A very odious day. Rose at 4.30. Cloudy, but I thought I would try the day at Chillon. Could get no coffee till 6. Porter & gardener said, “rain all day.” G. & I set off ― but it grew darker: ― I drew a little at Chillon, & then rain. So I went to […]
Very fine. Rose at 5 or 6, & walked about, ― to the Railway &c. &c. dawdling ― till 9. 24 years ago ― in 1837 ― I was doing much the same. At 10.40 off to rail in omnibus, full of English. The clatter & bother of Swiss Inns & travel is most odious […]
To Martigny. Off in a carriage & 2 by 4.45. At 6.15 Gignod. Great pass=scenes but not very beautiful. Walked ― the precipices boring me. 7.43 Etrouble. 8.10 St. Oyen ―― 9.10 St. Remy,1 where I got mules at once, & was off at 9.33. Pull up ugly base pass ― half up at 10.35. […]
Rose at 4. Off alone at 5.30, & walk to Mongex by 7, where I drew till 9 ― & the car came at 7.50. At “Derby” bridge by 8.30, & drew till 9. Drew again at top of Pass. ― 9.30 to 10. At Villeneuve by 10.30 where I wished to draw but didn’t, […]
Courmayeur. Rose 4.30. The 2 nice women ― cousins of Miss Beauforts ― ˇ[one] a Miss Nicolls. 5.30 went with G. to Pre S. Didier & to the Cliffs above, where I drew till 8.30. At 12 ― dined ― in perfect torture from flies which are horrible here. I resolved to go tomorrow. Life […]
to Courmayeur Off in a car at 7.15 having decided to go to Courmayeur while fine weather lasts. At 7.50 Sarre. ― ˇ[8.30] Villeneuve. ― 9.10 Arvier, 9.10 Ivrogne ― at 9.15 Mt. Blanc visible ― very ― huge, gigantic, domelike. Ascent, walk. Down again at the Bridge of “Derby” ― at 10.30. ― At […]
Cloudy. Rose at 4.30. Coffee & out to draw by 5.30. ― But all the mountains are clouded. ― At 9 it rained & we returned. 10 to 11.30 wrote to Daddy Hunt, F.L. ― C.F. & T. Cooper. Fine again. Dined at 12. Talk with 3 Englishmen. ― At 3 went out with G. […]
Rose at 4. Always fine. G. & I walked to S. Vincenzo, where I drew twice. Superb valley ― walnuts & chesnut! ― Bath taking promenades: cretins, & goîtreux. Excessively glorious valley view, but its detail is impossible in a limited time. Unwell ― inactive boles. Walked back by 8 ― & took 3 doses […]
Off at 5.20. Magnificent Velley scenery ― opening of V. Aôsta. Peasants, red-capped. Cultivation ― hemp, grasses, I. corn. 5.45 Montalto ?1 & castle. 6.5 Borgo Franco.2 Jolting village streets. 6.40 Settimo Vittone. 6.50 Carema. ― Valley narrow. 7.30 S. Martino,3 gigantic & picturesque ― yet over-mountanous & stupenjous. At 7.50 Donnaz4 ― close in […]
Rose at 5. packed. 7. Cathedral. Post at 8. letter from F. Coombe ˇ[& Observer]. Off to Milan Railway. But Ivrea trains didn’t go till 1.30 instead of 8.40. ― disgust. Came to shady trees, & sat till 11, reading Observer. Troops exercising. Views of Turin from the tree-bordered walks are very pleasant. Pale-purple Alpi […]
