European Vacation II . V, XXX PTRINT

Hello everyone,

   I have been leafing through the pages of my old diary, in order to remember my second European trip After all many years past by since I was the young woman, who disembarked from the Queen Mary in England's South Independent and more sophisticated... I traveled through Europe, continued to the U.S      where I was studied at the university of Texas and  on the afternoon, was teaching Hebrew and Jewish Studies in a Hebrew School... During vacations', I was traveling on a Greyhound Bus, all over the USA Needless to say, that I gained full command of the English language and completed two years of college  at the University of Texas.  In the afternoon I taught Hebrew and Jewish History at a Temple School and was able to cover my expenses and even save some money, after working during summer vacation, as a  'Unite Leader' at Camp Young Judea". Since I was also giving  privet Hebrew lessons, I was able to save enough money, to visit my family and friends in Israel, during Summer vacation (with a stop in Europe)

London, England

"Dear Anne 

   I stepped off the train in London, umbrella in hand, walking outside the Terminal and was extremely disappointed: "It Was Not Raining!  The sky was blue and the sun was shining bright... For a moment        I was wondering if I made a mistake and instead of taking the train to London, I took one to Rome...        In the books and the movies, London was supposed to have Gray clouds and a constant 'Poring rain'     and the streets crowded with people, holding black Umbrellas above their heads... When I expressed     my disappointment to the owner of the small Bed and Breakfast hotel, where I was staying, she put her finger on her lips and said:"Hush Lassie, let's count our blessings, the rain will come back soon enough  Don't worry dear, I promise you will see plenty of it, so let's enjoy the sun..."

London Taxis

London's Umbrellas

  How lovely this city is! I find my way by looking at a small map, then walk for a while, before taking a bus   get to the London Underground, in order to arrive to   my destination. At times I splurge and take one of the Taxis, which looks like those I have seen in the black   and white movies, about the second World War... So     far I visited the National Gallery, the British Museum and went to see Hyde Park,Trafalgar Square the famous 'London Bridge' and the 'Tower of London',  the place where Henry the VIII, executed his many wives...

Big Ben and me

The British Museum

   Covent Gardens seemed exactly as I remembered from the movie My Fair Lady... I was excited to visit the "House of Parliament" and became nostalgic, when I heard 'Big Ben' chiming the same melody which our 'Grandfather clock' did which I heard my entire life at my parents Home... I enjoyed every moment, in spite of the blister on my left foot,which was the result of running around London, wearing 'High heels'...

The Tower of London

Westminster Abbey

    I have always believed that when visiting a new country, the most impotent thing, is getting to know get    to know the People... One of them is my sweet landlady  who helped me "Nurse my blisters", by soaking my foot  in warm water... Every Afternoon, we would have our TEA, served in delicate antique china set, which used to be her grandmother's...The tea is served with delicious pastries, named Scones and Crumpets, covered with butter and dripping with home made Raspberry Jam... I named the pastries "Stones and Trumpets", which made my landlady roar with laughter.... After saying that I fear I have gained several "'stones" (pounds) of my own because of these daily Tea parties, my land lady laughed and assured me that I have nothing to worry about, since I have a "Lovely Figure!"..."You don't want to look like our model Twiggy, who looks like a 'Broom stick', do you Lassie?" She asked. "No!" I said and helped myself to another "Trumpet"... The British are so polite! When I stop people on the street to ask for directions, they patiently direct me   to my destination and then say:"Thank you"... At one point, when I asked a good looking police officer how to get to Buckingham Palace, he smiled, gave me directions, thanked me, with his charming British accent and said: "Are you invited there for Tea?" "I wish!" I answered smiling and was rewarded with a great laugh... 
Yours, Shira"

Holland
"Dear Anne
  I started my second tour of Europe, holding a book called 'See Europe in five dollars a day', as well      as  the 'Eurail Pass', which is a Train ticket, similar to the Greyhound bus tour, Tsipi and I took before in the U.S.A...This pass enables 'poor students' like me, to travel all over Europe by train, up to three months  for a minimal fee, as long as we don't visit the same country more the once... (Kind of strange isn't it?)

Holland's windmills
and tulips

   How lovely Holland is, with its colorful tulips, picturesque Windmills and bridges on which lovers lean on... The Tourist Agency at the train station, was filled up with many travelers like me, who lived on a small budget... Since it ran out of affordable hotels, I was offered a room in a private home, suitable for students pocket... I was delighted! "It would be so much fun, to stay at the home of a local Dutch family and experience living in this country, the way the residents did, what great way to do so!

  Charles, a twenty-five years old psychology graduate, from Mississippi, with a short, black goatee, took  a room in the same house... He rescued me, from the 'hot pursuit' of an Arab student from Syria, who was refusing to leave me alone, even after I told him that I am a Sargent in the Israeli army , making me his enemy... Charles and I took a streetcar to the apartment of a widowed, middle aged Dutch woman, whose Jewish husband, was a concentration camp survivor and passed away, two years earlier... We spent two days getting to know some parts of this beautiful city, taking bus tours, sample food in local restaurants went dancing and Charles (not me) was falling in love.... "Please come with me to Paris!" He urged me  but I didn't care for him that much, besides I have seen Paris before and there were so many more cities  to discover in Europe and such a short time to do so!

By the Canal
in Amsterdam

   The day after Charles left, I took a tour on one of the canals,where I met two American    guys; Richard and Josh... Both showered me with attention and seemed to compete with one another, who would please me more!  We shared a similar sense of humor (light and  a bit cynical)... Like me, they loved to laugh and after several hours on the boat, the three of us became close friends! We were walking together on the sidewalks, with me in the middle and our hands wrapped around each other's waist...I waned to see the 'Red-Light District', but they insisted it was not a place for me! We were sitting at small sidewalk Cafes, looking at the people, who walked by and were trying to guess their Nationality and Occupation... After a while we resumed walking, singing and giggling... People turned their heads to look at the happy 'Threesome', who seemed to be 'Drunk on Life'. Some would turn their heads to look at us again, probably wondering about the connection between us..."Were we friends  family or maybe some kind of a strange small romance for three?"... I don't think we knew what it was either, nor did we really care... My two 'Knights', told me they were leaving for Spain the following day    in a rented car and begged me to join them, but I declined... "Sorry, but I have already made plans to     see Brussels and Rome... They tried to convince me to change my plans, but although I was tempted      my Intuition told me it may lead to 'Complications'... It would be best to save this 'Beautiful Encounter'    in my Memory Bank just as it was: Unusual, Sweet, Pure and Full with Joy, Laughter and 'Innocent      Love,  Just like it used to be when we were in Kindergarten, so many years ago...

   The day after they left, I took a bus tour, from Amsterdam to the countryside. At one of the stops I began a conversation with three American officers, stationed in Germany: Terry, Jerry and John. When we got back on the bus, John sat next to me... We didn't talk much, he was a bit shy and I liked it...The two of us were looking through the window at the 'Moving Tapestry' of colorful Tulips and Windmills.John was tall and handsome, his blond crew cut was shining in the sun, like a golden field of wheat, which was just harvested... I had a strange urge to move my fingers through his hair, but wouldn't dare doing so...

John and I

  John did not try to impress me, nor did he put his arm around me on the bus, or later as we were walking... He was very gentle, sweet and attentive; so different from some of the aggressive"Pawing" men, I have met on my trips... We spent three beautiful days together In one of the Nightclubs, where we danced; the band was teasing us by playing "Love is   a many splendor things'."If they only knew we have just met the day before"I whispered  in John's ear...The people at the club were looking at us with tender smiles.. We must have made a lovely picture: 'John's hair was short and very light  and mine dark, reaching my shoulders... The two of us were tall, good looking and seemed to be madly in love; which in a crazy way, we were...I put my head on his shoulder, feeling the softness of his maroon sweater on my cheek while he rested his chin on my hair... 'If only this never ends, if we could just stay like this, Frozen In Time, with out a future or any expectations from one another..." I was wondering: was he?

Anne Frank's house

  The next day we went to visit Anne Frank's House, the home of my"dear old      friend" I have been writing to in my diary, for so many years.. Can you  see  from wherever you are, the long line of people, who came from all  over the world, who read your diary and come to see the place, where you hid were  hiding during the war? I wish you could see all these people, standing in the long line, waiting to get into the Home they know so well, after reading your dairy... I believe that not even one of them, has the special bond, you and I      were sharing for so many years... It was time to take the train to Belgium     John asked if he could join me but I refused... Unlike Charles, he didn't push and I loved him for that        I felt that the beauty of what we created, was in the moments we spent together... Why should we risk ruining it? John came with me to the train station and before I was boarding, he carefully brushed a      aside a strand of hair, which covered my eye, then kissed my forehead : "You are so beautiful" He whispered,"I'll miss you a lot!" and his gentleness made me feel like crying...
Yours, Shira"

Rome, Italy
"Dear Anne

Carla and me

   On the train to Rome I set across a vivacious Italian woman, named Augusta and her twenty years old niece Carla. Their English was limited, but somehow, we were able to converse...They laughed uproariously when I told Augusta she reminds me of Anna Maniani, the famous Italian movie star. "Every one say like this!"Augusta told me in her broken English."Now you talk who Carla look? Maybe Sofia Loren?" "No" I answered, "Sofia Loren is big, Carla is very little, she looks more like Gina Lollobrigida"! "You know names the actors Italiano? I know all actors Americanos! You Chira look same sister with Eva Gardner!"(I wish!) We became fast friends and they insisted I share the lunch they brought with them on the train...

Anna Maniani	Sophia Loren	Gina Lollobrigida	Ava Gardner

  Before we got off the train, I gave them the name of my hotel and the very same evening, they came        to take me to their apartment for dinner... There I met several young men and women, who were invited    to come and meet me... I was received by everyone as if I was a long lost relative! My new friends took   me to see several 'places of interest' in the city; among them one of the most fashionable streets: The    Via Veneto, the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps and many other well known Tourist Attractions...

  

The Spanish Steps

The Colosseum

  I made my new friends promise, to come to Israel  so I could reciprocate their generous and lovely hospitality! After three days in Rome, they insisted on coming with me to the 'Stazione Di Treni', where I would take the train for Naples... We parted with kisses, hugs, tears and promises to visit each other                             
                                              

"Dear Anne,
    A young man wearing a suit, was sitting by himself , when I entered one of the small compartments of First Class. (I decided to splurge and sit in one, before my trip came to an end) 'Prego! Prego!' He said when I asked his permission to sit across from him. He lifted my heavy suitcase and placed it on the rack above my seat.  His name was Paulo, a lawyer traveling from Rome to Naples on business. His English was perfect, since he studied International Law in England. He Paulo invited me to dine with him at the train's restaurant, ordering a bottle of Italian wine, to have with our pasta. I told him I was not used to alcohol not even to wine, but he convinced me to try, promising the wine he ordered is very mild. After several sips I started to feel a bit intoxicated... On the way back to our cabin, I had to hold on to the  Handrails of the narrow corridor, to prevent myself from falling... "I think I am drunk," I said, trying      to  adjust myself to the movements of the train. Paulo couldn't stop laughed."But this wine is like water Chira! XYou didn't even have one full cup!" We were talking and laughing during the time it took us to   get to Naples. When we arrived to the outskirts of the city, Paulo became very serious. He stood up, put on his jacket, cleared his throat and said: "I never felt this way before Chira!  I think you are the most beautiful, interesting, intelligent and fascinating woman I have ever met! Will you marry me, my angel from the Holy Land?"  To my surprise, he seemed genuinely offended when I started to laugh... "You are    kidding aren't you?" I said and to my astonishment , I saw tears coming to his eyes."I am not kidding! I fell in love with you right away, when I met you! don't you believe me? I know it is too fast, but you are leaving to go back to Israel, I don't want to loos you! Please say yes, I promise to make you very happy!"   I honestly don't know if this was the wine, a typical Italian Melodrama or he really meant it...

Yours, Shira"

Naples and Brindisi, Italy

 "Dear Anne,

Naples

There is a saying: "See Naples and Die!" I read somewhere that it was a warning

for travelers, regarding a deadly Cholera epidemic in Naples in 1880's... Personally I believe that what it realy means:"You should see Naples Before you die!" Since it's beauty takes people breath away! I had incredible three days in this beautiful city meeting lovely people, touring, dining in local restaurant and going to dance the 'Twist' with these 'New Friends',  from one nightclub to another...On the fourth day   I left for the port of Brindisi, to board the Greek ship which would take me back home to Israel...  I was standing on the deck, waving goodbye to the new friends       I met in Naples, who insisted on driving me to the ship... We were all wiping our tears at the same time... As the ship began to move from the port to the open sea ,I was wondering if I will soon get married, like the rest of my friends, have kids and will never travel by myself again ..."At least I was able to see 'some of the world' and had lot's of fun before settling down""  I tried to comfort myself 

Port of Brindisi

   Is coming back to Israel would make a stop to my need to wander in foreign cities, listen to sounds of  strange languages and ethnic melodies, enjoy the new flavor of unfamiliar food and smell the unique aroma, which each new country seemed to have? Is it all over now? What about Spain  Scandinavia and Russia What about Africa? the Far East and China? Would I never be able to see the Cherry Blossoms and the Pagodas of Japan? How about  or Hawaii, Australia an Zealand, Brazil, India, Argentina and the Amazon river? There is so much more I would like to see...Is coming back to Israel the end of my traveling?Am   I going to get married and have babies, just like everyone else? Would this trip the last, one before I settle down, get married and have kids, like all my friends? Would it finally satisfy my thirst and desire to see the world ? Only the future could tell...

Yours, Shira"

On the way to Israel
"Dear Anne,

The Parthenon

   I am sharing a cabin, with an Israeli young woman about my age. Yesterday we stopped in Athens and I was able to visit the Parthenon! I am reflecting on this last European trip and remember how I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the short and unfinished  Romances... I think about the 'strangers' I met on the River Cruises and the people in London, Brussels, Rome and Naples... All the men and women who were complete strangers, whom I learned to care for and love, in such a short time... The intimacy and especially the pain of separation, were so intense and surreal, it was almost out of this world!  and maybe it was... How do I love all those innocent and short "Love affairs" which have no Past and no Future; just the pure moment of the Present, the Now! Yours, Shira"

Los Angeles, CA, USA
2017
  How could I have known then, that throughout the years, I would visit again, with my American husband Al, most of the places I feared I will never see: Ireland, Scotland and the Scandinavian countries, Russia, Mexico, South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, in addition to a few countries in the Far East... As I am reading now (so many years later) the faded wards in my old diary, l can see all of this through the lenses of my new Spiritual Understanding and knowledge, that the"Strangers" I met were   not strangers at all... I believe that we are learning to loved and recognized each other, because we shared our past lives together! It could explain the magical sensation, intense moments and pure love, we felt when we met each other, as well as the pain of saying good-by...Maybe there is more than a grain of truth the encounter felt as if they were "Out of this world". Because they probably were...

With Love and Light,
Shira

Houston, Texas . XX V, OO

Hello everyone,

   The time in Syracuse passed very fast and before realizing, I had to leave for Texas...It was sad and my eyes teared, when the time came to say goodby... Some of the little kids clung to me and cried, asking that I stay forever... I promised to keep in touch and try very hard, to come back for a visit during my summer vacation... Unfortunately, I lost my Instamatic Camera with all the photos I took in Syracuse.It broke my heart, to realized I will not be able to share with my father's family in Israel, the photos of these newly discovered relatives, whom I I learned to love so much... All I could do was to engraved their image on the walls of my heart as a safe keep, where they will stay forever...

    I arrived to Texas, in time to begin my Freshman Year at the University of Houston and teach at the Temple's Hebrew school, just in time for the holiday of 'Rosh-Hoshana', the Jewish New Year... The school was a small part of an enormous contemporary, magnificent building, made out of marble, glass  and imported Jerusalem Stone... The synagogue was very large, with upholstered chairs and thick carpets  which I have never seen in the humble, small Synagogues in Israel... "No wonder synagogues are called 'Temples' in the U.S"... I told myself. How different this school was from the one I taught in the slams of Jaffa in Israel, where my pupils were the sons and daughters of large families, whos fathers or brothers were spending time in jail for petty or serious crimes... How clean, well-behaved and disciplined, the school kids in Houston were and so privileged, without even realizing it! I found myself enjoying the Reform Jewish Movement and it's liberal outlook of the Jewish religion... "If we had such a choice in Israel, instead of the Old, Archaic and Fanatic Orthodox Synagogues, where women and men are not allowed to sit next to each another, maybe my friends and, I would not become Atheists !" and I prayed that one day, Conservative and Reform Judaism, would be available in Israel as well!

 A freshman at the
University of Houston

   The school principal arranged for me to live in a rented room, at the home of   an old motherly woman,whose husband used to be a conservative Rabbi, before   having a stroke... The poor man was shuffling around the house, mumbling to himself... Since he was told that I just came from Israel, he kept on asking me     if the Messiah already arrived... "No, Rabbi" I answered, as if I was talking to     a child "The Messiah didn't come yet, but the moment he does,I promise to tell you!" Fortunately, I spent very little time in the house,since I was busy studying  at the university during the day and in the afternoon was teaching Hebrew and Jewish studies at a temple school, one hour away... I was also giving private Hebrew lessons and preparing "My homework", for my university at night...

 Rambler

   The Hebrew school's administration, offered me a lone( which would be will    be deducted from my celery) in order to buy a used a car... I bought a used car from an Israeli student, who graduated and was going back to Israel, for 'four hundred dollars'... It was a big gray old Rambler, in good condition, which reminded me of a massive, strong Tanks in Israel. "Can you believe it?!" I      wrote to my  family and friends in Israel" I have been in the United states              for such a short time      such a short time and I already have a car!"  This is America for you... 
 
   Tsipi arrived in time for her winter semester, at a small Junior college...The two of us were able to find   a one-bedroom apartment, on the second floor of two stories building, which had a swimming pool! We bought used furniture and an old television (which was not yet available in Israel yet) and  immediately met the few other Israeli students in Houston (all guys) Our small apartment became a gathering place where our gusts sat on the rickety, second hand sofa old chairs and pillows which we spread on the floor. We were talking, arguing, telling jokes, laughing out loud, eating "Hot dogs" and "Chips"(french fries)  and 'getting drunk' on Coca Cola... At times, we would sing Hebrew songs, with our friend David, who was playing his harmonica... We became a small family; the old timers taught us 'the ropes' and we all helped each other if  and when ever help was needed... We couldn't believe our luck!

Celebrating the
Seder on Passover

University of
Houston

   Tsipi and I became friendly with several American students from our schools and created a new group of    English-speaking students, who gathered at our place         as well... Howard, would play"Spiritual melodies" on      his guitar, teaching us songs of the black slave,who were yearning for freedom.We sang"Let My People Go" "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "I am on my way, to the Promised Land..."  Several families from the Jewish congregation "Adopted" us and we were often invited for Friday night dinners at their large, spacious homes which judging by Israeli standards, seemed to be like 'Miniature Palaces'... Because of lack of time (and money) these visits would often be the only hot meals we had that week... For the important Jewish holidays, like Passover and Rosh Hashana, we were invited to the home of the Israeli Consul and his family's at their beautiful home home and were happy to speak Hebrew again 

A jazz club
in New Orleans

Tsipi and I at
the oil refineries

    Zippi and I were Free! Free to do whatever we wanted...      We didn't have to report to anyone and were free from our parents' worries and nagging... In those days, a transatlantic phone call was so expensive, neither us, nor our families in Israel were able to afford...The thin blue Airmail letters, we sent back and fourth, would sometimes take about a month    to arrive... On the weekends,Tsipi and I traveled in the old 'Rambler' (my second hand car) outside of Huston, with two American brothers, she met in her school... We drove to other states,visiting cities like New Orleans, where we became intoxicated on Mint Juleps and Jazz...The greatest sensation of freedom came when we realized, that no matter how far we drove,we did not have      to worry about crossing a border, with hostile neighboring countries, or ("God farbid") step on a mine!

    At times, we were invited to the home of our professors, to celebrate Thanksgivings, as well as the 4th of July, Labor day, Christmas and Easter, which was very exciting, since we did not have these holidays in Israel... How magical it was to be introduced to new holidays, even though we felt a bit guilty, for ejoying these"Non Jewish Holidays"...Tsipi and I went on date, with guys we met in school or were introduced to by our Israeli "brothers" and the new "adopted" families... However, neither of us found the one who can  make our heart beat faster and sweep us off our feet... This longing and yearning to be in love, to finally meet our right partner, our "Bashert" (Yiddish for the 'destined one') were the only sadness we felt, during these amazing two years in Texas...

   Since we were very busy with our hectic schedules, we had no time to read newspapers, or watch the news on television and didn't realize, that big political changes, were taking place in the U.S; especially   in our own back yard!  Therefor, it came as a shock to notice the deep prejudice against blacks in Texas... Just before Passover, I asked my students to go to the public library and check out Uncle Tom's Cabin, the book my friends and I read in Israel, in its Hebrew translation, when we were eleven or twelve years old    I still remember how deeply moved I was, by the plight of the black slaves... The reason I wanted my students to read this book, was because the Passover holiday was arriving and we were studying in our bible class, how Moses liberated the Jewish slaves in Egypt and took them on a forty-years journey across the Sinai desert, which ended up in Canaan, our present day Israel... I believed that reading Uncle Tom's Cabin, would help the kids understand better, the pain of the black slaves in America, before the Civil  War and enable them, to relate better to our biblical ancestors, who were slaves in Egypt... I was hoping that the kids in my class, may become more aware of the pain and suffering, the 'blacks' in America,were  experiencing in the U.S , especially in the south...  I  was hoping that even though, my students were still young, these books may help them realize the important actions of the Civil Rights Movement, which took place  at the moment, during in their own country...the United States of America....

  The following week, I was stunned to hear by one of my students, that the librarian told her, she should not be reading such "Nasty books!" When I told the principal of the Hebrew school, how shocked I was and about my plan to go to the library and give the librarian a piece of my mind, he said;  "Don't even think about it Shira!" I was stunned..."Why not? how can we be silent, especially after the Jews were slaves in Egypt and in Hitler's hands!" X The principal looked deep in to my eyes and sternly said:  "Shira, America is not Germany! We the Jews in the South, are doing very well and plan to keep it          this way! X We don't need any problems here!" For the first time in my life I was speechless...

    A year and a half after our arrival in Texas, my mother came for a visit... Since Tsipi lost her mother  before she turned sixteen, my mom spread her motherly wings over her, like a "Surrogate mom". "It is time for the two of you to come back home, to Israel!" My mother was said "What are you two doing here all alone, without a family, with no one to take care of you or be by your side if you need help?! The two of you are getting older! It is time to return home, find nice Israeli guys and get married!"  Our protests, that we still have two more years to receive our BA, fell on deaf ears. "We have universities in Israel as well!" Came her motherly answer...

Our Greyhound bus

Central Greyhound
bus station

   Tsipi and I promised to come back home after the end of the school year... We didn't want to admit, even to ourselves, that we were starting to be home sick and miss our small country, our families and old friends... However, there was no way we were going back,with out  seeing more of the United States! our funds were limited, but we found out that for one hundred dollars we couldtravel for three months, all over the U.S on  'Greyhound bus'... So when the school year was over we got rid of our used furniture, I sold my car and with two pieces of luggage, Zipi and I went to the bus station, ready to begin our final new adventure: Discovering and getting to know more of "America!" 

With Love and Light,
Shira

America, America .V , XX (photo with the Uzi...)XOO

Hello everyone,

  In one of my previous posts The War of the Roses I have written about my movie library... I have been      the proud owner of 197 first-rate movies, many of which are Oscar winners... My library is arranged in 'Historical' order, starting with an A (A Quest for Fire) which describes Mankind's survival in the harsh world of 80,000 years ago (nea the end of the Ice Age). At times I use the names of the movies as titles for my posts (War of the Roses, European Vacation...) For this up coming post, I borrowed the name from the movie about a Greek Immigrant, who comes to America during the 19th century, a young man whose yearning for 'world opportunities', is combined with the same longing of other immigrants, who leave  their old countries, looking for opportunities to become successful in the new world... The name of the movie is: "America, America.."

Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean
July, 1962

"Dear Anne,

   I am standing on the deck of La France, crossing the Atlantic Ocean... Soon I'll be able to stand on American soil!  This "Floating City", is so big I often get lost in it... It is over 1000 feet long and holds 2000 passengers! There are Shops, Movie theaters, Art galleries, several Music Bends, magnificent Dining Rooms, perfect service, full days of activities like Swimming pools,X Tenis Courts, and several Bands for dancing....

La France

  The ship "Jerusalem", on which I have recently sailed from Haifa to Europe, seems now like a 'small fishing boat', compared with this one...  I smile as I remember, the 'Raft' we sailed on, from Israel to Cyprus when I was in high school (The Fun Years) which seemed to me then,   as if it was one of the Seven Wonders of the World... This ship 'La France' must be four times larger and it feels as if I am sailing in            a "Floating Palace"

   Every morning after a brisk walk, I sit on a reclining chair, wrapped with a soft, blue wool blanket, embossed with black and gold letters: S.S FRANCE...This dear old diary is open on  my lap, clouds are changing shapes above me and the strong wind, is nipping at my face as    I inhale and exhale the salty air... I have to admit, that being on a smaller ship is much more Intimate... It seems that the close connection, which develops between  passengers a smaller group of fellow travelers, is absent in this one...

  I've made some friends, with whom I go to see the shows, participate in the many activities and dance till the wee hours of the night, but for the past few day, I find myself a bit concerned, realizing that very soon this 'vacation' is coming to an end and an unknown chapter of my life, is about to be opened... In spite of my optimism and self confidence, I'm worried about the work in Texas and my ability to teach in English, which is still far from perfect... I am also concerned  that as an Atheist, I may have some difficulties with the required "Religious Curriculum" and   may feel as a 'fraud' when I teach it! Since today is the last day aboard this ship, I have only  a few moments left to scribble in this diary, before it is time to go through passport control... I  am glad to say that the self doubts, I expressed before begin to vanish, together with the morning mist, as the ship is getting closer to the  N.Y Harbor...

 

The Statue
of Liberty

   The excited passengers are leaning on the railings, staring with awe, at the small Statue of Liberty, which is getting bigger and larger,as the ship makes its way to the harbor... We stare with awe, at the Manhattan's sky scrapers, which begin to materialize and my old excitement of discovering new places, is waking up once again! I am getting ready to take my first steps on the soil of one more country, such a country! "The United States of America!" People all over the world  are dreaming about seeing it; and here I am! Once again, my dream about traveling the world, is being fulfilled and I can't wait to discover and explore this big, actually Giant Continent, the one which I read about, seen in movies and longed to see for so many years of my life...

Yours, Shira"

New York
July,

Dear Anne,

Greenwich Village

   Manhatten is amazing! In the few days I have been here, Lea took   me to see the Empire State Building, Radio City, the United Nations      Chinatown and Central Park, as well as amazing Art galleries and    the Museum of Art! We also went to see Macy's, a gigantic,well known department store, where one can get lost in... Lea began to laugh when I told her that this "Store, is about the size of one small 'Kibbutz' , in Israel (An agricultural settlement.) Two evenings ago, her husband Dan joined us after work and the three of us spread a blanket on the grass in Central Park, next to scores of people, who were, listening to  the folk  music, played by several small bands... At one point I was taken by my hosts to Greenwich Village, the place I promised myself in high school to live in one day and write a Masterpiece 

Central Park

   Right now, I am resting in the guest room of this homey apartment writing in my Diary... Today I walked by myself for many miles, falling in love with Manhattan! This city is not Paris, but it certainty has a magic of it's own... Right now I am nursing my blistered feet, raised high on two pillows. The breeze from the Hudson river,  blowing in through the open windows, makes the white curtains look like sails    of a boat, which makes me feel as if I am still traveling on the ocean...

   I realize that these few days, which I am going to spend in NY, are like drops in the ocean... In order to get to know this giant city, one has to live here for at least a year! I know that one day I will live here!  I have to stop writing now! Lea and Dan are taking me this evening for a visit in Chinatown, to introduce me to Chines food, which we don't have in Israel... I will be using chopsticks for the first time in my life! I hope I wouldn't hurt my hosts feelings, if I find shrimps and other strange creatures, disgusting... If I do, I will cover it with rice and hope  they wouldn't notice... I don't want to appear ungrateful, the two of them, have been such  nice hosts, aware that I am a 'poor student', with a limited amount of money.and so far wouldn't let me spend even a penny.... This is what I like about the Israelis: after all, I          am not even their relative or even a friend, just a friend of Tsipi, Lea's cousin and the             two of hem, are not so wealthy themselves; far away from it...

Yours, Shira"

Pennsylvania
August, 1962 

"Dear Anne,

   I am at my Pen-Pal Sherry's house, in Philadelphia! Although we have never met, we have seen each other in photos since we were thirteen years old, following each other's growth and changes through our letters...  Sherry's dad who is a photographer, enlarged some of our black and white photos and even colored some of them! People say that soon colored film  would replace the black and white in our cameras, just like the Technicolor movies!

Sherry's
House

  It was a very exciting moment when Sherry and I saw and recognized each other at the train station! We fell into each other's arms and started to laugh and cry, at the same time! Her parents were just as moved and excited... Sherry's family is not Jewish; she is an only child, who was adopted right after birth. They live in a two-story red brick house! I have never seen a red brick house before (maybe in the  movies) It is so quaint! Sherry and I are sleeping in a large room, with one bed    on top of the other... I have never seen such a bed before... 

The Liberty
Bell

  It's the first time I am going to stay as a guest in a Christian household and I am really looking forward, to experiencing a different way of life! I was curious to find out if Adopted children and their parents,interact the  same way biological families do... To my great disappointment I was not able to see any differences, except for bacon for breakfast, which I tasted for the first time in my life, just like the champagne I had in Germany...(European Vacation). Unlike the champagne though, I enjoyed the taste of the crunchy bacon right away and was not stricken down by any Jewish or the Vegetarian Gods!

Drive-In Movie

   Sherry has been taking me to the regular tourist destinations, of this famous historical city, where the Declaration of Independence was  signed, one hundred and eighty six years ago! We went to look at the   famous 'Cracked' Liberty Bell...  Sherry introduced me to some of her school friends and those from the youth group of her church... My sweat 'pan pall', took me to see a Drive-In movie, in a huge parking lot, where people stay seated in their cars, in front of a giant screen is watching movies! Sherry told me that not everyone comes to there to  watch movies and eat popcorn... The real reason they come, is to Neck in the back seat of the car... "Necking" - A new English word for my vocabulary...

    

Waitress in
roller skates

After the movie, I was taken to a place where the food is served to the people in their cars, by waitresses on skates!!  Sherry is begging me to stay in Philadelphia, live with her and enroll in her college, saying she finally feels that she has the sister she never had! I have to admit it is very tempting, but I was always a person of my word and she respects my commitment to the congregation in Houston. I expressed to Sherry my deep concerns about arriving in Huston, without knowing how to drive and was worried about getting from the university to the Hebrew school, which was at least thirty minutes ride, from one to the other... Sherry offered to teach me how to drive, the question was where to find a place, I wouldn't bump into anything or kill anyone, while learning. We finally came up with the idea that the best place would be in a Cemetery, where I wouldn't be able to kill anyone, since everyone there was already dead...

  We entered a Huge Cemetery, which was so unlike the small cemeteries in Israel...It seemed  in the U.S everything is big, even the size of the paths, leading to the Tombstones, are wide enough to drive a car! For the next ten days, Sherry took me there, where I sat behind the  wheel, almost knocking down a few Tombstones, while the two of us were shirking, screaming and laughing hysterically... On the eleventh day, instead of driving to the cemetery, Sherry took me in spite of my protests that I was not ready, to the nearest DMV to take my test. "Go for it, soldier!" She ordered me, when I said I don't think I am ready... "You can do it!" And      I did ... I now have a driver's licenses!  The days past way too fast and it was time to say good by... My next stop before moving on to Texas, was Syracuse New York, where some of my dad's cousins, whom  we have never met, lived... I parted from Sherry, her parents and new friends with hugs and tears, promising to meet again, got on the Train, moving on towards my next destination...

          Yours, Shira. 

Syracuse, New York
August, 1962

"Dear Anne,

   I am in Syracuse! What an amazing experience it is, to discover and get to know the new  members of my family! I'll never forget the reception at the train station in Syracuse! Older and younger cousins, all smiling and shoving each other, to get a close look at me and give me a hug! When things calmed down a bit, I was told that I am going to stay at Aunt Rose's place and we drove there in what seemed to be a long caravan of five cars...

  What a lovely two-story older house, my father's cousin Rose lives in... It reminded me of   picture I saw in one of my favorite books;"Little Women". We sat down for a sumptuous  dinner at a table laden with so much food, it seemed as if we were at a wedding in Israel! Later, I found myself sitting in the center of an old fashioned maroon sofa, from which Aunt Rose removed a plastic cover... It seemed there were twenty five people around me,including several teenagers and younger kids of three, five, seven and ten, as well as a few babes in arms... Aunt Rose,who is the eldest of the family, was the"Spokeswoman". She talked about our family connection and was showing me Albums with photos of the relatives...

 "Our mother Bella, may she rest in peace, was the sister of your Grandpa Eliyahu, may he rest in peace... He left Russia for Israel and after a while, the rest of the family came to live in America... All of then except my poor father David, may he rest in peace, who died five years before. My sisters and I, are the first cousins of your father Max, his brother Aron and your three aunts; Shoshana, Lea and Rachel. My two sisters here, are also named Lea and Rose, as you know now, my name is also Rose, which in Hebrew is Shoshana, the same name as your older aunt... She and I were named after our grandmother and my sisters Lea and Rachel you have just met, have the same names as their cousins, your aunts in Israel... We were all named after ourX  family members..." 

  UP

    I was introduced to spouses, children and grandchildren... The three sisters had one brother named Joseph, who passed away, but his wife Sonia ,with her sons and grandchildren, came to meet me... By    the time my new relatives finished telling me their names, I was completely confused...  Everyone was grabbing the photographs I brought from Israel, chatting excitedly and pointing out the resemblance between our family members... I noticed that many of the adults, as well as the children in the room, had eyes which were slightly slanted, in different shades of hazel, just like mine, my brother's, my dad's  and some of our cousins in Israel... My new family members, insisted that Carol, Lea's granddaughter and I look alike! I have to admit that even I could see the resemblance... The poor kid was very embarrassed by the sudden attention and was trying to hide behind her mother."Wow Carol"  I winked at her, "Aren't the two of us lucky to be so beautiful?!" She blushed and gave me a shy smile, while every one cheered and clapped their hands! How fascinating it was, to find out I look like someone I didn't even know about! In the corner of the room, on a big curved, upholstered armchair, sat a very old man, who was watching us and looking at me with a sweet toothless smile... This man, who was ninety three years old, was uncle Abe the father of the one who sent the tickets, to bring the family from Russia to America... "If it wasn't for him, we will not be here today! All of us would be destroyed by the Nazis!" A blond kid about thirteen stood up and said: "If it wasn't for uncle Abe, the Nazis would turn us into Bars of Soap!" He was pulled back to the chair by his irate father, while everyone was shushing and hushing him, pointing at the younger children, who started to giggle..."But we learned this in Hebrew school!" The kid protested...

   What a lively, warm and loving gathering this was! Everyone was talking together, sharing and arguing, while munching on sandwiches, salads, cold cuts, hot dogs and homemade  cookies and cakes... They were asking, answering and laughing uproariously, when I kept on mixing up their names... Suddenly someone noticed that it was very late and they all began to stand up reluctantly... An argument started, about who is going to show me around ,on the following day... After hugging, kissing and welcoming me again and again to the family, they formed a line and each one took a turn, kissing uncle Abe, including the small children... This sweet old man, was placing his hand on the children and babies heads, looking with pleasure at the three generations he saved, which were now gathering in the room, thanks of him...

   Every day, I was driven to another place of interest... Five of my teenage second cousins (rather third) took me to an Amusement Park, where we went on rides, such as I have never experienced before! We had a great time and they couldn't get enough of my stories about my years in the Israeli Army... After seeing my photo with the Uzi, (my sub X muchin gun.) They wanted to know, what kind of gun it was and why didn't I bring it along with me, to the U.S... In spite of my strong protests, their mothers insisted on taking me shopping for clothes.When   I visited their homes, the young children wanted me to play in their rooms with the toys  I have never seen in Israel... I was delighted to regress, kick off my shoes, lie down on the "Wall to Wall" carpet (another 'wonder' we did not have in my country) and play with my adorable little cousins... I tried to each them games, which children play in Israel and a few songs in Hebrew...

Yours, Shira"

European Vacation . .XX. 00

Hello everyone

   I was twelve years old, when I read The Diary of Anne Frank... For several days I was walking in a daze and finally went into 'Jacob's Stationary Store, near our school, bought a thick hard-bound notebook and began to write my very own dairy; addressing it to 'Anne Frank' or actually' to her spirit...

Anne Frank	Anne's diary	Shira Cohen	Shira's diary

    I told her how much I admire her courage and writing abilities' and since I am also a Jewish girl about the same age she was, when she started to write her diary, I decided to write a dairy like she did, sharing the typical life of a twelve years old girl, who was born and raised in Israel... In my writing to Ann or rather to her spirit... I described my small dramas (which seemed very big) telling her about my family  and the friends from my neighborhood and school... I wrote about my feelings of Excitements and Joy Sadness, Anger and Frustrations with  'Life's Unfairness, my dreams for the future and the new budding emotions of love, which bloomed and withered in a speed of falling stars...When I was sad and closed my eyes, it felt as if Ann was Gently drying my tears and helps me overcome my 'Growing Pains'... She was  becoming my most Intimate and most comforting friend!  Years later Ann would 'Travel with me', on my first European trip... Ann became my closest companion and years later, was by my side when I boarded the ship to the USA.  I am going to share with you, dear readers, some of the pages in my diary,which is  now an old notebook,very old, with pages which are  bit yellow, like falling leaves in the Atum..X

1962

   "Well here I am on the Cruise Ship"Jerusalem"! A twenty one years young women, on her first Cruise to Europe; a trip she planned and visualized for so many years! Until now I have lived on a very "Strict Diet" of 'Casual Dates', avoiding men I may fall in love with; which would prevent me from achieving my dreams... After two years in the military,wearing 'X Ka  "x Kaki" Uniforms'; I am now wearing cloths with 'Rainbow Colors'! Since there is no danger of  falling into the 'Marriage Trap', during such a short trip; I am ready to play! I met a few 'Interesting Young Men', with whom I dance and 'Flirt'', among them 'Marcus, who is on is returning to his home in Switzerland, after a vacation in Israel with his parents, sister and their car... Marcus has been following me everywhere on the ship and when I told him that  Switzerland was one of  my destinations, he offered to take a few days off to show me around! How could I resist such an opportunity? I took his Phone Number...  Yours, Shira" 

          Germany

Besides Marcus, I met  on the ship a 'Middle aged couple', returning from vacation in Israel with  their car... They invited me to join them on their trip to Munich, and I was happy to except... We found out they live just a few streets away, from my mom's second cousin, with whom I was going to stay for awhile...  The three of us began our long drive, from the Italian port of Genoa, stopping overnight in a small, charming hotel... I was looking through the window; taking in the magnificent European landscape, especially the Dark Green Forests     I have never seen in Israel... The lush woods seemed very familiar, maybe because of the books I devoured as a child... I remember the stories about "Hansel and Gretel, the two kids who got lost in a Forest and met a 'Wicked Witch'... I must admit that when we crossed the border to Germany,  I had a few moments of 'Anxiety', when a tall Border Police officer, in Uniform came to check our Passports... It made me think of the the stories I read and heard  besides several  few movies, about the Nazis arresting people at the Boarder, during the second world war and felt 'Uncomfortable'... My new friends Clara and Mark, told me that many of the Israelis, feel this way as they enter Germany for the first time; even though many years past by since the X Holycast..."xYou will get used to it!" They assured me. After several  hours on the road, we finally arrived to my mother's cousins condominium, in a High Rise Building, in a suburb of Munich.. I thanked my new friends, exchanged phone numbers and took the elevator up to the Ninth Floor... Where my new hosts, my mothers cousin Sara and  her husband Bernie lived... Yours Shira

       

 

Sight seeing

    Sara and Bernie received me with open arms and took me to see        the"Most interesting places" in and around this lovely city... we dined      in 'Fancy' Restaurants, visited Museums, attended Concerts and met         a few of their friends... Bernie introduced me to Helmut, a pleasant      polite, thirty-two years old Textile Engineer, who 'Fell in love' with        me, after two dates and asked me to marry him and stay in Germany       It  was 'Weird' to go out with someone 'So Old' (and German...) but Helmut turned out to be an intelligent and sensitive man, with a great sense of humor, who took me out to see the city and introduced me to                                         several of his friends ... 

With Helmut

   Helmut couldn't understand, why I would not have a drink at the Night Clubs we visited...X"Israelis and alcohol don't mix!" I tried to explain."We were brought up to avoid Alcohol, except for a sip of wine on Friday night and some of the Jewish holidays and ceremonies..."Maybe the Israelis don't drink because we must be Alert at all times, in order to protect our little country in case of a War!" I said to my new friend, who seemed to accept  my 'explanation' and was sipping his drink by himself, while I was enjoying lemonade, looking around and 'Taking In' the unfamiliar scene of the Night Club; where I was looking around with eyes full of excitement and wonder...

    "Dear Anne

   A few nights ago, Helmut took me to an exclusive Night Club...  When the waiter was about to pour        the champagne for me, I covered the glass with my hand... Helmut became a bit Annoyed, which was a surprise; so I agreed to take a Sip and  had another surprise; I liked it! The two of us,were seeing each other almost every night  and this was the first time I have seen him Annoyed... x״A zip of champagne Vill not kill an Uzi shooting zolder like you!״ He said in his German accent; x" You don't have to protect your country right zis minute! How can you be a 'Voman of zhe Vorld, if you never tasted Champagne?!"  O.k  I'll try it!״ I said... The truth was that I was ״Dying״ to find out what Champagne tastes like, but didn't want to admit it... I have read and seen several movies about this 'Nectar' (Gigi one of them) and was extremely curious, so I let Helmut 'convince' me...  My first reaction when I tasted it, was that of a big disappointment!"I don't see what is the Big Deal about Champagne!" I said as I emptied my third glass  "It tastes just like lemonade!" I found out the difference when we were ready to leave and I was unable    to stand up or walk straight... Helmut who was 'Laughing his head off ', supported (almost lifting me)     on the way to his car. When he opened the door, I took one step forward and 'Threw Up' all over the seat...   I don't remember much from that moment on, except that I woke up the next morning at Sara     and Bernie's place, suffering from the worst pounding Headache I have ever had!

"Dear Anne

     Sara and Bernie were very amused by my reaction to the Champagne... I heard them laughing out    loud, when they spoke on the phone with their friend, who came to see me in the afternoon, after I refused to answer his calls, since I was very embarrassed... I finally agreed to come out of my room, after covering my head and face with a pillow case...X "Don't be zilly!" Helmot was laughing, removing the pillow case "In Chermany, everyvon trinks too much and trows up! My car is 'vashed and clean and I vill pick you  up tonight at zeven O'clock!" X He said. "Are you sure you still want to marry me after this?" X I asked him and he began to laugh:"Even more zen before libling! I can't vait to see you again pretty girl"...

"Not for Jews"

   Sara and Bernie owned an apartment in Italy, in a small beach.  town called Milano Maritime, where they used to spend a part of their summer vacation... As much as I enjoyed myself, I realized that I was happy to leave Germany behind... I couldn't stop thinking of the evil which took place in this country and found myself looking at all the older men in the streets, wondering if they were involved in the horrors of the Nazi Regime... One day, as I was walking with Sara and Bernie in a lovely park, lined with trees and flower beds, I saw a woman,who who sitting on one of a benches, warming herself in the sun,,, I couldn't stop thinking that this might be one of those benches, which during the war had a warning; "No Jews allowed"

 

    up XX

Italy

   Dear Anne,

"Dear Anne,

    Milano Maritima is a disappointment... It is a beach town, just like many we have   in Israel... After two days I began to feel bored and restless, wondering if I should leave for Switzerland earlier then I had planned...The three of us were sitting in a an Outdoor Cafe when a very pleasant looking man, approached our table and politely asked me something in Italian... Bernie, who speaks Italiamn, told me after talking for a while with the young man, that 'Luca' became curious, when he heard me talk talk to Sara in Hebrew and was wondering, which language it was..."What a great excuse!" Sara told me in Hebrew winking... Luca introduced himself as a student of economics, at the university of Bologna, who was spending his summer vacation at home. Upon hearing that I am a tourist from Israel, he asked if he may show his hospitality, by driving me around and asked if there was anything special I wanted to see "How about Venice?!" I said immediately, a bit too fast... Luca smiled at my enthusiasm and said some thing in Italian, which sounded like: "I am at your service"...  "Bernie, please tell him this will truly make me very happy!" I said looking into Luca's eyes and smiling one of my most beautiful smiles, holding my hands on my heart to express my gratitude...

"Dear Anne,
  Luca speaks Italian and French only, which made the conversation between us practically impossible... We drove to Venice in his small red car, trying to communicate by using the  small English- Italian dictionary, he brought with him and a bit of 'Pantomime'... It took       us about two hours to arrive to Venice, a city which immediately took my breath away!    Luca was very respectful, a true gentleman! The two of us were walking in this enchanting city, holding hands... We didn't really need words! I was amazed at the feelings of comfort  and total peace we were sharing... At times, if we wanted to communicate something important, Luca would stop one of the people who walked by, asking if they spoke          English and those who did, helped us understand each other and seemed to enjoy            being a part of our 'Silent Romance'...

Luca and I	By a canal in Venice	San Marco Square

   The night after we came back, Luca receiving my 'Hosts Agreement' to take me to a party   at his cousin's apartment... I couldn't wait to tell my Israeli friends about this Italian party... Most of the people were around our age and everyone was very nice and hospitable...They wanted to know more about Israel and were paying me attention and complement ('Bella, Belisema!') Dominic, one of Luca's friends who spoke English, helped us find out what we were unable to learn about each other...This 'Interlude' with Luca, has been one of  the most 'Innocent Romantic Adventure, I have ever had... The two of us were holding hands and were looking into each other's eyes... Maybe when there is no barrier of language, the souls' take over the need for words... Dominic was watching us, looking with awe at  what seemed to be   special 'Spiritual Connection', which rarely happens in people's lifetime... (if at all) and I could tell he was jealous...
Yours, Shira                                                       

 

 Bernie and Sara were genuinely sorry to see me leave... I once heard her telling a friend in German (which I started to understand) how happy she was about my visit and that I fill her heart with Gladness... There were tears in our eyes when we finally said goodbye, promising to keep in touch forever! Luca drove me to the Train Station, where I would take the train to Switzerland. It was very sad to say goodbye, knowing we will never meet again... He took my hand and brought it to his lips, then looked into my eyes and said in English, 'I love you.' I wiped a tear and for the first time kissed him lightly on the lips and I was watching him through the window of the moving train, standing on the platform waving to me, until he disappeared... 

Yours, Shira"

Switzerland

"Dear Anne,

    Marcus, who evidently received the telegram about my arrival, was waiting for me at the Zurich train station... It was Friday night and he insisted I come to his parents house for the Friday Night Dinner, before I go to the small hotel I was going to stay... The house seemed to me like a small palace; There was marble everywhere, huge circular staircase, gilded mirrors on the walls and crystal chandeliers... His parents, sister and grandparents who welcomed me and were warm and kind, were trying their best to make me feel comfortable... When we set at the dining room table, his mother recited the Hebrew prayer as she lit the candles, his father blessed over the wine and Marcus said the blessing over the Chalah (the Sabbath bread) My Israeli friends   and I were "Anti-Religion", which meant we did not like to be Forced in to celebrating some  of the Jewish Holidays ... So I was surprised to find myself 'Moved', by the ceremony and was amazed to see that our Tradition is still 'alive', in Jewish homes all over the world...

One of
Switzerland's lakes

Snow-capped
mountains

  Each morning, Marcus would pick me up at my small hotel and we would drive in his sport's car to a different destination... It was amazing to see how clean, almost manicured, Switzerland was  and how lovely were the lakes and the snow capped mountains... Marcus looked at me with great pleasure, every time I expressed my joy at the sight of something new... He said that my love of life and enthusiastic curiosity, were contagious and it was making him see all the places he took for granted all over again... It was clear that Marcus was falling in love! Two days before I was going to leave, he asked me to cancel my trip and stay in Switzerland..."My family is in love  with with you, just like I am!" He said. "I told them I am going to ask you to stay! How about it Shira? Please stay, get to know Switzerland and after we know each other better, I would like you to be my wife!" I told Marcus how touched I was but it was way to soon and fast, to make such an important decision... I explained that I am registered to study at the University of Texas and was obligated to teach in a Hebrew School... It was against my principles, to back out from obligations I made... I told him that I plan to spend some time on my own, so I can become more independent, before settling into married life and was surprised to see tears in his eye... "You never know what may happen in the future" I said, trying to comfort him...  The truth was that I did not care for Marcus this way, not like I did  for my silent Luca...

  After a week Marcus drove me to the train station, where I was about to take the train to Paris... When it started to move, I found myself doing what seemed to become a pattern by  now: Waving goodbye at the window of a moving train, to a man I will probably never see again... I settled in my sit and looked through the window... What a pleasure it is to see the passing view and the farmers,working in the ripe yellow fields. It resembled some of Van XGogh paintings... I was looking at the neat Bales of Hay, ready to be picked up  the fruit trees, swaying in the wind and the children, who were waving to the passing train... It was wonderful to sit like this, looking through the window! How soothing it was to be gently rocked by the movements of a train, listen to the lullaby of the singing wheels and trying   hard to keep my eyes open, so I wouldn't miss a thing...

France

         "Dear Anne,"

    I am in Paris! Right now I am staying in the tiny apartment of Marcel, my uncle Chaim nephew and   his only relative, who survived the Holocaust... I remember Marcel as a very thin, tall redhead teenager when he came to Israel in 1952, to meet for the first time, the only relative he was left with; my Uncle Chaim, who is married to my mother's sister Ruth... As a child, I was told that during the war, Marcel   was hiding in a basement in Paris.. I began to cry after seeing my uncle and aunt weeping, hugging and begging Marcel to stay with them in Israel, but he chose to go back to Paris, because he was very attached to the French couple, who endangered their lives, by hiding him in their house from the Nazis... Now he    was married now to Nicol, his a pretty Moroccan-Jewish wife and a father to their two months old baby David, who is now is now my tiny 'Roommate'... 

    I have never seen such a small apartment in my life! Just two and a half  tini rooms, including a small kitchen! In order to take a shower, one has to put down the toilet lid and sit on it, while turning the water on... I don't know if my hosts are very poor, or this is how people live in Paris... It actually brings to mind a similar apartment, I have seen in one of the 'Film Noir' of François Truffaut, I watched together with my high school friend Yoram, after we cut classes and escaped from our high school, to watch Art movies in  a small theater in Tel Aviv... Unfortunatel, my French hosts and I have a problem communicating, since they don't speak Hebrew or English and my high school French (which was never great) is kind of 'Rusty' Marcel knows some Yiddish and I remember a few words wich  I learned from my parents conversations with my grandfather, who loived with us. I know a bit of German, which is similar to Yiddish, which I picked up in my childhood from the family of refugees, who shared a house with my friend Miriam's family... So with Marcel's Yiddish and French and my mixture of little French and German, we somehow managed to understand each other... The Pantomime I used as a child, when I had to communicate with our Bulgarian speaking neighbors and lately, with Luca in Italy, helped as well... Marcel and Nicol were expecting my visit, after reading uncle Chaim's letter and received me with open arms... I gave them the gifts our family sent with me, which I have been carrying throughout Europe, together with the cute blue outfits and hat, my aunt Ruth knitted for the baby... Nicol's thirteen years old brother Jacques, who speaks a little English, came to help us bridge the gaps in our conversations and was able to correct a few miss understandings we made... After  a hearty laughter, Jacques reluctantly offered (rather was told) to show me the 'City of Light'... What a City!!!  We went to see tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triumph, the Louvre, the Opera Building and  of course the Champs Elise...

Notre Dame	Me and the Arc de Triumph	Eiffel Tower and me	In front of the Opera Building

   The Parisian men could be rather aggressive with their attention to women... One of them was persistent and annoying in particular! He was walking behind us, showering me with what seemed to be compliments in French, which Jacques refused to translate... I finally asked Jacques to tell this man to stop bothering me and go away! The kid looked at me and turned his head from side to side saying "No!" I was stunned and a bit heart: "Can you tell me why not, Jacques?" I asked a bit hurt."But I am not your 'Chevalier'! He answered... I could have boxed his ears if I was not laughing so hard...

          Yours, Shira",

            Dear Anne,

    I am on the train, sitting in a small compartment for six, on my way to La Havre,where         I am about to embark on one of the largest and fanciest cruise ships in the world; The S.S France, which will take me to the next part of my trip: The United States of America! Marcel   Nicol and I, became very sentimental when we said goodbye at the train station "Gare de Lyon"... Even my thirteen years old "Reluctant Chevalier"Jacques, seemed a bit sad... During the days the two of us ran around Paris, I used to annoy him, the way older sister would, by singing again and again the first line of the only French children's song I knew: ♫ "Frere Jacques, Frere Jacques, Dorme vous, Dorme voue?" He would yell at me in French to stop and cover his ears with his hands, when I wouldn't... I believe that in spite of my teasing (or maybe because of it) Jacques developed a 'Prepubescent' crush on me... When I was about to leave Paris, my new friends stood with me at the train station and we departed with hugs and kisses on both cheeks (the French way...) I boarded the train, looking through the window at my new family, which was a bunch of strangers, just a few days before and felt like crying... When the train began to move, they were waving goodby, shouting something in French... I was waving back feeling a deep sadness... I have known these people just one week, we could barely communicate properly, but I truly learned to love them! When Nicol lifted up my little 'Roommate' David and was holding his tiny hand to wave good By, I found myself  crying... 

    It was time to turn my attention to the five people, I shared my compartment with and    was  using my 'fertile imagination' to weave a story... Stimulated by movies, I have seen  about World War II, I imaginined myself sitting in one of the trains, during that period of time... "Maybe the old lady across from me, is one of Agatha Christie's heroins, who is going on a Secret Mission, behind enemy lines... The man besides x her, wearing a grey Fedora hat and a faded khaki raincoat ("A dead give away") must be a double agent... I moved my eyes  to look at the other passengers in the cabin and and saw a mother and her teenage daughter was wearing a Mini Skirt... Seeing the skirt, brought me back from 1940 to the reality of 1962... I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.   

    Nicol sent me on my way with a long bread called 'Baguette',stuffed with all kind of goodie There was also a paper bag, with fresh fruit and delicious Moroccan pastry, which she baked herself... I offered the pastry to my traveling companions... The only one who said 'No' ,was the 'Double Agent', who probably feared the food was poisoned. The soft rocking movements of the train and the rhythmic sound of it's wheels, made my eyelids heavy, in spite of all my efforts to stay awake, so I don't miss the Magnificent View of the French country side;the big trees, cultivated fields, big Frute trees, blue lakes and silvery rivers... So much water! It made me feel compassion for Israel, my beloved country and our 'poor Jordan River' which seemed  now, like a sad little stream...  I felt sad to leave Europe behind, but became excited again, as I visualized myself, boarding the French Ship 'La France' and crossing the Atlantic Ocean on my way to the USA ...

         Yours, Shira