Guess the location of the picture on this postcard.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 05:54

Almost, no steamers on this loch.

Head east for another 14 km

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 05:59

Which part of which loch?

Loch Venacher?

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 06:29

You have a valid point there.

Head north from Loch Venachar, depart from the eastern end.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 06:32

Ah, Loch Lubnaig?

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 14 May 2022 06:39

Loch Door.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 06:41

It certainly is Loch Lubnaig. Have driven along those shores dozens of times.

Tick and baton to you Ian!

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 07:49

Thank you Danny. It is one that I'm sure I have been to, but it doesn't seem familiar on google street view.

Here is mystery card number 130. It is unused, and I think it is pre-WW.

Country, City/town, and place on the card if possible, please.

: Mystery card number 130

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 14 May 2022 07:50

SOTE.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 07:59

Ubobo.R.O. wrote: ↑14 May 2022 07:50SOTE.

X

Brummie · Post by **Brummie** » 14 May 2022 08:20

Europe.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 08:35

Brummie wrote: ↑14 May 2022 08:20Europe.

✓

lesbootman · Post by **lesbootman** » 14 May 2022 08:43

Cape Finisterre, Galicia, Spain ?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 08:55

lesbootman wrote: ↑14 May 2022 08:43 Cape Finisterre, Galicia, Spain ?

Three crosses, Les, sorry.

lesbootman · Post by **lesbootman** » 14 May 2022 09:13

No worries Ian, it was only a guess!

Next attempt:

British Isles

Ireland

West Coast

?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 09:22

No, no ,no - but if it’s any help we are in Europe.

Nearly zzzz time.

lesbootman · Post by **lesbootman** » 14 May 2022 09:23

Splitting the difference:

France ?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 09:33

No, too far west.

lesbootman · Post by **lesbootman** » 14 May 2022 09:36

Have Homered in on Greece.

Zenfizz · Post by **Zenfizz** » 14 May 2022 10:01

Italy

RevRed+ · Post by **RevRed+** » 14 May 2022 10:21

A Greek Island

Limnos?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 17:37

Morning all, Greece is certainty much closer, but it’s not there or one of its islands.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 17:38

Zenfizz wrote: ↑14 May 2022 10:01Italy

Welcome to the hunt Scott, it’s not Italy.

Bill H UK · Post by **Bill H UK** » 14 May 2022 18:35

Croatia? One of their 3000 islands?

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 19:10

Albania?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 19:32

Bill H UK wrote: ↑14 May 2022 18:35 Croatia? One of their 3000 islands?

Not Croatia, Bill - and not an island.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 19:33

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 19:10Albania?

Not Albania - head north east

Bill H UK · Post by **Bill H UK** » 14 May 2022 19:35

Are we on for he Black Sea then?
Crimea?

Ubobo.R.O. · Post by **Ubobo.R.O.** » 14 May 2022 19:37

BULGARIA.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 19:41

Roumania?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 20:54

Bill H UK wrote: ↑14 May 2022 19:35 Are we on for he Black Sea then?
Crimea?

Very close, Bill, but not Crimea.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 20:55

Ubobo.R.O. wrote: ↑14 May 2022 19:37 BULGARIA.

No, join Bill in working his way away from Crimea.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 20:55

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 19:41Roumania?

No, join he party working his way away from Crimea.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 21:08

Anapa?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 21:30

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 21:08Anapa?

<Turns to Google maps>

Not Russia, travel to the other side of Crimea, WNW

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 21:57

Semykhatka?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 22:01

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 21:57 Semykhatka?

No Danny, the other side of Crimea.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 22:05

Roger, check, got it..

Skadovsk?

Bill H UK · Post by **Bill H UK** » 14 May 2022 22:13

Yuzhne?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 22:35

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 22:05 Roger, check, got it..

Skadovsk?

You're on the way, but Bill is closer.

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 22:37

Bill H UK wrote: ↑14 May 2022 22:13Yuzhne?

Keep going, Bill. It's been developed a lot more since this postcard. Head along the coast away from Crimea (I won't give a compass direction because that could be misconstrued.)

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 22:41

Fontanka?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 22:58

Sargonnas wrote: ↑14 May 2022 22:41Fontanka?

Keep going - the other side if the bay.

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 23:08

Sanzhiika?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 14 May 2022 23:19

According to Mr Google’s mapping service, traffic is generally light and the most direct route is 34km back in the direction you came from.

I have to hospital visiting in about 20 minutes, so …….

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 14 May 2022 23:31

Odessa itself?

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 15 May 2022 02:46

Looks like it's just you and me this afternoon, Danny. It is indeed Odessa, or at least a part of it.

Given how difficult that was I won't press for anything else; I think we have been on the Black Sea for long enough!

Here is the mystery card complete - Odessa, Plage de La Petite Fontaine, which we would translate naturally as 'the beach of the little fountain". But there is more to it than that.

: Odessa Plage de La Petite Fontaine.

Exploring further we find that the French word Fontaine might also be translated as 'water source' or 'spring'. And that is what we have here.

From The History of the Maliy Fontan:

Not a fountain! History of one phraseologism.

From the very beginning, Odessa lacked fresh water. At first, people tried to dig wells. But the water was terrible and expensive. In 1796, a bucket of fresh water cost 15 kopecks and a pound of meat - 20 kopecks. The water demand was huge. And then, the townspeople began to look for fresh water sources.

On the Odessa coast, highly mineralized subsoil waters emerge from under the Pontic limestones, in some places directly onto the beaches. These sources were called Fountains. The people began to settle near the water. At first, small farms were formed - Maliy, Sredny, and Bolshoi Fountain.

Subsequently, the areas where these sources were discovered were called Bolshoi, Sredny, and Maliy Fontan. To make some money, dishonest entrepreneurs were trying to sell water from other sources, passing it off as Fontanskaya. After having the taste of "fake" water, the residents of Odessa would comment sourly, frowning: "Not a Fountain!"

The caption on the picture side includes малапщ фонтана which translates as Small Fountain. Also on the same webpage, the caption:

... Behind Lanzheron, along the seashore, there are dachas in the direction of the so-called Maliy Fontan. They are located on both sides of the road leading from the city.

And this shows the fontan and Cape Langeron.

: Map of the Odessa shore, with Maliy fontan, the small water source or sprint.

Take a look at the website, there are many more picture postcards there. And a message from better times:

In 2020, renovation of the embankment on Maliy Fontan had begun. The restoration team relied on old lithographs of the place dating back to the late 19th century.

Four gazebos united in one architectural ensemble, a staircase that leads to the sea, and the embankment itself are equipped with new benches and lanterns. Location and the improvements make Maliy Fontan a coveted place to enjoy the mellow golden incandescence of one of the most picturesque bays of the Black Sea.

Welcome!
We are always happy to see you at the Buffet on Maliy Fontan.
Let's celebrate Odessa together with a good mood and gifts from the bottom of our hearts!

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 15 May 2022 04:17

That's an interesting history. I do hope this somehow escapes total obliteration.

Here's the new card, with a lot less interesting history. Postally used in 1929.

honza · Post by **honza** » 15 May 2022 04:26

Europe
Germany
Hamburg

Clapas · Post by **Clapas** » 15 May 2022 04:34

Europe ?
Belgium ?
Lobbes ?

Sargonnas · Post by **Sargonnas** » 15 May 2022 04:36

Welcome in Germany.

Not Hamburg