Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1912-10-02
MY TRIP TO EUROPE
AND ITS IMPRESSIONS
Pleasurable Days Sailing the
Blue Mediterranean Sea
Brief Stop at the Fortified Port of Glib :
ralter and D~ebarkation at Beau
tiful Naples
By REV. A. CRAMER.

ed but on Tuesday quite an excite
ment was created when the Azore
Islands came in sight soon after
breakfast. We first saw three small
ones, the larger one Flores, we passed
in about three miles distant; with the
telescope we could see the house S
very plain, also a beautiful church
was in view besides a building some
thing like a nursery; grapes seemed to
be the cheif industry. We all re-
gretted that we could not see the rest
of them as we passed by during the
next night. Wednesday and Thurs
day we saw no land only the quiet
sea and sail boats, large and small
steamers.
Friday seemed to be the most in
teresting day of the voyage. Early
in the morning we could spy the
mountains along the shore of Portugal,
the air was very clear and transparent.
About 8 p. m. Spain vas in sight
with its hills and rocks. The first
city we passed was Cadiz. a beautiful !
city as the opera glass revealed it to
US. At the same time we saw Africa
on the other side. Tangier n of
the largest cities of Morocco is spread
along the shore. The Atlas noun
tains was another great attraction
with the peaks of some extending
into the clouds. At five o'clock we
saw Trafalgar. a city of Spain. A
very historical place where once
Admiral Nelson of the English feet
demolished the French feet in the
time when Napoleon, the Great was
raging in Europe. Here we were on
very historic waters; we imagined the
warships and battles, the soldiers and
the heroes of war. A few hours later
we could see Gibralter; before us
high ard exalted came forth the rock
of Gibraltor from behind the hills of
Spain. It was a rare moment in life,
before us we had a beautiful harbor
and behind us a glorious sunset, it
was hard to discern which was the
most attractive, we felt ourselves like
TRANSPORTED and changed.
1t was dark as we reached the
harbor of Gibralter everything was
gloriously illuminated with electric
lights especially the Rock of Gibralter
was one attraction. We enjoyed our
selves here for about an hour.
sTwenty-eight of our friends left us
nearly all of them belonging to a
Chicago Art Club the band played a
farewell and a smaller steamer took
them ashore. Our own boat began to
turn and 0 0 we were going east
ward again for Italy.
On Saturday no special events oc-
Cured. In the morning we saw the
last of Spain, nothing but snow
covered mountains. The whole day
was beautiful. What impressed me
most that day was the fact that we
were drifting on the famous Mediter-
ranean sea. 1 was reminded of
many ancient battles fought here,
principally the Punic wars; we
thought of the Greeks and their ex-
tensive sea trade. of Solomon's ships
going to Tire and Sidon for cedsrs
and ivory and other material for the
building of the temple: we thought
of Paul going to Rome.
The next day. Sunday, was to be
the last full day on the sea. We were
to reach Naples Monday noon. On
Saturday we prepared for divine
services, on Sunday Rev. Haag, of
Port Huron, preached German and
a missionary from South America
spoke English in the second cabin.
The first cabin had invited me
to conduct divine services.
1t was a wonderful occasion for
me. First to speak on waters so full
Of history and fame and then to be
on the way to Italy as Paul only not
in bonds.
In the afternoon at about five
o'clock the Sardinia Island was in
sight. It is very mountainous and
people akin to the Italians are its in
habitants. In front of this island is
a rock called the island of st. Peter
and is a great ishinhg point. In
place along the eastern shore of
Sardinia the Italian government
established their penitentiary where
its inmates are to make salt by pro-
cess of evaporation 1t was very in
teresting to observe everything about
this island until dusk forbade us.
Then we we've for the last time enter
tanned by the band which rendered a
pleasing concert. We all retired
with dreams of the morrow.