Writing a Postcard
Before the advent of mobile phones and e-mail sending a postcard to somebody whilst you were on holiday was a tradition that most of us participated in. We’d usually set aside half a day to buy, write and post all of our postcards to friends and family. More people go on holiday more than once a year these days. Add on shorter holidays too, e.g. mini breaks and weekends, alongside the fact that access to the internet, e-mail and live instant messaging services in virtually any location together with text and picture messaging on mobile phones, means that the technology available to us nowadays enables us to keep in touch with loved ones far more quickly and easily. Consequently, the postcard has tended to become overlooked by most of us as a way of keeping in touch.
Short and Sweet
However, some ‘traditionalists’ still prefer to send postcards. The key is always to try and send them so that they reach the recipient before you get back from holiday. This isn’t always easy to achieve as some countries’ postal services might not be quite as quick as we’d like so you can often end up having returned from holiday and telling all your family and friends what a wonderful time you’ve had and the postcard arrives a week later.In essence, the postcard is simply an informal means of telling loved ones that you’ve arrived at your destination safely and that all is well. There isn’t usually a lot of space to write too much and we’re all familiar with the well known phrase,” Weather is great, wish you were here”, used by so many to quickly let people know that you’re OK.
The style of your writing is usually going to be very informal. Not only might you use slang terms but people often use incomplete sentences that still make sense just so they can fit more into the available space. This style has, in effect, been adapted today and used when sending text messages. Paragraphs, too, tend to be disregarded in order to conserve more space.
Here is an example of how you might write a postcard.
Its a little more informative than simply writing, “Wish you were here.”!
| Hi Susan and John, It’s fantastic here! We landed on time and the coach journey to our hotel only took 15 minutes. Weather is unbelievable. Sunny and hot. 35C every day since we arrived. You should see the hotel. The pool is massive and there’s a great mini-pool for Alice to swim in with lots of slides for her to play on. She’s really having a ball and she’s made a couple of friends already so that’s a relief. The only time we ever see her is when she wants a lemonade or ice cream. Food’s great, buffet style, as much as you can eat and lots of variety. Going on a catamaran trip tomorrow. Whale watching. Hope we see some huge ones. Got some great photos to show you when we get back. Well, time I hit the beach. Gotta keep the tan going, ha ha! See ya next week! Love Jenny, Tony & Alice xx |
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hello dew writing to tell you that we are all well here, we miss you. The weather here in Lima is very cold at this time. We are waiting to see Christmas. The'll have fun with all our amigos.Esperando you are well my leave. A kiss and a hug bye
emby - 30-Oct-12 @ 11:42 PM
Hi my old friend, I am in piura it`s so fantastic here ....i visit turistic places, for example i went toCotacaos, i bought a lot of thing (souvenirs),also i went to Mancora.and took many photos there. i ate seco de cabrito with tamalito verde is very delicious, after that i ate an ice cream on the chalan. well a have to go, see you the nex weekend. jose carlos.
JOSE CARLOS - 26-Sep-12 @ 4:25 PM
Hi Diana Susan and John,
I am in Arequipa......It`s fantastic here ....my family and me did a lot of things! Like visit turistic places for example:
We went to Santa Catalina Monastery!! We learned a lot of history about that, then we walked around the kitchen, the living room it was like a religious house, also we went to EL MOLINO DE SABANDIA......and took many photos there.
The weather is cool.....we ate QUESO HELADO is an ice cream and very delicious, before that we ate ROCOTO RELLENO Y OCOPA AREQUIPEÑA......I don`t have words for describe that dishes.....
Well I miss you so much my dear friend, don`t forget write about your holidays too.
Take care DIana,
Krystel!!t
Krystel N. - 25-Sep-12 @ 8:10 PM
Hi Renzo, how are you, I write because. I'm travel vacation in Mancora and beaches is very nice and I'll take photos. Return next week to begin college, and we are, Greetings.
See you soon
Goodbye.
RenSex - 24-Sep-12 @ 5:01 AM
Hi Carlos
is fantastic here . i am staying in hotel near the mancore the hotel ditueded in fornt of the beach . the hotel have thebeautifull and comfortable rooms and the food is delicius . i am enjoyed my stay . the beach is very clean and the peope here is friendly and the girls are beautifull well hope you have a nice weekend my friend i see you the next week andi ll give some presents the mancora . goodbye !
angel - 23-Sep-12 @ 5:31 PM
Hi,Stefano
I can't belive we're finally in Peru with my family and It's fantastic country.We're staying in a fantastic hotel just a five minutes walk from "Baños termales" and "Plaza de Armas".
The weather has been very wet. Today we visited the famous "Real Felipe" of Callao and tomorrow we're going to travel at Chicalyo and then visit "Tumbas Reales de Sipán" . The food is very delicous here, I ate "Ceviche and "Pachamanca" !
Give my love to ereyone
Stefanin - 23-Sep-12 @ 1:13 AM
Hello friends I am writing from my room and say there will be an earthquake today but I do not think that only God knows and we just have to wait and see what happens. The day is normal as any day I hope are well, greetings Maria De Jesus Torero.
I´m Pretty - 21-Sep-12 @ 7:03 PM
hi carlos, greetings from Norway!, i'm in Oslo.i'm staying in a Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. The weather is cold and sunny. yesterday,i visited the bojavik street, skershus fortress, opera house oslo, and Palace of the Storting.i'm a writing this postcard in a hotel, see you soon!
JulioT - 21-Sep-12 @ 4:20 AM
Hi mario, I hope you are well. I'm writing to tell you that by Cajamarca. but upon arrival, I was very impressed by beautiful scenery , I invite you to come when you can, you'll like it. Mauricio
pepelucho - 18-Sep-12 @ 4:45 PM
Hi, jose. I'm in cusco in this moment. It's wonderful here! People are friendly and there are a lot of tourist places. I visited Ollantaytambo , Paucartambo , Machu Picchu , Limatambo and another places. And the food is so delicious. I have eaten different dishes like a Olluco con carne,Pepián de Cuy o Conejo,Chicharrón con mote,Timpo . You have to visit cusco next month. Well, I have to sleep, i'm very tired. See you soon. bye
juanpa - 17-Sep-12 @ 6:00 PM
Dear esther, greetings from Peru. It's great. I am staying in my aunt's house near the Lima university.The weather here, is very cold .Yesterday, I visited to my parents,the main square of Ventanilla and the beach Costa Azul. We went the cinema. Yesterday was a today nice.I am writing this postcard in my room with my sister. Take care, love.
Mario Q - 16-Sep-12 @ 2:58 PM
Hi Karen, Greetings from Chile. I'm in Santiago. It's great. I'm staying in a hotel neat the beach. The weather is warm and sunny. Yesterday, I visited the museum and Chile's National Stadium. I'm writing this postcard in a café by the sean. See you soon! Love. Carlos.
Carlos - 15-Sep-12 @ 10:28 PM
hi luis i'm in Mancora. Mancora is beautiful but isexpensive. I go to the nightclub with y friends.
In summer is verry hot30Cº I need some sun creme.
the beach is verry clean but too people.
robin - 15-Sep-12 @ 5:25 PM
Hi, Victor. I'm in Iquitos in this moment. It's wonderful here! People are friendly and there are a lot of tourist places. I visited Puerto de Belen, Rio Amazonas, Lago Zungarocha and another places. And the food is so delicious. I have eaten different dishes like a juane, inchicapi, tacacho and cecina. You have to visit Iquitos next month. Well, I have to sleep, i'm very tired. See you soon. Take care!
JC - 13-Sep-12 @ 2:43 PM
Hello Amy, I'm in Japan, my brither and I visiting my father .Tokio is beautiful is the best city for my because the weather is very good, yesterday i visited the houses traditional with my family.we went to the disco and danced for hours. We visited the shopping center and bought beautiful clothes are very cheap, i'm taking a lot of photos, the food is delicious but i prefer in Peru,the people are fantastic and are the diferent countries.
Maracuya - 13-Sep-12 @ 4:08 AM
Hello, macol. I'm in Trujillo. In trujillo , the people is very loving and interesting. I viseted very places turistic for example: La libertad, Huanchaco, Ruinas de Chan Chan. the clinate is cold and cool. the food is very delicious, my food favorite is El ceviche. My family and I staying in the hotel " RAYITOS DE SOL". I'm writing this poscard in a restaurant.
LOVE, ESMERALDA
NICOL - 13-Sep-12 @ 12:01 AM
Hello, greetings from Peru. I´m in Lima, it´s wonderful here, I´m staying at a friend´s house. Everyone is really nice and welcoming. The weather is very hot right now , it is also very humid. The Food is delicious here, one of the best I have ever tried.I hope you´re enjoying your holidays. much love
melanie - 12-Sep-12 @ 7:27 PM
Hello Amy, I'm in Japan, my brither and I visiting my father .Tokio is beautiful is the best city for my because the weather is very good, yesterday i visited the houses traditional with my family.we went to the disco and danced for hours. We visited the shopping center and bought beautiful clothes are very cheap, i'm taking a lot of photos, the food is delicious but i prefer in Peru,the people are fantastic and are the diferent countries.
joselin - 12-Sep-12 @ 5:14 AM
Hi Paula. I am in Spain. It´s beautiful. I´m Stayind in a hotel La Libertad in form of the Museum Van Gogh The weather is snowy an ici, yesterday. I visited the museum and Sport Club Ajax Amsterdam tomorow. Igo to a concert of Orquesta Sinfonica Real. I´m writing this postcard in a place Muralla. Its near restaurant Bachiche.
With love
Sara Lisete
Sara Lissete - 10-Sep-12 @ 4:13 AM
Hi brother!, I am in Japan. It's a amazing and modern city. The hotel was confortable, the people were amazing and the weather was too cold. I went to the"megacities" like Tokyo Midtown, Harumi Triton Square, Odaiba and others. The food was delicious, I love the ramen. Well brother, the next week I arrive to Peru. See you bro. Love Eduardo Wong.
eduwr - 10-Sep-12 @ 3:19 AM
Hi, Lucia. I´m in lima. My city is very amazing. In here people are very friendly well i have friends really really friendly, there are a lot of places that you can visit, for example: parque de las aguas, the center of lima,etc The food are delicious in diferents restaurants that you can see so you need to visit the city of kinds, Lima. I can see you, take care. Bye
Sharys - 10-Sep-12 @ 1:58 AM
Hi, greetings from Piura, miracles, I'm hosted at a hotel called the Emperor, is close to the beach of piura, this city is beautiful, I have visited museums, markets, picnic areas, and I write this postcard from the beach of piura.
I hope to see us soon, greetings. Jacqueline
Jacqueline - 10-Sep-12 @ 12:16 AM
hi gloria greetings from korea
im in seoul.its great. im staying in a hotel near the river han. the weather is could but is beautiful.yesterday, i visited the busan city and musium. im writing this postcard in a cafe of the town.
see you soon
cinthya
fiore95 - 9-Sep-12 @ 10:52 PM
Hi, Lucia. I´m in Huánuco. My city ir very nice. In here the people is very friendly, there are a lot of place tourist, for example: Kotosh, the principal church, the center. The food is delicious pachacamanca, picante de cuy, locro de gallina. Well, I can see you, take care. Bye
silvia - 9-Sep-12 @ 10:32 PM
hello dew writing to tell you that we are all well here, we miss you. The weather here in Lima is very cold at this time. We are waiting to see Christmas. The'll have fun with all our amigos.Esperando you are well my leave. A kiss and a hug bye
sarah ! - 8-Sep-12 @ 6:48 PM
Hi Niel. I'mhaving a really great time here! I'm in Korea South. It's fantastic places. At the moment stay in Seoul town and I'm not hotel but i noticed a small treditional house. It's comportable and very cheap. The weather is cold and windy. Yesterday, i visited the korea museum, a supermark and diferent traditional restaurant. I'mwriting this poscard in a cafe by the sea
See you soon!
Love,
Doong seung chunji - 8-Sep-12 @ 2:45 AM
hi jenny
i'm fine thanks, the weather is so hot because is summer and the temperature is 38°C!
i stay in cheraton's hotel in panama, it's nice and have a lot of advantages because the hotel is near the sea and if I want to go to the sea, I can.
The rooms are very confortable and have jacuzzi! it's a little expensive but worth it!
well I have to go to the panama's tour, see you the next week.
bye
george - 8-Sep-12 @ 2:15 AM
Hi Crystel and MaríaJosé
It's great here! I am vere happy because here comes the sun every day, I love going to the beach especially at Punta Sal. Yesterday I went to eat Ceviche was delicious. Every day you aat well. Tomorrow I will go to Mancora and evening dancing at the disco. Well I hope to see them soon. Take care much and kisses.
Love
Judith - 6-Sep-12 @ 5:06 AM
Hello Dear Ady how are you? i am visited Mancora in the last week. i am staying in a hotel three stars in the city centre. the people is very friendly. the weather is very very cool. The beach es very beatufil and amazing. the food is very nice, in special "El Ceviche". Mancora is a beutiful city in Peru.
Take care; i come back soon! Bye! I love you!
Aaron20<3 - 5-Sep-12 @ 10:31 PM
hi dear friend , how are you?. I'm writing this postcard alone for informate you that i´ll return because here in alaska its very cold and the meals aren' so goodand i missthe weather that it's so wet and sometimes dry and the meals that are delicious the disco,the music. i say goodbye and hope see you soon,in three weeks.
ricci ray - 5-Sep-12 @ 7:19 PM
