High Roller Opens in Las Vegas

Outgoing postcard US-2698982 to Germany shows the High Roller, the World's tallest Ferris wheel at 550 feet or 168 meters, during a testing run with 2,000 green LED lights on over the St. Patrick's Day weekend. It formally opens to the public today at 1 p.m. on March 31, 2014.

With 28 cabins that can lift up to 40 people each (up to 1,120 people in total), the tallest observation wheel in the world is located at The LINQ, an open-air dining, retail and entertainment district, between The Quad and Flamingo, which was first opened on December 27. 2013. It is the property of Caesars Entertainment. A ticket for the 30-minute ride starts at $24.95 plus fees.

Exactitude

Postcard US-2713420 from Illinois shows a 1932 Art Deco travel poster of train "Exactitude" by French artist Pierre Fix-Masseau (1905-1994). The original poster was a 39.25 inch x 24.25 inch color lithograph, part of the Modernism Collection in Minneapolis Institute of Arts. It was a gift from Norwest Bank Minnesota.

Pigtail Bridges

Postcard US-2711416 from Minnesota shows an aerial view of two pigtail bridges and one of the tunnels on Iron Mountain Road, ascending 17 miles or 27 kilometers from Custer State Park to the entrance of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, in the Black Hills, Rapid City, South Dakota. Drivers will get a 360° panorama of the area that has many unique and beautiful scenic roads. Jess Stryker has a Youtube video showing driving through the one-lane tunnel, horseshoe curve, and 360° loop over and under one of the pigtail bridges. The Mount Rushmore came into view when exiting the tunnel.

View Iron Mountain Road in a larger map

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Postcard US-2643460 from Washington D.C. area shows the famed cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin with the Washington Monument in the background. The 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 to April 13, commemorating the 102nd anniversary of the gift of the cherry blossom trees from Japan.

The peak bloom period only lasts for a few days; and the precise time period varies each year depending on weather conditions.  The average peak bloom date from 1992 to 2013 for those cherry trees is March 31. However,  the colder-than-usual winter is causing a late peak for cherry blossoms this year. The National Park Service forecast put the peak bloom period for the cherry blossoms this year as from April 8 to April 12.  An alternative forecast by Washington Post‘s Capital Weather Gang predicted a peak bloom period between April 11 and April 15, centered on April 13. Meanwhile, you can watch the live cherry blossom cam on Earthcam.

Se-tenant Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever Stamps issued by USPS on March 24, 2012

"My House, New York, 1997"

Postcard SE-65371 from Sweden shows David LaChapelle's photograph "My House, New York, 1997". David Lachapelle is an American photographer, best known for his photography that often references art history and sometimes conveys social messages. Among the many awards he won, he was presented with GLAAD's Vito Russo Award for his outstanding contributions toward eliminating homophobia.

His selected works were on exhibition at Fotografiska Museet in Stockholm, Sweden in 2013. National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. is currently featuring his collection "American Cool" from February 7 to September 7, 2014.

Panda Ride

Postcard US-2615865 to Hong Kong, entitled "Panda Ride", was created by Caroline Nyman, a self-taught digital painter from Sweden currently living in Belgium. I don't know whether Michelle Obama had seen this postcard before her week-long visit to China, but it could explain how the First Lady got the inspiration on using a bamboo stick to feed apples to some cute pandas, with her mother Marian Robinson's assistance and her daughter Malia looking on, at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding on March 26, 2014.

Auto Train

Postcard US-2690034 from Florida shows that Auto Train, an 855-mile or 1,376-km scheduled service between Sanford, Florida near Orlando and Lorton, Virginia near Washington D.C. by Amtrak, transports passengers AND their cars. Trains depart daily at 4:00pm and arrive at the destinations at 9:30am next day. It is the only one of its kind in the US.

When I was a graduate student living in the east coast, I had chances to take the train. However, I ended up passing the opportunities, as the cost of driving was considerably lower when the gas costed lesss than two US dollars and if wear and tear of the car was not factored in. However, with the current average gas price at $3.50, an one-way trip from Orlando, Florida to Washington D.C. would take almost 12 hours and cost at least $120 using AAA's fuel cost calculator. In comparison, a least expensive one-way Auto Train ticket from Sanford, Florida to Lorton, Virginia on April 15, 2014 would cost $102 for a passenger plus $186 for an automobile or $131 for a motorcycle. While the fare is complex just like airlines ticket and not inexpensive, it may be worth a try just to eliminate stress from the 12-hour driving.