This is a Non Fiction Story about three cousins who wanted to start a card club patterned after their parent’s Pinochle Club that lasted 70 years. They were immigrants from France and passed through Ellis Island, NY. The cousins got other couples to join them, and formed the Saturday Night Club. Some of the club members weren’t serious players, so the card games were as simple as could be to accommodate all. Early evening for club started with an alcoholic drink of choice, and just a friendly visit for about a half hour, followed by parlor games for another half hour. Then, they played cards, followed by a desert and coffee, before ending the evening. Meetings were once a month, rain or shine, sleet or snow.
During the visiting part of club, there were day trips to plan for. Then, there were week end trips. After that, came week vacations, to places like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard MA for sightseeing and swimming, Newport, RI to visit the mansions, and dancing, Virginia Beach, VA, for surfing. For 13 years we went to Canoe Island Lodge, at Lake George, NY for an October-fest week end. There was also a trip to Gettysburg, PA to visit the battlefield, and stop at Hershey Chocolate Factory, and an Amish village to visit a home. We shouldn’t forget visiting Disney World Resort, for rides, and all kinds of entertainment
We went on Honeymoon cruises to Bermuda, to listen to the metal drum bands and watch the shows. Then, we went to Puerto Rico, for visiting the rain forest. From here, we embarked on a cruise ship to the US Virgin Islands, to visit sugar and banana plantations, and of course visit the Nude Beach, for people gazing on St Thomas Island. After that, it was on to the Island of Hawaii, and a cruise trip for Island hopping, to see the volcanoes, eating at a pig roast, and watching the natives perform.
We started skiing in our 60’s that took us to 11 resorts, in 7 states. We also went skiing in the French Alps in Les Arcs, France. We did this without any reservations, to visit Luxembourg, Paris, Grange la Ville in Villersexal, France, Lyon and then to ski the Alps. Next year we did the same thing so that some of our family could join us.
Our European Tour came next, starting with Brussels. From Belgium, it was on to Amsterdam, with the windmills, the canals, the dikes, the Red Light District, the Cannabis Coffee Shop, and the Anne Frank House. We also visited a Gouda Cheese Farm. We saw Heidelberg where our daughter Mel got her degree in teaching, visited the castle, and a brewery. Next, we went to the walled city of Rothenberg with its clock tower. Later, we went to Wurzburg where we saw the Castle on the Hill, with its walled entrance way, and honeycombed passage ways. In Lake Lucerne we walked across the bridge over the lake and took the tram ride to the top of Mount Pilatus. The Versailles Palace in France was a sight to behold. The elegance was breath taking with the hall of mirrors inside, and the gardens outside.
We also went with the club group to tour London, with a show of topless dancing girls after dinner, then, on to Paris, the City of Lights, with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre with so many pictures to view. The road from Switzerland went over the Alps on an old Roman Road leading to Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy. Who could forget romantic Venice with the gondolas on the Grand Canal, and the many bridges over the canals. Then, it was on to Florence to see the statue of David by Michael Angelo, and then to Rome to see the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, The Spanish Steps, and the Trivia Fountain; it was all so breath- taking.
We took a plane to Phoenix, AZ, and then a tour bus to Sedona, Flagstaff, and then the Grand Canyon, plus Bryce and Zion Canyons, to see the red stone formations, and the spectacular view of the mile deep Grand Canyon, with the Colorado River below, and the awesome Bryce Canyon Spires. Then, a side trip to the Mesa Verde National Park to see the Indian Cliff Dwelling Ruins. Next on the agenda was Lake Powel with all the house pleasure boats and a plane ride over the lake to see the rock formations, and the coves. From there, we took a senior boat ride down the river where we could contemplate God’s wonders.
We went back to Phoenix and flew to San Francisco to visit the crooked Lombard Street, eat at the Wharf, go for a cable ride up the hill, go to Alcatraz Prison, go over the Frisco and Bay Bridges, and visit the Sequoia National Park to see the oldest and largest Red Wood Trees in the world. We were three couples so we rented a van to drive down toward Los Angeles, and on the way, meet Chet and Mary Anne Pado at Morrow Bay for lunch, visit the Hearst Castle, stop at the Solvang Danish Town to do a little shopping. We visited the Napa Valley Wineries, and then, went to the Pacific Palisades to the Pado’s home for a stopover. Then, we all went down to Los Angeles, and the San Diego Zoo.
We had quite a ride going across the Desert Valley to see Las Vegas, the Entertainment Center of the World, with its gambling, spectacular shows. Next we drove out to Boulder Dam, and Lake Mead. We were allowed to go down through the dam to see the huge generators, and the sight down river from the dam was so spectacular. This ended our Travel Log, but the fond memories linger on.