Claude Rougier, various stays:
Arguil, Guethary, Chartres, Italy, mountain
1947-53
66
Argument
My dear Mother and my dear Tandree
I see that Tata does not forget the family and bourgeois traditions by wishing me my 19 spring. I was very touched and I hope that all his wishes will come true.
But to the fact that Portugal has become? Awful, awful...... for me, I am quite sedentary and if Mom has passed my letters to you, you must know that I am between the plant and the animal. However, the country does not lack charm: hazelnuts, mushrooms, florets and everything, so that I take small walks in the clearings. People rather have patibular heads (very young), not very kind "students" but are very brave and nice. We play ball, football ball (table game!!) we knit by doing rhorons etc..
Claude
Letter from Claude, Fanny and Granie to Grand-Père, Guétary Where they're on vacation.
(details)
In Guethary??
Guethary on 5 July
My dear Dad
We're going to go to the beach and leave Madame at home: Mrs. Sleeping and sleeping. It must be said that this climate encourages flammy and mattelassage.
We went to Biarritz before yesterday and found that this town wasn't so good... in any case much less good than it was two years ago - just chic.
Our country, and you'll see it this week, is very country-like, very clean and in fact very pleasant.
You tell me about the Franciscans' writings; St. Francis of Assisi no doubt - Fanny tells me that he gave it back (written by Granie: explain with the library that will find him in his archives)
Bring your closets, we'll go to a bull race in Pamplona when you're here, and I don't want to lose a crumb with my mole eyes.
Tell the S.S. they're giving me my student card, I need it by September.
I'm leaving a little room for Fanny and I'm very fond of you, Claude.
written by Fanny: My dear Dad
I don't think we write much, but you have to say that we have a lot of distractions, yesterday I caught shrimp with Mom, while she was collecting snail (Of the bigornels, says Granie) which she dared to put on her plate in the evening, which has disgusted me forever with crustaceans (dishonest!
writes Granie).
Apart from that, we all have a lot of fun and our meals are really laughing.
I thank you for doing all my painting work... I'm doing a watercolour from my window, a terribly difficult hill - happy to see you soon - affectionately Fanny
Letter from Claude to Granie at the end of May 48? 49?
after student pilgrimage to Chartres
My dear mother
On this solemn day of Mother's Day your great daughter presents you her affectionate wishes. Besides, I no longer know who the mother is and who the little girl is... now that I weigh 57 kg!
It seems that you were worried to see us go to Chartres for 50km. Don't worry everything went for the best. Maybe even you heard echoes - the Mass, and the "miracle of Theophilus" on the radio - we told about "the Mass". Arid subject especially for 3 days but we ended up getting a lot from it: the Cross responding to the problem of evil, the real presence in the Eucharist etc. .... There were heretics and schismatics so that the debates were virulent and interesting. We were 6500 in perfect harmony and no disorder - the roadmen were worthy of all praise. "
I work... a lot. But it's curious, I'm almost sure to fail; so I won't have any disillusionment.
It seems you're worried about us going to Holland. The railway ticket costs 1800F, we sleep with the Pax Romana organization and youth hostel, the comrades are very friendly., the elder is 25 years old and has family in Holland (there is nothing to fear for the change)... And finally I will tell you that you have to enjoy his youth while we have the mentality. I think you have convinced yourself.
For the trip to Brittany there is no more room - terrible -
A thousand kisses Claude
Claude went to Italy in the summer of 1952 with a group of students to search Etruscan tombs under the direction of Professor Raymond Bloch. She took the opportunity to visit Rome and then Assisi, then Siena.
Letter from Claude who writes to his family, from Rome.
"Rome
Dear family,
So far I was with my two English friends in a house at the British embassy, but as my good friends left and the money went too fast - you have to tell yourself that before we found ourselves a flea box that was depressing us. That's why we started to have great tastes - so now I'm in a student convent... And after having carefully done the court at the Madre Superiore, I am there for 650 lire (half board - I eat outside on the Roman ruins with 1 kg of peaches and 2 small loaves) which is 350 F a day. So I will stay in Rome again next week. The trouble is that it is a little hot and I lose the fat I had acquired in Bolsena; but now that I have more time, I rest consciously in the afternoon. The race in the museums is hot.
The Italians of the Giulia villa (i.e. the Superintendent of Etruscan Antiquities) are really nice. Before yesterday they took us to Cerveti and showed us all the excavations it was exciting. I am excited by the etruscology.e continues here, amazing
We're here with our little friends every day to talk to you - and it's not unpleasant - I'm fine.
I speak and understand Italian fluently. Rather than bothering with Italian classes, it is better to be in the Italian community and speak."
2nd letter from Claude, in summer 52, she continues her stay in Italy
"Dear family
I am in Assisi where I spend a few days of retreat in the home of hospitality of the Clarisses, where came a friend of Sorbonne. The land of St Francis and St Claire is holy variation. I write to you from the garden vegetable all herb: on one side is the plain of Umbria and on the other the houses of Assisi that are staggering. It is a grace to spend a few days here, where the spirit of poverty contrasts with the spirit of fascist that the Catholic Rome has.
Tomorrow I think I'll go to the Alverne where St. Francis was stigmatized and from there I will continue my pilgrimages to Perugia and Florence.
From now on, I'll see you in Florence "Resto in posta". I think you're in these good old Pyrenees. (in Gerdes)- Kiss the family on my part.
Jacques thinks he'll go to Italy in September, I'd like to be there again. For the finances it will certainly be because I feed a lot of peaches and milk. There is my exam, I think about it and that's what bothers me a little.
As for the classes in Sainte Ursule that Dad tells me about, I think I'll give them back next year unless there are extraordinary or unforeseen events.
Affirmatively Claude"
Card sent by Claude, from Bolsena, to Grand Father in Versailles, July 1952
"Dear family
Italy has not disappointed my hopes. It is absolutely wonderful. Rome is a golden city in the atmosphere, the work of art does not meet in museums but every step on the street.
Bloch
(Professor Raymond Bloch, who accompanies them) He has a little infection after having injured himself in the foot, so he is at the Farnese Palace until Monday. For now there is only to eat (the meals are princely, heated, etc..), sleep, bathe. This morning an Italian made me walk 5 km in the Etruscan and Roman city of Bolsena. There are also 2 English to help Bloch.
Kisses Claude"
"Italy is an extraordinary country. I am in a lot of enthusiasm, and it would be difficult if it were not, given my schedule so far.
I am with 2 Englishmen (one taking up the inscriptions). An Italian man raises the plans. Bloch is at the Farnese Palace and while waiting for him to come back, I have not much to do, except to eat, sleep, to sail, to bathe. Rome is a very elegant city and golden by the sun.
Kisses Claude"
"My dear Dad
I forgot to give you my address. Albergo di Lago, Bolsena, Viterba Province. My stay is as enchanting as it is this afternoon, I have to go see a lost tomb in the middle of the olive trees. But there is still 100 years of excavations and it would not be over. Bloch is walking us in the car. I bathe tonight.
Then I go to Rome and then Pompeii. send my mail to the French School of Rome - Farnese Palace - Piazza Farnese - Rome - from 19 (?)"
