photo caption: caution sign, San Juan ferry dock, Catano, PR
To: Steve - Prague, CZ
From: Jan - Santa Olaya, PR Steve:
Have you ever read Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley"? I'm reading it now, in short doses, between other things. Charley is Steinbeck's poodle who reminds me of my friend Fred's dog, both now living in Oaxaca, MX. I'm picturing them while I'm reading. The book is a record of Steinbeck's three month trip around the US, starting in Sag Harbor, north to Maine, west across the northern reaches, south along the California coast, east through Texas, with a stop in New Orleans, then north along the West Virginia mountains and ending back in New York City. Fred read this book last December while driving from NYC to Oaxaca. He had his french poodle with him. Fred's dog is a near duplicate of Steinbeck's. from page 60: A long time ago I was in the ancient city of Prague and at the same time Joseph Alsop, the justly famous critic of places and events, was there. He talked to informed people, officials, ambassadors; he read reports, even the fine print and figures, while I in my slipshod manner roved about with actors, gypsies, vagabonds. Joe and I flew home to America in the same plane, and on the way he told me about Prague, and his Prague had no relation to the city I had just seen and heard. It just wasn't the same place, and yet each of us was honest, neither one a liar, both pretty good observers by any standard, and we brought home two cities, two truths.
J.Galligan
75GRAND/SUR
Santa Olaya, PR