Message in a bottle unites distant shores

In a world dominated by instant messaging via phone or email, one of the slowest methods has bizarrely made it into the news.

In a remarkable tale of serendipity, Tillmann, an 11-year-old German boy who lives in Mallorca, has captured the hearts of people across the Mediterranean.

His message in a bottle, a heartfelt letter sharing his hobbies, dreams, and wishes, embarked on a 1,400-kilometer journey from the sunny shores of Mallorca to the Italian coast, where it was picked up by Dario Grande on a beach in the Bay of Naples three months later.

The message

The message begins: ‘Dear Stranger, On this beautiful sunny day, I am sending this message in a bottle on your journey and I am very curious to see who will find it. My name is Tillmann, I am 11 years old and I live in Mallorca.’

The message continues: ‘My hobbies are: reading books, playing video games, doing puzzles, building with Lego.

‘Playing basketball and soccer are my leisure sports activities. Among other [ hobbies ] I like to explore nature, flora and fauna (I am a member of the Nabu [German environmental association]), and the aquatic world also has my attention.

‘I also like to dedicate myself to the subject of historical eras and astronomy. I also enjoy riding a motorcycle with my father.’

And finally, he expresses an unfulfilled ambition: ‘I have not yet been able to fulfil my wish to see a snake or a turtle outside a zoo, which are very common in Mallorca.

‘Best regards, I would be delighted to receive an answer, Tillmann.’

Possible meeting

Tillmann’s eloquent words, expressing his love for reading, video games, nature, and a desire to see a snake or a turtle in the wild, have bridged the gap between two cultures and sparked a quest for connection.

The discovery has prompted Grande to continue the tradition, planning to cast the bottle back into the sea with his own message, in hopes of furthering this chain of communication.

This story, highlighted by the media in Altafulla and Mallorca, underlines the enduring charm of human curiosity and the power of a simple, yet adventurous gesture to connect distant locations.

As the Mallorca community rallies to locate Tillmann, the potential meeting with Grande symbolises a union of dreams and reality, proving that a little bit of magic still exists in our modern world.