"Finding My 'Home City'"
4
This visit to the United States was soon over and on October 13, 1962 I boarded the French Line ship "Flandre" to Le Havre, France. It was about the size of the "Berlin" and there was a small pool in the First Class Section of the ship. Of course I traveled in Tourist Class but one officer was nice enough to let me use it on October l8th. I had met my cabin mate, Ingrid and we went up on deck to watch as we were leaving the harbor and going by the Statue of Liberty.
Now up on deck to watch as we were leaving the harbor and going by the Statue of Liberty. How many times have I passed by now! We soon assumed our daily routine of enjoying the deck chairs even when it was cool and we needed a blanket to protect us. There were many young college students in Tourist Class going to Europe for the semester - at this time it was still cheaper by ship than to fly! I also met Susan with whom I did some sightseeing in Paris later on.
Soon it was time for us to land in Le Havre and to take a train into Paris.
My aunt picked me up at the railroad station and we went by taxi to her apartment in Neuilly just up the avenue from the "Arc de Triomphe." The next day my uncle gave me many tickets for the Metro so that I could go around as much as I wanted without having to pay. I don't remember but he probably also gave me French money because I remember that he was happy to see me because I did not remember him when they lived in Vienna before they had to flee.
On October 21st my aunt and I went by bus down the Avenue Champs Elysees and stopped at one of the famous outdoor cafés to get oriented. The next day I probably visited the "Louvre" because I remember I went there by myself a lot.