Reto (aka Acclax) from Switzerland went on a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip in February to a very special place, and wrote back with a report of his adventures. We’re always happy to hear about the special places postcrossers explore and send postcards from in Travel Mode, and Reto’s postcards from the southern tip of the world have started arriving to their destinations today, so this seems like a good occasion to publish this blog post. Enjoy!
![]()
I had the opportunity to travel to the island of South Georgia this February. This island lies around 55° S and 36° W in the middle of the Southern Atlantic Ocean. It’s biggest “village”, Grytviken, is home of the most southern post office of Great Britain, with an official letter box and daily emptying hours. With only three permanent inhabitants in summer (and none in winter), it’s a very popular stop for ships visiting Antarctica.
Together with Postcrossing, I was able to post the first 20 official postcrossing cards with a GS-code to people scattered all over the world. Even though I posted them on March 3rd, they are still on their long journey to its recipients.
![]()
Grytviken once was a Norwegian, later English whaler station. The whalers used every part of the whales: the blubber and meat were rendered to extract the oil, and the bones and meat were turned into fertilizer. Elephant seals were also hunted for their blubber. Around 300 men worked at the station during its heyday, operating during the southern summer from October to March.
![]()
You can still see the ruins of the big tanks, working facilities together with some old houses, barracks and a little church. There is also a very interesting museum where you learn a lot about the history of Grytviken and South Georgia. Next to the village is a cemetery where you can visit Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave. In 1914, Shackeleton planned to cross the Antarctic continent, but the Endurance, his ship, was broken by ice in the Weddell Sea in November 1915. To save his men, Shackleton and five of his men went back to South Georgia to get help. Believe it or not, all 28 members of this expedition survived. During my trip, the wreck Endurance was discovered on March 9th on the ground of the Weddell Sea.
![]()
![]()
Between the ruins you find fur seals in abundance, they are everywhere, the young ones very curious and extremely close. You also find sea elephants in Grytviken and king penguins.
![]()
And of course, there is the post office where I posted twenty cards with the code GS-1 to GS-20. When I asked at the post office, how long it takes to send these cards, I was told, that it could take “some weeks” to be picked up. Hopefully, these cards will have been shipped to the Falkland Islands by now. From there, they are brought to London. From there, they are being distributed to all over the world.
So, if one of you reading this receives a card with the code GS-1 to GS-20, you can be sure that your card had experienced a long, special journey!
PS: Planning to visit a special post office or mailbox? We’d love to hear about it!
68 comments so far
I'm also trying to do some math to see if I might be one of the lucky recipients of a South Georgia card. I won't hold my breath but it will be a pleasant surprise if so! Fingers crossed!
So cool! I have a similar dream - Pitcairn Island 🇵🇳 😁
I already ordered some honey (favorite one of Queen Elizabeth II) from there and I got a rock from this island. Even before I started with Postcrossing. We will see!
More realistic is the target to sent postcard from the European small countries: I did Monaco, San Marino & Liechtenstein last year. Maybe Andorra, Vatican & Luxemburg this year!
Mit ämene liebä Gruess us Spiez!
Many thanks for sharing
thank you for this additional report about your phantastic journey and the impressive photos. I was the lucky one to be the first receiver a card from there , GS-1. At first I said to my wife, oh another nice card, but with the title Antarktis ? What does this mean ? When I turned it, I looked at the stamp, a walruss , and the name South Georgia with the Queens profile. What is this ???. Then your explanation, and later of course google. So this was really a gift for an old man who red all about Shackletons expedition and dreamed as a young boy to be there.
"Danke nochmals" and thank you postcrossing-team for this project.
Best wishes to all in the postcrossing world
Albrecht
And, look! Your first card has arrived! Congratulations @SchwarzwaldUhu!
5 out of 20 have arrived so far, 15 still traveling!
Take care
Acclax
and one of the cards is arrived, what a chance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GS-5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wonderfull!!! thx for sharing the story and pics!
Greetings from Mecklenburg Lake District
Amazing to see seals where you might expect rabbits. I guess the winters are realy cold at South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands.
I would love to know how you got there, what was your preparation and when is the best time to go there :).
Ik hoop op een leuke tijd samen met Postcross.
↑ Back to top ↑