Tenochtitlan

While I was in Mexico recently, I looked for map postcards, but only found a few. Here are two focusing on Mexico and Mexico City before the Spanish conquest.

Mexico City, or Tenochtitlan, was the capital city of the Aztec civilization. The city was centered around the main temple, the Templo Mayor.



The remnants of the temple have been excavated (circled in red) in what is still the center of Mexico City today:



It is hard to imagine that where this modern city sits was once a large lake.



Of course, the Aztecs were just one of many mesoamerican civilizations

Tepoztlán

On my first full day in Mexico last month, Mrs. Cartophiliac took me to the little touristy town of Tepoztlán.



The highlight, literally high, was our climb up the steps on the side of a mountain to see the Tepozteco Pyramid.



The Tepozteco is thought to have been built in the early Aztec era (AD 1100-1350). The structure is dedicated to Ometochtli-Tepoxtécatl, god of pulque (a drink made of fermented maguey native to Mexico), fertility and harvest, and carvings depict offerings and sacrifices to the deity.



To reach the site, you must climb a trail that leads off the end of the main street, the climb takes over an hour. The climb is steep and arduous. The pyramid is about 1320 ft. above the base of the valley, starting at over 6000 ft. of altitude.

Mrs. Cartophiliac and I agreed that the climb was one of, if not the most physically challenging things we have ever done. My heart was beating like a bongo drum and I was often short of breath. However, we passed dozens of little old ladies with canes, on their way up or coming down. We figured if they could do it, we could. The climb was worth the effort. The view was spectacular It is possible see the whole town of Tepoztlán from the top of the mountain.

Explore Minnesota

This week, the Republican National Convention will be held in St. Paul, Minnesota. Unfortunately, I only have one Minnesota postcard in my collection:



Minnesota post card collectors: I like to trade.

I have visited Minnesota twice, but only for a short time. Once, back when I was briefly living in Wisconsin, we took a drive along Lake Pepin, which is the widest spot in the Mississippi River, on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border.



Several years later, I attended a wedding in Minneapolis. We were only in town for the weekend. The hotel was near the Mall of America, and that was the extent of our sightseeing.



Minnesota is one of those states that I would like to visit again. I'm sure there's more to see... Perhaps one of these days.

Hasta la vista, Baby!

As noted earlier, Mrs. Cartophiliac is in Cuernavaca, Mexico, studying Spanish. Señor Cartophiliac es muy solitario, however, not for long. I will be joining her this weekend, and we will spend the next week or so exploring Mexico City and its environs.

What a sweetheart! Yesterday, in the mail, I received not one, but TWO map postcards from the state of Morelos, where Cuernavaca is located:



Señor Cartophiliac es un hombre afortunado!



Aside from a few visits to Canada, this is my first trip outside of the United States since my trip to Taiwain in 1980! Needless to say I'm a bit excited. I hope to come back with interesting map memorabilia, but I won't likely be posting here from Mexico (why would I waste my time on vacation in an Internet cafe?). If I have some time before I leave, I may pre-program a couple posts to keep things from becoming completely dormant...

Hasta la vista!


#234

Land o' the Free

"When the mercury rises, it's all about freedom—to hit the road, float a lazy river, down a cold one in a mountain saloon, climb a crag or two, munch some local grub, cast for lunkers, watch the sunset from a seaside lodge."

I recently came across a July 2003 issue of Outside Magazine featuring descriptions of ten different summer road trips across the United States. Each road trip profiles the route, including "Adventure Stops", "Top Digs" (motels), "Best Eats", other "Don't Miss" opportunities, as well as recommendations for road tunes "On the Stereo"

Unfortunately, with the price of gas in 2008, I will content myself with the article illustrations by Zohar Lazar. Each article includes an illustrated map, designed to look like one of the old "Wish You Were Here" postcards.

These aren't postcards, but they should be!


#232

More Ohio Postcards

I finally got around to scanning the rest of my Ohio map postcards. There's not a whole lot to say about them. If you enjoy map postcards, then enjoy perusing these.

If you are interested in trading postcards, see Map Postcards to Trade and my Postcard Gallery.


















#228

Philippines

A postcard collector from the Philippines contacted me and we are now trading postcards. She sent me these beautiful cards from her homeland:



Spain colonized the islands in the 16th century. During the Philippine Revolution, they briefly won independence until occupied by the United States during the Spanish American War. The Filipino people continued to struggle for independence until the end of World War II. The nation became independent in 1946.



In 1972,President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. The People Power Revolution of 1986, led by Corazon Aquino, widow of the assassinated opposition leader, Benigno Aquino, ultimately overthrew that authoritarian rule.



In 2008, President Bush expressed his regard for the Filipino people: "I am reminded of the great talent of the -- of our Philippine Americans when I eat dinner at the White House.... And the chef is a great person and a really good cook, by the way, Madam President."



Contact me if you have map postcards to trade. I have many postcards, some with maps, others without, available to trade with you.


#217

Why Guys Won't Ask For Directions Part 2

Why Guys Won't Ask For Directions Part 1



From PostSecret.com, the repository of secrets on postcards.

Carto-Kudos to the first Carto-Commenter who can identify the city depicted on this postcard

Ding Ding Ding! Of course it is Bangkok. First place goes to Brian!


#202

Montana: Top of the Continent

Tuesday is one of the two final two stops on the Democratic Presidential Primary tour, Montana, "Big Sky Country." Here are my two Montana postcards:



South Dakota is also voting on Tuesday, and Puerto Rico voted on Sunday... but I don't have postcards from those places (perhaps you can do something about that...).



While reading about Montana, I was intrigued by an interesting feature of Glacier National Park in that state. Triple Divide Peak, a mountain in the park, is effectively the apex of the North American continent. The mountain sends waters towards the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean via the Hudson Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean via the Gulf of Mexico. The peak of that mountain "tri-sects" the continent.



Ocean drainage basins provide another interesting way to draw borders around the world.

Memorial Day

Monday, May 6, is Memorial Day in the United States. While many see it only as a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summertime fun, it remains a day to commemorate the men and women who have died in military service to their country. Known originally as Decoration Day, the day has been commemorated annually since the end of the American Civil War.

Here are two map postcards depicting scenes from that war:



Randy Green created the card above, depicting a "somber yet magnificent overview of the key states involved and the heroic figures who emerged from this tragic yet ultimately liberating and unifying conflict." A full sized poster or jigsaw puzzle of this card is available from White Mountain Puzzles.

The postcard below was sent to me by a friend many years ago. I especially like this one because, while you cannot see the detail, it does include a map. The original painting, The Last Council at Chancellorsville, by Mort Künstler, depicts Generals Jackson, Lee and Stuart. The Battle of Chancellorsville was one of Lee's greatest victories on the field, but he lost his "right arm" when General Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson was mortally wounded.

Oregon: the Quilter State

In addition to the Kentucky Democratic Primary tomorrow, folks will also be voting in Oregon. Barack Obama is expected to win this primary.

Oregon is one of the handful of states I have never visited, so I only have these two map postcards:



The only resident of Oregon that I sort of "know" is blogger, Michael5000; art quilter, bible-reader, and pop quizzer. He loves his home state, and his home town of Portland (City of Roses). However, unhappy with his state's boring flag, he sponsored a contest to design a new flag. The winner:

Kentucky: The Blue Grass State

Just when you thought it was safe to go back out into the political mainstream... It's another primary! On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton is expected to win Kentucky, but not by as much as she did in West Virginia...



I don't care what they say, the grass in Kentucky looks green to me. Just like every other state...



The State of Kentucky is known throughout the world for its magnificent horses and horse farms. The most famous horse race in the country (in the world?) takes place in Louisville, Kentucky. The 134th running of the Kentucky Derby took place on May 3, 2008.



Speaking of Louisville, I am looking forward to spending this Memorial Day holiday weekend there.

Lüneburg

Becca, a college student who also works in my library department, spent the last four months studying in Lüneburg, Germany. As always, I ask my traveling friends to pick up map postcards. Becca did not let me down.



Lüneburg is famous for its salt mines. While they are now closed, Becca said that she saw many buildings that were sagging or crumbling because of collapsed mines underneath. Unfortunately, Salt Museum was closed for the winter.



Other museums in Lüneburg include The Museum of the Principality of Lüneburg (bookprinting and bookbinding), the East Prussian History Museum, and a Brewing Museum.



Unlike many cities in in Germany, Lüneburg was spared during WWII and few of its historical buildings were damaged.



One of Becca's less productive acitivities while on the job is drawing "amusing" cartoons on the dry erase board...



"Nerdy collection"!.... harumpf!

Almost Heaven?

The next stop on the Neverending Democratic Primary season is West Virginia.



West Virginia is the butt of many hillbilly jokes, and it would be politically incorrect of me to repeat them here... OK, maybe one:

Q. What do a tornado and a West Virginia divorce have in common?

A. Someone always loses a trailer.



West Virginia, the Mountain State, detached itself from the rebellious Commonwealth of Virginia and became the 35th state in 1863.

State song: Montani Semper Liberi (Mountaineers Are Always Free)

Almost heaven, west virginia
Blue ridge mountains
Shenandoah river -
Life is old there
Older than the trees
Younger than the mountains
Growin like a breeze

Country roads, take me home
To the place I belong
West virginia, mountain momma
Take me home, country roads
-- John Denver

I have visited West Virginia several times, for white water rafting, and understand why many love it for its beautiful mountains and valleys. Here are a few (non-map) postcards (click to enlarge):





Like many states*, the cardinal is the West Virginia State Bird



* See also: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia

North Carolina

Yesterday, I commented on the Indiana Primary. On Tuesday, North Carolina Democrats will also take to the polls. Much of the African-American population is expected to go for Barack Obama, however Hillary is expected to be strong with the Applachian vote.



I only have this one postcard, and I don't have much else to say about North Carolina. It was pleasant enough the few times I have visited.

Indiana: Mother of Vice Presidents

Today's post features postcards from my collection.

Indiana Primary on Tuesday:

Why exactly does the Democratic Party waste its time with an Indiana a Primary? The last time Indiana's electoral votes went to a Democrat was 1964; part of Lyndon Johnson's landslide against Barry Goldwater. The time before that was FDR's landslide of 1936. Should the lackluster Democrats of that state be rewarded with all the attention they are getting?

Who will be participating in the Democratic Indiana Primary? Not just Democrats. Just as in Pennsylvania, Republicans plan to cross-over and vote, and not all of them are Dittoheads. The New York Times has a story about an Obomican... A Republican planning to vote for Obama.

Nevertheless, Tuesday's Primary could... maybe... just possibly... be the end of the race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton... I'm not betting the farm on that one...

Famous Hoosiers:

• Larry Bird
• David Letterman
• Red Skelton
• John Cougar Mellencamp
• Steve McQueen
• Kurt Vonnegut
• Florence Henderson

Always a bridesmaid, never a bride...

There have been five men from Indiana who have been elected vice president: Schuyler Colfax, Thomas A. Hendricks, Charles W. Fairbanks, Thomas Marshall and Dan Quayle. They have earned Indiana the nickname "Mother of Vice Presidents."

Due to family connections, I visit Indianapolis often.

Some things I like about Indianapolis:

• Childrens Museum of Indianapolis
• Indiana Firebirds (defunct)
• Rathskeller the best sauerbraten I've tasted in 20 years!
• The Arsenal Game Room
• Their new Central Library
• GenCon Indy
• Circle Center downtown mall

Pennsylvania: Land of Cheesesteaks, Chocolate and Ketchup!

The Pennsylvania Presidential Primary is tomorrow. The latest in this neverending campaign. Will it the be the last hurrah for Hillary Clinton or the beginning of the end for Barack Obama?

I have no idea, but here are some fine Pennsylvania map postcards from my collection.



If you are interested in election maps and analysis, then check out The Electoral Map's Pennsylvania Primer, Part I



Pennsylvania... home of the Philly Cheesesteak, Hershey's Chocolate and Heinz Ketchup.

Strike up the music the band has begun
The Pennsylvania Polka
Pick out your partner and join in the fun
The Pennsylvania Polka
It started in Scranton. It's now number one
It's bound to entertain ya
Everybody has a mania to do the polka from Pennsylvania

As I type this, the Philadelphia Soul are leading the Columbus Destroyers on Monday Night Arena Football on ESPN. Have I mentioned I am a fan of Arena Football?



Lancaster County, Pennsylvania... the Pensylvania Dutch Amusement Park.

Why Guys Won't Ask For Directions

From PostSecret.com, the repository of secrets on postcards.

Ireland Victoria's

My friend, Victoria, came back from a trip to Dublin last week. Whenever my friends travel, I tell them, "Bring back some map postcards!"

She brought these three for me.

Her primary complaint was that there appeared to be little variety in map postcards. Everywhere she went, she saw these same two maps of the island...

_______________________
Interestingly, both of these cards decline to acknowledge any sort of international border with Northern Ireland (is that not an Absolut provocation, Jonathan? ;-) ...).

The second card (to the left) reminds me of another postcard I own, Utah: Aerial View at Night

Eventually, Victoria did find one particularly unique card from the community of Howth. Located on the peninsula of Howth Head on the north side of Dublin Bay.



Thanks again, Victoria!

[Victoria is also the friend that allowed me to scan her St. Lenin postcard after her trip to Prague.]

Inflated Views

From the New York Times, December 8, 2001: On March 29, 1976, a simple, pastel map of New York City appeared on the cover of The New Yorker. Drawn from the perspective of a low-flying bird looking west from Ninth Avenue, you could see the world receding from the city: the Hudson River, New Jersey, Kansas City, then the Pacific Ocean and Japan. It was Saul Steinberg's famous "View of the World from Ninth Avenue," a drawing reproduced and imitated countless times. Every city wanted a version of its own. Steinberg once said that if he had gotten the proper royalties, "I could have retired on this painting." This inflated view of one's own importance is not the first time such a map has been created. Here is another look at New York in relation to the rest of the country, by Daniel K. Wallingford, in 1937; A New Yorker's Idea of the United States of America:

© The Saul Steinberg Foundation/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY. Cover reproduced with permission of The New Yorker magazine. All rights reserved. per Sheila Schwartz, Executive Director, The Saul Steinberg Foundation

Not to be outdone, here is a view from California:



As mentioned here before, Texas is in love with its geographic shape. They also like to tell us how everything is bigger in Texas. Below are two postcards from my collection that illustrate that infatuation:





And finally, on this postcard, Alabama, for reasons unclear, have an inflated view of themselves:

Miserable Hawaii

I haven't bored you all with postcards from my collection in weeks. So, today I'll share my Hawaii postcards, along with a few highlights (lowlights?):



Many people assume Hawaii is a "paradise". I've never been there... but that's what I've been told... Bob Neubauer tells us about his honeymoon, in Miserable Hawaii. "We came for sunny skies and relaxation. Instead we got rain and bad colds."



A Forum dedicated to Things you HATE about Hawaii, including:

• Gigantic size cockroaches that fly.
• Noisy coqui frogs
• Coffee Can mufflers
• Expensive everything (not just housing)
• Hawaii is sinking and the beach is disappearing
• Giant Red Stinging Ants!
• Beat Up a Haole Day
• Giant toads

Hawaii has a crystal meth problem (However, the drug-rehab site linked here has a nice map themed design...)



Each island is actually a volcanic explosion waiting to happen...



A military wife hated living in Hawaii so much that she bought a domain and started a blog about it. "Hawaii Sucks" only lasted two months before she ran out of steam. Maybe it got better... (or maybe she escaped...)



Racial tensions are simmering in Hawaii's melting pot



Triumph the Insult Comic Dog on Hawaii weather:




I'm sure there are far more people who appreciate living in or visiting Hawaii than are respresented here... But since I have been assaulted in the past about the "paradise" of Hawaii, I thought I'd share a little bit of the other side...

Erin Go Bragh

On March 17, millions of Americans drink foul tasting green beer, get staggering drunk and walk around spouting nonsense words like "Erin Go Bragh" and "Top O' the Morning To Ye" They call themselves "Irish for a Day" or desperately cry out, "Kiss me, I'm Irish". Unlike the real Irish, who drink good beer, don't wait till one day per year to get really pissed, and are probably kissed by other Irish persons on a daily basis! But, let us not digress into unfair cultural stereotypes.

In honor of today's St. Patrick's Day celebration, we bring you two map postcards appropriate for the day, from Karen's Whimsy and the St. Louis Time Portal (Irish music warning: turn down the volume on your computer...)



"They're After Me Lucky Charms!"

Follow this map to see if you can find the Leprechaun's treasure:

Gallery: Map Postcards to Trade

Below are many of the postcards I am willing to trade:

[See Map Postcards to Trade for more details.]

United States



California




Florida


Illinois


Indiana


Kansas


Kentucky




Maryland


Massachusetts



Minnesota


Missouri


North Carolina


Ohio






Pennsylvania



Texas


West Virginia



The World

Austria




Germany





Greece









Turkey



MISC




I will be adding a deleting from this page from time to time.

Ohio: Hillary Clinton's New Favorite State

Hillary Clinton won a big electoral victory in Ohio last night (along with Texas and Rhode Island) breathing new life into her campaign. For me, that is as good a reason as any to post Ohio map postcards from my collection:



I have been living in Ohio now for almost thirteen years. It is a suprisingly diverse state. Sometimes I feel like it is three different states. In the northeast, Cleveland to me often feels like an eastern city. Columbus is a solidly midwestern town. Cincinnati is an enigma. I have often described it to my friends as a "southern city on the wrong side of the river." However, Mrs. Cartophiliac, who grew up in the Queen City, rejects that description. She calls it a feudal city-state, because they so rarely like to acknowledge that they are associated with the rest of the state of Ohio.



The state is also divided by its sports loyalties. Cleveland has the football Browns and baseball Indians. Cincinnati has the Bengals and Reds. How the loyalties are distributed has been discussed in my post about the United Countries of Football.



On to Pennsylvania...

Don't Mess With Texas

As I mentioned in my previous post, there is a big primary election Tuesday in Texas and Ohio*. I've already posted a few things about Ohio, so here are some of my postcards from Texas:



I have visited Texas several times, both to visit friends and to attend conventions. I particularly enjoyed San Antonio and Corpus Christi. San Antonio is a terrific convention town. I appreciate the way all the major hotels and convention center are all connected by the River Walk. Corpus Christi is blessed with Gulf breezes and beautiful beaches and the nearby Padre Island National Seashore.

• Prior to European colonization, Texas was inhabited by Native American nations such as the Caddo, Comanche and Apache.


• Claimed by Spain, the territory was controlled by Mexico after their independence in 1810.


• Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836, and functioned as an independent republic for nearly a decade.


• In 1845, Texas joined the United States as the 28th state, initiating a war with Mexico, that cost Mexico one third of its territory.


• In 1861, Texas seceded from the Union, and was "reconstructed" in 1870.

Perhaps more than any other state, Texas is in love with its distinctive shape:

Today, the outline of Texas is familiar enough to be a well-known image, an icon. The shape has also become a symbol, that is, something concrete implying a much larger idea which can raise strong feelings. The curves and straight lines of the Texas border serve as neon signs, billboards, book covers, television images, packages, and brochures to advertise calculators, trash bags, insurance agencies, cigars, houses, used cars, railroads, cans of beans, clothing, cosmetics, and the state itself. The gloriously uncopyrighted shape of Texas has become swimming pools, cakes, masks, hats, shirts, piñatas, buildings, evergreen topiaries, sculpture, and balloons.

The official slogan of the Texas Department of Transportation is "Don't mess with Texas." It was created as part of an anti-litter campaign, but has grown in popularlity as an unofficial slogan for the state, and The Department of Transportation has sent cease and desist letters to several organizations in an attemp to make them stop using their trademarked slogan.



*Yes, I know that Rhode Island and Vermont are also holding primaries... but I don't have any map postcards from your states, rendering you less important. Perhaps you can help me remedy the situation.

Saint Lenin

My friend Victoria recently returned from a holiday in Prague. While she was there she visited the Museum of Communism:

The museum focuses on the totalitarian regime from the February coup in 1948 to its rapid collapse in November 1989. The theme of the Museum is "Communism- the Dream, the Reality, and the Nightmare" and visitors will be treated to a fully immersive experience.

I wish I could see this museum for myself. However, she brought back this ironic postcard:



Actually, the ironic part is the notation on the back of the card, giving the address of the museum:

"Na Prikope 10, 110 00 Praha 1... Above McDonald's, next to Casino"

Canary Islands

I have recently begun trading postcards with other map postcard collectors. The first three cards below are from Héctor, a resident of the Canary Islands, an "Autonomous Community" of Spain, consisting of seven islands.



Contrary to popular belief, the islands were not named after the avian canary. Instead the name comes from the breed of large fierce dogs, the Canary Mastiff (in Spanish, el Presa Canario) that were already present when the ancient Romans established contact with the islands by the sea. The Latin word for dog is canis. The breed of birds were named after the islands...



The economy is based primarily on tourism, which makes up 32% of the GDP. The Canaries receive about 10 million tourists per year. Who wouldn't want to vacation under such a friendly looking sun?



Héctor has begun publishing his own blog, Colección de MAPAS en tarjetas postales, to highlight the map postcards from his own collection. The text is in Spanish, but the images of the map postcards are always interesting.

When I first began correspondence with Héctor I said that I did not have any map postcards from the Canary Islands, but after more searching I rediscovered these two cards that were sent to me by some British friends who like to spend their holidays there:

• According to Tim Ashkar, the women of the islands are mermaids. I find the story a little fishy.


• Christopher Columbus stopped at the Canaries on his way to re-discover the New World in 1492.


• The cuisine of Canary Islands combines traditional Spanish recipes with african and latin-american influences.


• In 1936, Francisco Franco was appointed General Commandant of the Canaries. He joined the military revolt of July 17 which began the Spanish Civil War.

Wisconsin: The Badger State

In honor of the