June 14 to 20, 1961 - SS Homeric to France

WEDNESDAY JUNE 14, 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

The Usual breakfast at 8:30 AM  Later a lesson in Italian, also dancing if one so desired.  We sat this out.

Lunch - at 1 PM.  Good lunch as usual

3:30PM - Went out on deck. Sat awhile but it was cold.  We are still on the St. Lawrence River and are now passing Newfoundland. The Steward said we’d see icebergs before long, as this is the northern route. Real cold winds & water. Ever since we left Montreal, we were able to see land on both sides. Sure glad we came this route as it’s quite different from the last 2 we made.  Another discovery we made since we’ve been on board ship - This line has been taken over by the Italian Co. in Genoa - so all the Stewards, crew, officers, etc. are Italian. Today we had our Italian lesson, given by the ship‘s Hostess.  It was fun, but I know I won‘t remember a word of it too long. Much food is Italian also.

7:30 PM - Cap’t Cocktail Parry. (The Cap‘t didn’t show up. He‘s in 1st class) a real square (heel) I guess.  Later dinner& still later until wee hours in the tavern, had fun with friends Chuck B. Lennard from So. Africa, Dave Rudmila etc. Lots of drink & laughs.

THURSDAY JUNE 15, 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

Welcome dinner tonite. Champagne free for everyone (2 glasses for me & 1 for Chas.).  We attended the Theatre & saw “The Grass isGreener” ¡t was a stupid picture. Later, the Tavern & some of our friends. Chas. finally won over the Orchestra with a round of Cognac. We had them playing all our songs.  At 3 AM, a round around the deck - it was as bright as daylight.  Something to do with Northern Lights & icebergs. Really rough nite. I didn’t sleep much. The Boat tossed like a top.

FRIDAY JUNE 16, 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

Got up early. Sea is very rough. Chas. slept till noon.  Made all necessary reservations for train to Paris.  Bought 2 cartons of cigs, $2.00 each. 1.000 allowed each into France. Lots of people are ill, due to rough sea. Breakfast room quite empty. Did better at lunch. Had my 3rd lesson in Italiano, Sí!  Dinner next.  Good dinner. Then a show in 1st class entitled “Apache in Paris”.  Looked like local talent but it was corny enough to be funny, lots of laughs when a string of 8 ft. men did the “Can-Can “. Good music & songs. Later the tavern & I think all hell broke loose. Chas. bought the band a drink and asked for some German songs. This hit a core in a few Germans and they also bought drinks for the band (which is German) & boy they were off to the races. From here on the party got really rolling. Everyone was full of fun & booze. This lasted the nite until 3 AM & what a glorious sunrise it was.

SATURDAY JUNE 17, 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

Missed breakfast again.

1 PM - Had a nice enough lunch. Went to the Italiano class.

5 PM- Played the horseraces and won 2 out of 3 times, about $1.50 altogether.

10 PM - Went to the Theatre and saw ShirleyMaclaine in “Two Loves” - terrible show, left early. Later went to the tavern again & had lots of fun until the wee small hours.

3 AM - Weather is still quite cool

SUNDAY JUNE 18, 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

Missed breakfast again.

1 PM - Lunch was so, so.  Later went on deck & set in the sun. Our first really warm day. Tonite it‘s farewell dinner. Perhaps more free champagne. Yes, more champagne, turkey dinner, etc.  More tavern and late staying up.  More new friends and more fun. Gee, we‘re sure tired, it‘s go go all the time. Got a new picture of friends. Hard to keep up with everyone.

MONDAY JUNE 19. 1961 - S.S. HOMERIC

Missed breakfast.

Nice lunch. More sun, deck, more picture taking.  Tonite it’s talent nite. It was good, in fact some very good. Had to pack & get our luggage out of cabin. Nothing much left. Went to 1st class and had some drinks. Very little sleep again.  The ship reached port about 12:30 AM.  Will get off in the AM, about 9 AM.

TUESDAY JUNE 20, 1961 - LE HAVRE, FRANCE

Our ship docked a little past midnight. No one had much sleep, what a noise.  We got off after a 7:30 AM breakfast & about 9 AM were heading for a boat train to Paris. We were near our table friends. Jim, David & Rudmila whom we later met in Paris and had lunch at Pretempts [Printemps?]. Not much of a lunch either. Our train left Paris after about 8 hours. We slept on the train and arrived in Mainz, Germany at 7:15 AM. Good trains too, & fast.