Viewing page 44 of 64

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[pre-printed]] 82 [[/pre-printed]]

[[underlined]] Guadeloupe [[/underliner]]

Oct 24, 1935

The first view we had of this island was when the boat [[strikethrough]] docked [[/strikethrough]] anchored at Basse-Terre. We stayed here a good part of the morning, that is, until 9 or later, and then the boat left for Point-a-Pitre. Had we known we could just as well have gotten off at Basse-Terre, because we later made it our headquarters.
We arrived at Point-a-Pitre before noon, and we decided to get off the boat before lunch. We were rowed to shore for the sum of 25 cents a piece and 50 cents for the baggage. When we got to the customs house he asked to pick out 2 pieces of baggage to inspect -- the dunnage bag and Dick's brown suitcase -- and after giving them a superficial look over he passed us thru'. Then we had the problem of getting our bags to the hotel. For a dollar we got a boy to take the things in a cart, while we walked. A boy from St Thomas who spoke French, Spanish & English showed us the way and acted as our interpreter. 
My first glimpse of the hotel was

[end page]]
[[start page]]

[[pre-printed]] 83 [[/pre-printed]]

enough to make me want to turn back, but being given the necessary push by Dick we went in, and on up to the real hotel part. The ground floor was a spacious, if not so well kept, bar. Upstairs was the dining room and hotel rooms, and on the 3rd floor more rooms. We took our room up here [[arrow pointing to "3rd floor"]] The price quoted to us was 90 francs a day for both of us, for everything including red and white wine with meals. At the present rate of exchange -- 15 francs for one dollar -- this means $3.00 a day. Our room is not so bad, [[insertion]] ^ and [[/insertion]] altho' clean enough, it faces on the street and gets all the dirt and smells. The place is alive with mosquitoes, and Flit has to be used generously. The food is fairly good.
I find that my slight knowledge of French is going to come in very handy, and I have already been installed as interpreter. (dollar a year woman)
Point-a-Pitre isnt much of a town, from what I could see of it. The stores are all holes in walls. The street aren't specially clean, altho' there are side walks. Garbage is collected

Transcription Notes:
Flit is the brand name for an insecticide.