A sumo wrestling  相撲  card! I love it. Sumo, of course, is a traditional form of wrestling that dates back over 2000 years. It is steeped in tradition and ritual. Life as a wrestler is highly regimented, with rules regulated by the Japan Sumo Association. Wrestlers live in communal sumo training stables, known in Japanese as heya, were all aspects of their daily lives - from meals to their manner of dress - are dictated by strict kyara tradition. The lifestyle has a negative effect on their health, with sumo wrestlers having a much lower life expectancy that the average Japanese man. 

This is a great reproduction of a vintage Hallowe'en card. The writer says she "think you celebrate Halloween in Canada." We sure do and it is one of my favourite holidays.  Cassopolis is a village of 1712 named after Senator Lewis Cass, who served prior to the American Civil War.  Cassopolis is also where cat litter inventor, Ed Lowe, grew up! Lowe's company was worth US$500 million when he passed. 

A beautiful card of Cologne, with the Cologne Cathedral ( Kölner Dom). It is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. It is a World Heritage Site and is German's most visited landmark. It was started in 1248, but work halted in 1560. They tried to finish it in 1814, but wasn't properly funded until the 1840s. The edifice was completed to its original medieval plan, in 1880. Restoration of the church also began in the 1950s and continues to this day.  It is the tallest twined spired church in the world at 157 meters; the second tallest church in Europe; and the third tallest church of any kind in the world. The telecommunications tower, pictured on the card, is the only thing taller than the cathedral in Cologne.  As of 2024, the Archibishop of Cologne is Rainer Woelki. 

The sender sent me this hand-painted card. She is a teacher in Ohio.  Columbus is the capital and largest city in Ohio. Since I'm a hockey fan, let's talk about the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Columbus Blue Jackets are the only professional sports team (from the four major North American leagues) in Columbus. They play in the National Hockey League and joined in 2000. Their name is inspired by Ohio's American Civil War history. They haven't been particularily successfull in their almost 25 year history in the National Hockey League. In fact, they are one of only two teams that have not been to a conference final in their history. The other team is the three year old Seattle Kraken.  Ohio does have history in the National Hockey League. For two years, the Cleveland Barons, formerly the California Golden Seals, moved to Ohio. For the 1978-79 season, Cleveland merged with the Minnesota North Stars, now Dallas Stars. 

Hamelin is the famous town famous for the Pied Piper of Hamelin and the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. It was first started as a monestery around 851, with a surrounding village that slowly became a town by the 12th century. The incident with the Pied Piper is said to have taken place in 1284 and may be based on a true event, but somewhat different from the traditional tale. In the summer, the tale is performed by actors in the town centre every Sunday.  Today, Hamelin is a city of 58 000 people.