Travel
Spring Cruises in 1933
Camino has recently become so popular that there is no need to state here its obvious and manifold attractions. The ship- ping companies are offering to take us in the spring of 1938 in luxurious liners, at charges varying from 20s. to 85s. a day for three to four weeks, to all the most enchanting places on the earth.
Those delightfully restful cruises to the West Indies, and, nearer home, to the Norwegian Fjords and Iceland, will attract many, but we will consider at present short cruises offering the greatest variety of scene and interest. These cover, roughly, three areas—the Northern Capitals and Baltic, the Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean east of Genoa and Venice. The cruise to the Northern Capitals involves the shortest distances by sea, with only a few hours' steam between each port of call. Oslo, not in itself a striking town, boasts a natural harbour whose deep blue, waters, with the varied foliage of the surrounding wooded hills, creates a profound impression of beauty. Gothen- burg, a modern commercial town, has broad straight streets, fine public buildings, and in the main boulevard a fountain by the famous Swedish sculptor, Milks. Copenhagen, city of bicyclists, is rich in palaces, which should be visited, and threaded with canals bordered by tall tumbledown houses. The open harbour affords a perfect view of Hamlet's grim, ghost-haunted castle. Crossing the Baltic we call at Zoppot on the way to Stock- holm, Venice of the North. Here the perfectly proportioned Royal Palace stands on its island site, connected by dignified spans of ancient bridges to the 'main streets and • • The new Town Hall, a magnificent example of modern arc i- tecture, with unrivalled interior decoration and design,
should be seen without fail. Those who have time will cross to Finland, most modern of all northern countries, where the
architecture is again striking, and particularly that of its railway stations. Helsingfors harbour, crowded with the boats of peasants unloading vegetables at the gaily-coloured market, gives a fine impression of sturdy vigorous Finnish life. Across the Gulf of Finland we call at picturesque Tallinn (Revel), where the houses and fortifications cling to the hillside in a precarious jumble. Exploration of its steep, crooked streets will delight all lovers of the mediaeval. Riga, presents a curious mixture, with its ancient quarter whose curiously-spired churches and vine-novered inns crowd the narrow streets, while the modern town 'has broad boulevards, a grass-banked canal, and an imposing opera house. Through the Kiel Canal we reach Hamburg. The broad waters of this great shipping centre, ploughed endlessly by an army of brightly-funnelled tugs bringing into harbour the world's largest vessels, is indeed an inspiring sight. Another two days' sailing brings us home.
The second choice of cruising ground takes us through the Bay of Biscay, and by way of Lisbon, where we land and visit the lovely palace and gardens of Cintra, to Gibraltar. The Rock towers above • us, silent and watchful as the British Fleet anchored at its foot, while an air of romance fills the narrow streets of this ancient fortress. A short steam brings us to Malaga, whence we race over the mountains in cars to Granada to get a glimpse of the Alhambra sparkling like a jewel in the bright light, and'later see the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada tinged by the rays of the setting sun. At Palma de Mallorca almond blossom fills the valleys, and the dark hills rise up to drop again thousands of feet to the sea, which swirls blue and white among the rock-bound coves of the coast.
Touching at lovely wild Corsica, we turn to the south and call at Tunis, whose Souks give a picturesque view of Arab existence, and an unrivalled opportunity for a little genuine bargaining. At Algiers a drive should he taken through the gorge of Schifa to Blidah where the mountain scenery is magnificent. Sunny Tangier, with its narrow cobble-stone streets and colourful architecture, is perhaps the most unspoilt town on the coast. A short sea trip brings us to Teneriffe whose dark inhospitable mountains are crowned by one snow tapped peak, contrasting with the dazzling blue of the sky. Las Palmas, less forbidding, is luxurious with flowers, and the glorious sands of the western bay will d ht all bathers. Another two days at sea, and we are at Madeira, surely the paradise on earth. A day in Funchal should include a visit it to Reid's Hotel, whose commanding position and extravagantly beautiful gardens make a never- to-be-forgotten impression. The funicular railway up the mountain affords another magnificent view, and the descent in toboggan chairs is a novel experience. Three peaceful days at sea conclude this holiday.
The third cruising area is reached by train to Venice or Genoa. A short trip down the Dalmatian coast and back, from Venice, includes •calls at Trieste, Brioni, Split where Diocletian built his palace, and. Dubrovnik (Ragusa) mediaeval walled town, with Dominican and Franciscan monasteries and a bishop's palace, and all about it •tall cypresses. Starting from Genoa we follow the western coast of Italy to Naples, where fiery Vesuvius makes hardened sinners think about damnation, and on to Syracuse. Here, among the sweet- smelling bergamot, Dionysius built a fort, and kept his prisoners in the famous. ".Ear." If fortune favours, we. may witness a performance in one of the finest Greek theatres extant. By way of Egypt and Palestine, both of which should be given a visit to themselves, we come to Rhodes—Island of Roses. Here Greek remains do not exist, for the Knights of St. John used every stone available to fortify the town against the Turks. They left, however, a perfect specimen of town planning, and the extraordinarily beautiful Street of the Knights, with its simple stone facades. The Turkish invasion provided mosques whose minarets break the skyline of battle- ments. The present Italian occupation accounts for much skilful restoration and a Pule modern town. Istambul is approached through the historic Dardanelles, and we see from afar the shining glory of its mosques, minarets, and palaces. Tur ing. homewards we reach Athens, greatest city 'of antiquity and see the Acropolis, a white speck among the -dark hills, looking over the sprawling modern town. Passing through the Corinth Canal we stop at Corfu, whose harbour, dominated by a fort and surrounded by snow and cloud- ' covered mountains, is of unsurpassed loveliness. From here we may cross to Brindisi and take the express to Paris, or continue up the Adriatic to Venice. As we sail into still water, with gondolas and red-winged boats crossing our bows, and come into sight of the rose-pink Doge's Palace, the green dome of Santa Maria, and the Campanile towering above, we feel that there could be no more perfect close to a.cruise among the loveliest waters of the world.
EtrzAnurn Bcxx.
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