Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, Pt. 5

Today, we say “bonjour” as we spend some time in the romantic country of France, circa 1955. The first few photos that my mom snapped are from September 16, and show the Tuileries Garden, located between The Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde in Paris. Created by Catherine de Medicis as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564, it was first opened to the public in 1667, and became a public park after the French Revolution (maybe the peasants ate their cake here!).



Speaking of the Louvre...mom had the next 3 shots marked as “The Louvre,” probably one of the most famous art museums in the world, and home to the mysterious “Mona Lisa.”







The Seine River:



You can enjoy the vintage cars AND the Eiffel Tower, which I remember being told the Parisiennes HATED! Ironic that most of us associate this city with that iconic landmark.



The Seine Bridges:





Some spectacular views that mom took from the Eiffel Tower:





And a fun shot of the Tower as she was descending:



Chateau de Malmaison (“the evil house”) was first used as a hideout for Norman invaders in mid 1200s. Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte lived at Malmaison for a number of years.



The Palace of Versailles:



The grounds of the Petit Trianon were laid out by Marie Antoinette, the Queen of Louis XVI, who was extremely partial to this villa as a residence, and used to entertain her guests there, living there as a shepherdess. I guess it made her feel closer to the peasants without actually having to smell them.



See more vintage and contemporary photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, 1955, Pt. 3

Back to Europe...the only information I have on this first photo is my mother’s caption, “Showcoach at Kentwood, Sept. 9, 1955.”

Next up we have a batch of shots all labeled Oxford, Magdalen Tower, Sept. 9, 1955. Magdalen Bell Tower is one of the oldest (and tallest) parts of Magdalen College, Oxford. Built of stone from 1492 and completed by 1509.





A shot of my Grandmother at Oxford.



Closing in for a view of what the well-dressed lady would wear in 1955. DO NOT forget the gloves!







The next day, my Mom and Grandmother visited Warwick Castle, on Sept. 10, 1955. It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England that sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.



Getting literary on you...Shakespeare’s House, Sept. 10, 1955





Ann Hathaway’s (Shakespeare’s wife) family’s cottage:



Originally, the house was part of a 90-acre parcel. Not bad for a “cottage.”



Zooming in to the previous shot, you can see my Mom and Grandmother.



The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Sept. 10, 1955. The present theatre opened in April 1932 on the site of the original Shakespeare Memorial Theatre which had been destroyed by fire on March 6, 1926. It is now managed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and was renamed Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 1961.



See more vintage and contemporary photos at my main website.