
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.
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.
Craco (Italy)
My penpal Lino and his husband Lino (“i Lini!”) are on a trip and visited this ghost town in Matera. Who doesn’t love a good ghost town!?
Broken Chair (Switzerland)
Daniel Berset’s “Broken Chair” sits outside the United Nations office in the Place des Nations. So many possible interpretations come to mind - what do you think of this piece? Matty writes about his grand tour of Europe and North America, which sadly lacked a UN tour due to construction.
wonderful Malaysia (Germany)
This postcard comes from my penpal Andreas who was visiting Berlin for the weekend. From there, he sent me this postcard he picked up in Malaysia earlier this summer on a big trip through South East Asia.
life is just… (Spain)
Oh if art doesn’t imitate life, I don’t know what art is! This is so so, true. But I just can’t imagine why Julian and Salvo thought of me when they saw this postcard?! ;-)
Zurich (Swizterland)
Another great view from Matty’s North American-European tour! This time he’s in Zurich. The only problem, Matty writes, is that he “forgot how expensive Switzerland is!” Oh yeah. That economy is going to get you!
tapes, menú, paella (Spain)
Our friends Julian and Salvo are galivanting in Spain for a few weeks and found time to send this infinitely charming postcard from one of my favorite cities of all!
Riviera Ligure, Cinque Terre (Italy)
Another great postcard from my penpal Matty! He managed to visit all five villages and the panoramic sites between them. So incredible!
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Illinois)
At first, I couldn’t read the caption of this postcard but as I was examining it, I thought to myself, “It looks like an old mission…” Well, I was right! This one is the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. This amazing postcard is from our niece Emily, whom we’re looking forward to seeing soon at a family wedding!
Fürstentum (Liechtenstein)
I will admit to being a bit envious of Matty’s travels, especially that he got to visit Vaduz I have always been fascinated by microstates, and Liechtenstein absolutely qualifies. I’ve never been though!
Peschici (Italy)
My penpal Lino sent this postcard from Peschici, which is one of the “cities of love.” He traveled here to celebrate his first wedding anniversary! Beautiful!
Garden Court, Palace Hotel, SF (Illinois)
This postcard comes courtesy of our niece’s boyfriend Carter, who writes that this postcard reminds him of the ideal French restaurants that inspired him to begin cooking! This hotel is still open, as is their Garden Court where you can have brunch still!
I love Luxembourg
Next stop, the micronation of Luxembourg! I’ve never been but I really hope I can visit it (and the other micronations) some time soon!
Amsterdam Canal Pride (Netherlands)
Matty is in the European part of his tour and visited the Netherlands for a few days. His second visit there has brought some shopping and less marijuana smell than before, so it’s all good!
now matter how you clean up (Germany)
Comme partie de sa vacance, Dominique m’envoie cette carte postale de l’Allemagne. J’aime bien le message de cette carte!
making tyranny great again (Oregon)
Linda sent this terrific postcard, which can only be described as “timely.” In more positive news, she is seeing the swift migration!
Trump Putin 2024 | Donald Trump’s recent statements that he would “only” be a dictator “on day one,” are merely more lies. His admiration for strongmen across the globe is clear - Vladimir Putin chief among them.
Chicago, rat city (Illinois)
What a perfectly incomprehensible postcard! While the language is clear, I can’t tell if it’s ironic or if it’s really admiring of the rats! San Francisco has an awful rat problem, so I just can’t imagine anyone celebrating them. Emily has a great sense of humor!
pride flag (Massachusetts)
Matty traveled to the East Coast of the US and visited glorious Provincetown during his 10 days in the Boston area. After that, he was off to Amsterdam on the European leg of his trip!
Besseggen (Sweden)
A former student of mine moved back to Sweden, but while settling in, took a trip to nearby Norway to hike in Jotunheimen. Johanna picked up this postcard there and sent it to me with a truly beautiful Swedish stamp!