Meet Your New Penpal

The protagonist of your monthly Letters From Afar is a fearless explorer named Isabelle. As she travels around the globe exploring new sites and cities, she stops to write you a letter detailing everything she sees.

Although she is fictional, she was inspired by a real-life, spirited adventurer named Isabella Lucy Bird, who traipsed around the world solo in the 19th century.
The real Isabella was an author, photographer, naturalist, and the first female member of the Royal Geographical Society. Even while fighting a lifetime of poor health, she traveled well into her 60s, often alone and without an understanding of the local languages or customs.

Many of her travels are recorded in her works of literature. In perhaps the greatest inspiration for the concept of Letters From Afar, Ms. Bird was well known for writing descriptive letters about her travels and mailing them to loved ones.