Rocky River IV (1980-1984)

We had two memorable events in 1980 with the arrival of our two precious grandsons, Erich on Aug. 30th and Ryan on Nov. 6th.  Needless to say, our flights went East to Providence, then West to Ft. Collins.

Hammy with Erich (1980 in Providence, RI)

Kyle, Ryan, and Erich (1981)

Hammy and Bert (1983)

I’ll record memorable times in 1984, beginning on July 21^st on a flight from Ft. Collins to Vancouver, B.C.

[See the post for Alaska (1984).]

Trans-Canada and the Canadian Rockies (1979)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Aug. 5, 1979 Toronto – Calgary/Warm – Sunny
Took off at Hopkins for an 8:00 o’clock flight to Toronto, Canada.  We arrived at 8:45, checked in our baggage at the train station after a nice 25 minute ride from airport via Charterways bus.  Had a delicious lunch at the Royal York Hotel + a nice walk thru the new Sheraton Center.  Our train - the Super Continental is very adequate - not plush, but comfortable.  After traveling 7 hr. I checked the map + discovered we’re directly north of Cleve.  What a surprise!  I was sure we were farther West.  Birch trees – lakes – evergreens - some wheat (not alot), + many veg. gardens in Toronto area. Bedded down about 10 pm in our sleeping car.  Bert – Upper, Hammy – Lower} Bunk bed!

Aug. 6, 1979 Nakima, Ontario/Pleasant - Sunny
Most of the day was spent lumbering through Ontario.  Six hundred + evergreens per min. is about the extent of our viewing throughout the day.  We nearly had a riot in the train trying to get in the third sitting for the diner – our section.  Everyone wanted to eat before arriving in Winnipeg where we lost most of the orig. cars from Toronto - picked up additional ones from Montreal + added a dome car.  What a view of the city!  Manitoba was certainly a contrast from Ontario.  It’s very flat - lots of wheat + some cattle.  Very pleasant.

Aug. 7, 1979 Regina to Calgary/Pleasant
We awakened to flat prairie + soon after viewed Regina's interesting Legislature Bldg. with Golden Boy atop its dome.  (All this from the Observation Car.)  We passed quickly into Saskatuan (sp.) [Saskatchewan] + made stops in interesting places like Swift Current + Medicine Hat, Alberta.  These are typical western type towns with Indian culture predominating.  We’ve found this trip very interesting so far but welcomed the Calgary sign where we exited and went to the Palliser Hotel for the night.  Went to Mashe's for a delicious deli meal.

Aug. 8, 1979 Lake Louise, Alberta/Sunny - Rainy - Warm - Cold
Left Calgary by Royal Glacier Coach at 8:00 A.M.  Beautiful drive on Trans Canada Hgwy.  Our hotel, the Chateau Lake Louise looks like the lake + is a splendid sight to behold!  The afternoon was spent visiting Banff + Yoho National Park including Emerald Lake + Takakkaw Falls.  The latter two are located in B.C.  After a 5 course dinner in the hotel we walked 3-1/2 miles to the end of the lake.  I'll always remember the gorgeous blue flowers, blue green lake, and mtns of evergreen.

Lake Louise

Aug 9, 1979 Lake Louise to Kamloops, B.C./Cold here to very warm
Quite a nice day with such a variety of scenery we couldn’t become bored.  We got up early from the booming sound of johns flushing in this old hotel + jogged around the lake.  Nearly froze our tu-tus.  We passed thru Wapka Lake, saw spiral tunnels in Yoho Valley, followed the Kicking Horse River – Field – the natural bridge, then lunch at Rogers Pass.  This is in Glacier Nat. Park where grizzlies abound, but we didn’t see any.  There are many avalanches in this area, but we didn’t see any.  They build sheds over the hgihway.  From Three Valley Gap – beautiful Shuswap Lake – Salmon Arm + our final stop Kamloops.

Aug. 10, 1979: Kamloops to Jasper/Hot
With just 9 passengers on the bus we had a glorious day.  We stopped along the way to watch logs being processed into lumber, - all automatically.  Spahata [Creek] Falls, the N. + S. Thompson R., Blue River + Birch Island were all part of our scenic route.  Had a marvelous lunch at Clearwater + a drink of glacier water later in the afternoon.  As we approached Jasper, we took magnificent shots of Mt. Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies - 12,970’.  A moose was feasting on fire weed at the side of the road just a few miles from the beautiful city of Jasper where we stayed.

Moose feeding on fireweed

Aug. 11, 1979: Jasper, Alberta/Cool – cloudy then sunny
Beautiful place.  Our a.m. tour was by a beat up school bus Brewster leased but we made it to Malign [Maligne] Lake, Pyramid Lake, + a tram trip to the top of Whistlers Mtn.  Had the afternoon off to go shopping along the main street.  It’s interesting the way the houses are built with high fences around them to prevent animals from coming in.  The Park System doesn’t allow anyone from feeding them, so they became very dangerous.  Had dinner in our motel - the Andrew Motel - very lovely.

Aug. 12, 1979: Jasper to Banff/Beautiful
Enroute to Banff we had a very scenic ride viewing glaciers, water falls, + more beautiful mountains – Crowfoot Glacier at Bow Lake, Saskatchawan River Valley, the Bridal [Veil] Falls in Banff Nat. Park.  We stopped + toured the Columbia Ice Fields.  Saw a 150’ millwell [a hole in a glacier into which melted ice water falls] + rode a most uncomfortable snow mobile.

Bert with the Snow Tracks - tour snowmobiles

Had a very poor lunch at a crowded bus stop + accommodations for dinner + lodging at the Mt. Royal Hotel.  The town is very commercialized + this distracts from the surrounding beauty.

Aug. 13, 1979 Banff - Calgary – Colo. Spgs/Cool
Left by Royal Glacier bus at station across from our hotel for a 10 a.m. drive to Calgary.  Enroute visited with a Japanese teacher going to Vancouver - we practiced his English.  Check thru customs in Calgary + were airborn at 2 p.m. for Denver.  Saw the Space Shuttle + Boeing 747 which had just landed.  Had a hassle to get dinner in the airport.  The kids [Mike + Leslie] met us + we had a grand visit for a week.

Rocky River III (1978)

The big event in the spring of 1978 was the arrival of our precious first grandson, Kyle.  Mary Jane's sister, Karen, came to help out.  Grandpa H, Bert + I made the trip to Providence at Easter, and many, many trips after that.

Kent with Kyle (1978 in Providence, RI)

Ray H with Kyle (1978 in Rocky River, OH)

Bert, Kyle, and Hammy
(Christmas 1978 in Providence, RI)

Kyle and Bert (1978)

Bert and Hammy (1979)

In Aug. ’79 we took off for a trip across Canada.

[See the post for Trans-Canada and Canadian Rockies (1979).]

Great Britain (1976)

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Aug. 9, 1976 Edinburgh, Scotland/Sunny
After a lengthy delay at JFK, British Airways managed to land us at Prestwick where we were met by our tour guide, Gil.  We had a scenic drive to the Californian Hotel + checked into a lovely high ceilinged room with an Olympic size bath.  After a relaxing 2-3 hour nap, we had a great time meeting the rest of our tour group at a cocktail party downstairs.  Later we had dinner – haggis complete with ceremony – at the North British Hotel. Bagpipes + dancers were very entertaining.

Aug. 10, 1976 Edinburgh/Misty
The morning was spent visiting Edinburgh Castle and the sights we saw were the Palace of Holyrood House, the home of Mary Queen of Scots, + visiting home of Queen of England.  Shopped in the afternoon at Jenners, Dunns, + Tartan Shop.  In the p.m. we gathered together at the hotel + drove out to Dalhousie Court for a Jacobean Banquet, accompanied with traditional entertainment.  We had a five course dinner + we ate in the 1600 style with no utensils.  What fun!

Aug. 11, 1976 Edinburgh – Aviermore/Misty a.m. Warm + Sunny p.m.
We left this morning and drove through the beautiful Trossachs region.  The heather was beginning to bloom - a hillside of dark lavender.  We saw Stirling Castle enroute to Pitlochry for lunch, then more castles to visit.  Stirling castle is a fortress mounted on Castle Rock.  The afternoon was spent driving north to Aviermore in the Cairngorm Mountains with a stop at Blair Castle where we saw most of the 32 rooms + furnishings of the Dukes of Athall since the 13th C.
Nethybridge Hotel – a quaint country inn.

Aug. 12, 1976 Aviemore – Erskine/Beautiful
Drove through Culloden Moor to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.  We had lunch at a lovely spot with a view of Loch Ness + viewed the area where supposedly the monster is.  Ben Nevis, the highest mtn in Gr. Britain is a sight to behold.  People race up it, but I don’t know why or how!  The banks of Loch Lomond and the River Clyde are just as beautiful as we’d imagined.  We had a delicious dinner at the motel on the River Clyde across from Glascow.  P.S. A bomb scare rustled us out of our beds, but it was just a hoax fortunately.

Aug. 13, 1976 Erskine - Chester/Sunny after the mist burned off
The drive today was lengthy but very interesting for it included the Southern Uplands, the beautiful Lake District of Eng., and lunch at Windermere a resort area.  Saw a 14th C. church + proceded on the journey to Chester.  Our hotel, the Grosvenor, was quite elegant, food delicious + the walk along the ancient wall, fun.  The Chester Cathedral is an example of Gothic architecture + we heard the organist practicing + the apostles' creed carved in marble.  Later, a visit to a pub – quaint.

Aug. 14, 1976 Chester – Stratford-on-Avon/Warm + sunny
I loved the rolling hills of Northern Wales + the stop for gathering some heather + feeding the sheep.

Hammy feeding sheep

The sheep love Hammy

Stopped for a snack at Llangollen, the home of the International Music Festival, + found some beautiful tweeds in a mill which I had made into skirts when we got home.
The evening was exciting at the theater where we saw a dramatic play Troillus and Cressida.  Prior to that we stopped to take pictures of the Coventry Cathedral.  More bombing took place in this city in a single day than any other place in England, so much of the cathedral had to be restored.  It’s the pink sandstone, the same as the Chester Cathedral.

Aug. 15, 1976 Stratford/beautiful
Started the day with a friend for church but there wasn’t a 9:30 service at Holy Trinity so we returned to the Hilton + took pictures along the way.  Bert + I did some window shopping before going on a tour.  The tour today included Shakespeare's birthplace and Anne Hathaway Cottage (farm house), Holy Trinity Church + then a stroll through town followed by a lovely meal of prime rib + Yorkshire pudding in the Warwick Lounge at the Hilton.  The pewter ware looked as authentic as that at the Warwick Castle - dungeon, Great Hall - 13th-15th Century.

Aug. 16, 1976 Stratford – Bristol/Hot
*The Winter’s Tale (rest stop) at Burford near Oxford charming. Lt. Col. Ret. Owner.
Our first stop was at Oxford where we viewed the various colleges.  A stop at Cheltenham for lunch in the park was relaxing before going on to South Wales to view Tinter Abbey.  Saw the Roman baths today, - were excavated nearly 100 years ago + were certainly an example of great engineering + plumbing.  Driving through the city we saw many examples of the Regency type architecture of the late 1700’s + early 1800’s but the most interesting of all was a circle of fine homes – Dickens’ for instance.  Bristol for overnight at the Draganair + Kiln restaurant – large indus. city.

Aug. 17, 1976 Bristol – Plymouth/Comfortably hot but dry
Our first stop was at the medieval cathedral city of Wells where we visited the 13th C. moated cathedral.  We listened to and watched the clock.  Next to Glastonbury to see the 12th C. Abbey + went to the legendary burial place of King Arthur + Queen Guinevere.  I bought a cross which I still wear.

Bert admiring terraced houses on Vicars Close
in Wells, Somerset, England

Lunch was at a quaint tea + sandwich shop at Exeter.  We could see several forest fires in the distance as we traveled across Dartmoor toward Plymouth.  So much of this city was bombed in WWII that it’s hard to distinguish its new section from any other modern city.  A boat ride around the city was pleasant and the Navy Monument + site of Mayflower viewed.

Aug. 18, 1976 Plymouth/Hot and dry
A quick morning dip in the penthouse pool was a refreshing way to start the day.  Afternoon was spent sightseeing at Tintagel which dates back to King Arthur’s days.  Not much remaining of the castle, but the scenery was beautiful.  The castle is quite high + overlooks the English Channel.  The creamed tea with scones, cream + fresh strawberry jam were marvelous.  Dinner at the penthouse of the Holiday Inn again was quite pleasant.  The flower show at the City Hall down the street had every variety of flower and cacti imaginable.

Aug. 19, 1976 Plymouth – Bournemouth/Hot and dry
After a typically slow service breakfast at Holiday Inn, we had a pleasant drive along the coast to Torbay for picture taking at the Riviera type resort.  The Salisbury Cathedral was enroute to the plains of Salisbury where we visited the Neolithic Stonehenge area.  The Palace Court Hotel at Bournemouth was a welcome site.  It reminded us of Atlantic City; the evening was spent at a Pier Show.  In bed early.

Aug. 20, 1976 Bournemouth – London/Delightful
This is probably the highlight of the tour for today we visited Winchester Cathedral, had lunch at Frimley in a beautiful hotel.  The first ice tea on the trip!  Nearing London, we viewed the magnificent Windsor Castle overlooking the Thames River – what a royal sight.  Passed Eton College, founded in 1480 [1440] + then on to our hotel - the Portman in London.  Mail from Leslie + Mike awaited us + also our Edinburgh Crystal from Jenners.  To the Palladium in the P.M. for a wonderful evening of entertainment – phone tag, Ink Spots, Billy Daniels.

Aug. 21, 1976 London/Beautiful
Today we spent the day shopping: Oxford St., Piccadilly Circus, and Regent St.  Bought crystal for the Is + goodies for Ms + Ss.  Took a bus to Victoria Station where we had a long walk past Embassy homes, high tea at a shop near Harrods (a fancy department store), then on to view the crowds of sightseers in this fabulous store of diamonds – silver – crystal – marble, etc.  Walked back to the hotel via Hyde Park + speaker's forum.  Had a delicious dinner in p.m. at Duke's, a nearby restaurant off Oxford St., recommended by a lovely lady walking her dog.  I had white fish (plaice) and Bert – kidney creole (lamb).  To bed early.

Aug. 22, 1976 London Beautiful
At 9:30 we boarded our bus for a tour of London which included St. Paul's Cathedral, the business district, London Bridge + the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.  Lunch was at the Sherlock Holmes Pub – fun – then on to see London Bridge + the Tower of London.

Hammy (in green dress) and Bert at the River Thames
across from Parliament and Big Ben

Hammy (in green dress) and Bert on the River Thames with the group

The Captain's Cabin was fine - delicious food + wine + folk singing (with a Cockney accent).  We said “Good-bye” to Gil, our guide at the bar in our lovely Portman Hotel.

Aug. 23, 1976 London – N.Y./Great - Muggy
Left our hotel promptly at 8:30 + arrived at 9:20 at Heathrow for our 747 flight to N.Y.  It was on time + all went well.  Just a few minor annoyances like dripping overhead from the air conditioning. (British Airways does have its problems.)  Also we thought we had a bird along + never did solve that mystery.  At 1:00 we landed in N.Y., + 6:58 pm in Cleve.  Nice trip but happy to be home.

Rocky River II (1973)

Mike graduated from Colo. State with a degree in geology and stayed on for a Masters Degree and certification in education.

Father Ray H with Suki (1973 in Rocky River, OH)

Bert with Suki (1973 in Rocky River, OH)

Bert, Hammy, and Mike, plus friends (1974 in Rocky River, OH)

Hammy and Bert (1976 in Colorado)

Mike and Leslie were married in 1976.  Kent and Mary Jane were in Providence, R.I.  She was the breadwinner teaching at the R.I. School for the Deaf.  He began courses for an MBA at Providence College.

Meanwhile I was still working at Harrison School, and looking after "G’pa" H.  It was too difficult seeing him in Wellsville, so we moved him to a small apartment in Lakewood just a few miles from Harrison School.  My teacher friends and I spent every Fri. with him for lunch.  He never knew what to serve us, but it was usually the "green bean casserole, corn bread, and jello."  They loved it, and it was a break in his dull routine.  Sundays were spent with us, and the routine was beneficial for all of us.

In Rocky River we had a great social life, first with the Erie Rd neighbors the Ss, the Ls, + the s.  We took turns entertaining with potlucks, playing charades, + just having fun.  Then the Ls bought a house with a pool + our parties ended up around the pool.

Another group of friends were the Ls - Cornelia + Tom, Peg + Ray T and Phyllis + Roger W – pot luck + talking.  We added another couple + played bridge.  The Ts - Sue + Jay were smokers + it just got so dense with smoke, we dropped out but remained good friends.

Then we had church friends from R. R. Presby. Church.  Jean + Milt L had a pool, and more pot lucks and pool parties with (later on with the grandchildren.  (Incidentally, Bert sold them the house when he was working for Freeland Realty!)

When Bert retired from the Air Force, we accepted civilian life pretty well.  I missed the travel with so many change of stations, but we became interested in many activities - and it was good to have permanent roots in such a comfortable home + lovely neighborhood.

While teaching at Harrison, Anne + I became friends with our school librarian, Helen S, and she and husband, Fred, had a beautiful home at Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie.  It was located about 70 miles from Cleveland, and we spent many fun weekends there with the Ss - Helen + Fred, Tom + Anne, + Bert + I.  Happy Hour got earlier and earlier.  Helen sometimes had her "health" drink at noon!  She recently passed away at the age of 102 in a nursing home in Westlake, Ohio.

In Aug. of ’76 it was time for Bert + me to plan another trip – this time to England, Scotland, and Wales.  Mike had already had a wonderful semester at Edinburgh, and we thought we’d check it out.

[See the post for Great Britain (1976).]

Rhine River Cruise (1973)

Meanwhile, Bert + I continued on the Rhine River, and what a trip it was!  We ate + slept on the boat, with stops each night to go into the towns along the Rhine.
Our first stop was in Amsterdam.

[Key: Memoir in Times New Roman, Travel Journal in Arial]

Aug. 5, 1973 Amsterdam/Rainy
Enroute from airport to Alpha Hotel saw the Free U. which costs 1,000 g. [guilders] a year.  Much of the land is restored as 50% of the Netherlands is under water.  The name Netherlands means “low lands.”  Went through a long tunnel which is built under the runway. The city is very clean abounding in flowers + shrubbery.  Most of the houses are built connecting one + another.  The city is the shape of a spider’s web with the canals leading to the main business district.

Aug. 6, 1973 Amsterdam – Delft - The Hague-Rotterdam/Sunny + Warm - Rain
A very adventuresome trip in A.M. via tram to Anne Frank’s House + Rijksmuseum.  An altercation between the driver + a passenger nearly caused mutiny with about 50 Dutchman all screaming because the passenger ran in front of the tram + nearly frightened the driver to death.  The visit to Anne Frank's House was a solemn + stirring moment as we entered the second + third story steep stairway where she helped hide her family during the Nazi invasion.  It was a hurried trip through the museum [Rijksmuseum] but we did have a chance to view the magnificent collection of Rembrandts + Frans Hals along with all the other great masters’ works of art.  After a quick lunch at the hotel, we boarded our bus for Delft where we watched the artists painting the intricate designs on their beautiful china.  After it is glazed, the black designs become a beautiful shade of blue + much of the Oriental flavor has been retained.  The city is quaint – all houses face a tree-lined canal + flowers + plants appear in every window. 
The Peace Palace, the seat of government, was quite impressive.  Our final destination – Rotterdam – is an example of the destruction + havoc of war – all bldgs. so modern + “westernized.”  The M.V. Emerald awaits us.

8/7/1973 Rotterdam/Dusselfdorf/Rainy
Dikes, windmills and camping areas predominated the landscape in Netherlands today.  Late in the afternoon we passed into Germany + saw the vast difference in the Rhine area.  The Ruhr Valley is very industrious + we began to see the effects of pollution.  Dusseldorf was the highlight of the day.  We did some "pub crawling" in Dusseldorf, a very industrial city.  Ushi M met us + took us + the Vs to several interesting pubs.  The attraction was “alt bier” which is similar to bock beer.

8/8/1973 Dusseldorf/Boppard/Warm + sunny
We left Dusseldorf bright + early.  At 9 o’clock Bert + I left the ship + went on a tour of Cologne and Bonn.
How interesting to see the beautiful Cologne Cathedral built in the 13th C. + completed in the 19th C.  It’s beautiful example of the beautiful Gothic architecture.  The St. Martin Church exemplifies the Romanesque style and it was completed in 1020 [1220]! which preceded the Gothic style.  The reason the Cologne Cathedral was built was to house the Golden Shrine, the shrine of the Three Magi.  During the war these beautiful structures were spared but the lead glass windows were removed + then replaced after the war.  The only part of the cathedral that war destructed was one column which was replaced by brick.  90% of the city was destroyed + although people are proud of their tradition, not much is left except churches to remind one of the history.
On to Bonn, the seat of the govt. since 1949.  Saw Chancellor Willy Brandt’s home, the House of Parliament + the Pres’s home.  Then we visited the beauty of the past – Beethoven’s home + the narrow streets + shops in the area.  Our next stop was Boppard/Mannheim, + the weather was warm and sunny.

8/9/1973 Boppard/Mannheim/Sunny + Warm
Leaving the wine stube last evening wasn't easy as we had such fun dancing + singing with the natives, but it was harder this a.m. when we had to rise + shine!  The highlight today was Lorelei, the great cliff jutting into the river causing many a ship to go aground.  Our excursion to Heidelberg took us past fields of grapes on the hillside + vast areas of vegetables + grains.  We stopped at Worms + visited Martin Luther statue + garden + saw the famous door where he posted his famous thesis. Heidelberg Univ. + Castle are high on the hill overlooking the Nekar R. + the view at sunset was lovely.  The evening’s entertainment consisted of the captain’s farewell dinner party.  As we were a little late arriving back at the ship, we hadn’t much time to prepare our hats for the contest, but “Mr. Stümpe” won second prize with his safety slogan DLRP which he presented to Jerry M, a passenger who feared for the safety without a life preserver + I took first prize for my decorative “flower girl” hat - pewter napkin rings + silver candy dish.  Fun.
Other events and places we visited that were included in our Rhine River cruise included Mannheim and Strasbourg (France), Baden/Baden, Lucerne [Switzerland], Oberammergau, Innsbruck and Vienna [Austria], Munich, Rothenburg, E. + W. Berlin, + finally Hamburg. [Narrative in Arial font is from the Travels Abroad Book journal.]

8/10/1973 Mannheim/Strasbourg/Beautiful
We reluctantly abandoned ship today + left by coach to tour the rest of our trip on the continent.  Just a little excitement before departure; a motor in the laundry was on fire + the boat filled with smoke.
Strasbourg was our first stop where we visited the famous Cathedral which epitomizes Gothic architecture at its finest.  We travelled the autobahn to Baden-Baden, a luxurious resort area where we spent the night at an elegant hotel – the Europe.  To illustrate the clientelle of this hotel, at 8:20 p.m. four pairs of shoes were outside the doors ready to be shined for the next day.  Cords above the tubs are used to summon maids to assist you in getting out of the tub!  We attended an open-air concert that evening + were amazed at how well groomed everyone was – minks amass.  Turned in early after a mug of beer at a local bar.

8/11/1973 Baden-Baden/Lucerne/Sunny + Warm
We left promptly at 9:00 for the Black Forest + Switzerland via the autobahn.  Lunch at a large inn built over 200 years ago.  The sauerbraten was tasty + the décor was elegant. Souvenirs were too expensive so we just enjoyed the beautiful scenery.  Zug + Zurich were interesting cities as well as the border town of Schaffhausen where we saw the Rhine R. falls.  At Donaueschingen we saw the source of the Danube.  I enjoyed watching the River Sihl spilling over rocks as it wound around the hills.  It was very shallow + offered beautiful areas for fishing + camping along the banks.  We arrived at our hotel, the Palace, which has two beds, a huge bath which converted quickly into a laundry, and a view overlooking Lake Lucerne.  A bit of humor – as we entered our hotel, Jerry M’s pants fell off as he got off the bus.

Hammy on the Chapel Bridge
in Lucerne, Switzerland

A cheese fondue dinner was waiting for us at the Stadtkeller where we were entertained by Swiss yodelers + dances.  Nice but hot!

8/12/1973 Lucerne/Beautiful
The day started with a walk to the covered bridge + Lion Monument.  After a “quick” lunch, we went to the top of Mt. Pilatus.  It was by four different types of transportation – 4 passenger cable car, then a larger one carrying 40 which went from one crag to another.  We descended by cog, then made the rest of the trip by boat around Lake Lucerne + back to our hotel.  We went over to the Bs for a drink before dinner, then did some window shopping + turned in early.

8/13/1973 Lucerne/Oberammergau/Beautiful
We left the Palace Hotel early because of all the interesting places to visit today.  Since we had to use our francs quickly before leaving Switzerland, the Baron in Liechtenstein did a superb job assisting us.  He took us for every franc we were worth.  A short stop to take shots of the Hohenschungau [Hohenschwangau] castle + Ludwig’s Neuschwanstein castle before leaving for the rest of the trip.  The Alois Lang Hotel with all its flowers was a splendid greeting.  Bavaria is virgin beauty!

8/14/1973 Oberammergau-Innsbruck/At 5:30 12 degrees C! Beautiful late
Since we didn’t get close-up shots of cows yesterday travelling through Bavaria, Bert, Robert B + I started out at 6 am to watch them leave the barn for the pasture.  Two loads of hay were delivered to them so we decided an hour + a half later, they were taking room service.
We ascended lofty Zugspitze Mtn (10,000 ft) via the funicular railway + had lunch on the summit.  We arrived in Innsbruck, capital of the Tyrol, in time for a quick tour of the city before dinner at the Tyrol Hotel where a postcard from Mike was awaiting us.  Tyrolean dancers entertained us.

8/15/1973 Innsbruck/Salzburg/Beautiful
We drove through the beautiful Inn Valley after leaving Innsbruck, Austria this morning.  Had lunch in Berchtesgaden + viewed Hitler’s famous Eagles Nest in Germany before passing the border into Austria for dinner + overnight.  The Grand Winkler is not our favorite hotel.  The elevator jammed + we were stuck in the basement for 15 anxious moments while we were cranked to the first floor + quickly exited to our 7th floor room via the stairs.  An excellent guide showed us the sights of “Old Town” including Mozart’s birth place.  Viewed the Palace + gardens at Mirabel Park.  The Stiegelkeller [Stieglkeller] beer hall was the most fun!  We drank delicious beer in 1 liter mugs + watched the Austrian folk dancers perform.  We were pretty well sloshed after two beers.  Fun!

8/16/1973 Salzburg/Vienna/Gorgeous
We followed the Wolfgangsee through Steirmark [Steiermark] province to Leoben for lunch in a quaint restaurant where the stagecoaches used to stop.  Nothing like having a meal in a sleigh (Aug. yet).  Arrived in Vienna for dinner at the Donauturm Restaurant where we enjoyed a panoramic view of the city.  Later we attended an open-air concert + listened to some Strauss waltzes + saw several dancers performer in lovely costumes.  The Intercontinental is lovely + another letter from Mike awaited us.

8/17/1973 Vienna/Lovely
Our beautiful weather remains faithful.  Our guided tour started this a.m. with a tour of Schonbrun [Schönbrunn] Palace where we viewed 40 of the 1441 rooms.  Most of it hasn’t changed since the reign of Maria Theresa (1740-1760).  All the furnishings were removed during W.W.II for fear of bombing.  After touring the palace we went to the bldg. where the crypts are housed.  The bodies of the rulers are entombed here, but their hearts are in a separate bldg.  Also included in the tour were the Opera House + St Stephen’s Gothic Cathedral.  Seeing the serious faces on everyone makes one wonder if it’s a sadness due to changes from the past.  A short beer in the gardens opposite the hotel with friends Brenda + Tony R + Robert B confirmed the austere feeling of the Austrians.  Shopping was a brief frustrating experience because of the inflated prices for Americans.  Vienna is beautiful though + the music makes us want to return.  The atmosphere was lovely at Gumpoldskirchen (Vienna Woods) – an out-door courtyard – sausage, wine sampling, sliding through a barrel, roses from Sz Marka.

8/18/1973 Vienna/Munich/Beautiful
More of the lovely Bavarian countryside after we left Vienna.  Lunch at the Gmunden on the Trauen See [Traunsee] was picturesque.  Dinner at the Hilton was nice.  Fun, fun, fun at the Hofbrauhaus later where we consumed two liters of beer + danced to the umpah music of a German band.  Elizabeth B + I tested our sharp-shooting skills and won a few feathers.

8/19/1973 Munich/Beautiful
The day began with a ride downtown to see the Town Hall at 11 at which time the mechanical show at the Glockenspiel began.  Then we went to the Residency where we saw the crown jewels of the Bavarian kings + electors.  The ruby-studded statue of St. George was of rare beauty.  The Deutsche Museum, Olympic Stadium, University + Theresienweise where the Octoberfest is held.  After dinner in the Hilton Coffee Shop, we turned in early as its been a fast pace we’ve been keeping.

8/20/1973 Munich/Rothenburg/Rainy
It cleared by noon for lunch at Nuremberg.  The market place was attractive – fountains, fruits + vegetables, + another Glockenspiel.  This is an interesting old Roman city with an intermingling of the new town.  We arrived in romantic Rothenburg early in the afternoon + checked in at our Golden Hirsch hotel – a small quaint room on the third floor.  It had a lot of charm with its petunia flower boxes until 3 a.m. when the drunks ambled by.  Alot of fun this p.m. at the Puppet Theater + then drinks at the Old Baumeisterhaus where Gert H was the star.

8/21/1973 Rothenburg/Berlin/Cloudy + Cool
After breakfast we drove to Frankfurt where we left Tony, our dear driver + boarded a Pan Am plane for Berlin.  Lunch earlier at Frankfurt’s tower – nice view of a completely reconstructed city.  Checked in at the Berlin Hilton’s 12th floor room + was startled to see the plastered wall crumbling + cracked in our new $56 nightly quarters.  The Bs + Vs joined our table for a view of the city on the roof-top restaurant.  Ninkow shopping was fun later.  Berlin is a beautiful metropolis.

8/22/1973 Berlin/Sunny + Cool
The zoo here is the most beautiful we’ve ever seen.  The grounds are well maintained + all animals housed quite comfortably in their natural habitat type setting.  The Kaiser Wilhelm Church which was bombed reminded us of the tragic past as we sat in the adjoining memorial.  After lunch we toured E. Berlin.  Everywhere we went we witnessed a somber, depressed atmosphere.  Brandenburg Gate, Soviet War Memorial, Unter den Linden + the changing of the guards.  We were at the latter at 2:30 Wed. which is the only time during the week when the entire guard march.  We peered at the guards at the tower at the wall + they were doing the same to us.  Mirrors were used to check underneath all the cars + buses.  It was a relief to get back to W. Berlin.  The evening at the Alt Berlin Beer Salon was fun.  The Bs + we were the last to leave.

8/23/1973 Berlin/Hamburg/Beautiful
At Templehof [Tempelhof] airport we boarded our Pan Am flight for Hamburg.  The only airlines that are permitted to fly into/from here are British Airways, British European Airways, Pan Am + Air France.

Hammy waiting for a boat in Hamburg, West Germany

The afternoon was spent sightseeing: the IGA [International Gartenbauausstellung/ International Horticulture Exhibition] Gardens via miniature train, downtown, and the harbor area where we saw ships from almost every country at Europe’s second largest port.  A huge wave inundated those of us in the rear of the boat + I was drenched.  After dinner in the lovely Intercontinental we had a short walk.

8/24/1973 Hamburg/Beautiful
Of all the large European cities we have visited, none can compare with the tree shaded streets of Hamburg, beautiful Lake Alster in the center of the city, large mansions which border the lake + all its surrounds.  The huge business district is easily accessible via trains, cars + boat.  It’s obvious the leisure style of life is appealing to the natives as well as foreignors.  The farewell dinner on the rooftop at the Intercontinental was great.

8/25/1973 Hamburg/Amsterdam/N.Y./Beautiful
Our 11 A.M. flight was changed to 8 with Lufthansa because of the controllers’ negotiations.  We quickly went through customs sans airline tickets to our chagrin.  After a short delay due to an instrument change, we had our bag lunch + took off.

Rocky River I (1968-1973)

We worked with Freeland Realty, and made an offer for a colonial at 1083 Elmwood Rd. in Rocky River, + they accepted our offer of $33,000. Great! Just two blocks from R. R. High School + that was a plus for Mike. It was another day + we were the new owners of a Chevrolet Impala. We left for Wellsville the next day.

Mother's pancreatitis had taken its toll on mom the three years we were in Japan, and we just had a few months together before she passed away on Oct. 5th, one day before her 73rd b.d. She saved all the letters I wrote from Japan + I'm glad I saved them.

Mother Ruth, and father Ray H (circa 1967)

We found a small basement (furnished) apartment in Lakewood to rent until our household goods arrived from Japan. I drove Mike to +d from R.R. H.S. for about six weeks.

This was not an easy adjustment for Mike to make as a sixteen year old, as most of the students had been together since kindergarten. Of all our moves in the military this was the roughest one for him.

Pink dogwood tree at 1083 Elmwood Road

Garage sale with Hammy and Jerry S

After we were settled in our comfortable 3 BR home with finished basement + walk up attic we were "at home" - at work for Bert at the Federal Bldg downtown Cleve., and with his prodding time for me to begin substitute teaching in Lakewood.

"Aren't the tulips pretty?"
"You too honey!"

1968 Christmas card photo

1969 Christmas card photo

In ’70 [1971], our big event was Kent's graduation from Miami U. in Oxford, Ohio.  It was a memorable time for both our guys - Kent's degree in Liberal Arts + Mike's completion of his freshman year at Miami.  Mike's decision to transfer his science credits to Colo. State in Ft. Collins, CO, was the right decision because he was able to zero in on his geology major.

I accepted a full-time teaching assignment in third grade at Harrison School in Lakewood's "Birdtown."  All the streets were named for birds.   It was a lower socioeconomic area primarily occupied by recent E. Europeans + from Appalachia.  Good parents who were interested in their children's education.  It was the beginning of the open classroom effect, but as the enrollment increased, we had to get sliding doors for us two teachers and our aids.

During the ‘70s, I continued teaching at Harrison, and Anne E became my team partner.  We had both decided it was a good move for both of us.  Her fifth graders were giving her grief + I had a few teachers who wanted their own classrooms.  Her art ability + my desire to teach music worked out favorably for both of us, and we continued this arrangement until my retirement.

In the summer during this period, I decided to continue my education by taking courses at Cleve. State, Kent State, + U. of Akron.  In addition to my Bachelor's Degree, I acquired 10 extra credit hours with the same pay as a Masters Degree.

At Cleve. State my course was called "Creativity."  There were between 30-35 students in the class.  They were all younger and most of them were coming up with most fascinating ideas.  How to compete?  "I'll just make them a Chinese meal in the wok."  It was a success, with all the ingredients plus the wok I had to carry to the Cleve. State classroom!

I made the same recipe for my students; they used the chopsticks I’d given them. The room was a mess!

During the summers when I wasn't taking courses during my school teaching, we traveled.  In ’72, after Kent + Mary Jane's wedding, Bert and I took off for a Rhine River cruise.

[See the post for the Rhine River Cruise (1973).]