D O C . 4 5 5 T R A V E L D I A R Y 4 4 7
455. South American Travel Diary Argentina, Uruguay,
Brazil
March, April, May [5
March–11
May] 1925
5 March.
Yesterday wife, Katzenstein with sister, the Bärwalds, at the
railway.[1]
Journey
in sunshine, arrival
overcast.[2]
Mrs. Robinow with son-in-law at the
station.[3]
Af-
ternoon with Mrs. Robinow, Mozart on child’s violin. Evening Hamburg-style fam-
ily meal. Melchior also
appeared,[4]
clear-headed, witty. Hotel by foot. Society sen-
sible, decent.
Today at 9 o’clock boarded
ship[5]
with son-in-law
R.[6]
Fine, intelligent person.
Departure half past 9 in sunshine, past ships, warehouses. All farewells. All know
my face, but am not being disturbed so far. 11 o’clock sky overcast. Shores retreat.
Blissful peace.
Yesterday evening received a black necktie sent to hotel, ordered by phone by
the Bärwalds. Humorous, enormously active fellows. Cabin luxurious. Engine not
perceptible. Ship huge (23,000). Margot would have liked
it.[7]
6 March.
Boulogne harbor. Always overcast but the air already more caressing. New pas-
sengers, mostly South Americans, chattering and dolled up. Harbor steamship
makes elegant farewell maneuver. City extends greetings through the mist. Made
the acquaintance of Prof. Jesinghaus
(psychologist),[8]
who sits near me at meal-
times. Quiet and fine, knows quite a lot, too. In-between-times I am alone and quite
comfortable. Voyage will last quite a while yet, thank God; but I already dread the
arrival.
7 March.
Conversation with Jesinghaus about causality. Idea about grounding of
Riemannian geometry. Reading of fine stories by
Chaucer.[9]
8.
First time brilliant sunshine. Around 11 we approach Bilbao. Sea blue-green,
shoreline with hills first silvery, then in brilliant sunshine. Many inquisitive people
came on board ship. Spanish inquisitive, not weary or blasé, childish, self-confi-
dent, the women with black hair & eyes & and lace kerchiefs on their heads. I grate-
fully enjoyed the sun, on the very top [deck]. Met Mrs.
Jerusalem.[10]
Native-grown
like a panther cat. 9 o’clock in the evening played piano in room for children and
women. Chased away by two Swabian women who probably just wanted to listen.
I must have cut a droll figure making my escape.
[p. 1]
[p. 2]
[p. 3]
[p. 4]