Remember the postcard, that charming missive that continually arrived in your mailbox all summer? It would inform you that one friend had made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower or that another was visiting the crown jewels with her family. It was our only visual link to everyone’s summer vacations and wanderings. My sister recently came upon a group of postcards I had sent her during my college summers. From my base in Switzerland, I would take my trusty Eurail pass and rather capriciously head to my desired destination, one that was close enough and I could afford. It offered quite a few options. Below, the alpine village of Grindelwald in the Swiss Berner Oberland
where the family I spent my summers with had a chalet (in the middle below).
I would carefully craft my message, writing in minuscule print to squeeze in as much descriptive text as possible. Who knows when I would be communicating next. It might have been from Helsinki, where I visited the Sibelius monument and shopped for bright Marimekko dresses
or from the Isle of Skye, where the misty landscapes reminded me of the romantic mystery of “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.”
While we may still indulge in written invitations, thank you notes, or short announcements, the postcard has slowly gone the way of many hand written communications. Technology has taken care of that. Now the way many of us follow along with friends’, acquaintances’ or even strangers’ escapades is on Instagram, where travel envy is in good supply all summer long. But that gave me an idea – what if we took those enviable shots one step further. So tomorrow, join us for the debut of a new video travel series, as we usher the postcard into a new era. It will be just like getting a postcard in your inbox!
I adore sending handwritten cards, post cards and communications, and I truly cherish receiving them, especially in this digital age. This is wonderful post and I will look forward to enjoying your new travel series.
Will most certainly look forward to it.
You are so creative! I can’t wait to begin traveling vicariously with Quintessence. What a fantastic idea!
Thank you for the trip down memory lane!
Can’t wait to see it!
Can’t wait to see this Stacey. I adore postcards and still send them. Loved sending and receiving them as a child.
When my friend Sandy travels she sends several post cards to her home with a short narrative regarding the site. Fun to look at on your return.
My mirror misses postcards :( Looking forward to new series!! franki
Sounds absolutely brilliant – I look forward to this new series!! xo
Stacey it is so fascinating to see your postcards from Switzerland and am excited to see the new postcard travel series!!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
I recently returned to the handwritten letter while my partner and I are in separate cities. We talk on the phone everyday, but crafting by hand and doodling along the way, makes us closer.
My family and I still send postcards from our travels. I especially love collecting cards of paintings we have seen in museums and historic or archeological sites visited. They decorate the walls of my office and are a daily reminder of our travel adventures.