Dear William (and Daniel, Catherine, Michael & Baby Girl Y) (and your parents), (and any future descendants and their parents),
Discussing this Blog with Malgosia and Babcia Krysia, I was urged to write a bit about my life — so, her it goes:
The year was 1969, and I was a Sophomore in college (at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York). In college, I joined ROTC (US Army Reserve Officers Training Corps). The previous year, I pledged and was accepted into the Carolyn Guard Military Service Society.
Our sister service society was the Boosters, who had their meeting room right next to our meeting room on the third floor of the Annex Building.
Between classes, we would all hang out together — one of the Boosters was Joan.
Joan was a year older than me (she was a Junior), and she was a Psychology major (at that time, I was an Economics major — later I switched to Finance). Joan had a boyfriend, Arthur, also a Psychology major. One day, I heard that Joan and Arthur were going to spend the weekend, cooking in the nude (relax, these were the 1960’s — lots of interesting things went on at that time).
Since I was interested in Joan, I got jealous, and I called her up by telephone, and presented a well-crafted argument as to why she should not spend the weekend with Arthur, and instead, she should start hanging out with me — it worked (poor Arthur; I do not think that he ever forgave me).
During the course of our relationship, we decided to go to Europe that Summer. We bought Eurail Train Passes, which allowed for unlimited train rides all over Europe; and we purchased airplane tickets from Kennedy Airport to London, England on Caledonia Airways (a charter flight operation).
Here is a picture of the card (with cash) that I received from my brother Tom for my Imieniny (June 29). Tom was (and still is) a great artist — I always enjoyed his cards very much, and I would often impose on him to make me a card whenever I needed one to give to someone.
This is my Dad, me and Tom at the airport, waiting for our departure.
This is me with Joan, on line to check in. That red suitcase was SO heavy!
Picture of me (20 years old), at the airport in NY.
We arrived in London early in the morning, and we had some time to kill — we took a bus tour of London, but I fell asleep; so I did not see much. Later we took a train to Dover, and there we took an overnight ferry to France. There we spent some time figuring out our detailed schedule for our vacation adventure.
This is our schedule, as we planned it on July 5, 1969.
Here are some of my photos from Europe:
Paul, the tourist.
Joan, eating and having beer on the train.
Joan, on the Rhine River.
Paul, in Paris.
Cool shades Paul.
Manneken-Pis
Translation (postcard from the King’s House in Brussels, to my Parents):
July 5, 1969 (12:45 am [a bit after midnight])
Dear Parents,
Today I toured Brussels. I started at 6 am & at 8:30 am I metup with Joan in a restaurant and we had breakfast. We spent all morning planning our trip. About 2 pm I had lunch, and then we went to the “Musee de l’Art Ancien.” At 5 pm we went looking for the “Manneken-Pis,” and later I went to take a few pictures at the “Grand’ Place.” Tomorrow, at 10:30 am, I am boarding a train to Koln, where we will take a boat trip on the Rhine River, probably up to Frankfurt.
I hope that I will have an opportunity to write to you a longer letter soon. Kisses, Paul.
Paul, on the beach in Southern France.
Crossing the Arctic Circle in Norway.
That same year, my sister Olenka was in Italy for the commemoration of the Battle of Monte Casino. I met up with her there.
I am told that Babcia Krysia was at Monte Casino also, but I did not see her then — I was in college; she was still in high school; NOT cool.
William — you can read all about the Battle of Monte Casino HERE; pay particular attention to the May 18, 1943 contribution of the Polish military forces, described HERE.
This is my itinerary, as it actually happened, made at the end of my trip throughout Europe.
So, during July and August 1969, I visited: England, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Italy, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Although Joan and I broke up during that trip (and we traveled separately the second half of the trip), it was a very good trip.
I hope that someday you too will get to see the world.
Love,
Dziadziuś Paweł.
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