Judy Travels Abroad: a handwritten 1958 European tour diary

[GemGem]

Date: Saturday, June 21, 1958 (Bill sails today!)
Place: Stratford-on-Avon and London
Weather: Sunny, and cool!

I certainly didn't get much sleep last night 'cause I was too cold! We got into London at 6:45 and I had two letters from mom and one from Bill! (Finally.) After eating at the Royal, we left for Stratford-on-Avon at 9:00. Our tour leader for the day, a Mrs. L, had a voice just like Anna Russell's and along the way she gave us bits of information about points of interest, and when she came to them she was more excited than any of us - certainly more than me 'cause I was asleep most of the time - a great way to see London. We stopped for coffee along the way and then saw Oxford College. We visited the college of Christ Church and went into the dining room consisting of many long tables, and various portraits along the walls. We ate lunch at a very nice place, and then we saw Romeo and Juliet which I enjoyed very much.
We ate supper at Ye Old Bull Head Inn, and had roast beef and Yorkshire pudding (bread dough). We got back to London at 11:00 and poor Alan had been waiting for me since 9:30. We saw the changing of the guards (sentry) at Buckingham Palace, took a walk, had coffee and then I came home at 1:00! Beat!!

Date: Sunday, June 22, 1958
Place: London
Weather: Rainy as usual!

Got up and went to 8:00 mass with the girls from St. Mary's. Came back and went up to get Mynie for breakfast. While I was eating Mrs. P brought me a real sweet letter from dad, and a letter from Christian, my Frenchman. (There is no further explanation of how Judy knows Christian, though he shows up later in the diary.)
Alan came at 11:00 and we took Sue with us. First we went to Madame Tussaud's Wax Works. It was certainly interesting - the figures looked real and the chamber of horrors was quite scary. There was a huge crowd there and we had fun laughing at ourselves in those crazy mirrors in the fun room! We stopped at an English servicemen's club for a beer with lime in it (different!) then to the Tower of London to look at the crown jewels, and then to Bunjies (she spells it correctly with the "j" this time) for huge plates of spaghetti. We got back to the hotel around 9:30 and I wrote some post-cards and letters to mom and Bill. Sue and I went over across the street to have some ice-cream and then up to visit Harry and J.M. who had food-poisoning. (Angels of Mercy?)


Date: Monday, June 23, 1958
Place: London
Weather: Warm - some showers

Got up this morning for the same old breakfast and then left at 9:15 for an all day tour of England. We had a very young bus driver who was something of a hot-rodder, and our guide, Mrs. C, was something for the books! She wore a black beret and carried this red umbrella which she stuck in the air and expected us to follow her. First we went to Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guard - then to Westminster Abbey with all its tombs, and the Chapel of the Order of the Bath.
For lunch, we ate down town ($0.65), and then went out to Stoke Poges and saw the country church where Gray wrote his elegy. Next we went to Windsor Castle (booklet and postcards $0.76) where it rained quite hard and then stopped. (You never go anywhere in London without a rain-coat.) After that we went to Hampton Court (beautiful gardens) and then home. Everyone wanted a picture of Mrs. C with her umbrella and I nearly died laughing at Harry who kept following along behind her 'cause he wanted one from the rear!
We rushed home and Betsy, Jean, Timmy, and I got dressed to go to see Duel of Angels, a play starring Vivian Leigh and Clair Bloom (ticket $1.06). We ate dinner in a nice place after that ($1.20), had huge musical fountains with colored lights.


Date: Tuesday, June 24, 1958
Place: London
Weather: Cool

Today was our free day, so after mailing letters at the post office, Sue and I got started on our shopping spree! We took the tube to the silver vaults, and then went to Regent and New Bond St. Here's what I bought today:
two gold charms for my bracelet - a guard ($8.43) and a toby jug ($8.76)
a brown shetland crew neck for Clare (her brother) ($17.57)
a hand-painted table cloth and 8 napkins ($35.14)
a sterling silver spoon for my collection ($4.97)
seven silk scarves at Liberty's ($16.62)
We ended up our stay in London with a fabulous evening! The tickets to My Fair Lady are sold out 'til October, but Jean, Betsy, and Tim went down early to see about standing room, and we got it for four shillings (54 cents). Standing room in New York is $3.75! I didn't mind standing at all, the costumes and settings were beautiful and the play was wonderful!
Just as I'm getting used to seeing cars driving on the left-hand side of the road, and am beginning to know my way around, we have to leave for Norway at 8:00 am!


Date: Wednesday, June 25, 1958
Place: Train to Newcastle - SS Venus
Weather: Cool

Got up this morning at 6:45 after going to bed at 2:15! The train left London at 9:00 - I tried sleeping but those trains are too uncomfortable. We got on ship at 4:00, just in time for tea; so Sue and I had whipped cream cake and cocoa. Norwegian food is much better than English food. For supper I had perch which was really good. Afterwards we visited the Ship Shop. I got some stamps for Aunt Marie, pin and earrings for mom, another pin, and a toy seal named So-Ho (after Bunjies!) Wrote some letters, had a beer at the bar and am going to bed early - 11:30!! (Ledger simply states: "Presents on ship $10.28".)

I'm up to here, this is riveting! And also.... HOLD THE PHONE! She went to see a Vivienne Leigh play! Wow, what a charmed life she leads.

I just love finding stories with purchases, I love all the hand written notes that accompany purchases, receipts and other tidbits of information. This is a real find though, I'm imaging it as a film!

 

[The Vintage Vendeuse]

I'm up to here, this is riveting! And also.... HOLD THE PHONE! She went to see a Vivienne Leigh play! Wow, what a charmed life she leads.

I just love finding stories with purchases, I love all the hand written notes that accompany purchases, receipts and other tidbits of information. This is a real find though, I'm imaging it as a film!

I'm glad you're enjoying it!
I, too, can imagine it as a film... something light and fun for a summer movie with lots of great scenery and vintage fashion.

EDIT: I've just noticed that this thread has over 10,000 views!