Visual Entertainment from Near and Far
1968
Detail of ornamentation, Church of Merced, Antigua, Guatemala, Monument of America. Land of eternal spring.
The photo I took of the church:
Ruins of La Recoleccion Church, Antigua
I took the same photo with my mother featured in front:
Chapel of the Hermano Pedro in the church of San Francisco, Antigua
August 1994
Greetings from out west. We’ve had a great trip so far. Nice weekend with Peder and Mary on their ranch. Spent today climbing around Devil’s Tower. Tomorrow aft will move on to Teddy Roosevelt Park in N.D. then on to Brainerd. See you soon.
Love, Tom
South Dakota is rich in history from its seed houses and farm buildings to cowboys who still work the ranches.
These postcards are from the turn of the century (1900). It was apparently all the rage to make your photographs into postcards and send them to people.
This one is also to my great aunt in Waterloo, Iowa.
November 1914
The beginning of the postcard is not legible.
…. They told me you have my old room and some of my left overs no doubt. Well, be good to them. How is your mother? There have been some Sunday afternoons I have thought I must run in.
Love to all, Clara
I’m pretty sure, Clara was her first cousin.
Freitag Shop, Zurich
Summer 2011
In 2011 I visited my brother who was living just outside Zurich, Switzerland. One of our activities was to take a trip to the recycling center. We gathered up all the (cloth) shopping bags we could find and loaded them with the glass, plastic, paper, and aluminum that had been collecting in the kitchen and headed out to the shopping center. At one end of the parking garage were large bins labeled for all the different types of items. We managed to get rid of everything although some of the pictures were a little confusing.
According to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs:
The Swiss are champion recyclers. In 2003, 47% of all urban waste was recycled – a new Swiss record. They recycled 70% of paper, 95% of glass, 71% of plastic bottles, 85-90% of aluminum cans and 75% of tin cans.
So recycling has become a Swiss way of life.
We discovered a company called Freitag that produced purses, messenger bags, tote bags, wallets, backpacks and even iPhone sleeves all made from recycled goods. They use old truck tarpaulins, used bicycle tires, seatbelts. Every bag is hand made. Even their shop is made out of old semi containers.
The bags are a common sight across Switzerland.
Purse and wallet
Messenger bag
This is the Paul Klee Museum I visited in 2011.
Inside the museum
Paul Klee sculpture outside the museum
They have bears and clocks in Bern.
October 1966
By this time Paul and Norma will be getting away to Argentina. I’m stopping off a day here. Thinking about all that you did to help make our jaunt a success and want to thank you again.
Cordially, M White
St Paul’s Cathedral, London
December 1968
The chocolates were delicious. Thank you so much.
Alicia
P.S. I wrote this card the day we arrived and forgot to mail it.
Sunset at the Quebrada, Acapulco, Mexico
1950, Golden Gate Park
Comprising 1,013 acres, Golden Gate Park is the largest man-made park in the world. It extends four miles through residential districts ending at the Pacific Ocean. There are miles of bridal paths, motor roads, foot trails as well as museums and animal runs in the Park.
1960’s, Hotel Covadonga
1951
The world’s largest underground garage occupying four levels beneath the surface can accommodate 1700 cars. It is to be used as an air raid shelter if it becomes necessary to do so. It has entranced on Post, Powell, Stockton and Geary Streets.
Postcard Buzz 