1939 Handwritten Trip Diary Seattle To Mexico City Alice Jones Ancient Pyramids
Item History & Price
WELCOMETO SALLY’S DIARIES: I’vebeen a bit busy with traveling back and forth from Washington stateto Oregon helping with my elderly mother and that’s why no listingsfor a while, but I’m back. Upfor auction today is a 1939 travel diary that contains 93 pages ofhandwritten entries representing a month long trip. On the very firstpage she has written this…. “AliceM. Jones. May 13 to 31, 1939. Trip to Mexico, D. F. from SeattleWash. and return.” Thereare so many incred...ible things concerning this diary including thefact that it still comes with it’s original pencil. It’s all about her tripfrom Seattle Washington to Mexico City. Several pages in, they arrivein LA and it’s from there they take a plane to Mexico City. On thisparticular day she devotes 13 pages describing almost a minute byminute account (actually 15 to 30 minute time frames ) of life onboard this 1939 place. It’s really amazing and I’ve never had adiary like this. The photos you see above showing the passengers andthe plane are NOT original and did NOT come from this diary. I justhad to look up photos on the web to give me a better idea of what shewas talking about and thought you might want to see also what it musthave been like. Again, her descriptions are quite note worthy. Anothergreat thing about this diary is the fact that she is also an avidphotographer as she talks about taking all kinds of photos and alsotalks about what lenses she uses and exposures. And if that wasn’tenough, she visits quite a few of the ancient pyramids while inMexico and when she gets back to the states she takes in the GoldenGate Fair in San Francisco. At the fair she talks about seeing the“new” television. I really can’t say enough about heradventures so we’ll let Alice do the rest using a few of herexample entries here…...1939“May13th, Left Seattle on the 4:20 P.M. Father and Geo. saw us off. Manana andI had to find seats with other people because train was too crowded.Was very nice tho. Our companions had dinner (we didn’t) so had achance together a while. The air conditioning was too good. Had towear my coat over my suit until they turned on more heat. Guess theythought I was freezing. Arrived in Portland 9:20 P.M. Had time forchili and buttermilk. Manana a little tired. The lady talked toomuch. What fun. The porter brought me a ladder to get into the upper(mother has the lower in the same section). We left Portland at10:15. Now is 11:00 P.M. so guess will get a long nights sleep. It isso warm. Think I shall have to sleep on top of the covers.”(She is on her way to Los Angeles. Great description of her viewsfrom the train window. Passed Mt. Shasta arriving in DunsmuirCalifornia at 11:00 A.M. Then Sacramento Valley)“May14th…...Left Sacramento 7:30. There is practically notime between daylight and dark here. It is 5 to 8:00 and quite darkalready. We went to the Observation car while porter made up ourberths. Were just in time to hear, “Night Editor” program. We areto get into Glendale at 8:23 A.M. so will have to get breakfastearly. Am getting to bed at 10:00 P.M. Porter made a mistake and putour baggage in the section across the isle but now have itstraightened out.” (They got off at Glendale the next morningand went to the Christie Hotel in Hollywood. Went to a lecture at theplanetarium there. Then on to the Glendale airport to head to Mexicoon the 16th. And again, May 16th is 13 pageslong)“May16th, Arose 1:45 A.M. Car promptly arrived at 2:30 A.M. Had very hurriedride to airport. It’s completely dark, did not try to get apicture. At 3:30, 8 or 9 of us boarded plane (still pitch dark) andthere we were roaring over LA. Had the last seat in cabin for 14.Could see the port and starboard lights just like on a ship. Crew of4 composed of Captain Christoferson, pilot, radio man and cabin boy.Wonderful night view of LA, just had to try taking picture, usedzero. In about 10 minutes could not see LA and realized that we hadclimbed above a high fog. 4:30 A.M. clearing a little. Little bumpy, tops of mts. show above the clouds. In a few minutes it becomes lightand the sun is up. 4:45 irrigated green checked section with snakyriver. Leaving mts. and the plane is smooth now. 5:20 circling overMexicali, our first stop. Took picture of pilot checking amt. ofgasoline going in tank. Leave in 10 minutes. As the plane rises thecattle in the fields scatter to ether side of our path. 5:45Approaching the Delta-like country at mouth of Gulf of Calif. This isthe Altair or Sonora desert. Real sand dunes. We follow the shoreline of the Gulf on the east. 6:15 A.M. Had breakfast served by cabinboy. Coffee, doughnuts, 4 lumps of sugar. Have a fair idea ofwhat it would be like flying across the Pacific….. (Anotherfull page of this reaching Hermosillo where they go throughcustoms.)...By 11:50 we have come in view of the gulf againand the desert is being encroached upon by trees on the hilly slopes.Also lakes and rivers are coming into view, also a few greencheckerboards. 12:55 nearing Mazatlan. Took picture of cloudformations. 1:15 arrived Mazatlan. Took picture of islands about theharbor. There are great groves of palms but did not get a picture. Weget new passengers on every stop. The next stop is S. E. about 280miles to Guadalajara, elevation is over 5, 000 ft. so we have someclimb ahead. All these “landings and leavings” are quite bumpy, but, of course, it doesn’t last long. They always warn us byflashing on a sign, “Please fast seat belt.”…...” (Theyfinally arrive in Mexico City at 5:10. They were met by a man fromthe Cook’s agency and ushered into a car that drove they to theGeneve, a very historic old hotel established in 1907.)
“May17th, Had quite a rain last night; beginning of the rainy season. Arose7:30 A.M. Had breakfast. Our guide, a professor _______ ofarchaeology at the University, now with Cook’s, called for us at9:00 A.M. Started on a 2 day trip to Taxco and Cuernanaca. We haveanother passenger, a Miss Thompsen of Lost Angeles. Very nice.Outside city noticed Mt. Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl or thesleeping lady. View of Mts. obscured by haze…….” (She thendescribes her time in Taxco; 5 pages then on to Cuernanaca on the18th, returning to Mexico City that night then Toluca thenext day.) “May20th, We arose 8:00 A.M. Had papaya for breakfast, very good. We were theonly passengers this morning. Drove to Tenayuca Pyramid, wasextremely interesting showing three stages of Mexican culture. Nawah, older than 3, 000 years, Toltec about 3, 000 years and the recentAztec, last 900 years. Our French guide had helped supervise theexcavation and of course was very good at explaining details. Thesnake was sacred in all three periods…….” (Her mother wasvery sick for a day. Next day a gondola ride. On the 22nd, they head back to Taxco to the Guadalupe Shrine. After that theybought some wonderful mats from a lady selling them on the side ofthe road and then…...) “May22nd, ….Thenwe drove some distance to the pyramid section and had lunch under thetrees in a beautiful little park. It was a box lunch, very informaland we had lots of fun…...After lunch entered the museum and guideexplained many things about objects taken from the pyramids and theage of the pyramids. These are the pyramids of the sun and of themoon. Walked around the base of the sun pyramid some 760 ft. on aside and guide helped me gather many pieces of obsidian among them agood arrowhead. Would have considered climbing to the topbut since it was hot thought it might be unusual. Just outside thepark Mrs. Scott found 2 lovely pieces of pottery quite similar tomine so she was quite happy. Then visited the pyramid or Temple ofQuelzalcoatle…..”(two more pages of writing and then they return back to Mexico Cityas a storm is approaching). “March25th, ……Hadto stop at the Sacramonte Chapel near Amecameca and walk up a couplehundred feet past the 14 station of the cross. It was a picturesquepath with the natives coming down from the church. Took two picturesof the road. At top took picture of the village and Izy in thebackground. It was approaching noon so drove at speed of about 105kilometers towards Xochimiteo past the many canals which connect withXochimiteo. Pass many tiny villages and had a rare opportunity to seecountry and people seldom seen by tourists….Arrived Xochimiteoabout 1:15 P.M. and took the “Lupita” down the canal to theMiramar where we had luncheon. The canal was not crowded today andwith a warm bright sun and smooth water it was much more lovely thanlast Sunday. After lunch did not follow the main canal but took awinding route through some smaller ones where we saw many moreflowers and saw the Xochimiteo Indians, who own all this land, takingcare of the flowers. When they are not growing flowers they plantmaize……Then took a hurried trip to a snail shaped pyramid builtby the Toltecs…..”“May26th, …….(They’vebeen in Pubela)…Onthe return to Mexico stopped and took pictures of Donato and Mr.Piez. Our guide was quite interesting in that he, his father and twosisters had scaled both Popocateptl and Ixtacihuatle. Also told usabout some breath taking experience while doing so. His sister wasthe first woman to climb Mt. Orizaba, which is over 19, 000 ft and thefourth highest mountainin the world…….”(On the 28ththey head back on the train for Guadalajara where they stay thenight. On the 29ththey board another plane. They land several times for fuel andcustoms. Then a train back to Glendale and on to San Francisco toattend the Golden Gate Fair.)“May30th, Arrived San Francisco 7:30 A.M. Bought sleeper to Portland and wiredfather time of arrival in Seattle. Fair grounds at 10 A.M. So relaxedawhile and then took the 10 cent ferry to Treasure Island. Entrancefee was 50 cents. Took “Elephant Train” 35 cents a piece aroundthe island. Mother didn’t want to walk so took a chair car for onehour ($2.00) and went in several of the free buildings. The groundsand buildings are unusually beautiful. Walked around a bit, saw thePhilippine building, which had a very fine exhibit but spent most ofour time in the Science, Electricity and Communications buildingswhich are connected together and seem to be by far the most popular.Saw several RCA television receiving sets in operation, certainly agreat improvement over 1953 at Chicago. Also had a glimpse of thebroadcasting (telecast) in the next room. The received image isreflected and seen on the mirror glass cover of the set. The G.E.“House of Magic” was almost the same as usual, had a repellingmagnet. Several of the buildings are unopened as yet. Saw theareoplane base for slipper ships which as interesting……..” Theyboard the train that night after the fair and arrive home the nextnight, May 31st, in Seattle. There is so much more thanwhat I’ve quoted here. As far as the condition of the diary, it’sin excellent shape and measures about 4 1/4” x 6 3/4”.
“May17th, Had quite a rain last night; beginning of the rainy season. Arose7:30 A.M. Had breakfast. Our guide, a professor _______ ofarchaeology at the University, now with Cook’s, called for us at9:00 A.M. Started on a 2 day trip to Taxco and Cuernanaca. We haveanother passenger, a Miss Thompsen of Lost Angeles. Very nice.Outside city noticed Mt. Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl or thesleeping lady. View of Mts. obscured by haze…….” (She thendescribes her time in Taxco; 5 pages then on to Cuernanaca on the18th, returning to Mexico City that night then Toluca thenext day.) “May20th, We arose 8:00 A.M. Had papaya for breakfast, very good. We were theonly passengers this morning. Drove to Tenayuca Pyramid, wasextremely interesting showing three stages of Mexican culture. Nawah, older than 3, 000 years, Toltec about 3, 000 years and the recentAztec, last 900 years. Our French guide had helped supervise theexcavation and of course was very good at explaining details. Thesnake was sacred in all three periods…….” (Her mother wasvery sick for a day. Next day a gondola ride. On the 22nd, they head back to Taxco to the Guadalupe Shrine. After that theybought some wonderful mats from a lady selling them on the side ofthe road and then…...) “May22nd, ….Thenwe drove some distance to the pyramid section and had lunch under thetrees in a beautiful little park. It was a box lunch, very informaland we had lots of fun…...After lunch entered the museum and guideexplained many things about objects taken from the pyramids and theage of the pyramids. These are the pyramids of the sun and of themoon. Walked around the base of the sun pyramid some 760 ft. on aside and guide helped me gather many pieces of obsidian among them agood arrowhead. Would have considered climbing to the topbut since it was hot thought it might be unusual. Just outside thepark Mrs. Scott found 2 lovely pieces of pottery quite similar tomine so she was quite happy. Then visited the pyramid or Temple ofQuelzalcoatle…..”(two more pages of writing and then they return back to Mexico Cityas a storm is approaching). “March25th, ……Hadto stop at the Sacramonte Chapel near Amecameca and walk up a couplehundred feet past the 14 station of the cross. It was a picturesquepath with the natives coming down from the church. Took two picturesof the road. At top took picture of the village and Izy in thebackground. It was approaching noon so drove at speed of about 105kilometers towards Xochimiteo past the many canals which connect withXochimiteo. Pass many tiny villages and had a rare opportunity to seecountry and people seldom seen by tourists….Arrived Xochimiteoabout 1:15 P.M. and took the “Lupita” down the canal to theMiramar where we had luncheon. The canal was not crowded today andwith a warm bright sun and smooth water it was much more lovely thanlast Sunday. After lunch did not follow the main canal but took awinding route through some smaller ones where we saw many moreflowers and saw the Xochimiteo Indians, who own all this land, takingcare of the flowers. When they are not growing flowers they plantmaize……Then took a hurried trip to a snail shaped pyramid builtby the Toltecs…..”“May26th, …….(They’vebeen in Pubela)…Onthe return to Mexico stopped and took pictures of Donato and Mr.Piez. Our guide was quite interesting in that he, his father and twosisters had scaled both Popocateptl and Ixtacihuatle. Also told usabout some breath taking experience while doing so. His sister wasthe first woman to climb Mt. Orizaba, which is over 19, 000 ft and thefourth highest mountainin the world…….”(On the 28ththey head back on the train for Guadalajara where they stay thenight. On the 29ththey board another plane. They land several times for fuel andcustoms. Then a train back to Glendale and on to San Francisco toattend the Golden Gate Fair.)“May30th, Arrived San Francisco 7:30 A.M. Bought sleeper to Portland and wiredfather time of arrival in Seattle. Fair grounds at 10 A.M. So relaxedawhile and then took the 10 cent ferry to Treasure Island. Entrancefee was 50 cents. Took “Elephant Train” 35 cents a piece aroundthe island. Mother didn’t want to walk so took a chair car for onehour ($2.00) and went in several of the free buildings. The groundsand buildings are unusually beautiful. Walked around a bit, saw thePhilippine building, which had a very fine exhibit but spent most ofour time in the Science, Electricity and Communications buildingswhich are connected together and seem to be by far the most popular.Saw several RCA television receiving sets in operation, certainly agreat improvement over 1953 at Chicago. Also had a glimpse of thebroadcasting (telecast) in the next room. The received image isreflected and seen on the mirror glass cover of the set. The G.E.“House of Magic” was almost the same as usual, had a repellingmagnet. Several of the buildings are unopened as yet. Saw theareoplane base for slipper ships which as interesting……..” Theyboard the train that night after the fair and arrive home the nextnight, May 31st, in Seattle. There is so much more thanwhat I’ve quoted here. As far as the condition of the diary, it’sin excellent shape and measures about 4 1/4” x 6 3/4”.
