Núria (aka NuriaLP) lives in Breda, a small town surrounded by nature in the north-east of Spain. She and her friend Dolors are the only postcrossers in town, but they do a good job of telling the world about this picturesque corner of Catalonia!
- How did you get started sending postcards? What is your earliest memory of them?
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When I was four years old my grandpa sent me a postcard from his holiday destination. Since then this action of sending postcards while traveling has became a tradition and I also discover my passion for this incredible hobby.
- How did you come across Postcrossing? What got you hooked?
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My friend, Dolors, who is a postcrosser from my town told me about it and I couldn’t resist joining in. We are the only postcrossers in Breda. From time to time we meet and send postcards. Connecting with people from all over the world using postcards is what got me hooked. Nowadays messages are instantaneous and when a postcard reaches its destination after several days of journey, it’s so satisfying.
Another thing that I like about Postcrossing is that I’ve been able to improve my English skills. I’m not using English in my daily life, so this way I can practice it.
- Show us your mailbox, your mail carrier, your postoffice or the place where you post or keep your postcards!
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In my town, there are two mailboxes. In my case, I’m so lucky because our postwoman, Rosa, comes every day to my shop to give me my postcards, and collects the ones that I’m sending. She’s the best postwoman we could have. When she is on holiday she also sends me postcards.
When I receive new postcards I register them as soon as possible and then, I hang them on a wall I’ve got in my small fruit and vegetable shop. Customers love looking at them. After some days I add the new ones and the others go to my postcard box, where I organize them by country.
- What is it your favorite part of the Postcrossing process?
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It’s difficult just to choose a part. I enjoy the whole process including the surprise of getting an address, finding the right postcard for that person, combining different stamps, decorating the postcard and writing a nice message. Receiving postcards is also a fantastic part. It’s just incredible when you think of the journey that the little piece of paper called `postcard´ made until it reached my house.
- Show and tell us about your favorite received postcard to date, and what makes it special.
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US-9344837 has everything that I like: Autumn and love.
- Have you inspired anyone else to join Postcrossing or start collections of their own?
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YES! And this makes me so happy. My niece, Paula, who is 5 years and her friend, Jana, love sending and receiving postcards we send each other a postcard a month.
Also, the children who come to my shop love guessing where the postcards I’ve got on the wall come from. First, they try to guess it by looking at the picture, then at the stamp and finally, at the text.
One of them, Max, brought me a box full of postcards from his mum when she was young. He is so interested in this topic that he has started his own collection. I’m so proud of him!
- What’s one way that postcards have changed your life for the better?
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The most important one is that I’ve known incredible people, most of them have become friends without even knowning them in person.
- Do you have any other interesting hobbies or collections?
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Yes! I collect fruit labels. In fact, in my Postcrossing profile, I’ve got a special request, I ask if the person who is sending me a postcard can paste a fruit label on the postcard. I have already received many labels from different parts of the world.
I also love gardening, I always compare the process of growing a plant to sending a postcard. You choose the right one, you prepare it and then it flies until it gets its destination, like the plant when it grows.
