Mystery of Life #63

There is actually more than one great mystery of life at work here. Firstly, why would anyone take a picture of a parking lot for a postcard, especially in such a uniquely beautiful spot as the Smoky Mountains? Secondly, who would buy a card like this? Well, I guess I bought it, so I can't say too much about that.

Here's the back of the card. Unfortunately, there is no message relating a pleasant (or otherwise) experience at the parking lot.

I Do Not Cycle

The problem with a postcard, or even a letter, is that you may not know what was communicated in previous correspondence, so there are invariably mysteries.  There's nothing mysterious about the front of the card, but the message could use some explanation.

 

Wilf sent this card from Coventry, UK in May 1910 to Miss Polly Lee in Bridgnorth.

Here's the back of the card.

The message reads:

Dear Polly

have just received your letter but shall not be able to answer it very soon as I have got to go to Coventry for the Sunbeam on a little bit of business so I cannot say how long I shall be before I shall get back but I expect it will be Tuesday but I will write as soon as I can! I Do Not Cycle? Wilf

What could he mean? 

Here's a picture of Polly's house, courtesy of Google.


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I revised this post based on the comments below. Yes, it's Sunbeam, as in bicycles. And here's a great link to a blog that talks about Coventry's role in the bicycle industry. Those Sunbeams were beautiful. Here's the link that Lisa provided ion the comments below: http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/bicycles/Sunbeam.htm

Tram Tuesday - Munich, Germany

Munich's first horse-drawn trams were operating in 1876. By 1895, electric cars started replacing the horse-drawn cars, a process which was complete in 1900. There are still streetcars in Munich today, although the emphasis on developing the underground U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems has been greater in recent decades.

The first cards shows trams crossing the Ludwigsbridge. You can see that the front car was closed, while the rear car was open. It's also interesting to see people pushing carts along the street next to the trams. There are also some horse drawn carts, but no automobiles to be seen anywhere.

Here's a close-up.

 

The second card doesn't show any trams, but instead a full view of the city. The card was sent the same year it was printed, 1899.

Here are the backs of the cards in the same order.

The first card was bought at the Cafe Odeon, where it was probably also written by the senders as they sipped coffee and ate Kuchen in early May, 1910. They sent the card to Bertha Deschamps, who lived (or worked) on the beautiful rue St. Honoré in Paris. The card indicates that the address is at the location of a shop, although a look at Google maps suggests that there are (and were) apartments above. Back in the 1870s, when C.B. Black wrote tour books for Paris and surroundings, he listed this address as a shop where one could buy ribbons.

The card is written in German, but I would guess it is not the sender's native language. The handwriting, with the exception of the second signature, doesn't look German at all, and the phrasing is a little awkward. The message reads:

Dear Miss Bertha!

Best thanks for your news. Letter follows real soon. I am still at Lenbachplatz. I was overjoyed that your wish was fulfilled. You are certainly far out now. Greeting from your Emilie Cloeter, next to (__?_) Ernst Cloeter

The second card was sent to Miss Senzi Guggemos c/o medical Doctor Kock in Zürich, Switzerland in 1899.