For someone that has ever participated in a Postcrossing meetup, he or she knows it’s always a very special event. From afar, no one would say that postcards could make such a strong connections between people. But as we know, they really do.
And that was very obvious this last weekend at the international Poscrossing meetup in the German city of Bielefeld. With an impressive participation of over 45 people – despite the very cold weather, it was a big success and everyone had a very special weekend meeting the faces behind postcards and the usernames they have become familiar with overtime. Smiles were plentiful and many are still claiming to have them, days after returning home.
There was something quite particular about this meetup – this time, everyone stayed at the same building for the whole weekend – some even called it a Postcrossing retreat. Whatever you call it, it was a fantastic time. With white landscapes everywhere, the popular Christmas markets and many many postcards and smiles – the hard part was actually to leave.
The participants came from many different countries: Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, UK, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia and even from as far as Russia and Romania! And what’s more impressive, they all faced quite cold harsh weather to get there as large part of Europe has been covered in snow in the past weeks. Nonetheless, that was not a big problem for such a warming crowd which faced the below 0°C temperatures with a smile and headed to Bielefeld to be together and disprove the Bielefeld Conspiracy.
And because wherever there are Postcrossers, there are postcards, can you guess how many were written, signed and sent from this meetup? A grand total of 1250 postcards – can you believe that?! Bielefeld post must have had quite a surprise. And in our books that’s certainly a record!
But words don’t quite describe how great the spirit was on this meetup, so let’s try with some photos.
- Haus Einschlingen, the place where everyone stayed during the 2 days.
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- Some serious postcard writing.
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- And some more…
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- The table with some of the postcards stacks to be signed.
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- The Christmas market visit and the popular glühwein.
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- And, of course, restocking on more postcards!
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- Who said you can’t play football when it’s snowing? (side note: the girls won)
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- The youngest, cutest and playful participant :).
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- Our
postsnow-man. -
- And finally, a group photo.
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We also want to use this opportunity to publicly thank nordbaer for organizing this meetup. It was fantastic and he did a great job putting it together.
Want to see more photos? You can find links for more at the forum thread of the meetup.
44 comments so far
I keep returning to Bielefeld in my head all the time...
same here, thanks a lot for this great week-end. I would like to return as soon as possible. :)
Yes, thanks a lot and a nice blog to read. :)
It was a wonderful weekend with a very special spirit. My mind and my heart are still in Bielefeld-Einschlingen.
Thanks at all, esp. Baer.
I'm still happy that i've participated in this great meeting! It was such a great experience - and the blogpost is absolutely 1:1 what i'm feeling! Thanks to everyone! thanks to nordbaer :love:
There are no words to describe how happy I am that I could take part in this meet-up... an unforgettable weekend with lots of wonderful people! :) Wish I could turn back time...
I really want go to the meeting. ;(
I just was there on Saturday, but I really had a great day with you... next time I will stay the whole weekend, this time was not possible (I told you why)
Well, what a successful meetup-reunion! Norbaer did a bang up job, and Iwish I ahad been there. cheers to all who attended!
I really had a great time there, and I 100% recognise myself in what paulo wrote above. Hopefully there will be a Bielefeld 2011 edition...
I've been diagnosed with the Bielefeld fever, and you know what? I don't want a cure for it! This was by far my favourite weekend of 2010! I can't get rid of the smile on my face!
It all started as a silly idea to attend a meeting. Then I decided to join the meet-up that had most participants and which was in a country I wanted to visit.
I am glad to have attended it and to have the opportunity to meet all these great people.
I will keep saying it, over and over again, Postcrossing is amazing!
Much love to all of my new friends.
I had super time at this huge meetup. Thank you once more Nordbaer for make this happen. Hopefully i see many of you next year.
I believe these groups will grow bigger has time goes on with dedicated members...keep the spirit alive.
Thank you for sharing your photos of the meeting. It was so much fun to see all of you that I exchange postcards with. I'm glad all of you had a great time.
It sounds like anyone that wasn't there missed something special. I enjoyed reading about it and looking at the pictures. Postcrossers are special people.
Oh, my! I better start saving up for the next international meetup! :)
I want to meet Mr. Baer :(
Very well written Paulo - I also still have my smile on my face and Sarah still keeps asking about Ana and Andy :-)
It was just great meeting all those special people and I already started saving money for nex year!
thanks to all for this beautiful weekend.i will be again next year.But i must absolutely learn english.I have envied you all.I think all of you have speak,think and dream in english ;-) Despite the late hour and a little bit of wodka. You are amazing.
I see you again next near in Bielefeld,Cologne,Geneks Danmark or elsewhere...
Great party !!
I wish I was there :D
It was really a great weekend. Thanks to Nordbaer who made this happen!!!
It was so a great weekend. Thanks to all people who made this possible :-) I hope to here from you all soon.
nice to read about - as we read the participiants since long time!! and also thanks for the pics, as I couldn't open any album but had the opportunity here, to see all the lucky ppl!!! it must be a great event!! :-)
sorry, my granddaughter's account was still open - this was IPUENKTCHEN CALLING!! and I would say, we read the participiants talking about in the forum since long time!!
and it was nice to see you there - some of you I still know from other meetups! :-)
Thank you all for a wonderful and magical meetup! It was unforgettable! Nice story Paulo ;-)
I really wanted to go, but i had company's Christmas party & two concerts to perform on that weekend:( Dear Santa, please let there be 2nd international meeting in 2011!
The meet-up sounds wonderful! Someday I would love to take part in one. :) Also, I was one of the winners of anjaaustel's lottery and today I received an incredibly amazing Berlin Wall postcard signed by all you people who were at the meet-up -- thanks, Postcrossers, for the souvenir of sorts! :)
Yesterday I received postcard from your meeting, sent by Leonie. I have never seen so many signatures together :) It would be great to meet some Postcrossing-people from abroad. I hope someday I will be able to participate. Thank you so much and greetings from Prague! Petra-Petula07
This week I received postard from this meet-up, sent from Lotty. It's my first postcard from meet-up, thank you very much. :)
Thank you all for meeting greetings :) I know so many of you by name, but your faces are new to me. Oh, how I wish I could one day participate in a meeting too.!
I also still have the Bielefeld fever! It was lovely to be with you my friends. Untill the next!!!!!
Thank you for sharing with us beautiful photos and stories. I was not there but my heart's with you. Hugs!
What a great time you must have had! :-)
The stores selling postcards in Bielefeld won't know what has hit them! The sales of a lifetime, :-D
Thank you all and especially Dandilion for sending me the card! So many people signed it! Best to all of you from California!
fingers crossed to get a card from this special meeting.
...and fingers crossed to be able to join such event in future!
So SWEET and beautiful!! You all looked like you had a fabulous time. :o) I am beyond jealous! Do I dare hope for such a meetup on my continent??
please make the next one when it is not quite so cold and I will go from Florida USA!!! My hubby wants to go with me :D
Thank you also to Isa who sent me a card will all the signatures! What fun you all must have had!!!!!!! but brrrrrr, to cold for me.
I really wish I could go to a meet-up like that! It sounds amazing and I would love to spend time with other postcrossers. I received postcard signed by everyone who was there and it totally made my day! It was a surprise from one of my penpals who was able to attend. :)
YEA!! I'm going to the meet-up in April in Koln, Germany!
Who will join me??????????? I'm bringing a bunch of postcards from the USA to share with everyone too :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D
here is the link for information
http://forum.postcrossing.com/viewthread.php?tid=50846
i also wish i had been there :)
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! The more photos I see, the more DEAD JEALOUS I get!!!!!!!! :D See some of you in April! :)
Great photos!!!! It seems a very cool meetup!
I got a lovely card from the meet up!I think it's from dear Marion!Thanks soooo much!
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