If my translation is correct, then this card is a commemorative card for the 4th Annual Nationwide Senior Winter Games in Poland. They were held at Podhale, which is in the most southern region of Poland. The games were held in lutego (February) 2017. Podhale literally translates to "below the mountains." 

This card is from the city of  Staré Město (literally: old town). The Kovozoo is a zoo with animals and other exhibits created from metal. It is an entertainment complex that also serves for environmental education. 

Alcatraz was a maximum security federal prison found on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay. It was a U. S. Army fort since the 1850s, and then was converted into a U.S. Army Military Prison. The United States Department of Justice acquire the the island and turned it into a prison. It was modernized and security was increased and prisoners began arriving in August 1934. Alcatraz was considered unescapable because the island was surrounded by cold water and strong currents of San Fransisco Bay. It was intended for prisoners who continuously caused trouble at other federal prisons - a "last resort prison." It housed the worst of the worst who had no hope for rehabilitation. Even back in the 1930s, Alcatraz had many believe that it shouldn't exist. Prisoners believed it to have the worst living conditions. Many committed suicide; some developed psychological disorders.  Some reform came in the 1950s, with prisoners getting more privileges, such as movies, musical instrumen

When I think of totem poles, I always think of the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) people on British Columbia's west coast. I lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island for 5 years as a boy and loved totem poles.  This card is from a writer in Alexandria, United States, but it is of jangseung  장승, translated to village guardian : Korean totem poles.  Jangseung are also made of wood are placed on the edges of villages to mark village boundaries and to frighten away any demons that may be lurking about. They are usually decorated with inscriptions describing the personae of the carved figures on the front of the poles. In some regions of Korea, they are made of stone. 

This card is a depiction of life in the demolished Kowloon Walled City  九龍寨城. In the late 1980s, the area had about 35 000 people in it, within an area of 2.6 hectares. It started out as an Imperial Chinese military fort. When Hong Kong was leased to the United Kingdom, it became an enclave with the New Territories. From the 1950s to 1970s, Kowloon was controlled by the local triads - Chinese organized crime. The area had high rates of prostitution, gambling, and drug abuse.  In 1987, Hong Kong announced that the walled city would be demolished. People were evicted and demolition began in March 1993.  In December 1995, Kowloon Walled City Park opened. Some parts of the wall were preserved.

This card is from a Ukrainian refugee who is now living in Paris. She even mentions she has friends who have settled in my own home province of Alberta.  Her card is a painting of Pont Alexandre III, with the Eiffel Tower in the background. Pont Alexandre III is a deck arch bridge that spans the Seine. It is considered the most ornate, extravagant bridge in Paris. In 1975, it was declared as a French monument historique.  The bridge itself was built between 1896 and 1900. It was named after Tsar Alexander III, who had concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. Tsar Nicholas II laid the foundation stone in 1896. It is 160 meters long, and 40 meters wide. The architects of the bridge designed it in a way as to not obscure the view of the Champs-Élysées   or the   Invalides . There are several sculptures featured prominently on the bridge.  The Fames are four gilt-bronze statues, supported on 17 meter masonry socles that provide stabilizing counterweight for the arch. The Nymphs are a

Nuremberg is home to the  Nürnberg Ice Tigers, who play in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. They have been league runner ups twice - 1999 and 2007. The current team was founded in 1980, and played in the Bav arian State Hockey League and then moved up to the Southern Regional League. It became a founding member of the DEL in 1994. 

Cute card from Oldenburg. Unfortunately the artist's name is covered up by a sticker.  Proof of Oldenburg's existence date back to the 8th century. The first mention of Oldenburg in documents was in 1108 (Aldenburg).  The 2007 Fistball World Championships were held in Oldenburg and won by Austria. Fistball has many similarities to volleyball. However there are significant differences. Firstly the ball must be hit with the arm or closed fist. Secondly the ball is allowed to bounce before a player hits it. And thirdly, the field of play is significantly larger and played outside on grass or artificial turf.  The field is 50 meters by 20 meters, whereas a standard volleyball court is 18 meters by 9 meters.  Fistball is played mainly by German-speaking nations, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and in Brazil. Teams from Namibia, Argentina, and Chile also participate in the world championships.  I've attached a video of a fistball game to give you a better idea of what the game

I love vintage team photos and this is a great one! A team photo of the University of Toronto's Women Hockey Team at Victoria College Rink in 1912. Outside, dressed for winter, wearing long skirts! Did they get to wear shin pads? I can only find information about the University of Toronto women's team dating back to 1922. They joined the Ladies Ontario Hockey Association. They won the provincial championship in 1924 and then withdrew in 1925 as they "took issue with certain unsatisfactory aspects of competition and debate as to the acceptable definition of womanhood." The sender also writes that she will be writing her Canadian Citizenship Exam later in the month (February). I hope she did well and has been able to obtain her citizenship!

A beautiful Year of the Rabbit card from Seoul.  Rabbit is the fourth in the 12 year periodic cycle of animals that appear on the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.  Symbols of rabbits include: Trees Wood (element) Yin (Yin Yang) Second (lunar month) 3, 6, 9 (lucky numbers) Plantago, lily, nerve plant, snapdragon (lucky flowers) Black, pink, purple, grey, blue, red (lucky colours) Spring (lucky season)

What a great map card of California! The sender is from Napa, which is a major tourist destination in California and world renowned for its wineries.  The city itself was established in 1847 by Nathan Coombs. He went on the serve in the California State Assembly. Coombsville, located at the southeastern end of Napa Valley, was named for him.  Today, Napa has 77 500 citizens.

A political card from Beijing that features members of the Foreign Ministry. Officially called Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, it is a first ranked executive department of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Phew. This ministry is responsible for China's foreign relations. The man in the front is Wang Yi  王毅, and the gentleman to his right is Qin Gang  秦刚. I am assuming the others are high ranking officials in the ministry, too. 

 

 

Westfalenstadion is the home of the Borussia Dortmund (BVB), who play in the Bundesliga. This stadium was built between 1971-1974, and has major renovations four times. Today it goes by Signal Iduna Park.  At the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Westfalenstadion hosted three group stage games and one final group game.  - Scotland defeated Zaire 2-0;  - Netherlands and Sweden drew 0-0;  - Netherlands defeated Bulgaria 4-1; and  - Netherlands defeated Brazil 2-0.  West Germany won the 1974 World Cup, defeating Netherlands 2-1 It also hosted six games at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.  - Trinidad & Tobago drew 0-0 with Sweden in Group B - Germany defeated Poland 1-0 in Group A - Switzerland defeated Togo 2-0 in Group G - Brazil defeated Japan 4-1 in Group F - Brazil defeated Ghana 3-0 in the Round of 16 - Italy defeated Germany 2-0 in the semi-finals. This loss marked the first time the German National Team lost at Westfalenstadion.  Italy went on to win the World Cup with a 1-1 draw over France. Italy