2332 - Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

Caro sent me a card that they picked up on their travels to Japan. It is a photo of a water temple in the Okunoin, or the cemetery of 20 000 Monks.

Okunoin is one of Japan’s most sacred places. Located in the holy temple town of Koyasan, it is home to the final resting place of many of the nation’s most important historical and religious figures.

Koyasan was founded in 816 CE by a monk named Kukai. He created the town as the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism – a sect he himself started – and resided there for much of his long life. His writings and teachings earned him respect from many, including the Japanese imperial court. By the time of his death, he was so highly revered that even though his body was entombed in Okunoin, many believe that he lives on in a meditative state and continues to pray for the souls of those on earth right here in the cemetery.

Crossing the Ichinohashi Bridge allows entrance into the forest that surrounds the cemetery. Okunoin is the largest graveyard in Japan – it stretches over two kilometres and includes the graves of over 20,000 monks and other believers in Shingon’s teachings. A number of famed feudal lords are buried here as well, including Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Yet, the site isn’t creepy – it is one of the most gorgeous and tranquil places in the country. The stately trees and ornate tombstones truly take the breath away, allowing for quiet meandering and thoughtful meditation as visitors make their way through the trees.

Caro is from Trier, which is located near the German-Luxembourg border. It was founded by the Celts in the 4th century BCE.

3227 - Mölln, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

Mölln is a small city of about 20 000 located in northern Germany. The Elbe-Lübeck Canal flows through the town, and there are eight small lakes that surround the city. It was founded in the 12th century and was a part of the Old Salt Route. Salt that was produced in the salt mines of Lower-Saxony was shipped to the Baltic Sea. Till Eulenspiegel, a legendary trickster known for exposing vices and provoking thought, is said to have lived in Mölln the last year of his life. He apparently died of the plague in 1350, but his existence has never been proven. Mölln has several monuments dedicated to him.

3322 - Hamburg, Germany

Happy birthday to me! What a lovely handmade card from the sender. Beautiful penmanship. Am Rothenbaum is the site of the main court of the German Open Tennis Championships. The International German Open has been played at the Rothernbaum since 1892, making it Germany's longest running tennis tournament. The current stadium was built in 1999 and can hold 13 200 people.

3232 - Manitowoc, Wisconsin, United States of America

The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal North Pierhead Light was built in 1882. There were nine keepers of the light until 1897. It was redesigned in 1903 and is 12 meters high. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was started in 1872 and wasn't opened for large-scale watercraft until 1890. The canal is 2.1 kilometers long that goes from Sturgeon Bay in Lake Michigan to Green Bay. There are no locks on this canal. The canal was sold to the United States government in 1893 and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the canal.

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