Washington

In Washington  we visited the Holocaust Museum.

We read about the S.S. St. Louis  which set sail from Hamburg in 1939, full of European Jews fleeing from the Nazi regime. There was a promise of a safe place in Cuba or the United States of America. But the St. Louis was turned away from Cuba and refused entry to the US, fearing that they would be overwhelmed with European refugees. The ship eventually returned, across the Atlantic, to Germany. Many of those on board lost their lives in the Nazi concentration camps. Those poor people had been so close to safety, so close to refuge.

At this Jewish Holy time I think of them and of all the refugees fleeing, once again, in boats from the Middle East and North Africa. I hope that they won't be turned back. I pray that they find a safe place in the many cities, towns and villages of Europe.

And maybe, just maybe, the United States could once again proclaim:

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

The Hungarian Pastry Shop

It's a few weeks since our flight home from the United States and I'm looking back at the wonderful times we had in Salem, Virginia; Washington and New York. One of my highlights was the Hungarian Pastry Shop,  opposite the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Amsterdam Ave. where we stopped on our way out to Harlem.

This was one of the best cafes I have ever visited: the cakes were delicious; the staff were friendly and welcoming and the place was full to bursting with... writers. A writer was sitting at almost every table - either on their laptops or writing notes in thick journals. On one wall was a display of book and theses covers of works that had actually been written in the Hungarian Pastry Shop. What a wonderful place!

Thanks to the Hungarian Pastry Shop for your hospitality and welcome. I've sent you a copy of Gambledad for you to read and enjoy and if there are any film producers or directors there wanting to turn my story into a film... well, take your time and enjoy the refreshing coffee and delightful cakes at the Hungarian Pastry Shop.

Then you can contact me.