Dad's Memoirs (English Version):

Thus, weeks passed monotonously. We tried to amuse ourselves playing paper and pencil games such as Naval Battle or dominoes with out crude cutouts. Visits to the American Consulate were high points, especially since the consul had the kindness to schedule appointments for my friend Alice Joseph at the same time and usually made us wait an hour or so before he would see us. on the way back to jail my plainclothesman let me stop at a coffeehouse where I could sample delicious pastries. [1] On a couple of occasion my escort even offered me the opportunity to visit a cathouse - but I thanked him for, his cooperation and turned the offer down. Eventually* our immigration visas arrived, and with the help of the above mentioned family arrangements were made to book passage on the Italian steamer "Roma" in the beginning of May. [2] Police escorted me to the harbor and delivered me to the embarkation authorities. I decorated myself with my old Italian student insignia - and for the first time in three months I was a free man. I finally met the Oppenheimers who actually had the Chutzpah to take me off the ship in order to give me a brief conducted tour of Lisbon and a very good bon voyage meal. Of course Alice boarded the same ship. The other companions left a couple of weeks later. [3] But this was the last crossing for an Italian steamer, because Italy entered the war[4] and the war took a more decisive turn while we were en route. Germany overran the Netherlands and Belgium and invaded France[5]. By the time I arrived in New York [May 16] the Europe I had known had ceased to exist.

* Eventually: Dad's visa was issued on April 18, 1940 (see images below). As noted on Roma manifest, Alice's visa was the preceding number, so getting in to the consulate together helped.

Dad's Memoirs (additional from German version):

1. ... and some port wine.... My companion never took anything, even though I offered it to him. The cops were never the same. Incidentally, no one was surprised at the company. It seemed to me that a lot of people were walking around with police escorts. After my conversations with the Lord of Coimbra, I got the impression that since the abolition of the monarchy the political situation in Portugal has changed constantly and that half of the population has either been in government or in prison.

2. Then we had to wait for a neutral ship my parents managed to get us through an organization in England - I don't remember who came to help. ... shipped book for May 7, 1940.
   The day before my departure, Mr Fonseca had me come around once to evict me from Portugal. I tried to make it clear to him that I had never entered Portugal before - so I could hardly be thrown in. He didn't understand that - people like that have no sense of humor. Unfortunately, I must have lost the document - in any case, I can no longer find it.

3. But then there was no longer any great sailing -- they had to be content with the small Greek or Portuguese boats. Our crossing went smoothly. The ship was almost empty.

4. Italy actually didn't declare war on England and France until June 10.

5. The German invasion of those countries began on May 10.