Bon Voyage!

89 years ago today, Geneva Porter and her husband Peter embarked on a 4 month cruise (February to June, 1922) on board the RMS Adriatic. At the time, cruises such as this were a posh affair and often made the New York Times as social news with lists of prominent travelers. The Rare Book Room of the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library is privileged to hold Geneva's diary of her grand tour. Entries range from the quality of the food on the cruise to rich descriptions of landscapes and vistas. Joined by good friends and local notables Paul and Penn Schoellkopf, the Porters toured Algiers, Gibraltar, Egypt, France, Belgium, and Italy. Below is an image and transcription of Geneva's diary from February 18, 1922. Subscribe to this blog or check back often to read more entries from her diaries.  Can't wait?  Click here to read all of Geneva's entries regarding her 1922 trip.

Adriatic. 1922. Saturday 18 February.  What a hurry!  And what fun and excitement in the farewells on an ocean liner just about to start.  Everybody feel a bit queerly watching the Statue of Liberty disappear in the distance.  We certainly have been loaded down with presints [sic] of all sorts.  We found some Buffalonian on board.  Pete also some New York friends.  We are all sitting together- 3 children, governess, etc.  The food is very good.  It is so cold Penn and I have decided to stay in our rooms today.  Paul and Pete have gone for a swim.  It seemed very funny having wine with our dinner.  As we were at table, the new boat Paris passed.  We sat in the lounge and smoked after dinner.  We went up to the bar for beer before bed then Pete and I took a walk in the moonlight.