Thursday, 5 May 1955
My portrait of our Australian friend, Pat. Oil on canvas, 1958
Raw and choppy – sunny later. Australian girl next to Ruth at table. Loves U.S. Going to Paris where she hopes to find a job for the summer. She’s a nurse.
Today is Liberation Day for the Dutch. The Netherlands national anthem in the Palm Court this morning. Lots of Dutch folk songs. Old timers having a ball. Got some British money today but it’s impossible to fathom in pounds, shillings, and pence. Tried some sketches of musicians but failed miserably. Obviously, still very timid about sketching.
Dinner is late because of Liberation Day. Paper hats and favors. Much noise. Most everyone feeling pretty good but no one obnoxious. Young girls with different men as eliminations began. Palm Court much too crowded.
Old folks who ate at first sitting have taken all the seats. We sit in smoking lounge with our table mates. Cordials for four and two ginger ales for $1.10. What a sport I am on the high seas!
Good bull session. Pat, the Australian nurse; Jack from Seattle, on his second trip to Europe; William, the Irishman called “Paddy” by the Scots; a Belgian girl who says she is “Flemish,” not French. She also said I looked like an old German (I’m 26). No compliment coming from a Belgian.
William, who has been all over the Middle East and Europe, fought in Italy with the British army and probably marched up the Adriatic Coast through the Giambarba hometown. William is very articulate, doesn’t like what he calls the “irresponsibility of the American press” and their trying cases in the paper before they go to trial. He would rather live in London than anywhere else in the world. He also says one can get a job in England regardless of race or politics.