My guess on the telegram is that you could send a" collect" telegram which is what Opapa did, but didn't fool the Hungarian workers on the other end. Going back to the kindness of strangers post, do we know why (luckily) Opapa got a ticket to Veracruz not Havana in the first place, and why couldn't some of those who were denied entry to Havana play the extra money and get off on Veracruz if they had the money plus more to show when they disembarked?
Yes I think that's probably right! As for your question: the 104 Jewish refugees on the Flandre who had visas to Cuba did not have visas to Mexico, which is why they were not allowed to disembark there. Opapa had a visa to Mexico, so he was allowed to disembark -- though he needed to show money in order to do so, which is why that stranger's kindness was so crucial. I'm not sure why Opapa decided to go to Mexico rather than Cuba in the first place, but my guess is that it's because of Laci. Laci had spent time in Mexico, and probably suggested it, particularly since he had some contacts there.
Yes, I figured they didn't have visas after I wrote my comment, it was kind of a dumb comment. Opapa was sure lucky he had a visa for Mexico, not Cuba (and mabe so am I and you, Erzsi, Emily, etc, etc.)
My guess on the telegram is that you could send a" collect" telegram which is what Opapa did, but didn't fool the Hungarian workers on the other end. Going back to the kindness of strangers post, do we know why (luckily) Opapa got a ticket to Veracruz not Havana in the first place, and why couldn't some of those who were denied entry to Havana play the extra money and get off on Veracruz if they had the money plus more to show when they disembarked?
Yes I think that's probably right! As for your question: the 104 Jewish refugees on the Flandre who had visas to Cuba did not have visas to Mexico, which is why they were not allowed to disembark there. Opapa had a visa to Mexico, so he was allowed to disembark -- though he needed to show money in order to do so, which is why that stranger's kindness was so crucial. I'm not sure why Opapa decided to go to Mexico rather than Cuba in the first place, but my guess is that it's because of Laci. Laci had spent time in Mexico, and probably suggested it, particularly since he had some contacts there.
Yes, I figured they didn't have visas after I wrote my comment, it was kind of a dumb comment. Opapa was sure lucky he had a visa for Mexico, not Cuba (and mabe so am I and you, Erzsi, Emily, etc, etc.)