 13 July 2015   Travelled: 33 days

Þingvellir, Iceland

Þingvellir (Thing Fields) is a place in the administrative district of Bláskógabyggð in southwestern Iceland, near the Reykjanes peninsula and the Hengill volcanic area. Þingvellir is a site of historical, cultural, and geological importance and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Iceland. It lies in a rift valley that marks the crest of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. It is at the northern end of Þingvallavatn, the largest natural lake in Iceland.

I had a dream last weekend weekend that I'd have a flooded mailbox, so when Tuesday came roumd, I only got 1 card, and on Wednesday, bam , over 30+ postcards! After a long four day weekend for Labour day and Sunday's Wesak holiday (Birth of Buddha),making the following Monday a public holiday, I was so happy to see so many surprises in my mailbox. Finally I get to the last card of the pile, a surprise postcard sent by Rita from Iceland. 

Rita had asked friends  on what is their dream country to visit?

I was the first one to mention Iceland. I forgot about it but she didn't

hence this super lovely surprise from her trip there :D

Thanks so much!

Sent: 14 April 2015   Received: 6 May 2015   Travelled: 20 days

Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius is classified as a Gamma global city according to GaWC studies, and is known for its Old Town of beautiful architecture, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Its Jewish influence until the 20th century has led to it being described as the "Jerusalem of Lithuania" and Napoleon named it "the Jerusalem of the North" as he was passing through in 1812. In the year 2009, Vilnius was the European Capital of Culture, together with the Austrian city of Linz.

Thanks to Rita for another surprise from Lithuania!

Sent: 11 June 2014   Received: 26 June 2014   Travelled: 15 days