The Ludmila Confessions

Dancing in London

Walter talked me into using a french dressmaker, couture style. She was very good and dressed me elegantly, with jackets and outfits appropriate for England, France, and Europe in general. These clothes were very ladylike, and I loved it. In other words, Walter groomed and dressed me in his own favorite style.

In the meantime, the scandalous story of Agustin Lara and me was in all the papers, Spanish and English. Every paparazzi had their own point of view, each of them wrong. Don’t ever believe a word read about celebrities in the press! From my experience they ask you questions and then they write whatever they want to say, whatever will sell, so it is never the truth.

The trip to Mexico to see Agustin Lara was both a great experience and disaster. I learned that people on cocaine will do and say whatever feels good at the moment and then go on to the next high.

I got an emergency passport and arrived in Mexico City, where the immigration department almost did not let me in because being Russian was not so good in the 1950s. I had what was called a “non patrida” passport, so I had to leave all my jewelry as a guarantee I would go back to Venezuela.

I met many wonderful people in Mexico City and had lots of fun, but Agustin, being a cocaine addict, already had a new love. I went on to Xochimilco, to a ranch in the middle of the city with horses, lots of tequila, mariachi bands, and I rode a pinto horse. I  was very inebriated at the time! At night we went with the president of Clairol to the most famous nightclub, “The Magic Violins of Villa Fontana”. What a cabaret that was! The musicians came out from behind the mirrors and curtains, it was a fantastic show with candelabras, violins, and lots of champagne!

The Clairol president offered me a job modeling in Mexico for his company, but by then I missed Walter so much that I left the nightlife, the fun and job, and went back to Caracas.
Soon I was going everywhere with Walter and his boys, to the balnearios and the beach, but I still don’t know where their mother Julia was during all this.

Then we were on our way to London, Germany and France! At The Dorchester Hotel we had a butler who asked what temperature we wanted the water in our bath tub. Our clothes were always pressed and hung up properly, and it was just like on the Castillos. We even went to see My Fair Lady again, since that was me! This time with Rex Harrison, (which is another long story, later). In front of the hotel I got lost because of the fog I could not see where I was. After I took a short walk, I finally noticed (a bab police officer and asked him in my broken English, “Where is the Dorchester?” He smiled and pointed, it was right behind me.

This was one of the most luxurious private hotels in London. Elizabeth Taylor and other very famous people stayed there, so I felt like a star. That evening Walter had a meeting with some very important Englishmen, the owners of Beefeater gin, where I was the only lady present in a British gentleman’s club. Then we went dancing with three Brits, Walter and me, to a Latin night club. The latin rhythm was on, music was playing, and they were flabbergasted that I danced so well, “meneando el cuerpo” (shaking the body) to rumba, mambo, and more!