Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Coral Gables Times
Thursday, December 20, 1962, page 16 (of 28)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
Life of Travel Sometimes Hard, Always Fascinating
By DOROTHY COLLIN Woman's Editor “I wouldn't change a thing, not even the hardships and dangers,” is the way Juan Homs looks at the life and career which have taken him to every corner of the world. Homs and his wife are visiting their son and his family at 755 Blue Rd. for the holidays. The elder Homs live in Majorca, an island off the coast of Spain, but spend much of the year traveling just as they have for most of their lives. Born in Spain 77 years ago, Mr. Homs came to the United States when he was 20. He started traveling 50 years ago, representing American farm and construction machinery firms abroad. Since then he has been to every continent and most of the countries of the world. Homs first went to Mexico in 1912 and then went to Africa where he met many of the men who have later become prominent in the emerging countries of that continent. His work involved studying special requirements, such as climate, soil, and the labor force, which these countries had for farm machinery. AFRICA DANGEROUS Travel in Africa was sometimes dangerous, according to Homs, especially trips to sugar plantations in the wilds where lions were often within 500 yards of his party. Homs recalled one night in Africa when he was served one of the best and most luxurious meals of his life with service that included a servant for every person at the table. All the while the guests were enjoying dinner, the sounds of wild animals surrounding the house kept them company. On another trip by boat up a river in Africa, Homs said he saw one of the most astonishing sights of his life. Thousands of crocodiles and alligators were on the river bank because of the low level of the river. SNAKE SCARE He also recalled swimming in a river one afternoon and suddenly finding himself next to a 10-foot snake. He said he couldn't think of thing to do except swim away, which he safely did. The U.S. government sent him on trips to Australia and New Zealand to investigate the need for farm machinery and published reports on his findings. .. He spent several years during the 1920s in Argentina and then went to Brazil in 1930 to organize sales for a large machinery company. In 1932 the trip by air from the United States to Brazil was much more complicated than the present-day jet flights according to Mr. Homs. Brazil had no landing fields and planes could only travel by day so sea planes were used and the passengers stayed in various cities at night. The trip by air from Miami to Brazil took seven days, he said. During the war Homs worked for the government attempting to obtain rubber in the Amazon region to replace sources captured by the Axis. CHOOSES MAJORCA The Homs' remained in Brazil until 1950 when Mr. Homs retired. He said that after leading such an active life he decided to settle in Majorca, which means “Isle of Calmness” in Spanish. Retirment did not mean slowing down for Homs, however. He still travels extensively, recently returning from his second trip around the world by ship. After the holidays he plans to fly around the world, he said, since he did not see enough countries on the earlier cruise. Homs said he found interesting people and customs in all parts of the world, but that Brazil is his favorite. He said he looks back on his life and work with satisfaction because he aided in the progress of countries, many of them quite undeveloped when he first went there. “Things I pioneered under difficult circumstances are now common,” he said. “The tremendous changes and improvements all over the world which I have witnessed are wonderful,” he said. His love for adventure has not dimmed. He plans to go to Vietnam and India on his world trip, both the scene of current cold-war conflict. “A SNAKE WAS 10 FEET AWAY . . .” “TRAVEL ONLY BY SEA PLANE . . .” “IMPROVEMENTS ARE WONDERFUL . . .”
Elected at St. James
St. James Lutheran Church elected officers at a meeting of the congregation Monday night. The new officers are Charles Heweker, president; William Kreidt, vice president; Norman Nedde, elder; Wilbur Haffeldt, trustee; Peggy Hayworth, Sunday School superintendent; Doyle Hilson, delegate to Eastern District Convention; Jack Schopenhauer, representative to Greater Miami Council of Churches; and A. D. Miller, representative of Hillside Bible Camp. They will be installed at the worship service Dec. 30.
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THE “P” STANDS FOR PLEASURE...
. . . and plenty of parking! Coral Gables offers FREE PARKING in all metered municipal lots as well as on-street spaces after 6 P.M. till Christmas! WELCOME TO CORAL GABLES
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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH SERVICES
Sunday Services 9:30 and 11:00 A.M. Sunday School 9:30 and 11:00 A.M. Wednesday Testimony Meeting 8:00 P.M. First Church of Christ, Scientist Coral Gables 410 Andalusia Avenue Free Public Reading Room Weekdays: 7 A.M. to 6 P.M. except Monday and Friday 9 A.M. to 9 P.M. Sunday: Reading only 2:00 to 4:30 P.M. 400 Andalusia Avenue
For that "Something Different" Gift Visit . . . THE GIFT QUESTERS
154 GIRALDA AVE. CORAL GABLES FREE GIFT WRAPPING ON ALL PURCHASES Open Eves. 'Til Christmas
Tropical Typewriter Service
Dear Aunt Jane; I am writing this on the Facit Portable typewriter that Mother bought me for my birthday. It is the mostest! It has a keyboard the same size as the big machine I practice on at school, and when you type on it, it feels almost the same as the big Facit I use there. It runs s-o-o e-a-sy! Besides, it has nice vacuum pad under it, just like the big machine, and doesn't even slide on the desk! As I said, it is the mostest! I practice on it at home all the time, and am getting awfully nice marks in my typing class at school She got it at Tropical Typewriter Service, 2135 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. G'bye, gotta go now! Be seeing you. Love, Patricia