The Lexington advertiser., 1950-08-03
THROUGH
HAZEL
EYES
by Hazel Brannon Smith
Mediterranean Ports
(Delayed)


After Naples, the Mediterran-
can ports Of Marseilles, Genoa,
and Leghorn came in such rapid
succession we hardly knew where
we were. E-any of the passengers
who had become our friends on
this trip around the world left the
Monroe at one of these ports for
extended stays in Europe.
At Marseilles we boarded about
25 new passengers who were
strike bound from the S. S. II de
France. All of these passengers
had been ready to sail with this
beautiful French liner when the
strike broke out. Marine strikes
have been common in France for
some time and these passengers
were lucky to be transferred to
our American vessel and make
their voyage to New York. The
group proved quite interesting in
that they represented four or five
European countries and were able
to give us first hand information
on existing conditions in their
various countries. Without ex-
ception all were excited and hap
py to get to America, "the land of
opportunity" they had been
dreaming about for many years.
Our stay was SO short in Mar
seilles that we barely had time
to see the business section Of the
city and shop for French per-
fumes. The perfume shops were
elaborate affairs, luxuriously ap-
pointed, and although the prices
were ridiculously low by Ameri-
can standards, it was quite easy
to spend more than you had plan
ned because of the many brands
of perfume available. Some of
those shown in all size bottles
were: Mutt de Noel, Shalimar,
Chanel No. 5, Rochas' Femme
and host of others. A bottle
costing around $1,000 here sells
for $4,000 or more in New York.
Despite the chilly weather, the
French people were Still patron
fzing their sidewalk cafes. Many
of these cafes had been glassed
in for the winter season and these
were more comfortable but the
average Frenchman seems to pre-
fer the ones outdoors
We were sorry not to have time
to visit the tiny island of Chateau
DIFF made famous by Dumas
story 1.-The Count of Monte Cristo"
and by the use of its fortress as
. prison for spies during both
World Wars. Daily excursion boats
run from Marseilles' picturesque
harbor to the island which is To-
Gated just a short distance to the
south of the city.
An overnight run and we were
into Genoa, Italy, which
has been one of the most impor-
tant Mediterranean seaports for
generations and is the birthplace
of Christopher Columbus. The
city of Genoa, pressed between
the Apennines and the sea, could
only expand upward, and up she
has grown. Some of the older
houses are SO high and built SO
close together that the narrow
streets below are never reached
by the sun.
Genoa is an important shopping
center for silks, beautiful hand
made silk embroidered blouses
and all kinds of lingerie, wonder
fully soft gloves, Borsolino hats
for men and women which enjoy
a worldwide reputation, Floren-
tine leather and many other lovely
things.
The pastry shops are out of this
world if you like sweets, which !
don't. The Italian restaurants are
delightful. Even the inexpensive
ones have good music and floor
space for dancing and the food is
always excellent.
Altogether Italy is the most de-
ightful country to travel in that |
have found anywhere in the !
world. It's the kind of count
that you can go back to again and
Rgain and never grow tired.