Traveling Without Moving 🌎 📩
How The Postcard Club was born
No Postcard this week so I thought I would share with you how this Substack came to life!
A little over one month ago, I flew from Santiago de Chile to Mendoza, Argentina, to discover its beautiful streets, famous wine, mouthwatering asados, and the peaceful greenery of San Martín Park. One of the highlights of the trip was horse-riding in the Andes, a truly unforgettable experience. Another one was when I thought I would not make it back alive as our tiny plane was shaken by heavy turbulence over the Andes on the flight back to Santiago de Chile!
During the trip, I did what I always do when traveling: I took a lot of photos and videos on my phone. At the end of my trips, I usually post a “bulk upload” to Instagram—selecting the best moments to share the highlights with my friends. I also send a few photos and videos via WhatsApp to family members who aren’t on Instagram. It’s how I’ve shared my travels for years.
I’ve never liked posting in real time while traveling. It feels like it takes me out of the moment, and being glued to Instagram during a trip just isn’t appealing. Instead, I’d wait until the trip was over, pick out my favorite images, and share them all at once with a brief caption about the trip.
But while I was in Mendoza, I felt tired with this. The idea of sharing a handful of photos without any real context seemed irrelevant. My trip was filled with authentic moments—things that couldn’t be captured in a photo. There was the warm welcome from our host Jorge, the nerve-wracking experience of exchanging dollars for Argentine pesos, the incredible diner after horse-riding through the Andes, and of course, the anxiety on that turbulent flight back. These were moments that made my trip unforgettable, but none of them made it into my camera roll.
Instagram seemed not adapted. Sharing these moments as long WhatsApp texts felt incomplete. I was looking for a way to tell the full story—to give context to the photos, share the emotions, and reflect on the unique moments that made the trip so memorable.
That’s when I started thinking: How could I share these stories in a more meaningful, authentic way?
Modern Postcards
The answer came quite quickly. I already had a Substack publication, and I realized it could be the perfect platform for sharing travel stories. A space where I could pair text with photos, adding depth and context to the images. It would be like sending a modern postcard. And I thought, instead of just writing to friends and family, maybe I could share it with anyone who loves travel. Substack would be perfect for this.
However, there was a major issue: I don’t travel enough to publish something every month, let alone every week. So Substack would not be the ideal solution in the end…
But then came another thought: What if I wasn’t the only one writing?
Travel is so personal, and everyone experiences a place differently. What if other travelers could contribute their own stories—postcards from places I’d never been, or even heard of? Receiving a postcard from someone else would be an incredible way to see the world through their eyes.
I thought it could be more than just a personal newsletter. It could become a shared space—a club where travelers and writers connect, share stories, and inspire each other. A place to exchange ideas, experiences, and even tips for future adventures.
And thus, The Postcard Club was born.
A Collective Space to (Re)Discover the World
As I started to have a clearer idea of this project, I realized all the opportunities it could bring for readers and writers:
Exploring the World
At its core, The Postcard Club is about discovery. I want this Substack to introduce readers to places they might never have considered visiting—hidden gems, small towns, or even famous destinations but seen from a fresh perspective.
By featuring contributors from around the world, we’ll get to see not just the places they visit but the way they travel. What drives them? How do they connect with a new culture? What lessons do they take home? Every postcard is an opportunity to see the world through someone else’s lens.
Rethinking Travel Writing
This newsletter is also a response to how travel is often presented today: perfectly filtered Instagram posts, influencer “must-do” lists, and TripAdvisor ratings. These things have their place, but they don’t capture the reality of travel.
The Postcard Club is different. It’s not about filtered perfection or top-10 lists. It’s about sharing raw, authentic travel stories—both the highs and the lows. It’s about why people travel, how a place made them feel, and the small, unexpected moments that often become the most memorable.
Here, contributors have the freedom to tell their stories their way, focusing on what mattered to them. No filters, no pressure—just honest, personal reflections.
Building a Community
Finally, The Postcard Club is about connection. Travel is about the places we visit but also about the people we meet along the way. I want this newsletter to reflect that.
Each postcard is an invitation to connect—not just with the writer, but with a community of like-minded travelers and readers. My hope is that this space becomes a meeting point for people who share a passion for exploration and storytelling.
Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or someone dreaming of your first big adventure, The Postcard Club is a place where everyone can share a piece of their journey.
What’s Next?
So far, two postcards have been published. I shared a glimpse of my trip to Valparaiso as a first try for this Substack.
And two weeks ago,
was the first contributor to accept sharing one of his travel experiences on The Postcard Club. He took us to Little Corn Island for a very intense journey! I’m very grateful to him for sharing this story.
In the coming weeks, you’ll see postcards from me and from contributors around the world. Some stories will take you to remote, off-the-radar destinations, while others will offer fresh perspectives on familiar places.
I hope this newsletter inspires you to explore, reflect, and share your own adventures. Whether you’re here to read, write, or simply daydream, welcome to The Postcard Club!
Bonus
Whether or not you got the title reference, it’s never a bad time to listen to one of the (many) amazing live performances from Jamiroquai—Travelling Without Moving at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2003.