Gorgeous card from Sofia, Bulgaria's capital city

We have received a lovely card from Sofia, the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, more than 2,500 km from Santiago!

Sofia. Building of the Council of Ministers. Wanderlust.co.uk

благодаря Melisa for this gorgeous postcard showing the well-known Mummers (also named Kukeri) spectacular costumes worn by men who perform traditional rituals in order to scare away evil spirits.

As we can gather from the postcard, the costumes cover most of the body and include decorated wooden masks of animals and large bells attached to the belt. Related costumes and rituals are found in Galicia, particularly in some villages in Ourense like Verín and Xinzo de Limia, whose Carnival costumes (pantallas in Xinzo and cigarróns in Verín) and traditions bear some resemblance to Bulgarian mummers.

Kukeri festival in Bulgaria. Tumblr.com

Cigarróns. Wikipedia

Pantallas. Vivirgaliciaturismo.com

What a nice discovery! A resemblance that reaffirms O' Súilleabháin's magic definition of folklore, "...one of the oldest and most international inheritances of the human race. It brings us into close touch with a mentality that embraces all countries and all times" (Irish Folk Custom and Belief, 1987:8)

Clik here to find out more about Bulgarian mummers.

Stop 20: Leinatal, Germany

Our next postcard is on its way to Leinatal, a small town located in the geographic centre of Germany, 1600 kilometres away!

Lucía, an intermediate 1 student, has chosen a postcard featuring some of the most beloved Galician seafood delicacies: nécoras (velvet crab), percebes (goose-neck barnacles), centolos (spider crab), cigalas (Norway lobsters), langosta (lobster), ameixas (clams), berberechos (cockles) and mexilóns (mussels)

Having a “mariscada” is definitely one of the best ways of tasting Galicia. Click here to find out more about Galician seafood.

Thank you, Lucía!

Our Postcrossing Map is now on display!

Good news!

Our wall of postcards is now on display! Stop by and check out where the cards have travelled from. We've received at least one from every continent as shown on our Map Tracker.

The list will keep growing! Stay tuned!!

Discover Santiago de Compostela XIX: Casa da Parra

The Casa da Parra (The House of Vine) is a beautiful stone house located over the staircase of Quintana Square. The vines of grapes sculpured on the lintel and side parts of the entrance door and on the upper large windows give the house its name. Nowadays it serves as a temporary exhibition hall intended to show the work of contemporary Galician artists.

Our first card to Belgium is in the mail!

Card 19 has been sent to Moere, a small town located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, right next to the border with France, 1205 km from Santiago!

Hope Christophe will like this postcard chosen and written by Laura, an advanced 1 student.  It features the well-known Casa da Parra (The House of Vine), located in the Praza de Quintana, a few steps from the cathedral.

"A Casa da Parra" is historic building of great beauty easily recognizable for its typically Galician granite masonry and its vines of grapes on the upper large windows, which give the house its name. You can read more about the Casa da Parra in DISCOVER SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA.

Thank you, Laura!

Discover Santiago de Compostela XVIII: Salomé Church

Salomé Church is located in Rúa Nova which, along with Vilar Street and Franco Street, is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Santiago. This Romanesque church was built in 1140, in order to honour Saint James Apostle's mother and it is only five minutes from the cathedral.

Card 18 is off to Vitebsk, Belarus

Card 18 is travelling to Vitebsk, the fourth largest city in Belarus, more than 3,000 km away!

Esperanza, an intermediate 2 student, has chosen a card featuring a night view of Salomé Church, in the heart of Santiago's old town. Hope Julia and Vladimir will like it!

Esperanza has been very kind to do some research on Vitebsk and has shared her findings here. If you want to find out more about Salomé Church, click DISCOVER SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA. Thank you, Esperanza!

Great start to the month with a postcard from Liberec, the Czech Republic!

We have received a postcard from snowy Liberec, the fifth largest city in the Czech Republic.

Thank you, Peter, for letting us know about Liberec's major attraction, the Ještěd Tower, a view point from which you can even oversee parts of Germany and Poland!

Wikimedia Commons

You can find more about this tower on this link and about Peter's hometown here!

Liberec. Wikimedia Commons