took a look around Dachau concentration camp. It was interesting + depressing. Saw the gas chambers which were never used (in this camp anyway) because they were installed too late. Condemned people were gassed at several nearby camps. Also saw the ovens which unfortunately were used. Almost half a million people, mostly Jews, were killed there during the war. Anyway after Germany we hit Austria, saw bit of Innsbruck which is a small city surrounded by the Alps. From Austria we went on to Italy. Drove down the east coast along the Adriatic sea. From Italy we crossed to Greece & you know the rest. The scenery around here is different to say the least. The roads + highways are surrounded by grape vines, Cypress tree + Olive trees. Olive trees are the most interesting trees I've ever seen (as far as trees go) they bend twist + knot themselves into every position possible. Some trees split themselves down the middle and continue to grow as separate trees.

 

Anyway so much for trees. I hear (from what little news I get around here) that Nixon finally gave up the ghost and resigned. It's about time. You don't really hear too much about the Greek-Turkish war on Cyprus except that there was demonstration in Athens today. Students calling the U.S. government murders because they somehow caused the war. Time for a cigarette. We're spending about 5 more days in Athens and then it's back to Italy to Genoa and catching the boat back to New York. Anyway I've run out of peanuts + things to say and quickly running out of paper and pen.

 

See you in 3 weeks

 

Ralph.

 

August 17 Saturday

At Gillian's. More Southern. Rob, Mich, Andy etc [?], Abby and friends [I really don't remember a thing of these parties].

 

August 19-20 Monday-Tuesday

Nights at Kingsman Park.

 

August 21 Wednesday

At Kingsman with Rob and Mich (they left). [met] Ernie and Fred, went to Fred's. Smoked hash, painted [a poster?]. When I left, someone had taken Fred's weed plant [five to six feet tall, growing in his backyard]. He was not impressed.

 

August 24 Saturday

At Gillian's with Rob, Mich and Gillian's friends. I drank a glass of Vodka quite quickly [we bopped up the street to check a Rolls in the golf course parking lot]. Rob, Mich and I came here to babysit, smoked.

 

August 26 Monday

Registered at Kirkland campus for John Abbott [which took awhile. Near the end I overheard a guy saying this would be the last time Abbott would screw him around. I didn't understand him. I would learn].

 

August 27 Tuesday

Written on my drawing board "Aug 27/74 and it is the end of the summer. John Abbott in 1 week and this moroccan is good" (unreadable by August 14, 1983).

 

August 31 Saturday

Place des Nations with Rob, Mich and Maggie to see Loggins and Messina. [during it I wandered. Met Dave, we climbed up onto a plastic/canvass? canopy which overhung part of the crowd, strung between two cement supports. I yelled at Rob down below "Don't smoke the hash!". I got many answers back.

 

Dave and I weren't the only ones up on this thing, and everyone was moving. We were lucky it didn't fall].

 

From the Gazette review by Bill Mann:

 

"There is a world of difference between a "tight" act and a "slick one." Loggins & Messina..used to be the former. Now, alas, they have become the later...

 

...Saturday night's show..must have lost money, since only 7,000 showed and L & M command bigger bucks than that gross..."

 

In August 1974, the Ramones begin playing in the CBGB club in New York City...