Mykonos

Mykonos is both an island and municipality. As an island, it is the part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea.
It is an ultimate touristic destination in Greece, famous for its vibrant nightlife. Mykonos town, also called Chora ('town' in Greek) bears a quarter called Little Venice which is said to be the most picturesque spot in the island with its row of old waterfront fishing houses. The famous windmills are defining features of the town's landscape. They were built by Venetians in the 16th century and they remained well kept until today. In the postcard, the Kato Mili, the lower mills can be seen.

This bunch of postcards from Greece is from a friend who lives in Athens and whom I met during Erasmus. I stayed for the whole academic year, while she returned to Greece after the end of the fall semester. We reunited when she came back to Milan and brought me some postcards from her beautiful and ancient country :)

From: I.I.
Date: April 2019

Kos

Kos is the part of the Dodecanese island chain in the southeastern Aegean Sea. The biggest island of the group is Rhodes, Kos is the third, but second most populous. I'm going to mention here only a few of the sights to see in Kos.

No wonder that the island is abundant in ancient cultural remains. The most significant archeological sight is the Asklepieion. In antiquity, it worked as a healing center and it got its name from Asklepios, son of Apollo and protector of health and medicine.

One peculiar sight is the Tree of Hippocrates. It is a platane tree, under which, according to legend, Hippocrates, who is considered the father of medicine, taught his pupils of the discipline. The tree has an enormous crown, 12 meters in diameter, and is said to be the largest in Europe.

Another main sight is Nerantzia Castle, or Castle of the Knights of Malta, is located at the entrance of the port, Kos Town. It was built in the 14th century by the Knights of Saint John, on the site of a former Byzantine fortress.

The Ottoman rule, which spanned for a long period from 1523 to 1911, left its traces in the island, like a number of mosques dots the old town of Kos.

This bunch of postcards from Greece is from a friend who lives in Athens and whom I met during Erasmus. I stayed for the whole academic year, while she returned to Greece after the end of the fall semester. We reunited when she came back to Milan and brought me some postcards from her beautiful and ancient country :)

From: I.I.
Date: April 2019

Pythagorion Samos

Pythagoreion is the main tourist resort on the southeastern part of Samos island.
It was built on the ancient city of Samos which flourished around 530 BC.
Near to Pythagoreion lies a crucial archeological site: Heraion of Samos, a large sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Hera.

This bunch of postcards from Greece is from a friend who lives in Athens and whom I met during Erasmus. I stayed for the whole academic year, while she returned to Greece after the end of the fall semester. We reunited when she came back to Milan and brought me some postcards from her beautiful and ancient country :)

From: I.I.
Date: April 2019

Agios Nikolaos

Agios Nikolaos is a port town on the northeastern part of the island of Crete.

Agios Nikolaos means 'Saint Nicholas' in Greek. The saint bears double importance: he is the patron saint of sailors and Greece itself.
There is archeological evidence that the town already existed in the Bronze age, just like Rethymno. An important archeological site can be found nearby, which is called Priniatikos Pyrgos.

This bunch of postcards from Greece is from a friend who lives in Athens and whom I met during Erasmus. I stayed for the whole academic year, while she returned to Greece after the end of the fall semester. We reunited when she came back to Milan and brought me some postcards from her beautiful and ancient country :)

From: I.I.
Date: April 2013

Rethymno

Rethymno is the third biggest city on the northern shores of the island of Crete.

The city was built in the Bronze Age by the Minoan civilization (c. 2700 to c. 1450 BC). Rethymno had its own coins, they minted money on which they used two dolphins in a circle. This depiction became the heraldic symbol of the city.

This bunch of postcards from Greece is from a friend who lives in Athens and whom I met during Erasmus. I stayed for the whole academic year, while she returned to Greece after the end of the fall semester. We reunited when she came back to Milan and brought me some postcards from her beautiful and ancient country :)

From: I.I.
Date: April 2013

A Raven of the Tower of London

The Tower of London keeps the Crown Jewels of England.
Besides this curiosity, it is the only place I've ever seen free roaming ravens in my life. They are residents of the Tower and legend has it that "if the ravens ever leave the fortress the Kingdom and the Tower will fall after."
There are seven ravens living in the Tower at the moment :)

Ravens are highly intelligent birds and capable of mimicing human speech, not surprisingly they are regarded as powerful creatures in mythologies.

Information on the Tower ravens: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/whats-on/the-ravens/#gs.w7lqzj

Date: April 2001

Carisbrooke Castle in the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is the largest island of England, exactly in the middle on the southern coastline. Due to its good location, it became a spot for holiday resorts.

The main sight of the island is the Carisbrooke Castle, exactly in the center of the island. Excavation findings suggest that there was already a fortification on the site during the Roman Empire. A remarkable part of the castle is the well-house, operated by donkeys :) Like a hamster in a wheel, a donkey is walking in the giant wheel to make the well work.

In this postcard, you can see the operator guys posing together for a photo :)

Date: April 2001