Postbot Lottery postcard

 

A colourful mailboxes postcard from Portugal that made my day 😍

The new Postcrossing Forum held a "Postbot Lottery" for those who finished the basic "Postbot Tutorial" whereby winners would be sent World Postcard Day themed postcards. 

I was happy to be picked as one of the lucky winners and most relieved when the winning postcard reached my mailbox successfully. Our postal system suspended outbound international mail (except to Singapore) during this Covid-19 pandemic until further notice. As such, I was feeling quite uncertain whether incoming international mail would also be affected. Glad to be proven wrong but also wondering why the restriction is only one-way...

Cute Mickey Mouse stamp! 

I just found out that Mickey was "born" on 18 November 1928. 

So at the time I received this postcard, he was already 92 years old!

Windows of Portugal

Sender: Rita

Windows of Portugal

Love the ones with the flower boxes :)

Wooden Door in Portugal

Sender: Reggikko

Old wooden door in Portugal

'I' is for 'Intricate'

Tower of Belém in Lisbon

Sender: Ana

Tower of Belém in Lisbon, Portugal. A UNESCO World Heritage.

A shaped card from Ana

Portugese "Gato"

Sender: Benedita & Grandmother
"Gato"...Cats! I am very partial to cats especially the orange tabby ones.. :)

A Green Window

Sender: Anna
Text on card: "Holidays Live Here"

Casa da Cerca

Sender: Ana
Casa da Cerca - Centro de Arte Contemporânea de Almada 

Almada, Portugal

Lisbon and Almada are on opposite sides of the Tagus river. Ana writes that she works in Lisbon but lives in Almada. The building shown is the Centre for Contemporary Art in Almada which holds regular exhibitions. 

Fivelas E Adorno De Espada

Sender: Isacle
Text on card: Fivelas e adorno de espada (Buckles and swords adornments?)
(and other Portugese words...)

Barcelos Rooster

Sender: Maique
Galo de Barcelos - Barcelos Rooster

The rooster which is a subject of an interesting legend. Basically, the original rooster crowed as soon as a wrongfully accused man declared it would, so the man was never taken to the gallows.

Having known about that legend, why then did the picture remind me of the Angry Birds game?! :)

Portugese Handmade Chairs

Sender: Miceu & her niece, Philipa
Beautifully decorated chairs fixed to the wall.

Óbidos

Sender: Aida

Óbidos, Portugal.

Óbidos is a medieval village. Its name comes from the Latin term ‘oppidum’ meaning fortified city, and is believed to have been occupied by the Romans during the early days. It is a beautiful place with its cobblestone streets that are lined with beautiful houses and churches and colorful flowers such as bougainvillea and geraniums. 

Cat in Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal

Sender: Isacle

A pretty view of a sleepy cat at a window of a house in Alfama, Lisbon, Portugal

Alfama is the oldest district of Lisbon. In Alfama, it is still possible to see Roman and Arab remains, two of the most dominant civilizations in Lisbon's past.

Isacle writes that she has just returned from visiting Penang, one of our historical cities! I wish that I can zip to Alfama and then write back to Isacle to inform I've visited one of her historical cities in return :)

Praia Fishing Boat

Sender: Miceu
Portugal. Praia do Furadouro (Furadouro Beach)
Saida do Barco para Pesca (Departure of the fishing boat)

Check out the rubber stamp mark...this card was missent to Jakarta (Indonesia!!) 

I'm glad it did reach Malaysia safely!!

Costa Vicentina

Sender : Miceu

Costa Vicentina, a very beautiful and "savage" coast along Algarve and Alentejo provinces, and a tentative UNESCO site, writes Miceu. Savage but eye-catching and picturesque!

Rabelo

Sender: Miceu

Miceu writes that the Rabelo is a typical boat which can be seen at the old and traditional quay of Gaia.

Rabelo was used to transport barrels with port wine from Alto Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia - Porto, where the wine was stored, aged and then marketed and exported. Now they are used to transport people in trips along the Douro River, and to visit the Port Wine caves.

This House Sells Plates

Sender: Miceu

Miceu writes that in Algarve, colourful ceramic plates are still done traditionally by hand and placed outside those homes selling them. Great advertisement! I'd buy some plates had I been a tourist there!

Further Woes for the Mona Lisa

Sender: Isacle

Unarguably the most famous painting in history, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, her real identity and her mystical smile are the subject of many theories and speculation. One theory given for her smile was that during this period in history, women were instructed to smile only with one side of their mouths so as to add an air of mystery and elegance...

The original Mona Lisa has gone through many sets of woes like being stolen, damaged, painted over, attacked by an acid thrower etc. But as you can see, even this Mona Lisa has its own sufferings too, of being torn in its postal journey. Such a pity...

Isacle is from Portugal but I noted that this card was sent from France due to the French stamps on it (albeit no postal marks).

Traditional Portugese Door

Sender: Paula

This is an example of traditional doors of Portugal. In this picture the rims are brightly painted yellow and the doors are elaborately decorated with wrought iron fancy grilles. Check out the beautiful glazed ceramic tiles on the walls. I wish to open the doors and take a peek inside!

The Roman Heritage in Portugal: The Roman Temple of Évora. Joint stamp issuance Portugal - Morocco

Porto Multi-View

Sender: Miceu

Porto or Oporto is Portugal's second largest city and capital of Portugal's north. One can see buildings of varied styles from the various periods in Porto: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassical and modern. Ponte De Dom Luis is the city's majestic iron bridge. Porto has a tram system, using vintage tramcars running along the Douro River waterfront. Igreja Dos Clerigos Church is Porto's Baroque church which tall bell tower, the Torre dos Clérigos, can be seen from various points of the city.

Avis

Sender: Luis

Luis lives in Avis, a small town in the centre of Portugal. He writes that it is a quiet old historic place to live with many historical buildings and monuments, e.g. castle, towers and churches.

I read that Avis is a picturesque town, with narrow streets and white-washed houses. Sited at the top of a granite hill and surrounded by a nearby river, Avis was protected by the monastery and castle that gave the town its name. The castle was built between 1214 - 1223. Three of the original six towers still exist today: Torre da Rainha (the Queen’s Tower), Torre de Santo António (St. Anthony’s Tower) and Torre de São Roque (St. Rock’s Tower). The monastery consists of a church, sacristy, chapter room, dining hall, cloisters and bell tower. Its marble entrance has a royal shield dating 1717.

I think I can make out the monastery from the viewcard. Or is it the castle? And maybe one tower... But the view is indeed picturesque.