14/12/2017

Christmas Postcrossing

ESO 2 and 4 students are taking part in "Creative Classrooms", an awesome eTwinning project that includes a number of interactive tasks in English which allow students to collaborate with peers across Europe. Now that Christmas holidays are approaching, our students have selected a number of Christmas cards and have written holiday wishes and greetings to students from Croatia, Greece, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.










Great job, guys! Looking forward to receiving cards from so many different places!

07/11/2017

Marvellous postcard from Istra, Russia!

We have received a gorgeous postcard from Istra, Russia!

Thank you Yulia for having chosen such a wondrous view of Istra's best-known landmark, the impressive Voskresensky Monastery (New Jerusalem Monastery).




If you want to find out more about this Russian town, 3,509 km from Ourense, visit our section EXPLORING PLACES!


Exploring Places LXXXIV: Istra, Russia

A card has been sent from Istra!

Istra

WHERE IS ISTRA?
Istra is a town and the capital of Istrinsky District in Moscow Oblast, in Russia located by the Istra River, 40 kilometers west of Moscow, on the Moscow–Riga railway.

Location of Istra

ISTRA IS FAMOUS FOR...
...being a centre of reseach in the area of electrical power engineering.
... being one of the places in which renowned short-story writer and playwright Anton Chekhov used to work.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904)

PLACES TO VISIT

New Jerusalem Monastery

New Jerusalem Monastery

The New Jerusalem Monastery was founded in 1656 as a patriarchal residence on the outskirts of Moscow. The monastery took its name from the New Jerusalem. This site was chosen for its resemblance to the Holy Land. The River Istra represents the Jordan, and the buildings represent the 'sacred space' or holy places of Jerusalem.

Istrinsky Drama Theatre


Plumber Statue

Plumber statue

New Jerusalem Museum

New Jerusalem Museum

The New Jerusalem Museum is a modern, state-of-the-art museum, located across the river from the eponymous monastery. Exhibits draw on the hundreds of thousands of items in the monastery collections, including weapons, icons and artwork from the 17th century to modern times. Highlights include personal items belonging to Patriarch Nikon, as well as 20th-century drawings and handicrafts from around the Moscow region.

Watch this video to take a look at some of Istra's landmarks:


Sources:

20/10/2017

Stop 57: Oklahoma City, the US

Our 57th postcard has been headed for Oklahoma City, the capital of the US state of Oklahoma, almost 7,500 km away!


Hope our American friend Briana will like this card featuring Rafael Cachaldora's vibrant illustration of Rúa Lepanto from which you have charming views of Ourense's cathedral:



Click DISCOVER OURENSE to read about this emblematic street in Ourense. Visit EXPLORING PLACES to learn about Oklahoma City!

Exploring Places LXXXIII: Oklahoma City, the US

Postcard 57 has been sent to Oklahoma City!

Oklahoma City skyline

WHERE IS OKLAHOMA CITY?

Location of Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the American state of Oklahoma with a population of almost 600,000. Oklahoma City has the largest municipal population of any city in the Great Plains region of the central United States as well as all neighboring states to Oklahoma excluding Texas and Colorado.

OKLAHOMA CITY IS FAMOUS FOR…
… having one of the world's largest livestock markets. Oil, natural gas, petroleum and related industries are the largest sector of the local economy. The city is in the middle of an active oil field. The federal government employs large numbers of workers at Tinker Air Force Base and the  US Department of Transportation’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center (these two sites house several offices of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Department's Enterprise Service Center, respectively).

Tinker Air Force Base

… being the birthplace of well-known filmmaker Ron Howard, who directed films as popular as Cocoon (1985), Apollo Thirteen (1995), A Beautiful Man (2001) and The Da Vinci Code (2006).

Ron Howard


PLACES TO VISIT

Oklahoma State Capitol

Oklahoma State Capitol

The Oklahoma State Capitol is the house of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the building that houses the Oklahoma Legislature and executive branch offices. It is located along Lincoln Boulevard in Oklahoma City. The present structure includes a dome completed in 2002.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

Oklahoma City Memorial

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a memorial in the United States that honors the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The memorial is located in downtown Oklahoma City on the former site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which was destroyed in the 1995 bombing. This building was located on NW 5th Street between N. Robinson Avenue and N. Harvey Avenue.

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Chesapeake Arena

Originally known as the Ford Center from 2002 to 2010 and Oklahoma City Arena until 2011, it is an arena located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It opened in 2002 and since 2008 has served as the home venue of the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
In addition to its use as a sports venue, Chesapeake Energy Arena hosts concerts, family and social events, conventions, ice shows, and civic events. The arena is owned by the city and operated by the SMG property management company and has 18,203 seats in the basketball configuration, 15,152 for hockey, and can seat up to 16,591 for concerts.

The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden

Oklahoma Botanical Garden

This is a zoo and botanical garden located in Oklahoma City's Adventure District in northeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The zoo covers 119 acres (48 ha) and is home to more than 1,900 animals. It is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. The Oklahoma City Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums.

Watch this video to find out more about Oklahoma’s capital city:


Sources:

13/10/2017

Greetings from Southampton!!

Eva Pousa, our secretary and head of the English department, has sent us a lovely postcard from Southampton, the town she has travelled to in order to attend the course "School Management and Quality Evaluation" after having received an Erasmus + mobility grant.



We are thrilled to hear that she's learning so much from instructors and fellow participants. Here are some photos of her stay. Visit our school'sErasmus+ blog to find out more about Eva's stay.










Thanks a million, Eva!

29/09/2017

Breathtaking views to start the weekend!

We have received this postcard from Novorcherkassk, a town located in the Southwest of Russia, 3759km away!




Thanks Elena for this beautiful card showing one of the most popular outdoor activities in your region, paragliding.



If you want to find out more about Novorcherkassk, click EXPLORING PLACES.

Happy weekend!!


Exploring Paces LXXXII: Novocherkassk, Russia

A new postcard has just arrived from Novocherkassk, Russia. Thanks Elena!

Aerial view of Novocherkassk

WHERE IS NOVOCHERKASSK?
Novocherkassk is a city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Tuzlov River and on the Aksay River.

Location of Novocherkassk

NOVOCHERKASSKIS FAMOUS FOR...
… being the capital of the World Cossacks. They have had a rich military tradition, playing an important part in the historical development of the Russian Empire and participating in most of its major wars.


…the Novocherkassk massacre or Bloody Saturday. It refers to events tied to the labor strike of a locomotive building plant in Novocherkassk, a city in the Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. The events eventually culminated in riots of June 1–2, 1962 when reportedly 26 protesters were killed by Soviet Army troops, and 87 were wounded.


PLACES TO VISIT
Ascension Cathedral


Novocherkassk Museum of Don Cossacks History


Alexander Garden


Yermak Statue


Monument to Reconciliation and Agreement


Have a look at the video below to find out more about the city of Novocherkassk.


Sources: