Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires

Interesting thing about this postcard is the inset image of “Smokey-The-Bear” in the lower left. First, the mascot of the US Forest Service is named Smokey Bear (no "the"). And, second, he is not specifically associated with North Carolina. When we were in New Mexico this spring we flirted with the idea of visiting Smokey Bear Historical Park where the story of a bear cub becoming a national mascot originates. Smokey was a real bear cub rescued from a fire in the New Mexico mountains. My main reason for wanting to visit the park was to find cool postcards, so the side-trip got nixed when time was running short. I keep meaning to write to them to see if there are cool postcards and if I can buy them online. I wish more parks would sell postcards online.

Anyway, when I sent this card to Judy to adopt, I noted that I thought it odd that the bear image would appear on the card. She wrote that there is a huge Smokey Bear at the Raleigh State Fair and a ranger sits inside its head and talks to people so maybe that's why the image on the card. Judy also wonders whether the image relates to Smoky Mountains, which are in North Carolina (and Tennessee), and that could be, except the mountain range is not spelled “Smokey,” like the image on the card. I know. I’m over-thinking this whole thing.

This style postcard is known as large letter. It was a very popular theme for postcards in the mid-20th century. All the "Greetings From America" postcards featured by the USPS in the early-21st century are done in that style.

Moon Over Magnificence

Wow! How’s this for an impressive view? Conchi says Granada is the most beautiful place she has ever been. Featured on this card is Alhambra, part of medieval Granada that is UNESCO World Heritage. Those are the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background.

Conchi also tells me two Spanish sayings, “There’s nothing worse than being blind in Granada” and “Who hasn’t seen Granada has seen nothing.”

Saint Peter's Square Now

Siobhan, in Ireland, returned this card. She was here in 2006 and, unlike Natalie who adopted the vintage St. Peter's featured yesterday, Siobhan found it a bit of a let-down. She felt a lack of atmosphere, which she allows might be attributed to a frenetic tour of the Vatican.

This and the vintage card featured yesterday were requested and returned within days of each other. While I have many postcards featuring similar or exact same sites, I've not had two requested and returned so close together. It was all the more interesting to read first about being unexpectedly impressed with St. Peter's, and then turning the second over to read an exact opposite impression.

Notice how much the area behind St. Peter’s has developed. In yesterday’s postcard, there are wide open areas in the background. Not so in this view. To be expected, I suppose. Even Vatican City is not immune to sprawl.

Saint Peter's Square Then

St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, Italy. This vintage view is quite impressive. Natalie adopted this card and says she could not help but be overwhelmed by the majesty and brilliance, even though she is not a religious person. I'm not religious, either, and would have a hard time avoiding visiting St. Peter's Square when in Rome.

Tomorrow there will be a more contemporary view of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

When Jenny Was in Colombia

I love that Jenny has noted “PIRATES!” on the back of this card featuring the statue of Blas de Lezo (18th century Spanish Navy commander) in Cartagena, Colombia. That word convinced me to seek out more information about de Lezo. It seems he was quite the pirate fighter early in his career and then fought off a very large British invasion fleet intent on capturing Cartagena. That battle lasted 67 days. Talk about perseverance! He also has the charming nickname “Patapalo” (Pegleg) for the first (lost left leg) of various battle wounds. He could have been called One-eye-One-arm-One-leg at the end of his career. He lost the left eye and then the right arm in subsequent battles.

Anyway, Jenny writes about her visit to this site and walking along the wall, watching a storm brewing in the distance. In fact, visit Jenny’s amazing online travel narrative to read about it starting with Day 23. Tons of wonderful photos and a very detailed, honest, narrative. There will more postcards from Jenny in coming weeks.

My What Giant Flowers You Have

This postcard was my very first castle postcard. It features Castle Vaduz in Liechtenstein. The card is old, and though it is noted as a photograph on the back caption, it looks more like a painting.

Rose in UK adopted this card and she remembers being a child and driving with her family and some German friends and they ended up in Liechtenstein. They walked up to the castle gates and peeked through. While they were peeking a very posh car drove up with a somber driver behind the wheel. They waved to him and he wave back, in a stately manner. The party happy wandered away, pretending the driver was royalty. And creating a wonderful memory :-)

The Fabulous Fox

Julie saw David Copperfield at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, back in 1984. It was dinner and a show and drinks afterwards, and she still has the autographed ticket stubs. She also has the receipt for the fancy dinner, complete with wine, for only $35 for two!

The fountain pen Julie used is Parker Duofold with Quick Blue/Black ink. It looks a much deeper blue on this card than it does on the Florida card Julie also adopted. I had no idea paper played such a role in the color of ink until I got a fountain pen.