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25 August 1908 — Castel Savoia, Gressoney St. Jean | |
Tuesday. 25th [August 1908]. We were all ready by 8.30 to make an excursion in motor cars up the Val d’Aosta to the Petit St Bernard, & we started at 8.45 in the same order as the other day except that we were driven by an ordinary Chauffeur. It was fine but not sunny. We went the whole length of the Val d’Aosta passing through the town & by the Castle of Serre belonging to the Crown. The different Castles & peaks were pointed out by Prof: Giacosa. Aosta which we only went through is a most interesting place—but has a stream of water running through the centre of the main streets in the old fashion. We went thro’ 2 Roman gates still in excellent preservation arrived at St Didier 3 miles short of Courmayer we turned off on the road to the Petit St Bernard & went up as far as La Balme where we found the motor bus & the Queen’s servants who said they had laid the table for our lunch on the grass a little way up the side of the mountain so we left our vehicles & climbed up & found all prepared in a most picturesque spot—on a little smooth bit of grass with big bits of rock to serve as a screen from the arrangement of the kitchen & we were glad of a good meal as we had had our breakfast at 7 a.m. & it was now past 1. When we had lunched we retired to another flat space & all sat on the ground the Q. showing us the example. She was delighted with the spot & I said that it was like a scene described by Boccaccio & we only want to be told stories. Ah yes said the Queen, I will begin & tell you dreadful story I read in a book a little while ago & she set off recounting a tale of a bear in some place in Canada that followed a lady who was carrying her baby. Her husband was absent & the bear was hungry. The lady was followed by the bear but she got into the house in time to slam door in the face of the bear. Bruin was determined to try to get in by a window & the lady flinging down the baby rushed to the window & flung brands from the fire in the face of her assailant. A high wind carried back the brands on to the thatch of the roof. Here she was now between danger of being eaten or burnt alive. At the last moment the husband returned shot the bear & delivered his family from the flames & all was well. After the Queen’s Prof. Giacosa took up the ball & gave some more thrilling experiences. In the meanwhile the shadows on the hillside began to lengthen & at 4 we worked our way back to the road. There we found a man breaking stones & the Q. began to ask his name &c. He turned out to be very amusing talking alternately in French & Italian– Said he had been a soldier & chattered away about his officers, & his family of which he declared that some were rich, that he, being poor, did not care to return home & was happy to be a road mender & to gain his living by breaking stones. The Q. was vastly amused & had Count Guiccioli give him a tip when she left. As we drove thro’ St Didier to come up to lunch we saw 2 people seated on a bench by the road. The Queen had hardly said, “these are English people” when I recognised Dr & Mrs Robertson of Venice. He is the Scotch Minister there. We did not see them again on our return so I suppose they must be staying at Courmayer. We returned to Gressoney at a good rate—sometimes it made by quite nervous. When we got up the winding pass about St Martin in this valley the Queen asked if the 2nd motor was to be seen, finding it was not she said they must have punctured a tire & we would wait for them—but as after ½ hour they did not appear we lighted our lanterns & proceeded. To while away the time we waited the Q. & Giacosa began to sing snatches of different airs English & Italian each helping the other. It was nearly nine 30 when we reached the Castle Savoia & the 2nd motor soon turned up. They had punctured their tire & had to stop & change it. We dined at 9.45 & went to bed all of us pretty tired at 12.30—but having had a delightful excursion—the Queen had taken it entirely to show me the Little St Bernard. How kind she is! | |
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