24 December 1952

Eisenerz, Austria

Dear Mamma,

Happy birthday & hope you are having a good time.

Here we are. We took a train Monday at 234d & rode all night to Leoban. This town of 11000 people is 20 miles north of Leoban, in Southern Austria. It mines iron almost completely and is in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains. We had a glorious trip in a big mail truck from Leoban, through snow and mountains. There is snow everywhere, everything is covered, and there are forests of Christmas trees all snow covered. It is like our trip in Switzerland, only more snow, less majestic mountains, and more trees.

We are staying with the Director of this iron company. We are really in a gashouse belonging to the company, because relatives are coming for Christmas, and we go all the time to the house. The boy is about 27, the girl 21, and they have just come back from the United States. The Mother is very nice, I like her. I do not know how long we shall stay here, but probably a week. I was going to have long hair but they wanted me to have it cut, so I did. It is now very nice, not as short as German crewcuts, but just right. All Austrian men have hair cuts for Christmas.

It was very nice in Vienna. I like it there very much. In another couple of years.

I look out the window to the lovely white mountains. It is grand. Considering the possibilities, Christmas and your birthday could hardly have been spent in a more nice place. Considering impossibilities, I can think of places where I would much prefer to be. Sometimes it is sad to grow up.

Happy birthday and merry christmas.

I love you

Peter