DIY History | Transcribe | Iowa Women’s Lives: Letters and Diaries | Eve Drewelowe travel correspondence, 1928-1929

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Eve Drewelowe travel correspondence, 1928-1929

Page 4

"[Shewdagow?] Pagoda". We had to take our shoes and stocking off and walk blocks up the most filthy steps. Along each side were shops -  but not such as your imagination paints, but only dirty squalled platforms with a few flowers or junk for sale. Much interest was lost because we were so busy watching "our step" that we hadn't the time to look about. Miserable ragged people slept along the way - lined along the stones. At the top was an immense area with thousands of niches with budda's, thousands of gold covered minerets (towers) all covered with intricate "gingerbread" carving Pillars done in design with colored glittering mirrors held up roofs before altars banked with flowers and in front of which were bowing and worshipping a steady stream of people. The natives bought flowers, gave their prayers than offered the flowers to the Buddas on the alter - but below on the floor was a litter of ashes, boxes, dirt and trash - inconceivable to the western mind. There was plenty of atmosphere and I enjoyed this event immensely - and miraculously enough our feet seem quite well. I suppose that we might have caugh anything hydrophobia, lepracy and what not, and perhaps we were foolish to go. I am glad however, that we did. 

All our love to you Mother. We think of you often and hope you are well. See you next September. 
Love and good wishes 
Van and Eve.

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"[Shewdagow?] Pagoda". We had to take our shoes and stocking off and walk blocks up the most filthy steps. Along each side were shops - but not such as your imagination paints, but only dirty squalled platforms with a few flowers or junk for sale. Much interest was lost because we were so busy watching "our step" that we hadn't the time to look about. Miserable ragged people slept along the way - lined along the stones. At the top was an immense area with thousands of niches with budda's, thousands of gold covered minerets (towers) all covered with intricate "gingerbread" carving Pillars done in design with colored glittering mirrors held up roofs before altars banked with flowers and in front of which were bowing and worshipping a steady stream of people. The natives bought flowers, gave their prayers than offered the flowers to the Buddas on the alter - but below on the floor was a litter of ashes, boxes, dirt and trash - inconceivable to the western mind. There was plenty of atmosphere and I enjoyed this event immensely - and miraculously enough our feet seem quite well. I suppose that we might have caugh anything hydrophobia, lepracy and what not, and perhaps we were foolish to go. I am glad however, that we did. All our love to you Mother. We think of you often and hope you are well. See you next September. Love and good wishes Van and Eve.