Beginning on November 1, which is the date of my mother’s first letter from her Hawaii trip 84 years ago, I am serializing day by day, the book, Cecilia King’s Extraordinary Senior Trip, which you can obtain from Amazon in either Kindle or paperback.

I hope you enjoy the upcoming nine-months in Hawaii 1940-41.

El Paso, Tuesday, November 5, 1940

Tuesday night

Dear Daddy and Mother,

Had such fun this afternoon, just hope I can remember lots of it to tell you about.

Margaret & I took a street car over into Mexico – full of frowsy Mexican women and at the border a repulsive pock-marked patrolman, went thru the car to examine everyone. We rode clear on into the center of Juarez and got off to start through the notorious market place. I can easily understand now why others felt polluted after an hour there. The market itself is over a black (under one roof) of at least 80 booths – all bumped into each other & exhibiting all the same wares – at every half step Mexicans jumping out at us unfolding aprons, sarapes, grass dolls & rugs, pottery, lace, cedar hand carved chests & they had a jewelry case of spun silver, Indian stones, etc. One boy chased me a half mile trying to jew me down to buy two spun silver butterflies that I had only looked at from the corner of my eye. There Margaret bought a serape for Uncle Arthur’s radio – and I a hand carved Mex. Silver bracelet with little hand made bells hanging all around it. Then in the outside streets – on both sides & in every direction for two blocks are other booths like this but manly food marts – little separate booths forming a solid wall between sidewalks & street opening on the walk. Prickly pear candy, wilted flowers, avocados, huge hunks of cheese set on top of the counter and completely covered with flies – meat that looks as if it had been well covered with sawdust from the garbage – or dirt – candy of all kinds covered with bugs – a legless Mexican beggar woman sitting against the wall not leaving room to pass – funny little fruits the size of a pencil eraser (we sampled all these for at penny – germs were pitched in at no charge) – head coverings for mass – meat cuts hanging up in the open air. Summary – it stunk! Then we started to go into the Old Mission, but as it wouldn’t open for 5 minutes we walked through the park (as well as possible – stumbling over jillions of shoe shine stands & gum & peanut & candy vendors). For refreshment we went into a little café near – for a coca cola. I got a very warm drink which tasted a little on the rottenish prunish side. A stooped old Mexican woman waited on us & dirty brats pressed their noses against the windows – a parrot sat in a cage hanging in the corner.

And on into the Mission – between 300 and 400 years old still in good repair & used by the Juarez Catholics. Very beautifully hand carved wood alters – beams, etc. A man & his wife knelt at the rear & a small child before them held a candle as they moved forward to the alter on their knees all the ay – there they prayed for illness in the family. In the penitence chapel a woman moaned over a rosary & placed a candle on the alter to pray for her answered prayer. Outside on the approaching wall a man say selling miniature silver feet, crosses, etc. which were to be payments to the saints promised for certain granted prayers.

After leaving there we walked about 12 blocks past much the same types of shops, etc. to the few blocks near the border bridge where I had been before -- & where the atmosphere is more American. We did go into the Royola Cage for aushalotos (no can spell) & in spite of being the only one sin there – the three piece Mexican string orchestra played El Rancho Grande & Pamola for us. The fiddler was quite good.

On to the City of Paris – a very American curio shop with Mexican wares – where I purchased a drop or so of perfume. We walked back across the border bridge & the 15 blocks to the office.

Dinner here – election –needle point & listening to “Cissie” in an hour discourse on her first 40 cousins.

My clothes have been just wonderful & exactly the right number. Only anything over my rayon slip looks like a clinging sack with the string drawn – on account of the electricity loose.

Didn’t mean to write so much detail etc. but it’s nice to write it all down somewhere – hope too much of it isn’t boring.

That’s about all can think of – so will stick my nose out to find out the latest election report & so to bed.

Love,
Cecilia