My Sister and Husband Isidro and myself before emigrating in 1964
June 1964
Finally, I was taken to this big ship full of people. On deck there were hundreds of people with a bundle of cloths at their feet. I had a cabin that I shared with three other young women. Once we were all in the ship they removed the stairs that connected us to land and the horn of the ship starting hooting in a long poignant sound that penetrated the core of ones heart.
The dictatorship psychologists must have thought it was a good idea to play a sad song on loud speakers for the migrants leaving the shores of Spain. They chose nothing else but “Adios mi España Querida” ( Goodbye Spain of my love) from Juanito Valderrama. This is a melancholic song for Spaniards going abroad. You cannot imagine the effect that this had on everyone including those on land. Tears where flowing as rivers, and sad sounds were echoed where ever you looked. Everyone was waving to someone dear to them. The occasion was sombre, the future uncertain, and we did not need a lamentable song to depress us further.
(In 2010 I saw a video of emigrants that went to Argentina in 1950 , and they too spoke of the same sad song played to them 14 years earlier)
The captain of the ship took special care of me. I expect he knew some law regarding juniors travelling alone, and I did appear very vulnerable. I ate my meals at his table and he made sure that I did not run into any problems during the two days voyage from Vigo to England. The first night in my cabin,I was fortunately placed on the lower part of the four banquet beds in our cabin. I say fortunately, because I suffer from brittle bones, and as we were passing the cape Finisterre the ship tossed and shacked everything including the two girls that were trying to forget the rough seas in their upper positions and landed on the floor with a loud scream and a big bang.
I cannot imagine how the passenger on deck fared that night, a few might have gone overboard and they are still searching for them...
During the voyage I was in my element. -Can you imagine such a large house floating in this immense pool of water. I found it unbelievable and kept looking at the waves hitting the bulk of the ship. I investigated everything; there were boats hanging on the sides of the ship, their purpose amazed me, for there were only three on each side, and the ship was carrying hundreds of passengers. The stairs run up and down into different floors than change in exuberance according to how deep or high they were. It thought me something for my cabin was two floors below. There was a large swimming pool, and a smaller one. I never saw anyone using it although it was June and the weather was hot, perhaps the migrants forgot to include swimming gear into those bundles that they used as pillows on deck at night, the luxury of swimming suits was not included in their list of priorities, nor was mine. Perhaps this ship carried different class of passengers at some point of its life. There were very luxurious rooms with glass chandeliers, mirrors and tapestry, beautiful mahogany cabinets and chairs, carpets on the floor and expensive looking ornaments. We all saw them but dared not enter.
When we arrived at Tilbury passengers started picking up their bundles and placing them on their shoulders, removing themselves from the deck where they had spent two nights and one day. I had prepared my small carton -suitcase with my voyage cloths and had change into my only extra set of cloths to receive my sister , that was all I had inside, but at least I had a suitcase... I often wonder how did my mother think of a buying me a suitcase, and of how many tears she had shed the day she packed my modest possessions.
I placed myself on line in order to descend the stairs and look at this new country that I knew nothing about. The Captain's eyes soon spotted me and removed me from the queue to await for some relative to take care of me. He did not let me go until my sister came on board and formally signed for my departure. I never thanked him properly for his kindness and care. He must forgive me for I did not know any better. I am sure my sister thanked him, but she did not know then, how kind he had been to me. This sort of kindness I was to receive many times over the years. This country received me with open hands and offered me opportunity and gave me a chance, something my own country had denied me.
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