Judy Travels Abroad: a handwritten 1958 European tour diary

Love reading! Does anyone else get hungry reading Judy's entries? I keep thinking she must have gained 20lbs on this trip!!!

 

Will keep my fingers crossed on the job front for you...I am sorry to hear that news.

 

Thanks for the well-wishes, Maureen.

Date: Friday, July 4, 1958
Place: Stockholm, Sweden
Weather: Hot as Usual

After a lovely breakfast of coffee and only two pieces of toast, Sue, Judy H, and I prepared to invade the shops. As I was waiting in the lobby for Sue, who was taking a trip to the little girls' sand box, I glanced around only to see SAM smiling at me from a chair. I leaped over to talk to him, and he gave me his map of Stockholm. Isn't that romantic?
As usual I spent money as if I had my own printing press. Spent all morning at Sven's Crystal Shop* where I got six lovely goblets ($17.10), a dozen hand blown aqua glasses ($3.00), and juice glasses ($2.50) to match my Bob White dishes, and a set of six white demi-tasse cups with crests ($6.75) to go with my spoons.
Lunch at NK's which is a fabulous department store. Surprise!! Steak and French Fries again. Got a skirt ($8.10) here, and a blouse ($4.25), hope it's drip dry, a charm (globe) and my spoon. Back to the hotel by sub-way where I got two sets of those tiny hand-carved red horses ($3.47). Cheers! Supper at Branda tomten where I had fish, and after that Sue and I headed for the nearest coffee shop for cream puffs and cake. (Diet, anyone?) Back to the hotel for two Tom Collins in the bar, and pop-corn from the bar-tender. What a 4th of July!

* Judy may mean Svenska Glasbruksforeningen, the Swedish Glassworks Society. Perhaps they had a store/outlet in Stockholm at that time. I haven't been able to find any details. Sweden is home to many quality glassworks, including Orrefors.

(Prices for the globe charm and spoon are not noted in the ledger at the back of the book. Bad Judy! But she does note the purchase of some cocktail picks in Stockholm for $1.10. Also, none of the meal/drink purchase prices are noted for today.)



NK's Department Store:



Bob White dishes by Red Wing:

 

Phew! I've just finished going through all the previous posts and adding item/food/souvenir costs in US dollars. (Judy also notes costs in the local currency. She is one thorough lady.) If there is any particular item you'd like to know the cost that she noted in local currency, just let me know.

 

Date: Saturday, July 5, 1958
Place: Stockholm
Weather: Warm!

After breakfast, Sue and I went by sub-way to Old Town where we spent all morning walking around and looking in the old shops. At 12:30 we had lunch in the Gondolen Restaurant which is way up high and you have to take an elevator to reach it. I saw it on color TV, and was really impressed with the view of the city. (Had steak again with a delicious cheese sauce!)
Got a letter from Christian. (He's studying English and told me to study French.) Back to the hotel to pack - heard Frank Sinatra on the radio, and took the over-night train to Copenhagen. Believe it or not I went to bed at 8:30!!

The Gondolen Restuarant in the 1950s:




And more recently:

 

Date: Sunday, July 6, 1958
Place: Copenhagen, Denmark
Weather: Cooler!

Got up this morning at the un-earthly hour of 6:00, and got off the train at 7:00 only to find that our guide wasn't there! After waiting around a half-hour we took taxis to our HOTEL MINERVA and were preparing to eat in the dining-room when our guide rushed in. (She had been waiting on the other side of the tracks). Come to find out we were to eat breakfast in the station, so we got back in the bus and went back. Had some wonderful Danish pastries! Also received three letters.
Actually, I think it is too much to get off the train and then spend the whole day sight-seeing. I get pretty tired. (Missed mass again.) We went to Elsinore and visited Hamlet's castle. Next we went to the Casino for a delicious smorgasbord: delicious shrimp and a wonderful whip-cream dessert loaded with strawberries. After lunch, Eric, our guide, who teaches high school English and thinks there is no other place but Denmark in the world, took us to see a stork in its huge nest on some-one's roof, and then to Frederiksborg Castle where we went through almost a million rooms! We have single rooms in our hotel, done in aqua and green with our own bath-rooms (real modern!)
Went to Tivoli (12 color slides, $1.80), ate in the Peacock, had steak, and huge strawberry splits, then Judy, Laurie, and I spent 'til 11:30 in the Park (fabulous place). Had a hot-dog, soft-ice, and our pictures taken. Rode the merry-go-round too.


Hotel Minerva:




Frederiksborg Castle:



Exterior of Tivoli Gardens:

 

I love how the language is different - clearly en suite is not in use yet, and soft ice? is that ice cream or sorbet?

 

I wondered about "soft-ice", too, and I'm from the same area as Judy: Michigan, USA. We don't use the term. But what first came to mind when I read that line was soft-serve ice cream (the kind that is extruded out of a machine rather than hard-packed in a tub and scooped out).

As for "en suite", that term still isn't used in my neck of the woods. We might say "private bathroom". However, pretty much all hotel and motel rooms have their own bathrooms here. Sharing just isn't seen, except in a hostel or low-end B&B.

I'm trying to figure out if there's a reason that Judy carefully capitalized "HOTEL MINERVA" when writing this entry. Any ideas? Is it a joke of some sort? Is there a Hotel Minerva in a movie of the time or something?

 

Date: Monday, July 7, 1958
Place: Copenhagen, Denmark
Weather: Rather Cool!

Started off the morning with an hour's tour of the harbor by boat. On the way back, stopped to take a picture of the Little Mermaid, the most photographed gal in Europe. (We were able to get a picture of us on our trip on a post-card!)
Ate lunch in this place called The Giraffe. We had little pins, and also Ugly Duckling pins by our plates, very cute. Lunch started off with an open-faced sandwich that was almost a meal in itself and ended with a delicious strawberry tart.
Sue and I began our shopping at Den Permanente's where they have all these handmade things. I just loved their Christmas decorations, figures, and mobiles, so spent a small fortune on these (only a total is listed: $16.93). Also, got the Little Mermaid charm (gold, $7.23) for my bracelet and a spoon (sterling, $1.59). Finally got a Fielding's currency guide ($3.45) which really helps. Decided I really looked like an orphan so got my hair cut in this real exclusive Max Factor place, and just dreaded to look at the bill - only about $1.00. Surprise!
Everyone got really dressed up for dinner (I wore my black dress that Dad got me in Florida) and we went to a place called Seven Small Homes. (The best yet). First we all trooped down to the wine cellar for a glass of sherry and then back up stairs to eat in the Artists Room complete with a 3-piece orchestra playing music from My Fair Lady and South Pacific. Had our pictures taken at the tables, and dessert was really something, complete with sparklers, an elephant carved out of ice and served on a platter (ice cream - whipped cream - strawberries).


Copenhagen's Little Mermaid:




Den Permanente (now closed):


Seven Small Homes (now closed):

 

Date: Tuesday, July 8, 1958
Place: Copenhagen, Denmark
Weather: Nice!

Since today was a free day, Sue, Mynie, and I headed down town to get rid of some more money. I got mom a darling porcelain figurine of a little girl ($10.12) and some more Christmas decorations ($5.17) at Permanentes. (Good Luck, Santa!)
We ate a four course lunch in the Seven Nations with more dessert just like last night's complete with sparklers and second helpings! As if this wasn't enough, Sue and I each got a box of the biggest strawberries you ever saw for 24 cents and rushed back to the hotel in a taxi where we spent the rest of the afternoon reading and eating every one of these berries! Sure was good!
We really wrapped up our stay in Copenhagen in a neat way! Sue's friend Dick F., who is touring Europe with his friend, Jim F., arrived in Copenhagen this afternoon, so we went out with them. First back to the Seven Small Homes (Eight Large Mansions, as Jim would say) for a delicious beef tenderloin dinner (mushrooms, too, and more strawberry dessert), then to Tivoli for a fabulous time. First a ride on the roller-coaster (my first). Not too scary! I really hung on to Jim, and then to have our pictures taken - I was a mermaid (just like the one in the harbor) and Jim was sort of a cave man! What a riot. Went to this real neat place to dance, and then back to the hotel and up to the bar for more dancing. In at 1:30 to pack. Bed at 2:30 - up at 6:00.

Here she is, folks!

 

What a cute photo! It's wonderful to see the face behind the voice.

 

She likes her steak!

 

Date: Wednesday, July 9, 1958
Place: En route - Amsterdam, Holland
Weather: Cold and Warm!

Had a rude awakening this morning at 5:20! (3 hours sleep!) Went to the train station for breakfast and then got on the train at 7:30. We went 600 miles and got off at 10:00pm. Not too boring - read some of Anderson's fairy tales (The Little Mermaid) and the Journal. Tried to sleep, too, but it was impossible, our car kept making this horrible creaking noise 'til we all were ready to scream. Jim said I wouldn't like Holland so about this time I was ready to trot back to Copenhagen.
About 11:00 we got on a ferry, train and all, to cross the Baltic Sea. Had lunch here (smorgasbord) and had a traveler's check changed into Dutch money.
Supper was horrible, and we could hardly wait to get off. We ended up by waiting at the station again for a bus that never came, so we went to our hotel (The Central) in taxis. Sue, Mary Ann W., and I have a room on the fifth floor. This hotel is a nice one, too. Mary Ann was quite tired but not Sue and I. We zoomed back downstairs for coffee at 11:30 and then decided we wanted some ice-cream. The waiter said he would surprise us and brought us sundaes with coffee ice-cream covered with nuts!

 

Date: Thursday, July 10, 1958
Place: Amsterdam
Weather: Nice

No one woke up this morning so we missed breakfast, and got up just in time for our tour. First we went to Aalsmeer, the flower market - never saw so many beautiful flowers - roses, carnation, etc, but no tulips! I did buy 50 Parrot tulip bulbs, though, to send home to Dad. ($6.75)
Next we went to take a picture of a windmill (there are only 26 in all of Holland). The houses here are small with painted roofs and every yard is very well-kept and full of flowers. Saw a few people wearing wooden shoes! We ended our morning tour by going through a diamond factory and saw how diamonds are cut, shaped, and polished. (Very interesting!) Saw some finished diamonds and I like the emerald cut the best. Too bad they weren't giving away free samples!
The food here isn't very good at all and from now on we have to be careful what we eat. No milk, water, lettuce, or tomatoes. In the afternoon we went to the Rijksmuseum to look at Rembrandt's painting and I got so sleepy that I came home and slept 'til dinner time.
Our student guide, Jen, took us to this Dutch student center after supper. It was really cute, travel posters, lighted candles in bottles, a bar, and a place to dance. I met this very cute boy, Case, who is 23. He was a wonderful dancer and interesting to talk to! Sue and I had coffee and then came home.


Sadly, the Aalsmeer Flower Market/Auction may become a thing of the past:

 

I wonder why the food was so bad in Holland?

 

She never explains, I wondered about that, too.
And it sounds like she's trying to avoid "Montezuma's Revenge"... in Holland!

 

Date: Friday, July 11, 1958
Place: Amsterdam
Weather: Nice

Woke up this morning with a heck of a tooth-ache! After breakfast we went on a canal tour of the harbor, not too impressed. After the trip, we were taken to our new hotel to join the Ambassador Group with John R. who sort of reminds of of Mr. Shamefelt! (Looks just like Mel Torme, too!) The hi-point of the day was a letter from Bill! Went shopping, but didn't feel like buying anything but a spoon ($1.84). I certainly am not impressed with this crew of Martha-like characters, either. Judy, Sue, and I wish we were back with Mrs. P. Had supper at the horrible place we were at yesterday for lunch. Went back to the student center - danced with Jen, had ice-cream and then back to the hotel.

(I googled "Mr. Shamefelt" and can't come up with anything. Anyone know of this character? Also, what might she mean by "Martha-like characters"?)


Mel Torme, circa 1963/64:

 

I assume they are the backing dancers or singers.

 

Thanks Melanie, but Judy is not referring to the video I attached. I included it in the post just for fun.

 

Oh confused! Maybe she is talking about the hotel staff? Who was Mrs P.? maybe that might help.