En route; a descriptive automobile tour through nine countries and over nineteen great passes of Europe (1908) (14769249372)

Identifier: enroutedescripti00trev (find matches)
Title: En route; a descriptive automobile tour through nine countries & over nineteen great passes of Europe
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Trevor, Roy
Subjects: Europe -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : E. Stanford
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN



Text Appearing Before Image:
before it. This sounded ominous. The sun had long ceasedto penetrate into the depths of the gorge, and a coldbiting wind was sweeping mercilessly down thedefile, making one feel the close proximity of theglaciers. In the valley the sun w^ould still beshining, but gloom had already marked this spot asits own. The hotel, though very small, was spotlesslyclean, and the proprietor, catching us at a dis-advantage, charged us accordingly. For Mercedesthere was no shelter : she stood all night beneaththe shadow of the little douane, the wind whistlingdismally round her white form. Meanwhile thesmall girl, who combined the offices of waitress,housemaid, porter, and cook, was despatched post-haste into the hen-roost in search of the plumpestfowl that she could lay her hands on. Our bed-rooms faced a splendid waterfall whose incessantroar was in keeping with its surroundings, andinstead of keeping us awake as we expected, actedthe opiate with success. We were up betimes next morning; dressing46
Text Appearing After Image:
OVER SIMPLON TO MATTERHORN quickly to the sound of the tumbling waters, Istrolled out before breakfast, in search of theofficial who issues the necessary permit. As Ipassed the douane I found Dennis restoringMercedes circulation, and, incidentally, his own,by a vigorous attack upon the lamps. The officialhad but newly risen and I discovered him in a stateof deshabille ; on learning my mission, he hastilydonned an official jacket of roomy proportions, andproducing a gold-braided hat placed it conspicuouslyupon the small table before him. These preparationscompleted, he was ready for business. A few detailsabout the car, coupled with my name, address, andthe time of issue, were all that was necessary, andwith a warning that we must not occupy less thanfour hours between here and Brigue, he bowed mepolitely out. The day was still young as we left the tinyhostelry, and entered the magnificent gorges ofGonda. The heart of the mountains seems in thisspot to have been split open just suffici