1932

Late last May Addie and Whip Walser joined Margo and Dick Cleaves in Madrid for a two-week trip by automobile into northwestern Spain and northern Portugal, returning to the Cleaves villa in Estepona, Spain. We asked Dick to write up a story on this trip, which he did, parts of it going into our newsletter. Dick starts his article with the following remarks: "This was going to be a different trip from the last one Whip Walser and I took together which is not remarkable, considering that 42 years have elapsed in the meantime. In 1936 our mode of transportation was bicycles, and we were the first to pedal over the then-unfinished Pan American Highway from the Texas-Mexico border to Mexico City; this time, it would be by car. Not just the two of us on this trip, as we would have the benefit and pleasure of our spouses Margo and Addie. And, instead of sleeping double in a two-person tent listening to the humming of mosquitoes bumping against the netting, we would be shacking up double-double in deluxe hotels and old castles and monasteries restored as government-operated paradors (Spain) and pousadas (Portugal).

"Our first goal was Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain, which called for an overnight stop in the parador at Benavente. Fortunately, as it turned out, the parador was full and the desk clerk suggested the Hostel de San Marcos at Leon, a restored palace. It was completely booked except for the royal suite, which we reserved somewhat reluctantly, as the cost for the four of us would be about $112, which is high for Spain. But, as Whip pointed out, he and Addie would be paying about the same later for their double at the Vienna Hilton, and that without breakfast! But what a bargain it turned out to be. There were vast salons filled with antiques, and the hallways and passages were veritable art galleries representing the work of hundreds of Spanish artists. From Santiago our route took us south into Portugal, where we spent the night at the Pousada de Sao Teotonia at Valenca on the Rio Minho."

Dick continues, comparing some of the eating adventures we had in Mexico back in 1936 with the sumptuous meals we had in both Spain and Portugal. He writes, "Thanks to Whip we learned a great deal about Portuguese culinary specialties ... at a cost. How to seePortugal on $100 a Day! First you disregard all the recommendations in the guide books and discover a typical out-of-the-way restaurant. The proprietor, who doubles as the cook, brings the menu, and the interrogation begins. 'What is this?' pointing. The explanation, in Portuguese, which none of us understands; then perhaps a smile of recognition when somebody moos or baas or oinks. Then there was the phrase which none of us could ever understand but which must have been, 'Try it - you'll like it!' We tried . . . how could we help it? Whip had unknowingly ordered everything on the menu . . . and we liked it, but we could barely scratch up enough escudos to pay! But we left everyone happy!

"After northern Portugal, we crossed into Spain once more, stopped at Merida to see the magnificent Roman ruins, spent a night in Sevilla, and drove home to our villa in Bahia Casares on the Mediterranean. Whip and Addie experienced some of our favorite 'out-of-the-way' restaurants and fell right into the tranquil existence on the Costa del Sol before flying off to Vienna and Russia. It was a great trip, eh, Whip?"

We were happy to return to warm Florida early in July after fighting off cold and rainy weather in Russia, France, and England. Cards and letters from other traveling classmates were awaiting our arrival. One from Ted andJudy Ellis visiting Norway stated, "Stavanger is a lot like Hanover in one respect: very cold." Ade and Terry Nitschelm sent us a long and very interesting summary of their overland trip from Hanover to California and by ship to Hawaii, Fiji, and New Zealand. They visited both the north and south islands of New Zealand before flying to the Fijis, taking a three-day cruise in those beautiful islands and stopping off in Tahiti before returning to Los Angeles. Ade reports a visit in Hanover by Joeand Eleanor Bryam and Carl and Phyllis Ward, who were attending the 50th reunion of their respective prep schools.

Class Agent Leon Warner had our 1932 Alumni Fund gifts lead all other classes in our group in the Green Derby (classes 1931 to 1939) for a number of times this year, but we finally ended up seventh out of eight. Our class did indeed reach and even increase its dollar objective by 116.1 per cent, but failed in the scoring base for number of participants. We only had a 70.4 per cent of participants, which doesn't compare well with other classes in our group. As Leon says, "It's tough competition." Never mind, Leon, you and your agents did a very good job, and one thing for sure, there will always be another Alumni Fund coming up!

We hope to see many of you at our minireunion in Hanover, October 13-14. Be sure and contact Howdie Pierpont if you haven't already.

Your obedient servant,

Classmates Whip Walser (leftJ and DickCleaves of 1932 were traveling cheap in1936 when this picture was taken atthe U.S.-Mexican border at Laredo, Tex.

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