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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Bon voyage, ladies

Sometime in the early 1900's, three women set off on a voyage to Western Europe. I don't know who these ladies are, nor where they called home. I bought this little photo album at an antiques store about ten years ago. I have been intrigued by it ever since and often gaze at the pictures, hoping to find a clue to their story. I'm guessing it went something like this.

They might be related. Maybe mother, daughter and grandmother or aunt. Or maybe they are two friends with a female chaperone. One of them looks quite a bit younger than the others, so I think it may be the former. They set off either from New York or London on an ocean steamer that was part of the North German Lloyd Line.

 
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The ladies most likely debarked in Germany as the NGL was headquartered in Bremen. This large estate or chateau was the first of their sightseeing photos. Perhaps they knew the owners.

 
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Their next stop was Lucerne, Switzerland, where they arrived by train.

 


The Castle of Chillon was the next stop.

 
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Then the Dying Lion of Lucerne which was built to honor the Swiss Guard who were hired by Louis XVI to defend his palace during the French Revolution.

 


There are a lot of pictures, so I'm making this a continuing series. Tomorrow the ladies will be traveling south to Rome.

20 comments:

VioletSky said...

What an interesting find!
Is anything written in it?

Love the hats - though they don't look a particularly fun-loving group do they? Serious travellers taking care with deportment!

Char said...

what a beautiful find complete like that - gorgeous

Sandy Nawrot said...

See, all you need to do is research these women and find out their story, and then write a book! This is so cool, I can't stand it!

tipper said...

How neat!! Don't you wish you could hear their thoughts about the trip-I do.

Ruth said...

OMG! You are so right that I love this album. Brilliant idea to post it in a series (like Delphine's chateau story).

Those women, what attitude, such panache! That net on one face (is there a name for those?) - it makes her head look like it was PhotoShopped in, hahaha.

Makes me want to write a fiction about them. This could go anywhere. So could 3 blog friends meet up and look as stylish as they do?

CottageGirl said...

What a find you have there,Susan! How intriguing!
Makes me wonder ... Will others find our blogs out there in cyberland in 100 years or so and wonder about us? Of course we will have more information for them ... but what will they think? What will the world be like then ...

Can't wait to see what you have next to share from the album!!

Rose said...

This was wonderful. Can't wait for the next installment.

Susan said...

Sanna, how I wish something had been written in the album. I desperately want to know who these women were. The only marking is a sticker in the back by the maker of the album, but I can't find a thing about it. I'll post a pic later on and maybe someone will recognize it.

Yeah, they are one serious trio, aren't they? I don't think anyone smiled in photos back then. :(

Susan said...

Char, I was over the moon when I saw it in the store. I didn't want to dismantle it or remove any of the pictures, so that's why some of them are a little askew. You can't imagine how long it took me to scan all of them. Some I had to do many times.

Susan said...

Sandy, welcome back! Don't you know, I would dearly love to tell their story, if I just had a clue as to who they were. I've used a magnifying glass until my eyes crossed and can only make out a few words, none of which has anything to do with them! The ship didn't even have a manifest and of course, it would be sheer guesswork, if they did. The story would have to be purely fiction!

Susan said...

Tipper, oh yes, I would love to know their thoughts and conversation. They do seem to be a little more relaxed as they go on, well, except for Grandma. She's about as tight-lipped as they get!

Susan said...

Ruthie, I knew you would love it! I think I had to do a series. I'm not sure blogger would let me post that many pics at one time!

I agree, the ladies had PRESENCE, didn't they? I'll bet that the face net was silk, so the sheen makes it seem otherworldly.

We should write their story together! Each one of us can write a different chapter!

I'm not sure we could be as stylin' as them, but we could try. Not sure I would want to dress in that garb though. I, more than likely, would look kinda like Grandma!

Susan said...

Cottage Girl, don't you just love it?!! I don't buy much when I'm antiquing, but I know when it's great! I've also found pictures taken by a seaman on ship of Gen MacArthur and Hirohito signing the papers to end World War II which I bought for my history fanatic son. Paid an arm and a leg for 'em, too, but I couldn't pass them up.

I often wonder about future readings of our blogs, too! One of the reasons I started mine was to preserve some of my thoughts for my children and grandchildren. I hope they'll still be out there floating around in the distant future.

I don't think anyone will have a problem figuring out who we were. Sometimes we probably leave a little TOO much information!

Susan said...

Rose, welcome to my blog! And thank you. Please come back and read them all!

JackeeG4glamorous said...

I can't imagining someone finding my blog 100 years from now. They'd feel sorry for the pathetic little life I've led, with very few things to report or talk about. I really have got to GET WITH my blog lately.
This was a really creative post. It intriques me to do the same only with REAL pictures I've got of my family.

Susan said...

Jackee, I wish these were REAL pictures of MY family. They would have been a lot more interesting. :)

I doubt my life is any more exciting than yours, probably less. That's why I live vicariously through others' adventures!

California Girl said...

what a wonderful project! I now have the time to go through the rest of them. what fun to have this great photo album.

Susan said...

Thanks, Cali Girl!

Dutchbaby said...

This is such a creative and engaging concept - Bravo, Susan!

I've been to Chateau Chillon twice - it is my favorite castle to visit ever! It has a lot of surprising feminine touches in the architectural finishes.

Susan said...

dutchbaby, welcome aboard! The Chateau is on my list to visit someday.