Austria vs. Australia or: postcards go a long way.

Today my grandfather called me. He told me my postcard from Groningen arrived today. After 19 days! The date on the stamp says March 20th, the day I was at the post office. What has happened?

I have a possible explaination: The postcards were shipped to Australia first. I have some evidence for that.

I arrived Tuesday at Groningen, bought seven postcards on Wednesday and brought them to the post office at Holy Thursday (March 20th). I was quote shocked when I was told one postcard is 0,92 €. Then the clerk got embarassed, asking me if "Austria" is in Europe or not... I replied, it's the one country in Europe next to Germany. She gave me 0,75€ stamps instead, priority Europe... ok, that's even more expensive than in Austria, but fair.
However, I wanted my Easter Greetings arriving Tuesday after Easter.

Ironically, I sent 4 postcards Tuesday after Easter, same procedure at the post office, 92 Cent-stamps? No thanks, 75 for Austria, the small country in middle Europe. Oh, sorry. No problem, thanks, tot ziens! The four postcards arrived after 4 days, on Friday.

Well, this story reminds me of the story of the poor stuffed capybara. I bought one at Ebay from a seller at UK. After three weeks it arrived... just have a look at the envelope:



Yes, quarantine :D