From Ourense to the World: Postcrossing at Padre Feijoo-Zorelle: January 2016

28/01/2016

Exploring Places XXXII: Adelaide, Australia

A new postcard has just arrived from ADELAIDE! Aaron has sent us this impressive postcard!

It has travelled 17,009 km!

WHERE IS ADELAIDE?

Adelaide is the capital city of the state of South Australia, and the fifth-most populous city of Australia.

Location of Adelaide in Australia

ADELAIDE IS FAMOUS FOR...

... being the birthplace of the singer Sia (known for Chandelier, Alive… or for composing for Rihanna (Diamonds)

Sia. TKM

... its vineyards (Clare and Barossa Valleys are Australia's oldest wine regions)

Clare Valley. Australia.com

... The Ghan (a train which you can take to travel from Australia's south to north)

A Mesmerizing Trip in the Gahn Train at Australia. Faredepot

PLACES TO VISIT

Glenelg Beach

You'll find all the delights of a seaside village and more in lively Glenelg, which sits in Holdfast Bay, a 25-minute tram ride from Adelaide's centre. There is a sandy white beach, charming heritage hotels and bustling shops, sidewalks cafes and summer entertainment. You can also swim with wild dolphins, go diving or snorkelling or join a fishing charter.

Glenelg Beach. Ournakedaustralia.com

Hahndorf

Australia's oldest surviving German settlement in the heart of the Adelaide Hills.

Settled in 1839 by Lutherans fleeing religious persecution in Prussia, Hahndorf was named after the ship's captain. His name was Hahn, while dorf is German for village.

Hanhford. Adelaide Sightseeing.com

Adelaide Zoo

Adelaide Zoo, one of Adelaide's most iconic attractions, is home to 2500 animals and 250 species of exotic and native mammals, birds, reptiles and fish.

Adelaide zoo map.

Art gallery of South Australia

The Art Gallery of South Australia houses one of Australia's most stunning art collections. Its outstanding collection of 38000 works covers Australian, European...

Art Gallery of South Australia

Morialta conservation park

The park is in a rugged bush environment, with a narrow gorge set with three waterfalls, bounded by steep ridges and cliffs. The park caters to many activities, including bushwalking, bird watching and rock climbing.

Falls at Morialta Park

Kangaroo Island

This is an island where you can meet Australian sea lions on the beach, kangaroos, koalas, wallabies, penguins, echidnas and diverse birds.

Kangaroo park. Australia.com

LIFESTYLE

If you want to find out what Adelaide has to offer to anyone living there, watch the video below.

Sources:

Here's a beautiful card we've received from Adelaide (Australia)

Aaron, in Adelaide (Australia) has sent us this postcard depicting the beautiful lighthouse of Cape Leewin, the most south-western point on Australia's mainland.

It has travelled 17,009 km!

And Ledicia (3º ESO A) has done some research on Aaron's hometown. You can read it HERE. Thanks, Ledicia!

26/01/2016

Travelling Notebooks III: Our contribution to IES César Manrique's notebook (Lanzarote)

We were thrilled to receive a wonderful notebook a few days ago, in its third stop after starting its journey in Lanzarote and stopping in Gran Canaria. In fact, we've received two notebooks! Fantastic! Both have been headed for Russia!!

We've made our contribution to both notebooks with information about sightseeing in Ourense. We hope our friends at Ulyanovsk school № 76 (Uljanovsk, Russia) will like it!

It's been hard work and good fun too!

22/01/2016

Exploring Places XXXI: Dunedin, New Zealand

Postcard 19 has travelled to DUNEDIN!

Aerial view of Dunedin, Otago Girls' school

WHERE IS DUNEDIN?

Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. While Tauranga, Napier-Hastings and Hamilton have eclipsed the city in population in recent years to make it only the seventh largest city in New Zealand, Dunedin is still considered to be one of the four main cities of New Zealand for historic, cultural and geographic reasons.

Location of New Zealand

Location of Dunedin

Known as the Edinburgh of New Zealand, Dunedin is the country's city of the south, wearing its Scottish heritage with pride. Surrounded by dramatic hills and at the foot of a long, picturesque harbour, Dunedin is one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

DUNEDIN IS FAMOUS FOR...

... being one of the best-preserved Victorian and Edwardian cities in the Southern Hemisphere.

Olveston historic home and gardens

... being the starting point of Many of New Zealand's top bands of the 1980s and early 1990s, establishing the Dunedin Sound. These include The Chills, The Clean, Straitjacket Fits, Sneaky Feelings, The 3Ds, Toy Love, the Verlaines and musicians Martin Phillipps and David Kilgour.

The Dunedin Sound

PLACES TO VISIT

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Dunedin Botanic Garden

Rated as a Garden of International Significance, Dunedin Botanic Garden is the oldest in the country. It offers formal garden beds on flat land and also more naturalistic plant collections on a sun facing slope. Native birds can be seen in the aviary and the New Zealand Native Plant Collection shows what makes our native fauna so unique.

Otago Museum

Pacific Cultures Gallery. Otago Museum

Otago Museum offers an opportunity to explore the rich history of southern New Zealand, through our outstanding collections covering culture, nature and science.

Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle

Larnach Castle, New Zealand's only Castle, offers an insight into Victorian Culture. Built from 1871, by William Larnach, Merchant Banker and Politician, Larnach Castle showcases master craftsmanship, New Zealand Antiques and the style of Victorian living. Beautifully restored and interestingly interpreted by the Barker family who have owned and cared for the Castle since 1967.

The Otago Peninsula

The Otago Peninsula is situated on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The Otago Peninsula together with its 20 km long harbour, is the home of an abundance of magnificent world famous marine wildlife, namely The Royal Albatross, the endangered Yellow Eyed Penguin/Hoiho and the Blue Penguins, Pukekura.

Yellow-eyed penguin

LIFESTYLE

Dunedin is a small city bursting with character. Packed full of historic buildings, Dunedin is also a gateway to the ruggedly beautiful Otago region, and whether you explore it by car, train or bike there is a wealth of landscapes and wildlife to see.

If you want to find out more about what Dunedin has to offer, which is a lot, watch the video below.

Sources

Wikipedia

100% New Zealand

Visit Otago Peninsula

Discover Ourense XIX: Eco-Rexo Space in Allariz

Postcard 19 has travelled to Dunedin in New Zealand. Diego sent a postcard showing another must see in the town of Allariz too. It’s O Rexo Eco-Space.

O Rexo Eco- Space is located in Requeixo de Valverde parish. The space is conceived as a kind of symbiosis between natural spaces and the human art. Agustín Ibarrola was the painter and sculptor responsible for doing the artistic work. Painted rocks or coloured trees blend in with water, grass or even sheep.

Museo Rexo

Apart from the singular spot, O Rexo Eco- Space hosts sheep farming, a cheese factory that you can visit, a farm-school and an Educational Environment Centre where youngest people can learn more about stockbreeding. O Rexo is designed to prove that human developing and enjoyment of rural environment is possible.

O Rexo Educational Environment Centre

As it has already been mentioned, Allariz represents one of the most interesting town-planning collections of Galicia, which won the Historical and Artistic Monument prize in 1971.It’s a town bursting with cultural events and festivals. It’s also been declared Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO in the year 2005 together with Rairiz de Veiga, A Bola and Vilar Santos.

This video shows why it has been declared Biosphere reserve. Its in Galician but the images speak for themselves.

Stop 19: Dunedin (New Zealand)

Postcard 19 will travel 19,600 km before reaching its destination, Dunedin, the second largest city in New Zealand.

Diego Rojo (4º ESO) has written a postcard that shows a space in Allariz where nature meets art: Eco Espazo O Rexo, designed by painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola. We hope Lauretta, our friend from Dunedin, likes it!

Read Diego's findings on Dunedin HERE. If you want to know more about Ecoespazo Rexo, go to DISCOVER OURENSE.

Thanks, Diego!

20/01/2016

Exploring Places XXXI: Gröningen, the Netherlands

The 13th postcard we've received comes from GRONINGEN!

Groningen

WHERE IS GRONINGEN?

Groningen is the main municipality as well as the capital city of the most northeastern province of the Netherlands. It borders on Friesland to the west, Drenthe to the south, the German state of Niedersachsen to the east, and the Wadden Sea to the north. With a population of 197,823 (in 2014), it is the largest city in the north of the Netherlands.

Location of The Netherlands in Europe

Location of Groningen

An old city, Groningen was the regional power of the northern Netherlands, a semi-independent city-state and member of the German Hanseatic League. Groningen is a university city: it houses the University of Groningen (about 28,000 students) and the Hanze University of Applied Sciences (about 25,000 students).

Faculty of Medicine, University of Groningen

GRONINGEN IS FAMOUS FOR...

... being a Hanseatic city.

In the fourteenth century, Groningen became a member of the Hanseatic League (1282-1669), a collaboration of merchants primarily from Germany, Scandinavia, England, Poland, the Baltic States, Russia and the Netherlands.

Hanseatic League

belonging to the top five of best bike cities (57% of all transportation within the city is by bike)

Groningen Cycling City

...having the largest natural gas-field in Western Europe

Groninge

... having the world's largest sugar factory.

Groningen's Sugar Factory

PLACES TO VISIT

Groningen Museum

Groningen Museum

The Groningen Museum is located opposite the main central station and is the most high-profile museum in the Netherlands. This is due not only to its striking design by Italian architect Mendini, but also because of varying exhibitions, including works by Russian painter Repin, American photographer Andres Serrano, and Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf. The permanent collection consists of a large assembly of porcelain and works by the Groningen artists’ collective De Ploeg.

Nederlands Strip Museum (Dutch Comic strip Museum)

Dutch Comic Strip Museum

The Nederlands Stripmuseum is the newest museum in Groningen, and the only one in the Netherlands that highlights comic strips.

Martini Tower

Martini Tower

Martini tower has overlooked the city for over five hundred years. This fourth highest tower of the Netherlands can be climbed until the third gallery, during which visitors can also communicate with the tower via their mobile telephones

The University of Groningen

Rijks Universiteit Groningen

Over 50,000 students are registered at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen and University, where they can choose from 175 courses. The Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen is the largest university of applied sciences in the north of the Netherlands. Students from home and abroad can choose from over seventy training courses in almost any field. The State University has nine faculties, divided over 150 buildings in the entire city and surroundings. The State University is the third university in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Utrecht.

Grote Markt

Grote Markt Groningen

The main square holds some gems, of which the Town Hall, dating from 1810, is the most dazzling. The string of cafes along the south side are perpetually buzzing.

LIFESTYLE

If you want to find out what Groningen has to offer to anyone living there, watch the video below.