FRIDAY JULY
21, 1961 - LOURDES, FRANCE TO SANSEBASTIAN, SPAIN
We left Lourdes at about noon & headed for the
Spanish border. It was a beautiful drive along the mtns. (Pyrenees) & then along the Atlantic Ocean. We reached
San Sebastián at about 6 PM. Got a room & decided to rest up a bit &
get an early start in the AM. San Sebastián is a beach town, not
unlike Balboa or our own town, very nice & more
expensive than it will be further inland. Room, dinner, breakfast. app. $4.00 for
2. Gas 1/2 the price of France or Italy.
SATURDAY JULY
22, 1961 – SANSEBASTIAN, SPAIN
Left here about 10 AM &
headed south for Madrid. The roads were good in long spots, but when we hit a
bad piece it sure was bad.
Madrid, Spain - Got a nice room with full bath & shower for $2.50 a nite
plus $2.50 for meals at “Moderno Hotel”. Took a
stroll around town, it was a warm night. Had a beer on our balcony later. Went
to American Express, got one letter from Carole. Thank God for Carole. Went
shopping for posters, got a fan & a bota. Got caught up on lots of rest &
letters. Dad ‘s having a ball taking me all around town in cabs (costs about 25
cents a ride with tip, shorter trip run about 18 cents).
Today the 3 of us (Paul
our new friend) started out for the “flea market”. On our way down we took in
“Old Madrid”. Then about 3 hours of the open
market. Everything is sold here that one can imagine.
Later lunch then the bull-fights. These were amateurs but
a couple of good ones. One horse was badly injured; one picador with a broken
leg & every horse was knocked over by the bulls in all 6 bouts. Later dinner
10 PM & a walk around town with friends.
Took a trip through the Palace Real. It‘s very beautiful but like all other palaces in other countries
full of art, paintings, gold, silver, crystal, china, etc. Had trouble at
American Express because of mail cost transfer. Had lunch, very good. Bought 3
bullfight posters to take home, some soap & hair cream for Dad, an umbrella
for remembrance of Madrid. Dad‘s having a ball tipping (5 peseta bill) they look like dwarf $1.00 bills (worthless 8 cents). Met some nice people in hotel. She‘s Cuban he‘s
a Nashville, Tenn. Jew. She‘s very nice,
we spent some tune chewing the fat (Gilda Martin). Paul, our Sunday guide just
called & said he’d be over in the AM to see us before we take off. A very nice chap (age 21). Almost time for dinner.
Walked around town for about 1 ½ hr. with Chas. & Gilda Martin. It was a beautiful
evening.
Paul called for us & took
us to the Prado museum. It was very beautiful,
full of paintings by many famous artists, Goya, Murillo & others. Can‘t even
remember (4 hours here). Later had lunch at hotel. Paul was our guest. Still later went to park
& zoo with my 2 Cuban friends & 3 of their children - 1 a brat. Otherwise
a nice afternoon. Now dinner, a hike around several blocks & bed. Chas. went
to see some apts. with Mr. Martin. Bed about 1:30 AM.
WEDNESDAY
JULY 26, 1961 - MADRID & BURGOS, SPAIN
We leave Madrid this AM.
Went on to see Franco’s war memorial but got to see only 1/5th of tour. These
Spaniards go to bed from 2-4 & we didn‘t want to hang around a dead town
for 2 hours. Saw the outside anyway. We headed for French border but due to bad
roads over mtns. & curves we only made Burgos where we spent the night in a
Pension. The room was OK, the food not so hot; I’ve still got a sore stomach.
(Food poisoning I’m sure.) This town used to be capital. Large cathedral here, castle, etc. (bullring also).
THURSDAY
JULY 27, 1961 - BURGOS to PAMPLONA,SPAIN & LABOUHEYRE,FRANCE
Left Burgos about 9:30 AM.
We headed for Pamplona. Pamplona Spain is a very nice, clean, quiet, modern
town. The bullring was closed but we walked all around it, had a drink, rode around
town. We’d like to come back here again during the Festival ofthe Bulls. Left Pamplona & arrived
at San Sebastián. Changed
some money here, bought gas, had dinner at an English tearoom & Chas.
talked the owner out of a bullfight poster that he had in his window. Fights
were Sunday. Drove on out of Spain and into France across the border in Hendaye and onto Bayonne, very active town & on through to Labouheyre,
France & hopes for a room.
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