Please send me a postcard from Post Office Bay.

The Galapagos Islands are known for their amazing flora and fauna, however they also have some lovely local history too.

Back in the 1700’s the Galapagos Islands  was a stopping off point for whalers who trawled the oceans for many years at a time in search of these magnificent creatures. The Islands offered a place for them to restock with food and water and it was from here that they developed a system for staying in touch with people at home.

As the postal system wasn’t really developed back then the whalers developed there own method of posting letters  home, notes would be written and they were left in a wooden barrel on  Floreana Island.  Passing ships would call in and check the barrel.  Any letters addressed to places near  their home port would be collected by the sailors and delivered on their return.

Letters were sometimes taken home, stamped and posted but traditionally this post would be hand delivered and it has been reported that in some cases the letters took years to be delivered.

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Today this tradition is still in  place and whilst the original wooden barrel has been replaced the collection point at Post Office Bay is probably the most visited man made structure on the islands. Visitors are encouraged to leave their postcards and letters for collection and to search for ones that they can deliver. Upon delivery the ‘postman or woman’ is encouraged to spread the story of Post Office Bay and the Galapagos.

The above picture shows how this ‘Post Office’ looks today and I love that it still looks so natural and at home within these islands. The Galapagos are so in danger of being ruined by tourism and it is lovely to see that traditions are being upheld and modernisation has not taken over. And if any one reading this ever visits there please send me a postcard. Just address it to

Cruise.co.uk
Grosvenor House
Prospect Hill
Redditch
Worcs
B97 4DL

ENGLAND

… and leave it at Post Office Bay for someone else to deliver. Thank  you.

 

 

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About Me

I have worked in the travel industry for over 25 years now since beginning as a holiday rep on a campsite in France and I have a real passion for travel. I've worked in all aspects of the industry including sales, marketing and management and I've specialised in most products…

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