Carmen writes "I met my beloved Emil on Easter Sunday in 1928."

Carmen and Emil's first extended vacation, in July 1936,  turned from their dream vacation, his first trip to his home town since his 1920 departure, and her first visit to Spain, to a nightmare, as the Spanish Civil War broke out shortly after their arrival.  They left on July 1 and arrived in Cherbourg after a perfect journey.  Their status and ordeal was noted in the July 24 "Seek Spanish couple in Spain" and August 17 "Back in U.S. -- and Glad of It" issues of the Paterson Evening News.  The couple travelled from Gata to Valencia to Port Bou, Cerbère and then Paris, and returned on the S.S. Columbus, arriving in New York on Saturday August 15.  Details of the trip are to be found in a collection of Carmen Lagos Signes letters edited by Emil Signes in 1998.