Summer mail barge returns to Germany's Spreewald canals
In the Spreewald region of Brandenburg, southeast of Berlin, the summer months see the return of mail delivery by barge.
Start of the season
Andrea Bunar has been waiting for spring for months. The 55-year-old Deutsche Post mail carrier made her season opening delivery on April 29, maneuvering through the shallow, narrow canals of the Spreewald, in Germany's eastern state of Brandenburg.
Happy to be 'back on the water'
"The start of the season is always special for me," Bunar told news agency AFP as she boarded the yellow mail boat in her uniform. "After the long winter break, I enjoy being in the nature and back on the water." For 14 years, Bunar has been delivering letters and packages to the Spreewald village of Lehde, about 100 kilometers (about 60 miles) southeast of Berlin.
Only in the summer
During the winter months, Bunar makes her deliveries by car — a laborious journey on icy roads. But from April through October, she's back on her 9-meter (29-foot) long boat, delivering mail directly to the mailboxes along the canals in Lehde six days a week.
Time to unwind
The Spreewald is famous for its network of waterways, which stretches for about 300 kilometers (some 185 miles). The Spree River — which also flows through Berlin — branches out here into hundreds of narrow canals through forests and wetlands. Tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle can enjoy a leisurely boat ride through the canals, led by guides in traditional Sorbian costumes.
Mailboxes along the shore
As a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Spreewald protects its diverse flora and fauna. In the village of Lehde, mail has been delivered by barge for 129 years — a unique practice in Germany. In the past, residents would pick up their mail on Sundays after church. But as long-distance communication grew, the postal service took over the regular water-based delivery service.
More packages, fewer letters
Every week, Bunar delivers about 600 letters and 80 packages. It takes her about two hours to cover the 8-kilometer route. These days, she's seeing fewer letters, but significantly more packages.
'Being on the water is just so relaxing'
"I already delivered an e-scooter, a lawnmower and a fridge — sometimes my barge feels like a little container ship," she said. This year, on her first day back on the water, she delivered a big saw in addition to the usual bills and letters. "This is and has been my dream job all along," said Bunar. "Being on the water is just so relaxing — it slows down life."