March 28, 1972 Tues.
Dear Diary:
We slept in!!! We ate in the room. Yesterday mom bought me a St. Theresa pen. We walked downtown to Woolworths. Mom brought me another pair of sun glasses; Simmon stretched my old ones. There blue & a Spanish doll. I bought (selfisious me) a thing of purple eye shadow. We got chocolate. Did I tell you in Portugal about the glass holders for Mom & Dad for their anniversary Roosters on them (6). We went sightseeing. We went to Escoril. We finished lunch at 4:00!!! We visited one of the best libraries of world. Best colection of Arabic books. We saw the palace too. We then drove a bit to Francos church dug in a cave & cross for men died in civil war. We ate in room Mom & Dad went out.
BYE!!
Note: Woolworths was originally a five-and-dime department store started in New York. It was interesting to find one in Madrid. I collected dolls from different countries. This one was dressed in a red flamenco dress. I remember my blue sunglasses. I thought I looked so cool in them.
Founded by King Phillip II, the Library of the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial was impressive, as was visiting the palace and the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen) in Escorial.
Libraries have fascinated me ever since Bessie Grafft, our A.N.S. librarian, encouraged my love of reading. Later in my twenties I worked for two years as the librarian at the Reservoir Public Library in Brandon, Mississippi, and loved every minute of it.
March 29, 1972 Wed.
Dear Diary:
We got up uh! I hate getting up in the morning. We ate breakfast downstairs. The fencing group here in Melia Castillo, our hotel (about 1000 of them.) We went to the biggest department stores in Madrid. I bought Dad a huge comb (a joke) & I got a new beigish blouse. We went to eat & I had empanadas (sorta), I finished “Tender Loving Care.” I took a short nap. Watched T.V. Mom & Dad went out. We ate in the room. We're leaving tomorrow at 2:am (Friday actually) & have to leave the hotel at 5:00 pm, wish us luck!
Note: The hotel where we stayed was called Melia Castillo and it was quite impressive. I doubt 1000 fencers were staying there as sometimes I tended to exaggerate but there were a lot of them.
El Corte Inglės was a beautiful large department store that was a treat to visit.
I finished the book about nurses that I bought at the Miami airport. I am surprised my parents let me read it as they wouldn’t let me read the other one I bought.
March 30, 1972, Thurs.
Dear Diary:
Hi! I’m writing this 3 days after because I was busy or just to tired (Sun 3 days later) We slept in. Today is Holy Thursday. We walked downstairs & I bought (Mom did) a pair of star earring (Jewish symbol). We walked to Woolworths but it was closed. We walked around looking for this Italian Restaurant & we ate Pizza. We went back to the room, bathed & watched T.V. At 5 we went downstairs & sat & I saw the end of the “Holy Charist” or Sacred Paul Newman. We watched a basketball game too. We went to eat at the restaurant that we ate lunch yesterday. We then went to the airport. 11pm.
Note: Interesting fact about Spain - when we were there, many stores and businesses closed from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. This was considered lunch and siesta time. Businesses stayed open later and dinner was usually served much later than in the U.S.
I remember checking out of our room around 5:00 p.m. and just sitting around the lobby until we left at 11:00 p.m. for our 2:00 a.m. flight. Fortunately, there was a TV in the lobby.
I believe the movie I saw was “The Silver Chalice” and was Paul Newman’s feature film debut.
Times were changing in San José regarding Siesta Time...seems like most office workers took off from 12 till 2, but not so much retail stores. You just took your chances during that time. Did Managua not do this at all?
You choosing purple eye shadow is no surprise!! We went to the Woolworth’s in downtown Bristol often, too (TN side vs the VA side of State Street).
I’m wondering what you were watching on Portuguese television in 1972…..?
Kh
I was surprised to know about a Woolworths in Spain . I remember going to one in Amsterdam, NY quite often - seemed like you could always find something there. That library was indeed impressive - ceiling as much as the books. Do you recall if all the times you ate in your rooms at the hotel were room service or did you bring food up to the room? I sure have enjoyed traveling with you!😊
Susan,
Totally enjoy reading these!