We started a fantastic day on Floreana Island with an early disembarkation to visit one of the most important historical sites in the archipelago, Post Office Bay. In this picturesque location we do not have a real 'office", what we have is a wooden barrel that was originally erected exactly on the same location around the year 1793! Obviously, in such a long time, more than three centuries, many boxes have been disintegrated and the barrel has been replaced several times. But, what is the reason to erect a wooden barrel in the middle of nowhere in a remote island of the Pacific Ocean? For over two hundred years letters and messages left in the barrel have been picked up by homebound ships and eventually delivered to their final destination. In years past, pirate and whaling vessels during their long journeys facilitated the delivery of this peculiar mailing system. It took a long time, years in some cases. Nowadays, even though postcards have replaced the old messages and tourism ships have taken the place of pirate and whaling vessels, something that can not be changed is the fascination we feel to continue with this unique tradition. The barrel is still in use today by visitors, who can deliver their messages in such a unique way. If the address in the postcard is near your home, you should take it with you and deliver it hand by hand, stamps are not needed. This system works very well, that well that it is many times faster and more efficient than the Ecuadorian official mail!
In today's picture we can see a panoramic view of the place. The famous barrel is surrounded by an interesting collection of souvenirs left behind by previous visitors. In addition to the funny things we can find as old shoes, bottles, animal bones etc. we can also observe some pieces of wood painted with the names of ships that had the honor to visit the Post Office. Our ship, our beloved Polaris, is not an exception; we have a part in the fascinating history of this unique place.
