With the assistance of a Mr. Brown, who had recognized Betsy from the S.S. Columbic, Betsy finds her way to Munich, where she will spend most of her time in Europe. Betsy’s days are loaded with activities, both planned (for she has made a list to get the most out of every day) and unplanned. There are concerts, libraries, art galleries, meals, and constant opportunities to take notes on the culture. And of course, there is always her writing. Betsy tries to recreate her Crowd with new friends Tilda and Helena, without much success. She comes to appreciate their differences, though, including differences in social status.
In Venice, Betsy meets and is intrigued by the handsome Marco Regali. Together, they explore canals, palaces, and churches, and inside five days, Marco claims that he is in love with her. Betsy feels strongly for Marco, and even wonders whether she is in love with him, but in the end, the relationship actually illuminates her stronger feelings for Joe. When Betsy leaves town, she and Marco correspond for a while, but eventually Betsy puts an end to it and faces her feelings for Joe squarely.
A pathway back to Joe, however slight, is opened when Betsy runs into Mrs. Main-Whittaker, the famous author she met on the Columbic, in Paris. Mrs. Main-Whittaker remembers Betsy. She treats her and Betsy’s traveling companion on the ocean liner, Miss Wilson (with whom Betsy has also been reunited), to a luxurious day of activities, including a glamorous Parisian fashion show.
Mrs. Main-Whittaker also remembers Joe, who had written fine articles about her, and declares him very talented. Talking shop with Betsy, Mrs. Main-Whittaker mentions a newspaper column, the Agony Column, which contains people’s personal messages to one another. These can result in plenty of story ideas, she tells Betsy. Betsy is honored to be treated as a fellow writer, and now has some info to share with Joe in a letter, which she boldly writes and sends.
Traveling through Europe during this era was relatively a easy proposition. Borders were open and countries were welcoming of visitors. This would soon change with the advent of World War I. Transatlantic ocean travel would decline in popularity, almost immediately. Unfettered migration worldwide would go into sharp decline and undergo much regulation, and to this day, it has never again been so simple and seamless.
Betsy’s next stop is London, where harsh realities will intrude on her trip.
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On migration pre- and post-1914, see:
The Digital Betsy-Tacy 