Wanganui Girls On Motor Tour Of The Continent

Wanganui Chronicle, 10 November 1950, Page 9

Wanganui Girls On Motor Tour Of The Continent

Two former Wanganui girls, travelling in their own car, have journeyed a distance of 6000 miles during an extended tour of the Continent. They are Misses Joy and June Hansel and the countries visited are Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy and France. Following on fiom a previous letter in which they described the first part of their journey, the travellers had reached Stockholm after a good trip journeying leisurely and stopping awhile at Skogluster to see an old castle in a small village. ‘StocKholm is a very lovely city, with 700,000 people and is surrounded by water.” the> write. “The shops have an endiess fascination for us They are full of the loveliest things ‘At Oslo we managed to see all the places of interest, including the famous Vigeland Park Just below where we were stayjr g was the world's highes‘ ski jump, 15GC feet high—ie—the actual tower from where the skiers start One can see this ski jump from all over Oslo One has to see the height to behexe it Ski-ing is the national sport and many learn to ski almost before they walk To the professional skiers this jump does not look as terrifying as to us Our hotel was about 20 minutes by electric train from the centre of Oslo, and was high uj in the mountains The view was one of the finest we have ever seen, and at night it was just a fairyland of (winkling fights To add to the enjoyment, the weather was glorious. The situation of the hotel compensated in many ways Igi the primitiveness of the place. This hotel, like all others we have so far experienced in Scandinavia, was spotlessly clean. Both Norway and Sv eden are the cleanest countries we have ever seen, their small towns and cities, even the country lanes and farm houses, all look spotless. It is lovely to be able to walk into any restaurant, and have the feeling that what you eat is clean, and has been handled by clean people. “Dining out presents no problems in this part of the world and one can get any kind of meal either hot or cold at any time of the day or practically any time of the night. The cities are full of street cafes, out in the open and covered with gay coloured awnings. Our impressions so far of Scandinavia is a land full of colour with flowers and music. So many restaurants and hotels have either a pianist or small band to provide music in the dining rooms. In the hotel in Karlstad, we enjoyed some wonde 'ful music while we had dinner. The pianist was a woman who gave Items, singing, and also accompanied a brilliant violinist. It was really a professional show. When the head waiter knew we were New Zealanders he went away and got a New Zealand flag specially mounted for this purpose and stood it on our table. It appears that they do that for any overseas visitors.

“When wv. oossed the frontier into Sweden we immediately started to diive on the left hand side of the load. In Norway it was the right hand rule. Sweden is a m"ze fertile co intry, r cher in farming than Norway. When we arrived at Karlstad the streets were crowded with people coming out of theatres and from soccer matches. Sunday is not held as a day of reverence as we do. We were surprised to know that soccer was played in Sweden. We thought England was the only country that was really soccer minded.’

We are enjoying our tour immensely,” the letter continues. Tne Continental capitals we have seen so far are beautiful. Thought has been given to town planning and the streets are all tree lined. Motoring is the only way to see a country well.” The travellers spent two days in Rome, visited St. Peters and the Vatican. “It was especially interesting as many pilgrims were there. We were accomodated at a house in which a famous pianist used to live. A huge place, it has marble floors. It is closed and very seldom opened, but as a special favour, because we had come all the way from New Zealand, the reception clerk let us have one of the rooms. It had a balcony opening on to the main street of Rome. We really were lucky as accommodation there was taxed to the limit at the time, From Rome we went to Pisa, and stayed only long enough to climb the leaning tower. “Our drive to Monte Carlo has been something to really remember for a life-time. We followed the coast all the way and to make matters perfet the weather was all one could wish. We visited the Casino and found it in teresting to watch the people—many of them elderly women —putting their money on. King Farouk was visiting Monte Carlo and his huge yacht was anchored in the bay. We did not care for Italy. It lacks the cleanliness oi the Scandinavian countries.”

The writers are of the opinion that New Zealand is a beautiful country appreciated all the countries they have appreciated al Ithe countries they have journeyed through, they would not care to live in them. When they last wrote they were making their way to Lyons and Paris, back to Dover via Dunkirk after, what they describe as a marvellous experience.