18/2/94

Dear Lore,

It was lovely to receive your Xmas letter and please forgive me for repeating myself about our Central Aust. Trip – my memory is not as good as it used to be!

Well, we have finally made up our minds to make a round-the-world trip later this year. The decision was precipitated by finally making contact with a German woman (who is now 80) who helped my parents in 1941-42. She had tried to find Eleanor and me via my uncle Paul in the U.S.A., who in his wisdom, decided not to let me know about it. The letter she wrote in 1962 only came to light after his death in 1983 and it was only through an amazing coincidence that I found her current address in Essen last month. She seems quite frail and naturally I would very much like to meet her.

A visit to Essen is the one definite destination during our trip and Lex and I also want to visit the Beuthen (now Bytom, Poland) area. Otherwise our plans are very open. We would also like to include France, Norway, Greece and Turkey (depending on the political situation there). I am writing to you first, hoping that you might be able to join us on some of our travels and that you might have some suggestions. We want to avoid the crowded holiday period in Europe and thought of leaving here about mid August. We will return to Australia via the U.S.A. to visit all the families and to meet 2 (?3) new grandchildren in October- Nov..

We may not visit England on this trip, hoping that our few friends may be able to meet us in Europe – there is much planning to be done, and we hope to hear from you soon.

Lex and I are just recovering from a very hectic 3 weeks showing Linda (Lex’s youngest daughter) and her husband Don around Sydney, Canberra and Southern Victoria. It was a very happy time. Australia was the start of a 6 months trip to Asia, Europe, Israel and Egypt.

With much love,

Rita.

P.S. I am enclosing a translation of Marta Ignatzy’s letter. The letter she wrote in 1962 is an incredible saga, written in great detail. It is now in the Jewish archives in Australia and England.

*Letter by Marta Ignatzy not presented to Lore Confino Memorial Archive