Grand Tour 1932

[Letter 19] Pension Seguso Venice, Italy March 9, 1933 Dear Folks, Among the Florence incidents not mentioned, our visit to the Synagog deserves a little space. Dora and I attended part of a Saturday service with the Ehrenfelds [ see letter 18 ]. The Temple is large and beautiful. The walls are entirely covered with Moorish designs in keeping with the Moorish architecture. However, I like my own Temple Ansche Chesed as much or more. There was a choir of boys who were in need of a good music teacher. The women sat in the balcony screened by an iron grill. As we came out of the temple,   Dora met a Mrs Epstein, prominent club-woman of New York, and they almost fell on each other's necks. On Friday evening the Ehrenfelds came over and then we stepped out into a nearby cafe. We enjoyed the music and the local color; we can get better coffee in New York. We chatted cheerfully. The next day, March fourth, we said "Goodby" to Florence and were off to Venice -- a five

[Letter 18 - page 3] February 27, 1933 FUNNY LITTLE FACTS ABOUT FRANCE French people shake hands on the slightest provocation. When leaving someone who they expect to see in a few minutes, when meeting the most casual acquaintance, etc The lower classes repeat "Yes" very rapidly and numerously. Often it sounds like "We-we-we" but more often "Way-way-way" The head waiter made a sound like a kiss to call one of the waiters A man and a woman work together to clean up your room Goose-quill tooth-picks are still in use Shoe-laces often have little bone ends instead of metal Small toy autos can be rented for children. Many are electric Bicycles for children have small side wheels attachable so that they do not fall over The centre light in your room works on a pulley so that you can raise or lower it. I never saw a bootblack or shine parlor in France. Your shoes are polished by your porter, if you leave them at the door in the evening. Even on st

[Letter 18] Pensione Pendini Florence, Italy February 27, '33 Dear Folks, Much has happened since I last wrote. This time I shall not give you a day by day account of our doings, but rather a general impression. For one thing, the family did not generally keep together in Florence . You see, Florence is the greatest centre for historic art in the world and I was interested in seeing as much of it as I could without undue exertion. Dora and Marcus saw plenty of it,, but they also went off shopping and exploring more than I did. Meanwhile I would be taking in some ancient palace or museum. Here in Florence, Raphael, DaVinci and Michaelangelo met very frequently in the early part of the sixteenth century. Dozens of other great artists and poets flourished here under the rule of the Medicis who were great art patrons. The city is therefore a great treasure house of painting and sculpture. In addition to this attractive feature, it also has a peculiar charm of its own. Its l

[Letter 17] Hotel Italia Perugia, Italia February 14, '33 Dear Folks, You know how newspapers give you the very latest news first and then go back to the beginning of the story. Following that method, I may tell you that we arrived at Perugia this afternoon having left Rome at 10:45 and enjoyed a fine luncheon on the train. A youngster with ITALIA embroidered on his hat put us on a tram and we wound our way up a hill to the town. We entered the old walls and left them again. At last we entered the hotel through an arcade that looked very old, but the rooms are new and the view from the window is wide and beautiful. We were fortunate in picking up a fine English-speaking guide and we drove around in a taxi. At St. Peter's we saw some of the finest Middle Ages wood-carving in the choir stall. No two chairs are alike. These animals and flowers so exquisitely carved were still in perfect condition after over 400 years of continuous use. We saw also fine inlay work in wo

[Letter 16] Pensione Dinesen Rome, Italy February 3, 1933 Dear Folks, My last letter was typed on the "Conte Grande" and mailed the following day from Cairo. A group of about thirty people, many of them ship employees, ha been signed up by a specialist in trips for ship crews.His name is Goldman and he knows his business. Well, we agreed to go and little Miss Kramer made it a party of four. The crowd left in taxis and caught the 3:00 o'clock train to Cairo, arriving there at about 6:30. Then we were whisked over to the Bristol, where we had dinner. The dark attendants and waiters with their light clothes gave one a queer feeling. The meals were very good. The next morning we were off early by auto to the outskirts of Cairo. The Pyramids are not in the midst of the desert but at the edge of the city -- surrounded by sand of course. Marcus and I each mounted a camel which was led by a dragoman; Dora and Miss Kramer preferred a sandcart drawn by a donkey. We wer

[Letter 15] Aboard the "Conte Grande" Alexandria, Egypt January 24, 1933 Dear Folks: This letter will not be mailed before tomorrow or the next day. We have been in a different port every day but one, so naturally there has not been much time for letter-writing. Nevertheless, I believe you have been getting more letters than you expected. We got to Alexandria this morning and waited a while for the Egyptian officials to examine and stamp the passports. These dark-skinned guards take your passport away from you when you get off the boat and give it back to you when you get on the boat. Rather odd. Well, that isn't the only odd thing to report. From Naples our ship headed for Phileron , a port of Athens the capital city of Greece. Cook's had a big group at five dollars a person, but we decided to take in the sights in our own way. We took the electric train to Athens and then engaged a taxi. Soon we arrived at the famous stone hill, the Acropolis and were climbing th