Sitting at Stanford wishing I were Sitting on a rock in Pacific Grove wishing I were in Mexico.” 1952 Correspondent abroad for Collier’s. East of Eden published. Viva Zapata! (film) released. 1954 Sweet Thursday published. Lived abroad for nine months. Correspondent for Le Figaro, Paris. On assignment by Collier’s—he to write, she to photograph—the Steinbecks left in March for six months in Europe. They went to North Africa, crossed to Marseilles, rented a car and toured in Spain. To Pascal Covici [Palace Hotel] [Madrid] April 18 [1952] Dear Pat: We’ve been nearly a week in Madrid now and go back to Seville for the great fiesta on Monday. We have been seeing many pictures—at The Prado and today at Toledo to see the many fine Grecos. So many impressions. Maybe too many. Hard to take in in a short time, a little stunning in fact. Come in dog tired. We did not have mail forwarded so haven’t heard much of anything. Letter from Kazan saying he had testified [before the House Committee on Un-American Activities].
