Friday, 10 June 2016

Wonderful illustration by Rafael Chachaldora

The last postcard we’ve sent this year features a marvellous digital illustration of the Western façade of Santiago’s Cathedral by an artist we have recently discovered, Rafael Cachaldora.



As Laura explains in her message, Cachaldora’s card is a vibrant and captivating representation of the majestic view of the cathedral from Obradoiro Square (Square of the Stonecutters), the final destination of the Camiño de Santiago and the centre point for the celebration of the Feast of Saint James on July, 25th.

Obradoiro. Santiago de Compostela. Elsoldigital.es
Olga in Moscow is the lucky recipient of the card!


More cards by Cachaldora are in our possession to be sent out the next school year. Just as Laura’s card, they are all amazing digital illustrations of various well-known places in Santiago’s old town.


Rafael Cachaldora. Cachaldora.com
Rafael Cachaldora was born in Ourense, the third largest town in Galicia, 98 kilometres south east of Santiago de Compostela. Ourense is famous for its thermal waters; its best-known water springs, As Burgas Fountains, have also been illustrated by Cachaldora along with other emblematic spots like the Cathedral and the Main Square.

Composición del propio artista con nueve de sus obras de Ourense. Dogranaopan.blogspot.com.es
Click here if you want to read about illustrations of Ourense by Cachaldora. Cachaldora’s work not only consists of digital cityscapes; it comprises haunting abstract paintings whose significance is multiplied by their inspiring titles.

Libertad Condicionada (Conditioned Freedom). Rafael Cachaldora. cachaldora.com
Galerías de Lembranza (Galleries of Remembrance) Cachaldora.Dogranaopan.blogspot.com.es
Cosas que nunca te dije (Things I never told you)  Rafael Cachaldora. Laddo.es
Dama ósea (Bone Dame) Rafael Cachaldora. Laddo.es
De hórreos e cruceiros. (Of Grain Stores and Stone Crosses) Rafael Cachaldora. Laddo.es
Aerosol stenciling (estarcido con spray) is a commonplace in Cachaldora’s artistic career. A stencil is sheet of cardboard in which the artist cuts out geometrical and enigmatic shapes so that spray paint applied to the sheet reproduces the pattern on the surface beneath, which can cover a wide range of materials: canvas, metal, hardwood and even a wooden round plate, commonly used for serving Galician-style octopus!

Ración de Pensamiento 3. (Portions of Thought 3) Rafael Cachaldora. Laddo.es

Ración de Pensamiento 5 (Portions of Thought 5). Laddo.es
Obradoiro con Rafael Cachaldora. Colexio Padre Feijoo-Zorelle
The result at times evokes the art of our earliest ancestors yet it is not only prehistoric artists that Cachaldora overtly feels inspired by. He has created many pieces that pay tribute to painters whose work greatly enriched art history and, by extension, the history of humankind.

La Leyenda del Beso (The Legend of the Kiss) Rafael Cachaldora. Laddo.es
Al maestro por Cachaldora. Página en Facebook de Cachaldora
A Picasso por Cachaldora. Página en Facebook de Cachaldora
Tributo a Escher. Pàgina en Facebook de Cachaldora
To know more about Cachaldora’s work, visit his website or follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS!



Monday, 23 May 2016

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.

Friday, 20 May 2016

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!



Wednesday, 18 May 2016

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!!

Wednesday, 11 May 2016

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!

Friday, 6 May 2016

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.