 | Lady Layard’s Journal Go to a Date Search the Journal |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |
1 October 1871 — Genoa | |
Sunday. 1st October [1871]. We started by 9.30 train for Savona. We got there in 2 hours & found the vetturino which Henry had engaged waiting for us at the Savona station. We got a little luncheon there & then began our lovely drive along the Cornice. We had a fine day & a most lovely drive, going from Savona to Alassio without stopping. We got to Alassio abt dark a little after 6 & found the whole village astir it being the fête of the Madonna of the village. All the young women were dressed with white kind of surplices & coloured bands over according to the fraternity to wh they belonged. They also wore the Genoese white muslin veil over their heads & as they marched up & down the streets carrying crosses, banners, wooden figures of the Virgin they chanted thro’ their noses a discordant kind of hymn. There were also priests & old monks carrying lighted tapers wh gave a still more picturesque colour to the scene. As soon as it was dark there was an illumination. Our hotel had oil lamps in every window & on the balconies & some of the villas on the hill opposite looked very pretty with their rude attempt at illumination. While we were at dinner the waiter rushed in & out in states of excitement over various fire balloons wh were being sent up & afterwards while we sat on the terrace in front of our rooms we were entertained by some feeble fireworks wh were sent off altho’ sometimes when a red light was burnt the reflection on the waves was very pretty. However on the other side there was the bright moon wh silvered the waves & put the fireworks entirely in the shade. Altogether we took a great fancy to the Hotel de la belle Italia at Alassio. It is so nice being down close to the beach & the people are very obliging. | |
|
Previous Entry
|
Following Entry
| |