Here are the postcards!

I’ve been collecting postcards since 2008. Since then, I’ve sent and received over 1800 postcards from all over the US and dozens of countries. I respond to every postcard I receive, so I’m always open for private swaps.

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My origin story: Back when I was a young boy, I got the idea to write a letter to several world leaders, but I only ever ended up writing the US president and the Queen of England. I was so tickled to receive responses from President Bush and then Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II! Well, they weren’t directly from the world leaders, but rather from their staff members. President Bush sent me an autographed photograph (which I lost later in a show-and-tell accident).

One of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting sent me a very detailed letter, typed on Buckingham Palace stationery, answering all of my questions about the Queen’s horses and her corgis and her favorite foods. I marveled at the strangely-sized paper, the texture of the embossed coat of arms centered at the top of the page, and the stamps on the envelope. A real person had spent time reading my letter, responding to it, folding it and placing it in an envelope, and then more real human beings had taken the time and effort to transport it from London to some mail distribution center, to an airport in England, to an airport in the US, and back through the various USPS chains until it arrived in a plastic mailbox at the foot of my driveway in southeast Michigan.

I’m still fascinated by this process today, and all for less than the price of some chocolate! So I maintain correspondence with about a dozen penpals across the world, and send and receive postcards. At last count, I have a little under 2,000 postcards that I’ve received. Keep scrolling to see the most recent postcards that have arrived in my mailbox.

Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

le Baeckeoffe (France)

This is a recipe that Dominique really enjoys, although he cautions that it must be homemade and in the proper baking dish! I may pick one up while I’m in Alsace next summer!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Scotch Lodge (Oregon)

This is a postcard from one of the places we recommended to Ebru and Mehmet, which they reported enjoying via text message! If you haven’t visited Scotch Lodge, I highly recommend it both for the cocktails and the food!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

suspicious Calgary (Canada)

This postcard didn’t arrive until mid-November; Andy was in Canada for business and bought a few postcards, stamping them and writing them. But due to the strike, he was unable to leave them in a mailbox, so he left them with the hotel staff instead. They mailed them for him after the strike! What great folks.

I entitled this suspicious because Andy wrote that his hotel is right across the street from the tower. He wondered if it had been built before the CN Tower in Toronto and if it’s some dick-measuring contest between Calgary and Toronto?

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

golden Portland (Oregon)

Ebru and Mehmet visited Portland last month and we were delighted to make a few suggestions on restaurants and bars they might enjoy. I’m pleased that we have the same taste in a few of them! This scan doesn’t do the postcard justice; it’s truly luminous!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Hell (Michigan)

Sometimes the sender (in this case, Michael) writes such a great message that it merits reproduction in full: “I can’t tell if this was a personal card or a mass production. Maybe this Spaniel was the most interesting thing in Hell, MI before they embraced the halloween camp? So many fascinating ephemera at the Pacific Grove consignment store!”

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Kritios Boy (Greece)

I can’t imagine why Cynthia and Tracy thought of us to send this postcard to! ;-) They write about their awe-inspiring visit to the Parthenon and the beautiful Acropolis Museum. We touched down briefly in Athens before almost immediately leaving for the Cyclades. Athens definitely merits a visit!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Acropolis (Greece)

This postcard arrived last month after Cynthia and Tracy’s grand tour to Greece; they spent some time in Athens taking in history and time before embarking on a great cruise of the Mediterranean and Aegean.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

French Lick Springs Resort and Spa (Michigan)

Several months ago, my mother traveled to French Lick with a friend. She picked up several postcards and sent some to me. This one didn’t make it into the mailbox until just now (hence the Michigan tag).

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Ostuni (Italy)

This postcard arrived to celebrate World Postcard Day (although it didn't arrive until Halloween)! I'm very grateful to all of my friends, local and not, especially those who exchange postcards with me. <3

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

San Joaquin Valley (California)

Greg and James came for a visit last month and this beautiful postcard was sent in thanks. We truly enjoyed seeing them and hosting them, and are looking forward to doing it again soon!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

multiview of Prague (Czechia)

Jörg was traveling recently and took the time to send me this postcard. Among the things he enjoyed in Prague was a great number of vegan restaurants (did I not know my penpal was vegan?!)!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Place Djamâa El Fna (Morocco)

This beautiful postcard arrived from my Italian penpal Lino who traveled to Morocco recently. He and his husband saw lots of great sights and sites!

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French flamingos in flight

This terrific postcard arrived from Lauren who was traveling in Camargue where they saw thousands of gorgeous flamingos in the salt flats.

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lenticular Alaska

Unfortunately lenticular postcards just don't scan well, so this looks a mess on the computer. But in person, it's a stunning representations of the northern lights over a bay alternating with them over a beautiful pond. Thanks to Ray in Canada for sending this!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Gronau (Germany)

Jörg writes that his family moved to Germany decades ago and he visits regularly, so he's seen how the city has changed these past few years.

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More to come from the past…