Environmentally Friendly Mail Delivery by Boat

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Some mail travels on unusual routes and by unusual means of transportation until it reaches its destination: sometimes by land or air, or - as in this case - by water. All summer long the hamlets of Luebbenau and Lehde in Germany's nature reserve of Spreewald will get their mail by boat. Environmentally friendly, easy and quick.

Until October letter, postcards, certified mail and parcels will all be delivered by a yellow post barge. The women in charge of the mail delivery is Andrea Bunar, who is steering the nine metre long barge through the scenic but very narrow channels.

The only propulsive power is muscle power. Bunar pushes the barge with a traditional rudder push rod to her 65 addresses, eight kilometres per day. A good work-out, during a season she covers easily 1.100 kilometres.

It is her third season delivering the mail by barge and she loves working in the fresh air. Even the wind and rain cannot dampen her spirits.

Bunar's job is not a gimmick for the tourist but a necessity. Many farmhouses in Lehde are not accessible by road, only by water. "And this is an easy, environmentally friendly and quick way of mail delivery," she said. "And why not uphold such a great tradition? And I really like it."

When the special post delivery started more than 110 years ago, the mailman did not have to brave the weather every day. Much has changed, these days Bunar delivers about 600 letter and postcards as well as approximately 40 parcels. Some need more attention than others, though, for instance when a garden hedge or garden swing needs to be balanced on the barge.

Germany's only barge postwoman not only delivers mail but also acts as a small post office: customers can drop off mail and parcels as well as buy stamps. As a thank you the German Post office has created a special stamp featuring Bunar. With barge and pole of course. - See more at: http://www.ntd.tv/en/news/world/europe/ ... jfUfK.dpuf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;