Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-10-04
A TRIP AROUND THE WORLD IN
WAR Time
BY URIAH S. JAMES.
(Continued)

EIOm tue flOCh we WCuG W tAO " oAu
Hotel, where arrangements were made
for four teams to take us to the top of
the mountain. Before we started on
this trip, however, we took in the
sights of Bergen, which is a nice little
city of about 10000 inhabitants. A
person from America is impressed with
the narrowness of the streets and the
absence of skyscrapers.
We were soon on our way up to the
restaurant, which took about one and
one half hours to reach by narrow
and winding road and the hills were so
steep in some places that the horses
had all they could do to climb up, but
the driver was very humane and
stopped a few times to let them rest
while we admired the scenery.
Upon our arrival we found a very
quaint old place presided over by an
old German gentleman, who in appear
ance was typical hotel keeper from
the old school. His wife and two
daughters waited On the table while
father made himself busy seeing that
we were all being taken care of.
After dinner one of our party played
the piano while the rest enjoyed them
selves dancing. In this way the time
passed very quickly and it was nearing
1000 p. m. AS it was impossible to
secure rooms at the hotel in the city,
we had made arrangements to return
on board; and as the boat had an
chored short distance out in the har-
bor, the tender which was to take us
out to it left the dock at 80, we were
obliged to be there at that time. After
reaching the boat, we retired shortly
which would allow sufficient time to
have breakfast, get baggage checked
and leave at $3.50 by train for Chris
tiania.
Your hand baggage, which you take
into your compartment, goes free but
trunks must be weighed and paid for
extra. You will never fully appreciate
the efficient method we have Of hand
ling baggage in this country until you
get over on the other side of the ocean
and go through their string of red tape.
1t is not only slow but rather expensive
as the man who weighs it expects tip,
also the individual with bucket of
glue and big brush, who sticks tag
on it, and last but not least the one
with the truck, who finally puts it into
the baggage car.
The journey from Bergen to Chris
tiana is very beautiful. You would
have to experience it in order to appre-
ciate it. The trains are not very large
but are clean and comfortable. Most of
the time there are two locomotives and
at some of the sleeper grades three are
necessary. Starting from Bergen,
which is at sea level. you climb for
our hours up through the noun tains
until an altitute is finally reached
where there is snow the year around.
At all places Of interest along the road
stop of fifteen to twenty minutes is
made to give the passengers an oppor-
tunity to enjoy the natural scenery and
incidentally to buy souvenirs and post
cards, which the natives are anxious to
sell you. This business, no doubt, pro.
vides very snug income for a great
,,,orv poOn1o in thiS onupfrv x,bara
you will have to admit, these noun
tains are thing of beauty but just as
unproductive. At 10:30 p. m. we ar
rived at Christiania and were all ready
to agree that we had reached the end of
a most perfect day.
Before going to the hotel, l thought I
had better see whether or not my bag
gage had come through all right, and
to my surprise, Il might also add dis
gust it was nowhere to be found. AS
could not speak Norwegian and the
baggagemaster could not speak English
was obliged to seek the services of an
interpreter, and about all the satisfac-
tion could get was that my baggage
might be along in few days.
From the station went to the Hotel
Grand, where l had previously wired
for room, and upon stepping up to
the desk and asking the clerk in charge
he Informed me that my rooms were
ready. drew one long breath and de-
cided to ask the price of these rooms he
spoke of and he said $12 per day. After
telling the man that he must have got
me mixed up with some one else, as I
wanted something for about $3.50, he
said he was sorry but there was not
another vacant room in the house. II
picked up my grip and walked down
the street few blocks, where found
a nice room in a smaller hotel for So,
or if 1 remember rightly, six kroner in
Norwegian money. Then, of course, 4
did like lots of other naonlo oo,oo