Many years ago in a different time and place, a young girl and her sister, and their Mother and Father planned a journey back to the old country. Her parents had sailed west more than a decade earlier in a 47 year old, 942 passenger, 10043 GRT, 538 foot classic ocean liner from their Homeland. The cruise across the north Atlantic in the middle of January evoked bad memories for them both and Mother vowed never to do that again. Their quest was to find a new life in a new country after a devistating war had ravaged many cities and towns and there was no place for the young couple to live.
The young girl was 8 years old and she did not yet understand what amazing adventures this journey would bring. They boarded a train in their small hometown. It had a diesel locomotive and beautiful passenger cars, something she had never seen before. They sat down on the plush green velvet seats and got comfortable for the long journey ahead. The conductor came by and checked their tickets and joked with Father. Mother, who was very frugal, had packed dinner for the family which they shared as the train rolled down the tracks. They traveled a route once known as the Maple Leaf. They would ride for the next twelve and a half hours, just as folks had done for generations before, watching the scenery go by till night fell. When it grew dark outside, the young girl and her sister fell asleep in their seats to the clickety clack of the train on the track. Mother nodded off too as Father lit up a cigarette and watched over the family.
Early the next morning they arrived at Pennsylvania Station and her parents' old friends greeted them at the station. They arrived in a sleek and modern, light yellow 1961 Chrysler 300, with finns that went on forever. It felt like a limousine to the girls. Father was still driving the same black 1953 Oldsmobile Rocket 88 that they had visited the big city in a year earlier. On that trip, they also spent time with their friends who managed an apartment building in the Bronx, somewhat like Fred and Ethel Mertz, and knew the city well. They had visited the Radio City Music Hall and remembered seeing a Doris Day and James Garner picture there. Ah, the thrill of it all. The music hall was very fancy for a movie theater. It was a fantastic sight to see. The buildings of the city were taller than anything the young girls had ever seen. There were old buildings with beautiful facades and newer buildings all conrete and glass. They also rode in a horse drawn carriage through the winding trails of Central Park, then stopped for photographs at the golden statue at Rockefeller Center. They lit a candle at St. Patricks Cathedral and kneeled and prayed for just a moment. The Statue of Liberty was an amazing sight from afar and had a breathtaking view from the top. They had taken the elevator to the top of Empire State Building and deposited a dime into the Tower optical viewer. They stood in the wind and marveled at the views, just like Gene Kelly and Vera Ellen had done when they were on the town. But, that was a year ago.Now they had only a few hours before continuing on their journey. The friends took the family on a whirlwind tour around the big city. They stopped for a late lunch at a Horn and Hardart Automat cafeteria. They dropped a coin into the slot, opened the little glass door and pulled out the dish they had chosen. It was still as amazing as it had been a year before. After a while they headed on down the expressway and drove past what their friends called the Worlds Fair in a place called Flushing Meadows. It was an amazing sight even from the car. So many strange and different types of buildings, with lots of people everywhere. Shea Stadium was seen nearby as well.
They finally arrived at the airport after taking in all the sights of this wonderful place. John F. Kennedy Airport, which was until recently known as Idlewild, was the most exciting place the girl had ever seen. She saw a terminal building called Worldport that looked like a big saucer and was all lit up. Gleaming airplanes of all descriptions rolled on the tarmac. Inside the airport, well dressed people of many different nationalities carrying their Pan Am and TWA bags rushed by her as they headed to their airline gates to continue their own amazing adventures. The family headed to their lesser known discount airline, and arrived at the Loftleidir gate where they checked in and boarded the plane. It was a wonderful and roomy 189 passenger turbo-prop Canadair CL 44D4 which was in operation as a passenger plane although other airlines were using it only for cargo. The family was seated behind the bulkhead in the coach section which offered legroom for them to stretch out. They took four seats across. The journey continued as they taxied out to the runway, took off and saw the twinkling lights of the big city get smaller and fewer below them. The stewardesses were so very pleasant and so beautiful in their blue uniforms with white blouses, as they walked up and down the aisle offering newspapers and Life magazines to the passengers. They were especially attentive and offered any and all assistance they could to the families traveling with children, as well as to all the other passengers. Father was offered an aparatif that came in a tiny bottle. They brought dinner trays with silverware and food served on real china. Mother and Father had a glass of wine with dinner. Father smoked a cigarette after dinner. The smell filled the cabin.
The first leg of the flight took them to a place with a funny name called Goose Bay. It was an unscheduled stop but all was well. They were able to get off the plane for a few minutes to stretch and then boarded again to continue on to their next stop. After several hours they landed on a northern island at a place called Keflavik. They disembarked and walked across the tarmac in the cold night air. It was August but it felt like November in this northern clime. The family was happy to get off the airplane, stretch, and then just as happy to reboard and continue on to the next and final destination. This leg would be the longest. The girls were able to stretch out on the floor behind the bulk head, were given pillows and blankets by the lovely stewardesses and slept through the next few hours of flight. The smell of breakfast woke the girls as the sun was rising and a beautiful new day began. Land was now visible from the window seat which the young girl had taken to enjoy her breakfast. She looked down and saw something which she had never seen from above before, clouds, land, rivers, houses. Sights that seemed unreal but yet were very real. As the plane began its descent, the land got closer and closer. Finally the turbo-prop airplane touched down in the beautiful countryside near Luxembourg City.
They were met at the airport by her uncle driving a small early 1960's Volkswagen Käfer. Uncle put all their luggage up front in the trunk. All five of them climbed in, Mother and the girls in the back seat, and Father up front, and he drove them through the rolling hills in the countryside on winding roads to their destination in yet a different country. They arrived at her uncle's home in a beautiful walled town that was surrounded by vineyards along the River Ahr.The young girl had discovered a love that would stay with her forever; trains, planes and automobiles (and sometimes, boats), but most of all, traveling to far off destinations, exotic and exciting places with new things to see and do everyday. Her adventures would continue ...........
Just for Fun - Today's Trivia Questions:
What year is it? Which airline did the family fly? Which countries did they land in? Which country is their destination? Which city and town have they visited?
