Monthly Archives: December 2009

andy
December 31, 2009

Happy new year from my REAL wall!

It's the last day of 2009 and even though the new house is still upside down, I finally found some time to go back to the old place at Goldhawk Road to find 10 postal bits from you!

Clearing a space on the wall next to the door, I decided to end 2009 on a high note with my first official REAL wall from the new place, which features a pimped photo from Wackystuff, xmas photo greetings from Pola in Germany (formerly of Poland) and some cards from a museum in Iceland from Susanna.

In addition some of my REAL life friends have sent post Olga from Portugal, where she's been on assignment and Lou sends her xmas wishes.

Sorry it's taken so long to arrive and if you think your postcard has failed to make it onto the wall, chances are it has been buried under my underwear and bits in the move, but over the next month I'll be trying to dig out some bits from the boxes so do keep watching

And happy new year from Andy and Elena here at my REAL wall HQ!

New address coming soon…

andy
December 31, 2009

Grand Central Station in Martinganca. (Distance from postcard send: 5433ish km)


Well, the train station in the village where my parents live does not
quite have the same grandeur as New York's Grand Central however,
consider this:

Population NY: 8,363,000
Population Martinganca: 1,000

Therefore, you could say that Martinganca's train station should be
8,363 times worse than Grand Central since it serves a much smaller
amount of people (and that's not even taking into consideration the
millions of people who travel in and out of NY each day for a whole
bunch of porposes). It may not have a huge flag hanging from the
roof, nor a green ceiling, nor hundreds of shops and restaurants, but
is does still have a platform, ticket office and waiting room. On
that basis I'd say things are looking good.

The trains passing through are my favourite feature, though: just one
carriage and completely covered in (very good quality) graffiti. Off
it plods, into the distance, this little piece of the ghetto, through
the backyards of antique Portuguese village houses. What a picture.

Now, I must admit my eyes aren't what they used to be and I'm
struggling to read who actually sent this postcard. Andy – is it
"Aunt *someone*"?

L-platebigcheese

andy
December 30, 2009

From Aveiro to Sitio (distance from postcard send = 100ish km)


Just a short distance south from Aveiro from where Catia sent this
wonderfully colourful postcard, I visited the main square of Sitio
which sits on a cliff, above Nazare.

It's a funny location, you wouldn't think that behind me are a mass of
shops selling tourist tat. In summer, the place is heaving with
oldies carried around on coaches, taking obligatory photos of
fishwives going about their daily business (i.e. flogging stuff to
these same tourists).

L-platebigcheese

andy
December 29, 2009

The REAL wall is in Nazare, where there was sunshine just before Christmas! (distance from postcard send = 15,015ish km)


Nazare is probably the largest resort in my vicinity, a traditional
fishing port where the local women still wear fantastic "fish wife"
costume. Andy – there's a postcard on the way to you now explaining
exactly what this looks like so keep your eyes peeled!!

The best thing about this place: despite it becoming pretty commercial
as a tourist resort, the locals are as sweet and good natured as ever.
It is simply impossible to buy something in a shop, at the market or
on the street without them insisting you take a bunch of stuff for
free.

Heather's postcard of Hilary's Boat Harbour in Australia complements
the beach. She writes: "friends of ours got married there; they cut
the cake in front of a giant photo of a shark lunging out of the water
– so romantic huh". What a fantastic gesture, I shall be suggesting
this to my friends getting married next year (will they still have me
as bridesmaid I wonder).

andy
December 25, 2009

What do libraries and forests have in common? (Distance from postcard send: ?)

…they both contain a load of paper. Not even sure why I wrote this,
it's not a joke or anything, but very true.

And this particular library had the perfect tree outside, topped by a
very hazy moon. Instantly, I remembered the postcard with the
"moonrise drive" and pulled it from my bag to get this shot. Again,
this is from an unidentified sender (Andy- help!).

Loving being on assignment at moments like that,
L-platebigcheese

PS – excuse the multiple blog sends tonight, but come on, it's
Christmas! You must have all been v good this year 🙂

andy
December 25, 2009

The REAL wall in Riverside, CA and Burinhosa, Alcobaca (distance from postcard send: 9,153ish km)

Yesterday morning, just after a rain-shower, I was keen on capturing
the bright light through the medium of the local cemeterio. So, here
we are, complete with a photo of a cemetery in Riverside, CA from a
currently unidentified sender, no names appear on the back of the
photo (Andy – perhaps you know who this was sent by?)

Quick sharp post from L-platebigcheese

andy
December 25, 2009

The REAL wall gets cultural in Alcobaca

Bom dia to all from Portugal, I'm a few days behind posting my photos
taken on assignment, but just in time for Christmas. So here goes the
first of a few…

On the first full day in Portugal, we visited the Mosteiro de
Alcobaca. This is the largest church in the whole country and very
significant: it was founded in 1153 by Dom Alfonzo Henrique to
celebrate his victory over the Moors. He was, in fact, Portugal's
first King. Without him the country could have looked very different
today.

Anyways, after some REAL wall action, I looted (politely) a small
antique market before we got down to some even more serious culture at
a nearby Loja Chinese (Chinese store aka warehouse full of random
cheap stuff – heaven!). Key finds included:
> Unidentified article of clothing branded "Easy on Backside",
> Penholder where a bent over man's rectum serves said purpose,
> Slimming vest proclaiming "Victory is yours forever",
> Very fine-looking axes priced €3.50. You don't have to be bourgeoisie to be an axe murdered around here.

Postcards from top down are from:
Museum Nerd: reminded me of Dracula and the Mosteiro in turn reminded
me of Dracula's castle in Romania.
Lageodesign: always makes me laugh, deserves pride of place here.
Courtney: postcard reads "I have no idea where this picture was
actually taken or what's going on". This reminds me of many hungover
mornings looking at photos from the night before thinking that exact
same phrase.
Beenebag: This cunning fox's fez serves as a bit of a reference to the Moors.

Feliz natal!
L-platebigcheese

andy
December 23, 2009

Seasons greetings from Frosty and my REAL wall

After more than a week in bed with a cold and no voice, I finally managed to drag myself out to the office this week and it seems I've missed most the snow.

Luckily for me, someone built a snowman up my road and he has survived the thaw. Even luckier for me, on the way to work I just happened to have some postcards in my bag.

The Christmas card comes from Susan, via swap-bot and the postcard is from Martina in Estonia, who sends me a picture of Tartu, her hometown which looks really beautiful.

Thanks to everyone for all your post and comments, which have made moving house and having a cold so much easier to bear. I'll be putting up the new postal address soon and will resume card sending in the new year!

andy
December 16, 2009

An introduction from L-plate big cheese (photographer on assignment)

my REAL wall in Olga's house

When Andy first asked me to go assignment for his REAL wall, I was not entirely sure where I'd go with it.  Well, it just so happens I'm off to Portugal on Saturday and you're all coming with me 🙂

My name is Olga, aka L-plate big cheese in the photography world, and one of the Russians Andy mentioned in the last post.  As Andy's still sweating and spluttering in bed on the other side of town, I thought I'd introduce myself, and let you know what postcards are packed into my camera bag.

You'll see more from me over the next couple of weeks, including different featured hairstyles.

L-plate

andy
December 15, 2009

My REAL wall in Zurich

my REAL wall in Zurich taken by Rost

Last Friday I was out with a group of new friends at the excellent Press Photographer of the Year exhibiton with a bag full of postcards sent to my REAL wall.

As usually happens when I'm out these days, conversation moved on to postcards (yes yes I know I must be a nightmare to go out with) and after debating photography and perspective, I decided it would be a good idea to open up the guest photographer slots to anyone who fancied a go. The Russians stepped right up and picked out a handful of their favourites to take away.

Today's REAL wall comes from Rost, who took a selection of cards to Zurich in Switzerland for the weekend. It's nice to know that even though I am stuck in bed with only a cold and my mobile phone internet for company that your postcards are still out there having a good time!

Here's what Rost has to say:

Heya,

Here's a shot of your REAL posts in Zurich! And yes, it really was that grey and miserable out that day :/

Regards,
Rost