Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1901-10-03
In Sunny Italy.
GRAND HOTEL PATERos.
Athens, Aug. IL, 1901.

Dear FTteagdS-We went out this
morning to attend service in Greek
church, but were too late. The sections
in two churches were sweeping. A few
stragglers came into the glittering in.
terror, crossed themselves at various
stations and kissed images of saints.
The little Metropole church is very
small and is curiously build of frag.
ments from heathen temples.
There were donkey loads of lovliest
white grapes, six baskets covered with
leaves. Some men wear white kills
and fez hats. Some women have curl
Gus jackets and headgear. The people
are better looking on the whole than
the Italians I think. There are more
bearded men. Our hotel faces q
square where there is music till 1890
three nights in a week. Last night
the place was full of tables and
chairs, and at half past one ]
Hooked out and saw a good many
groups of men eating or drinking and
chatting away as if it were not long
past bed time.
At four we rode to the Acropolis,
walking back in time for eight o'clock
dinner. The sunset from the famous
eminence was a charming golden one
and the whole four hours time long
to be remembered.
Aug. 13-On the 9Th we rode in car
riages from Amalf to Salerno at which
place we were at 9 o'clock to take the
| train for Brindisi, from which latter
plase again we were to sail for Corfu
and Greece, and thereby hangs tale.
In the first place it was SO beautiful
from our cell window at Amalfi that I
positively couldn't sleep continuously.
| saw the moon rise very late over the
jagged rock promontory, watched the
stars ana the wonderful sea and land
in the moonlight, then saw the first
morning glow and the numerous sail
boats and row boats in the bay, looked
at the people going past to their work,
some with primitive hoes and some
with milking stools and curious vessels
to milk the goats. We had early
breakfast in the cloisters again and at
half past six were in the carriages
ready for our drive, continuation OF
the one of the previous day from Sor-
rento to Amalfi. There were seven
carriages and 35 people, % of whom
were going to Greece. Our load was
for Greece. All but two carriages had
gone off in fine shape when our driver
positively refused to go as number six. |
There is always an arrangement among
the drivers as to the order taken. The |
other load went on. Well, we were
last and in the winding road were left |
alone. When little distance from |
the hotel the whiff1etree broke. One
of the three horses jumped about. The
driver, a mere boy, was at his wits
end. A small boy went back to the
hotel. a quarter of mile or perhaps
half, and brought a man who mended |
up the whiffletree and rode on to catch |
us who were all walking up the hill. |
One of those horses baked repeatedly. |
The girls walked again and again. |
They found out at last that if the boy |
(who went all the way with us) pulled |
at the bride and the driver whipped |
We could get along. We met heavily |
loaded team in such a position that our
carriage had TO be lifted to one side
before it could pass. Although the
road zizzaged up the hill from no turn |
could we see those ahead of US so far
had We fallen behind. By and by,
those horses ran up the hill and down
and we came up with the others, who
really were getting anxious about US.
The road to Brindisi was over great
mountains, but through SO many tun-
nels that We conldn't enjoy them much.
The rain of the day before had laid
the dust and there was q cool breeze.
As we came in sight of the sea it was
very pleasant. Our sailing experience
was no repetition of the trip to Capri.
The water was smooth, the boat good.
We left Bosnia at 10 a. m. on boats
which had good awnings and held ten
each for a row about Corfu. 1t was
most delightful. We climbed by steps
a steep hill and gained magnificent
view of the straits and the cloud-cap-
ped hills of the main land. shall
never again wonder at peoples raving
about the atmosphere of Greece. We
walked through q fine grove of twisted
old olive trees. Under the roots of
one an old hen guarded her brood of
chickens. Pleasant looking children
came with flowers to sell. Men were
resting In the shade. We went out on
q long stone pier where we re-entered
the boats. We saw men in other boats
fishing with long slender poles and
and catching fish too, small red ones.