Thursday, May 13, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 1920






This was a splendid hotel and every attention was given to us, and we had running water, a luxury not often found in European hotels.

A bath - slept about one-half hour - then had breakfast of coffee, rolls butter and honey, then Mrs. Price and I took a walk to see the Rhine. We walked across it, noted buildings of note all about, which were closed, (it being Ascension Day) and the Cathedral, the distant mountains, etc.

There was a big parade of the Cantonal Corps of the Salvation Army, with high dignitaries from London present, and a sacred concert given in front of our hotel. A sleep of two hours, another bath and we are ready for lunch, which was good. We had quill tooth-picks sealed in little transparent envelopes, lace doilies under our bread and such big, downy bolsters on our beds to go over our feet.

At three o’clock we are on the train again for Lucerne. Much of the way we see the big horse-chesnuts laden with their pink and white bloom. Swiss Chalets nestling against the mountain sides, and for many miles we have fine views of the snow-capped Alps, and as we neared the station, the beautiful lake comes into view. The afternoon was very warm. We passed through one tunnel 16 miles long. We reached Lucerne on schedule, were taken to Hotel Europe, and in a half hour had dinner, and as usual, everybody was hungry.

After dinner our Italian guide took us to see the Lion, one of the most historical monuments of Lucerne. It commemorates the bravery of the Swiss Guards of Louis XVI who went to the help of France in her effort to defend the Tuilleries during the revolution in Paris in 1792. The model was made by the Danish sculptor Thorwalsden. - 26 officers were killed.

It was too early in the season for the electric lights to be turned on and the trip was unsatisfactory. We have a fine view of the distant Alps from our room, even from our beds.

1 comment:

  1. I expect you know Thursday 13th May 2010 was Ascension Day too.

    Needless to say it is not a public holiday in Britain, I doubt many even knew its religious significance.

    Kind regards, Madeleine.

    ReplyDelete