Visual Entertainment from Near and Far
January 1970
This is the real Nefertiti – and she is lovely. We saw so many ancient things today – things we had studied in your ancient history at Greengates. We are in a FF apt. right on the Nile. Your letter was here – thanks – and today we got a cable from Tim. Will go to Pyramids manana and to Karachi in aft.
Love, Mom
Cairo, Egyptian Museum. Unfinished quartzite head of Queen Nefertiti.
Tula site of the major ancient Toltec civilization. The Toltecs gained power after 713 CE. Their empire lasted until the last ruler, Quetzalcoatl, came to power in 1085.
1975
Dear V
It’s good to be back again. We were in Bogota one week also. Lots of change here. Thousands of new autopista’s, casas and edificios. Bob is working 6 weeks at the Pedegogico Evaluation and doing research for a chapter on Students and Politics. Rodolfo is here also. We called Ruth and said Hi. Funny isn’t it. We took an apt at Macuto for 1 month. Move in Sat. Anthony is here also.
Love to all, Nita and Bob
June 1973 Madrid
Dear Mother
We had a lovely dinner last night and then watched Flamenco dancers until the wee hrs. Today we spent several hours in the D’El Prado (like the Louvre) and Kathy ran into 3 kids from her school – one her roommate for next year!! We’re going by train tomorrow to Lisbon, Portugal to be on the beach for a week.
Love, Dede
The postcard is of the Christ of the Lanterns located at the Plaza de los Capuchinos in Cordoba, Spain. It was created in 1794 by Juan Navarro Leon.
June 1982 (Den Haag)
Hi
K. Leaves this aft. We went to Enkhuizen to see the boats and across the dam yesterday, toured Rotterdam Harbor Sat., took the Elsmeer-Vollendam- Marken tour on Wed. It was HOT. Now I must get the apt & myself organized to leave Sun. Bill will stay the week in Minn. Thanks for Tom’s nice announcement. Will give congrats later. Hope all went well. The wedding sounded nice. Hope to be talking to you soon.
Love, Va
This postcard is of an art museum in Paris – the Georges Pompidou. When we first saw it we thought it was a very ugly thing. It had a big open area in front of it where all kinds of street performers were doing their thing, breathing fire and dancing around. It turned out to be an amazing space with wonderful art – contemporary and modern. It has all it ‘guts’ on the outside so it makes it possible to have large open spaces. It opened in 1977 and I think I must have been there a few years after that.
January 1967
Saludos de Espana
Estuve aqui con Bob y su unica hoy. Este lugar es muy similar de Taxco pero con mas pinturas – por ejemplo del Greco y Goya y otros.
Con mucho amor, Bill
May 1981
Hi
Arrived ok, took an hour’s bus ride from Belgrade to this nice little city on the Danube. I have been enjoying the meetings, as well as a tour of the Agric. Fair which was very impressive and we walk everywhere, at least, my feet are holding up so far. Tomorrow we’ll go to a farm, slaughterhouse, dairy, et. More walking. Many ministers of Ag. here so security is tight. All very intersting.
Love, Va
May 1982
Hi
Happy May Day. It is cold and rainy. This statue is just unbelievably beautiful, done when Michelangelo was 26 yrs old!! This little city is lovely with such pretty bldgs with nice little windows. We did 4 churches, the city hall and lace factory yesterday. Will do a canal trip in the cold today.
Love, Va
Michelangelo did the Pieta, below, two years earlier (at 24 years old). Here, Mary is with the 33 year old Jesus. It is very similar, she is very similar.
The one in Bruges was the first work of his to leave Italy during his lifetime. Wealthy merchants bought it for 4,000 florins (not sure what that means but I’m guessing it’s a lot). The sculpture left Belgium twice after that. The first time it was sent to France in 1794, during the French Revolutionary Wars but was returned after Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. The second was in 1944, when German soldiers smuggled it out in a Red Cross truck. It was discovered in Austria a year later and returned.
Below is a postcard of the Church of Our Lady in Bruges where the Virgin of the Infant Jesus can be found.
February, 1982
Hi
I arrived this am (1 day late) — family met me in Napier, we had a lunch – picnic in a park on the harbor and drove to Waipukurau (I can spell it but not pronounce it!) – Tuesday: We are going to the beach today – Marg. has not had her baby yet – we’ll go to her farm today also. The climate is lovely, country beautiful – think I’ll move down to retire here!
Love, Va
May 1966
Dear
I hope this reaches you before I do. I arrived here late last night and my bag did not arrive. It wont get here until Thursday night. I am really discouraged with PAA!!
Love, Bill
Postcard Buzz 