Switzerland - Neuchatel - 27.4.1957

City Hotel, Neuchatel, Switzerland 27-4-1957.

Dear Pennie,

     We have just returned from a walk by the lake where the white swans swim in amongst all the boats.  They don't seem at all worried with speed boats dashing around them.  We left London yesterday, by train to Folkestone, then a boat across the Channel to Calais, another train to Paris, where we changed into yet another train and arrived here at 7a.m. this morning.  You will be able to find all the places on the map.

     Lots of love, Nan.

City Hotel, Neuchatel. 27-4-1957.

Dear Merry,

     We slept last night on a bed in a train.  I t was fun.  It was the longest train I have ever seen, with a huge engine, but the whistle is just a silly little squeak.

      Lots of love, Nan.

England - London - 18.4.1957.

 Berners Hotel, London. England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Pennie,

     We arrived in London yesterday, by air.  Half way across the Channel we could see the cliffs of Dover in front of us and the coast of France behind us.  It was thrilling.  We loved Paris, I think it must be the most beautiful city in the World.  Susy and I went up to the top of the Eiffel tower.  A lift takes you up one stage, then another lift goes to more stages and then yet another one another stage and then we walked up the last stage!  We counted 13 bridges over the Seine from the top of the tower.  Thank you for your letter, I'll write a proper letter to you when I have finished racing over the country.

     Lots of love, Nan

Berners Hotel, London. England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Timmy,

     Thank you for your letter I was very pleased to hear the news of Pee-wee.  We went to see Buckingham Palace yesterday and to watch the guards.  One had his shoe lace undone and I did want to tell him about it but he looked so stern,  I did not like to.  The queen has gone to Windsor for a holiday and we are very disappointed that there is no chance of seeing her this time.  We are going back to France tomorrow week, by boat this time, so I hope the sea is nice and well behaved.  In the aeroplane yesterday all the seats faced back the front.  It seemed very odd to be travelling backwards.  I will try to send you big stamps but I can't always get them.

     Lots of love G.A.N  (Great Aunt Nancy)

Berners Hotel, London.  England - 18-4-1957.

Dear Merry,

     Thank you very much for your letter, you certainly put a lot of hard work into it and I was most impressed.  We haven't seen these 'Beefeaters' yet, but we will next week.  Please tell Pee-wee she had better come to France to live because dogs are allowed to travel in trains and buses there and I saw one dog much bigger than she is, sitting on a chair in a cafe eating off the table !!  I think I might have told you that before, did I?

     Lots of love, Nan.

Switzerland - Berne - 12.4.1957

 Hotel St Gotthard, Berne. Switzerland. 12-4-1957

Dear Pennie,

     You are a darling to write two letters, the ones I got here when we arrived this morning at the first I have received.  We came from Neuchatel in an electric train.  The entire front of the drivers compartment is glass and lucky Susy had a seat right beside the driver.  Twice did the whistle blow to tell deer to get off the line!  They went bounding into the forest lickety split.  We walked from the train to the Hotel, only about 200 yards and it was snowing and we arrived with snow on our coats.

     Lots of love, Nan.

 Hotel St Gotthard, Berne.  Switzerland.  12.4.1957

Dear Timmy,

      Thank you for your letters.  It was so good to get all the Rodd Families letters when we arrived here this morning.  We went to see the bears this afternoon.  The pit is just in a street, not a zoo.  you are not allowed to fee them on anything with sugar in it, so we bought a packet each of cut up carrots and dried figs.  They can catch very well.

     Lots of love, Nan
P.S. If  I'd saved my apple cores I could have given them to the bears!

Hotel St Gotthard, Berne.  Switzerland. 12-4-1957

Dear Meredith,

     I didn't mean to send another card so soon but was so thrilled to get your letters that I had to write to say thank you.  We left Neuchatel while it was snowing this morning and Susy opened her mouth to say something and slow flakes popped in!  We saw these bears today but they have grown just a bit bigger than in the picture.   

     Lots of love, Nan.

Switzerland - Nuechatel - 11.4.1957

 City Hotel, Neuchatel. Switzerland.
11.4.1957

Dear Pennie,

     We went to see Susie's school this afternoon.  It has lots of very old buildings, the head master seems very nice and so does his wife.  Tell Mummy I feel quite happy about leaving Susy there.  They even have lots of cows but not like this one.

     love, Nan.

 City Hotel, Neuchatel. Switzerland.
11-4-1957

Dear Timmy,

     This is a very nice place.  We love the traffic policeman.  They have long white batons which they point to where they want you to go.  How is Pee-wee? * When I come home I'll try to make her into a poodle.

     Lots of love, Nan.
* Pee-wee was a lovely dog we owned but she was baited by someone and died before Cranky could turn her into a poodle?  I have no idea why she thought that, she never owned a poodle.

City Hotel, Neuchatel. Switzerland.
11-4-1957

Dear Merry,

     What do you think of this for a swing?   We are having a very good time, but it is very cold.  Lots of snow.  We bought a loaf of bread this morning and fed dozens of white swans on the lake in front of our hotel.

     Love, Nan.

Monaco - 7.4.1957

Hotel Beau Rivage, Monaco.
7-4-1957

Dear Pennie,

      Suzy and I went shopping this morning and we thought you would  be pleased with this picture.  We shopped in French, too and were very proud of ourselves.  Our hotel room looks across the harbour, right at the Palace.  If I leave the door open I can lie in bed and see it.

      Lots of love, Nan

Hotel Beau Rivage, Monaco.
7-4-1957

Dear Merry,

      This is a picture of the Palace where a real Prince and Princess live.  If you look carefully you will see the striped sentry boxes that are also in the card I am sending Timmy.  I have put a little cross on the wall, that is where Suzy and I stood for a while this morning.

      Lots of love, Nan.

Italy - Florence - 2.4.1957

Hotel Minerva, Florence. Italy.
2-4-1957

Dear Pennie,
The words on the card are Italian for 'Good Easter'.  Will you please tell Mummy I received her cable.  We are on the 4th floor of the hotel and look down onto a square with a fountain in which we can see large gold fish.  The word for 'floor' in Italian is 'Piano' which always amuses me!  We leave here tomorrow for Genoa.  Look it up in the atlas.
Lots of love, Nan.

Italy - Florence - 30.3.1957

 Hotel Minerva, Florence. Italy
30-3-1957

Dear Pennie,
Hope you received my last card.  We are loving Italy.  From this hotel bedroom we look out onto a square with a fountain in the middle.  Last night I woke to hear the rain, but when I got up and looked out of the window, I discovered it was only the noise of the fountain!  We arrived here last night in a motor coach which had vases of huge pink carnations and even a cupboard to hang the passengers coats.
Lots of love, Nan