A Postcard A Day - Tusday 21 October 2025 - T for neighborhood, horses and trees

 Hello lovely peeps,

It's Tuesday again and those who read my Friday blog know that I am now back home and finished (for now) with traveling. I have a pile of postcards as I sent 30 cards during the Postcrossing meet-up and of course I get 30 cards sent to me by random members. I've chosen a colourful one for you today:

It was sent by the San Diego Postcrossers during a meet-up on the 27th of September. They got together to celebrate International Postcard Day which is on the 1st of October each year.

The card features some of the murals in Chicano Park. The info on the cards reads:

There is a QR code of a short video: 

Below is a screenshot, to watch the video, go to the link above.

I seem to remember that in Elizabeth's neighbourhood there are many Spanish speaking people so it might spark some recognition. I think it's a great story. Community is such a mighty thing. 

And of course the murals are beautiful. I can't stop looking at them.

The Postcrossing members have all signed the card (and there are many!):

Of course they have delighted me with beautiful stamps:

The large stamp on the left features a reindeer. Is it a Christmas stamp I wonder? The stamp with the sad looking dog is about 'neuter/spay', which speaks for itself. Sadly the bottom two smaller stamps are cancelled by ballpoint pen. I wish they wouldn't do that.

I still have some photos from my week in Jerez de la Frontera. One of the first things I booked were tickets to the Riding School. The Spanish have developed a type of dressage that is famous all over the world. 

The front of the building looks like this (above).

It is surrounding by beautiful parkland and there were several outdoor riding arenas where we could watch horses being trained. There was an interesting museum and the main building is also open to the public. We entered at 10 a.m. and at midday there was a demonstration of the horses in the indoor arena:

Two of the six riders were girls.

They also showed horse carriages:

I have been told (I know nothing about horses) that these horse do movements that are very difficult for a horse to do, like walking sideways:

And they can also stand on their hind legs (on command):

And then jump!

Sorry for the overload of horses, but I loved it.

To finish I have a few typical buildings:

A door knocker:

Some trees:

This tree filled the whole plaza. It was huge, and old.

This was another old, unusual tree. 

I love trees. I wish they could talk....

As today we have the T-Party, hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard, I need a drink. Well I had plenty of those that week. Here we are having a drink with tapas:

It was supposed to be a potato salad. The bottom part certainly was. The top bit was mushed vegetables. It was delicious.

That is all from me my friends.

On Friday I will write about the sourdough workshop and Tuesday you will see me visiting a bodega in Jerez.

Happy T-Day all,

Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Fridy 17 October 2025 - Friday Smiles

 Hello lovely peeps,

I have come back from my travels safe and sound. I will show you some photos later. First off is my postcard for today:

My friend Maggie sent it me (before I went on holiday) in an envelope with more cards. 

The info on the back of the card:

I love these woodblock prints of the sea. They are so beautiful!

My friend sent me the card in an envelope with lots of stamps on it:

Beautiful photo of Queen Elizabeth II. 

Thank you Maggie.

Now let me tell you about my little holiday:

I booked an AirBNB in Jerez de la Frontera. (This was before I joined Homexchange) It is the most beautiful apartment I have ever seen.

With three large terraces on two floors.

The apartment is right in the old center of town. A few buildings down the street is the post office:

A detail:

Opposite the post office is the theatre Villamarta.

Wikipedia writes: The Villamarta Theatre in Jerez de la Frontera is a theatre designed in the Andalusian regionalist style by Teodoro Anasagasti , built in 1926.

In 1988, it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC). It offers a rational alternative, while remaining naturally respectful of the urban environment. Despite its small size, the clever spatial organization and the striking beauty of its façade impose its presence over the surrounding area.

The square round the corner is full of 'cafe culture' and people enjoying the sun and a drink.

We visited the Álcatraz, a monument that is a fortress as well as a stately home. 

What impressed me most was the ancient pharmacy:

The view from the pharmacy window:

Another part I liked was the olive press:

As you can see Jerez is vying for the European Capital of Culture in 2031. 

As far as I am concerned it can well win, as it is a beautiful city with so much to see. 

More in my next blog (Tuesday).

That's what made me smile this week. And at the end I will put some funnies so that you can also have a chuckle.

Enjoy your weekend,

Lisca

A Postcard A Day - Tuesday 14 October 2025 - T for Michael Pupin (no, not that Russian fellow), and a long walk.

 Hello lovely peeps,

We're on Tuesday already. For those of you who have missed me on Friday, not to worry. I'm away from home and I just didn't have the opportunity to write anything.

I have a postcard to show you of a seriously looking gentleman:

The card comes from Serbia (part of the former Yugoslavia) and the gent in the picture is Milhajlo Pupin, a Serbian scientist and inventor. On the back of the card there is some info in English:

His life story is amazing. He managed to get to America as a boy. Read about him here.

The stamps are interesting too:

The stamp on the left is about 140 years of construction of railway infrastructure in Serbia.

The 140th anniversary of railway infrastructure in Serbia was marked by the start of construction on July 3, 1881, with the first train running in September 1884. Key dates include the start of regular traffic on September 15, 1884, and the recent launch of the country's first 200-km/h railway line between Belgrade and Subotica in October 2025. 

I have not been able to find out who the two gentlemen are.

What have I been doing? Sunday, a week ago, I went on an organized walk. The walking group from my village participated and we had a coach full of people. Great fun. There were oparticipants from the whole province of Granada:

The walk started in a village called Beas de Guadix.

We walked the Badlands. It meant a climb up to the ridge and the last part was fairly flat and then down hill at the end.

The views from the top were spectacular.

The village of Beas is visible in the distance, so here we have already walked quite a distance.

Here begins the flat bit. A blessing after a steep climb.

The landscape is an erosion landscape.

The weather was glorious, as you can see.

Here we are on the way back to the village.

First port of call was a bar to have a well deserved cold beer!

In the centre of the village they were preparing the traditional paella:

Which was very tasty:

As today is T for Tuesday, and this drink will be my 'ticket' to the party, hosted by Elizabeth and Bluebeard.

That is all from me today.

Happy T-Day.

Lisca