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2 September 1908 — Castel Savoia, Gressoney St. Jean | |
Wednesday. 2nd [September 1908]. Today we have been a lovely expedition. It was a cold morning with a high wind blowing & the snow on M. Rosa blowing up in clouds when at 10 oclock we started in the motor. H. Majesty, the Sposi Guiccioli, Blaserna, Ma Villamarina & I driven by the Captain, down the valley to Pont St Martin through Ivrea along the Canavese to the Lago d’Azeglio. When we got down to the valley the climate changed—we took off our furs & had the tenda put up. We got to a place just above the lake where we found the “Cigno” motor omnibus with our lunch prepared in a vineyard & it was very hot. We had to walk a little way down the vineyard by a hedge covered with sprays of blackberries & in wh grew Cape cherries, teasels chicory &c &c. Lunch having to be warmed up we sat in a circle in the shade & talked & the Queen began to tell us tales from Andersen such as the Emperor’s new clothes & she told it very graphically. When lunch was ready abt one oclock we sat down all the ladies on one side, the Queen in the middle & the men the other side. We were shaded from the sun by the vine over head which was hung with bunches of white & black grapes & the green leaves were bright & transparent. After lunch the Queen sat on the ground & we all sat round her on the camp stools wh had been brought in the motor. She kept the ball of conversation rolling sometimes in Italian, or French or English. At 4 she rose & we walked back to the motors. Driving back towards Ivrea we turned up a winding road which took us on the top of the sierra whence there is a superb view over the Canavese looking towards the hills we were on the other day when we went to the Lago d’Allice. We looked down on the Lago d’Azeglio & another lake further on the whole country like a map at our feet—but no sooner had we gone a little along the top of the sierra that we looked down on the next valley the Biellose with Biella at the head. We could not go far—but turned & came back by the same road on to the Ivrea road & back by Pont St Martin to Gressoney. As we came up the valley the change of temperature was remarkable & I was very glad to put on 2 fur coats. It was a lovely evening & tho’ we did not get within view of M. Rosa by daylight the sky had pink reflections above the valley of the softest tints. We got to the Castle by 7.15 & dined at 8.15. There was a general playing of Patience in the evening & I taught some forms previously unknown here. Had a telegram to say The Freddies & Henry Guest have gone to stay at Ca’ Capello. | |
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