June 29 - July 4, 1961 - Austria

THURSDAY JUNE 29, 1961 – SALZBURG & ST POLTEN,AUSTRIA

Salzburg a lovely city on the Austrian border, only a few miles from Germany’s famous Berchtesgaden.

1.     Saw the famous cathedral (Sound of Music filmed here).

2.    Catacombs in the rocks where Christians hid out.

3.    Mozart’s birthplace & museum & original manuscripts.

4.    Castle, once a fortress, dates back to 1077. Had tea here atop castle.

5.    Heard & saw the Glockenspiel at 11 AM.

Wore out in 3 weeks my first pair of shoes. These cobblestone roads sure are rough on feet.

FRIDAY JUNE 30, 1961 - VIENNA. AUSTRIA

We arrived at about 11 AM & took our 0pal to the large dealer here for 600 mile checkup & oil & grease change. Windshield leaked so had it & doors adjusted. Taking it back on Monday for further service. So far 677 miles.

Schonbrunn Palace (Schonbrunn means beautiful gardens) (Car in garage) This is the palace where Mr. Kruschev & Pres. Kennedy met and where state dinner was held.  This is where EmperorFranz Joseph was born lived and died.  Most gorgeous palace I’ve ever visited. Beautifully kept. Also visited carriage house & all the beautiful carriages used by the royal house. Here is a fortune in saddles. jeweled harnesses. martingales & fancy horse dress. Most carriages are 20 carat gold leaf, lots of silver, etc. The castle has over 1,441 rooms most of which are now rented to persons of state empl.  We were taken through 45 all in their original furnishings etc. Saw the bed where Franz Joseph was born and the one where he died. Expect to see the fountains lit up tonite. Had a steak dinner in a local beer garden, very good. Only $1.00 with beer etc. Room was $2.80.

SATURDAY JULY 1, 1961 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

1.     BelvederePalace, built 1714, former house of Prince Eugene of Savoy, lots of fine art.

2.    Took pictures at SchonbrunnPalace & walked through the gardens etc. (1st clocks were made with wooden movements).

3.    Visited watch & clock museum. Clocks here from the beginning of time.  Very good (met 4 Canadian boys, lots of fun)

4.    Historical museum of the city of Vienna

Met an Austrian Dr. here who talked fine English & we went along with him. He was very interesting. During the war he taught 2 years at John Hopkins Hospital.

SUNDAY JULY 2, 1961 - VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Being Sunday many places are closed. However we did get into HofburgPalace which was open until 1 PM.  We got into the part where all the crown jewels, treasures & royal robes etc. were shown. It was a marvelous sight. From here we went on to St. Stephens Church which is a world known church of royalty, which are in caskets in the catacombs. Also, burial caves where bodies were put into a shroud & thrown into a pile left here until only bones remained. Then the bones were stored like wood in store rooms.  St. Stephens Church has 54 urns containing the intestines of deceased Hapsburgs. The hearts are in urns at St. Augustine’s Church near the palace.  Also visited St. Peters Church.  Also visited Maltese Church.  All full of interest. A tour of St. Stephens was by far the most interesting. The tunnel was very scary. Saw also the Hero‘s Square with monuments of Prince Eugene & Archduke Chas. close into HofburgPalace. More of this tomorrow. Finish the day by going to the amusement park called Prater. It was fun. We went on the roller coaster & Chas. took a ride on the bumper cars. We’d stay longer only the mosquitoes were eating us alive. Now it’s beer time & bed. Still have lots to see tomorrow & some work done on the car.

MONDAY JULY 3, 1961 - VIENNA & GRINZING, AUSTRIA

Had the car ceiling cleaned after leak stains. Wasted much time here. Had dinner at Amer. Rondo.  Met an Amer. couple from S.F. area who were pick pocketed clean in Salzburg. We invited them along to Grinzing, a small town nearby for new wine festival.  Met a couple from NYC we joined forces and came back to Vienna together.  NY couple was loaded, jewelers on a round the world trip. We had some drinks at the Opera Plaza & later departed for our own hotels.

TUESDAY JULY 4. 1961 - GRINZING, AUSTRIA

Visited St. Augustine chapel where the hearts of the Hapsburgs are stored in urns.  Franz Joseph and Elizabeth stopped this sort of burial so it ended with his father and mother. Opera season is over but we did visit it today and took the tour through. It is very beautiful, especially the old port. Half was bombed and now rebuilt and very modern but beautiful and another style.  Went back to HofburgImperial Palace & took the guided tour through the rooms opened to the public. The living quarters of Franz Joseph & Empress Elizabeth, his wife. Needless to say the art treasures are priceless. Paintings, tapestries, china, clock & furniture.  We‘re at our hotel now, the Golden Lamb ($3.60). We’ve been here 4 nites. It’s raining like mad so l can catch up on my writing. We think we have covered Vienna and will no doubt hit the road tomorrow. There aren‘t too many things left to do. We‘ve done the most important anyway. You never can tell how long it’s going to rain either. The thunder is loud & lightening bright. Being the 4th, someone told us there was a party at the American Embassy.  If it clears we may investigate it. Rain never stopped.

June 21 - 28, 1961 - Germany

WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 1961 - MAINZ, GERMANY

Arrived here at 7:15 AM too tired to go to the factory for the car. We got a room and conked out for about 5 hours. Just got up it’s about 2 PM.  Guess we’ll get the car tomorrow.

Went to see famous Dom(Cathedral) then had 2 beers each and sandwiches. Conked out again at about 7:30 PM slept through till about 10 AM.  About 19 hours sleep, boy we must have been tired.

THURSDAY JUNE 22, 1961 – MAINZ, GERMANY

Arrived at Opel factory. Had some trouble about white sidewalls that were paid for & not on. Spent 6 hours here to no avail.   Returned to Mainz to get original order issued in Laguna.  Thank God we brought it along. Will go back again in the early  AM. Hope we have better luck this time. Had beer & cold cuts again, Ser goot!

FRIDAY JUNE 23, 1961 - OLD & NEW HEIDELBERG, GERMANY

Got our car OK with white sidewalls - no more trouble, so we packed & hit the road for Heidelberg, Germany. Arrived here late in PM, got a room in New Heidelberg, freshened up & drove up to Old Heidelberg.  It‘s simply beautiful.  Went in to see the world‘s largest wine barrels. Gee, Don would sure be happy here. Went through the castle, rode on the cable car, had dinner and drinks in the Red Ox where the student prince used to hang out. The place is a museum in itself. We‘re going back tomorrow.

SATURDAY JUNE 24, 1961 - OLD HEIDELBERG, GERMANY

On our way to Heidelberg we passed through Worms, a town just crawling with Amer. G.I.‘s.  As bad as Camp Pendleton.  Heidelberg - (Hotel $4.00) Kept up the good work of sightseeing. Took in everything of interest. While wandering around we ran into Marilyn & Betty Holstein, a couple of girls off the ship.  Later in evening we went down for beer & since the place was free, students began to fill the place & before long our table had 4 Heidelberg students & their girls, most of which talked some English. Before long we were friends & having fun. They all decided to leave here & go to a place that served rare Greek wine not far from town. They asked us to join them, we hesitated but they insisted. So, we went. It was a lovely spot high over the Necht. We sat outside. Dad stuck with beer, the rest of us had wine. What a wallop it had. Chas. lost his car keys. The gang asked us to join them later today, but we should hit the road. After the Greek wine, gardens at Neckargemund Griechusche Weinstrube. We went back to Heidelberg & closed another place. About 6 of us here, then to bed, dead tired & smashed. Got away with a wine carafe. Beautiful day.

SUNDAY JUNE 25, 1961 - HEIDELBERG. GERMANY

Spent the day seeing the remaining historical sights. Later had dinner at Perkeo, famous restaurant of student prince (we also heard the lion roar).  Late about 7 PM a knock on our door and there stood Hans our Heidelberg student. Hans said that they have been waiting downstairs for 2 hours for us. So, we joined about 20 or more young folks, students and their girls at a long table.  All the students in their green caps & stripes (across chest). We had a wonderful time. Then along came the traditional drinking of beer out of a “boot” (2 qts). It starts at one end of the table & goes around until finished (the 1st, a toast to us).  The boys said we were highly honored as the first foreign couple to be asked to join on such an occasion (I think it‘s because Dad kept up with their beer drinking). Then we bought a boot full ($1.00) about 5 marks.  After 4 boots full and God only knows how many glasses full of beer & very much singing of college songs we hit the sack dead tired.

MONDAY JUNE 26, 1961 - DACHAU, GERMANY

Dachau - hotel ($3.00) G  We left Heidelberg & surely hated to...had such a grand time there. We headed for Munich (Muchen) but only got as far as Dachau really quite on purpose as Dad wanted to see the concentration camp known throughout the world for the cruelty, etc., where thousands died & were burned in large ovens.  These ovens are still all here, oven & large vault like rooms which were crowded with prisoners & gas turned on, when they thought they were being defleaed, etc. Such horrors.

TUESDAY JUNE 27, 1961 - TRAUNSTEIN, GERMANY

Trauristein (Park hotel $3.25) VG  Spent the nite here just to get off the road due to heavy rains. I don‘t  think there‘s anything to see, small town. Headed for Berchtesgaden, Hitler’s hideout about 30 miles from here. 

Berchtesgaden - Decided to take the 4 hour tour, since cars were not allowed up any higher than the GeneralWalker hotel which is 1/3 of way up. Tour cost $2.25 each.  Left at 1:15 PM returned 5 PM.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 28 1961 - BERCHTESGADEN,  GERMANY

The trip up was terrific. Only 6,000 ft. but straight up. Our guide was very good and willing to explain.  Arrived at Eagle‘s Nest where Hitler’s hideout still stands. Large conference room with Italian marble fireplace, a gift from Mussolini, Eva‘s room & Hitler’s tearoom. Beautiful elevator of copper and brass cut through the stone of the mountain. Also saw and went through tunnel to the lift destroyed SS barracks, hotel Walker where Hitler housed VIP visitors etc.

1.     Eagle ‘sNest

2.    Tunnel tolift

3.    Conference room

4.    Tea room

5.    Eva Braun‘s room

6.    Site of Bormann’s house. Goering’s house. & Hitler’s house all destroyed by American bombings

7.    Hotel Plattenhof - Now called General Walker

8.    Hitler’s 1st house or farm house

Walker’shotel served us a great meal & real American coffee really inexpensive. Leave Germany, had dinner at Berchtesgaden hotel occupied by American servicemen. A wonderful American meal for $1.00 (also breakfast next day 60 cents each). This hotel is famous for the surrender of German armies under Field Marshall Kesselring & Von Westphol to General Maxwell Taylor Hotel‘s main lounge. Famous guests of German Third Reich (slept) stayed here: M. Borman, H. Hemmler, J. Goebbles, Dr. Ley, Mr. Swarez, Marshall Rommel spent 6 months here after African campaign.

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.

June 9 - 13, 1961 - California to Canada

FRIDAY JUNE 9, 1961 – SAN CLEMENTE, CALIFORNIA

Leave San Clemente - 7:00 PM

Drive to Pasadena - Train 9:15 PM

Bill drove us to town. Most of the family showed up to see us off

- Don, Carole. Pam, Val, John, Sue, Steve, May, Frank & Ronnie

- Chuck and D.J. said good-bye the nite before.

SUNDAY JUNE 11, 1961 – CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

The El Capitan is a nice train, fast & comfortable. The food was not too good.  Arrived in Chicago 2 1/2 days later on Sunday June 11th.  Got a train out at 7:45 PM.  Not too good a train NYC & slow (dumpy). Canadian train was somewhat better, but slow.

MONDAY JUNE 12. 1961 – MONTREAL, CANADA

Will arrive in Montreal at 6 PM - Spend the nite here & sail in the AM.  Stayed at the Sheraton Laurentien Hotel - We had a double rm-twin beds & air conditioned. $12.00 & bath-good dinner at other Martins, Steak was delicious - $2.90 was price of full dinner.

TUESDAY JUNE 13, 1961 – MONTREAL, CANADA

We left the hotel & headed for the pier.  Our new found friend Charlie went along with us. We shared the cab fare, about 75 cents each.  We soon discovered that the luggage we sent ahead had not arrived so, off the boat we went to the Baggage Master (Mulwalsh) who soon put a tracer on the job. The luggage got here less than 1/2 hour before sailing. Close?  Lunch was all mixed up, due to the 12 noon sailing, guess we never got ours until 3 PM.  Chas. is taking a nap, right now sounds great!  Might even join him.  We were pleased to find a couple of telegrams waiting for us. One from Jay & one from Dr. Bill.  This was great, it sort of brings home closer.  Dinner at (8 PM) Later we spent many hrs. in Tavern with a Prof. (McLaine) from Missouri & 2 girls from Montreal, ea. going home for a visit, Angela to Venice & Erica to Switzerland.