This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Part III: A 19-year old in Europe, 1927

Carolyn Ayars and her family continue their European vacation leaving London for Paris and other points.

July 7.  A tour of East London filled our morning. Like the typical American tourists, we ohed [sic], ahed [sic], and looked skyward from the bus as we passed Trafalgar, Queen Victoria St., Cannon St., London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, Tooley St. (Pepys Burial place at St. Olave’s Church), Tower Bridge, Tower Hill (execution place for centuries), Lombard St. (Banking), Threadneedle St. (bank of England), Cheapside, Royal Exchange, Guild Hall, Fleet St. (Cock Tavern immortalized by Tennyson) and The Old Curiosity Shop.

At the Tower of London we passed brilliantly dressed guards and crossed the bridge which spans the old moat, now parade and playgrounds. Here among old stone and impressive coldness and dull grey height, we saw the Tower in which the two princes were imprisoned the [sic] the spot where the bodies were thrown after the murder. The traitor’s gate where Elizabeth marched to her imprisonment in the Tower under the watchful eye of Bloody Mary.

The room in which the crowns, scepters, salt cellars, plates, swords, royal jewels, rings – all the imperial possessions of gold as the Maundy dish, were here enclosed in glass. The long, spacious, haughty banquet halls, the old armour [sic] and swords, the tower prison where Lady Jane Gay [sic], and many, many others were imprisoned and wrote their autographs on the walls with knives. The spot where Lady Jane Gay [sic], Queen Catherine Howard and Anne Boleyn were executed and the little chapel where the king still comes at times were all full of interest and romance. The old prison-dungeon where, in a small space with no means of sanitation, 600 prisoners were thrown at a time to starve was as gruesome as the examples of thumb-screws and torture implements used by our ancestors. An old piece of the early Roman wall is still standing in the castle yard, just a piece showing the old tile now covered with vines.

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In St. Paul’s Cathedral we saw the burial place of Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt St. Paul’s, and Nelson and Duke of Wellington. Our guide who had served in the army for 40 yrs. showed us where, at certain times, he carried his Colonel’s sword at the service of the Order of St. George and St. Michael. Here also, are the King’s and Prince of Wales’s stalls. More of the characteristic sight-seeing in the afternoon as we saw Charing Cross, Regent St., Piccadilly Circus, Old Bond St., St. James St. (Home of Lord Byron), Pall Mall, Home of the Prince of Wales, Parliament Square, House of Lords where Parliament was sitting….At Buckingham Palace we earnestly and fruitlessly stared with true Yankee frankness for a glimpse of Royalty.

This history-imbibing day we finished by seeing a musical comedy, “Princess Charming”. We were quite amused at the be-ribboned ushers who served refreshments from the American Bar.

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

July 8. This was a successful shopping day and we managed to get the correct amount of pounds and shillings asked for by the time we ended our day. Libertys [sic] I found to be a particularly attractive shop. In the evening, Mother, Dad and Alice “dressed” and Bob and I were in sport clothes so our theater choices differed. Bob and I went to a revue, “One Damn Thing After Another”, while they went to “The Vagabond King”.

July 9. Very quiet Sunday. Mother & Dad took the famous 2 pc. Bus Ride; we wrote three letters and wandered around.

July 11. Imperial Air Lines to Paris. Wrote K. Ault at 4,000 ft. in air. Plane engine so noisy over English Channel, Bob & I wrote notes to each other across the aisle.  

July 12. Paris – morning shopping. Mother and I had dresses and evening wraps made by Madame Rose – card of introduction given mother by Bess Pollack. Madame Rose’s model was ill – at her request I modeled a gown for one of her customers. Fun. Met Aunt Charlotte here. In the evening, we went to the “Follies Bergere”, featuring Maurice Chevalier and Josephine Baker.

July 13. More shopping in a.m. We went to the Grand Opera House at night – saw and heard Wagner’s “Valkyrie”.

July 14. BASTILLE DAY. Street dancing, horn blowing, much noise and excitement. Shaw Tour Group met us here – friends of mother & dad – we’ll join them now and then along our way. Jack and his mother, special friends of Mrs. Shaw, were particularly introduced to us –they are from Wisconsin. Jack, Bob, Ida and I went on a night tour of Paris and the “Moulin Rouge” – colored and white men together.

July 16. Battle Field Trip. Marne – Chateau Thierry – Belleau Wood – Rheims Cathedral. Dinner at Soisson. Jack ill – very cross.

July 17. Versailles - fountains – very lovely.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?