Thursday, 25 March 1937
Very cold, and windy. Just played bridge in the smoke room. Had a very good concert at night.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 23 March: At sea
Tuesday, 23 March 1937
Nice and cool, played bridge nearly all day, played Rummy at night. Had supper in Hills cabin. Children sports and fancy dress today.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 22 March: At sea
Monday, 22 March 1937
A beautiful morning, not a ripple on the water, just like glass. Entered competition; played bridge, morning afternoon and night. Won 3 in the morning, lost 15 at night. Had supper in Mrs Webb’s cabin, gin and sandwiches. Very cool and calm all day.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 21 March: Port Said
Sunday, 21 March 1937
Arrived at Port Said at 5 in the morning, a most interesting place. Went ashore after breakfast with Mrs Sutherland. The natives worry you all the time to buy.Beat them down very easy.Went to the English Church service at 10, full of passengers, 2 ministers, the sermon poor. Came out, got into a carriage with a guide, drove around the city, plenty to see. Very large building, did not see any white people about. Drove back to a shop, did some buying, not a bit like Sunday. Back to the boat for lunch, then back to town again with Mrs [I] Byrne [age 51], guide again. Had 3 lots of Egyptian coffee & cigarettes for nothing.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 20 March: Suez Canal and Cairo
Saturday, 20 March 1937
Lovely day, arrived at Suez about 4 in the afternoon. About 150 of us left by boat for Cairo, £7.10 fare. Passengers are not allowed to land. Left soon after for the Canal. A marvellous piece of work. Had game of bridge, lost 6° then stayed on deck until 12. Lovely moonlight night and very cold. Had supper in Mrs [L] Webb’s [age 65] cabin.
Pencil – Stayed at Alexandria Hotel in Cairo.Went for a ride out to the pyramids on camels, not a very pleasant trip.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 19 March: At sea again
Friday, 19 March 1937
We left Sudan at 4 o’clock yesterday. Lovely weather, very nice day today, calm as a mill pond. Played bridge this morning, again in the afternoon; lost 1°. Played again at night, won 1/1.
Had supper in Hills’ cabin. I shouted the drinks. Off to bed at 11.30.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 18 March: Port Sudan
Thursday, 18 March 1937
Arrived at Port Sudan at 11 o’clock, took a long time to berth. Crowds of labourers on the wharf, all nationalities, dark men with enormous bush of hair, very curly, very dirty and smelly. Not many white people here, and not much to see. Rowing boats pull you to the town for 1 piasto, 2 ½ return, but we gave them 3 each way. Only take silver with the King’s head on. After walking around the town, hired a car. Went to the desert, and saw all Sudan, very poor place. Plenty of camels, no horses.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 17 March: Red Sea
Wednesday, 17 March 1937
Still in Red Sea, very warm. Just sat around deck in the morning, played bridge after afternoon tea. Fancy dress dinner, jazz caps, trumpets, etc. Very good meal, turkey, etc. At night, fancy dress parade; nothing like the first, where there were 250 in fancy costume. Had very good supper, ice creams, etc.
And Mrs McCabe shouted drinks all round.
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 16 March: Aden
Tuesday, 16 March 1937
A fine warm day, rose early and arrived at Aden about 11 o’clock. Aden is a mass of volcanic mountains that rises such a great height above the town, which is very flat, and very poor; just a mass of dark people with very gay coloured clothes, all selling their wares, and one can beat them down a good deal. Went for a car drive out to Aden proper, no white people
Piastios? 2 ½
Thirza Pidgeon’s 1937 World Tour – 15 March: At sea
Monday, 15 March 1937
Beautiful day just sat around the deck. Sighted land about 10 until about 2. Passed two steamers, one the Orford, on way to Australia – lay down on the bunk all afternoon, had a real good rest.