"Finding My 'Home City'"
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On the 23rd I met Susan at the "Sacre Coeur" up in Montmartre. A place we thought was easy to find. We walked all over this area and enjoyed the view over the city. The narrow streets and tiny plazas and parks with markets selling artistic items, paintings and flowers were great to explore. There is also a famous cemetery where we stopped for while.
I remember another day when I took a bus to some parts of the city and then wanted to return. I was entirely lost. I found out that my French really was not too great and there was a problem with the ticket. A woman on the bus who spoke English helped me. My uncle had told me never try to speak German so I did not on this very busy bus.
On October 25th I went to "Notre Dame" and climbed up one tower. I had a great view over the Seine and all the bridges and across to the "Latin Quarter." Another evening we went to a typical Parisian show where all the performers dressed in more or less feathers or nothing at all but had good figures. It was a marvelous experience.
After Travels to Seattle, the Return to NYC
After the 1962-63 holidays, I returned to New York harbor and traveled across the United States to Seattle, where I continued my studies and side trips. Eight months later, I was back on a bus for the last leg of the cross-country trip through Indiana and Ohio and finally continuing on Route 80 passing Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It was a great view when we got close to Manhattan—it was August 10th. How I love this view from New Jersey into Manhattan. It is always like a big new experience and never gets stale!
It was good to have found my "home city." •