Montefiascone

Montefiascone is a historic hill town and commune in the province of Viterbo, located within the Lazio region of central Italy. Perched roughly 600 meters above sea level on the southeast ridge of the volcanic Lake Bolsena, the town is famous for its panoramic views, medieval papal history, and its legendary white wine, Est! Est!! Est!!!. The cathedral dominates the town's silhouette with its massive dome designed by Carlo Fontana. It is famously recognized as the third-largest dome in Italy, trailing only St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and the Duomo in Florence.

RR: Australia & New Zealand x world RR
Date: July 16

Elephant

Thank you Herwig!
Date: July 18

Little Monkey

This illustration is from the children's book 'Little Monkey' by illustrator Mies van Hout. Thank you Evi!

21 years of postcrossing

21 years of postcrossing meeting in Brussels, thank you Pascale!
Date: July 18

Teatro Massimo Bellini

The Teatro Massimo Bellini is Catania's premier opera house, widely celebrated as the cultural temple of opera in eastern Sicily. Located in the historic Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, this 1,200-seat theater is renowned for its world-class acoustics and opulent 19th-century Neo-Baroque design. Every year, it hosts an opera and ballet season, a symphonic season and a chamber season.

RR: Vacation RR
Date: June 19

Schloss Eggenberg

Schloss Eggenberg in Graz, is the largest Baroque palace in Styria. It was added as an extension to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Historic Centre of Graz in 2010, recognized for its unique architecture and pristine, symbolic design reflecting the universe .With its preserved accouterments, the extensive scenic gardens, as well as some special collections from the Universalmuseum Joanneum housed in the palace and surrounding park, Schloss Eggenberg ranks among the most valuable cultural treasures of Austria. Eggenberg Palace is situated at an elevation of 381 meters on the Western edge of the city.

Unesco: City of Graz – Historic Centre and Schloss Eggenberg
RR: Monthly favourite surprise RR - July 2026
Date: July 17

Benziger Family Winery

Located in the heart of Sonoma Valley in Glen Ellen, Benziger Family Winery is known as a leader in sustainable biodynamic farming. This 85-acre estate, founded by the Benziger Family over 40 years ago, impresses with rustic beauty, sweeping landscapes and rich biodiversity. The beautiful ranch buzzes with the sounds of wildlife, beneficial insects and farm animals. The winery’s ethical approach to farming not only nurtures the vineyards, but creates world-class wines grown without harmful synthetic pesticides or herbicides.

RR: Weekly RR
Date: July 5

Le Pal

Another trip to Le Pal means another souvenir, with some of the animals of the park. Le Pal is home to 2 red pandas, Naoki and Bily.

Date: July 19

Georgia Aquarium

Georgia Aquarium is a public aquarium in Atlanta. The aquarium's animals are displayed in seven galleries and exhibits: Tropical Diver, Ocean Voyager, Explorers Cove, Cold Water Quest, Southern Company River Scout, Dolphin Coast, Truist Pier 225 and Aquanaut Adventure, a Discovery Zone. Each exhibit corresponds to a specific environment. The aquarium's notable specimens include whale sharks, beluga whales, California sea lions, bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, sea otters, and tiger sharks. Its centerpiece is a 6.3 million US gallons whale shark exhibit. At the Georgia Aquarium, you can experience common bottlenose dolphins through a massive viewing gallery, a high-energy theater presentation, and an exclusive hands-on interaction program. The aquarium currently houses a pod of 12 bottlenose dolphins at the Dolphin Coast exhibit.

Thank you Devon!
Date: July 11

Zoo d'Amnéville

Zoo d'Amnéville is a major 18-hectare independent zoological park located in the Grand Est region, in the Moselle valley, between Metz and the Luxembourg border. It is hosting 2,000 animals from 360 species across five continents, including gorillas, orangutans, siamangs, African wild dogs, polar bears, giraffes, rhinoceroses, lynx, elephants, and white lions.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: July 12

Souvigny

Souvigny is a commune in the Allier department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes in central France. Today the main town of a canton of the Allier department, Souvigny has long been one of the major towns in the Bourbonnais, and the royal House of Bourbon was based there. Ties with the nearby Cluny Abbey add to its rich history. The jewel of Souvigny is undoubtedly the Priory Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, the largest religious building in the Allier department. This remarkable example of Romanesque and Gothic art houses the tombs of the Dukes of Bourbon as well as the relics of Saint Mayeul and Saint Odilon, two influential abbots of Cluny. The building, a listed historical monument, impresses with its size and the richness of its thousand-year history.

A souvenir from my 2nd trip to Moulins.
Date: July 19

Jia Jia & De De

Giant pandas Le Le and Ying Ying's twins Jia Jia & De De.
Le Le and Ying Ying were gifted to Ocean Park Hong Kong in 2007. In August 2024, Ying Ying made history as the oldest first-time mother to give birth to twins after years of trying.

RR: Weekly RR
Date: July 10