TRAVEL NOTES
SCANDINAVIAN HOLIDAYS ONE of the results of the present crisis in Central Europe is a change amongst holiday plans in favour of countries- well removed from the scenes of unrest. Many people who had planned Continental holidays are now considering a cruise, in which they can be certain there will be no unpleasantness as a result of further political developments. Those who like their holidays on land, and wish, as most of us do, to forget for a space the threats of war, would do well to consider the possibilities of Scandinavia. Such countries as Norway, Sweden, and Finland have much to offer the visitor ; the people of all three countries are very friendly and hospitable, whilst travel is both comfortable and economical. The traveller to Sweden should feel the atmo- sphere and character of the country from the moment he sets foot on Swedish soil, but this is difficult if viewed from the window of a train. Sweden, however, provides visitors with an unusual opportunity of so doing : by the skill of her engineers, a waterway—a delightful medley of canals," lakes, rivers, archipelagoes—has been hewn right through the country from Gothenborg on the west to Stockholm on the east. Along this waterway pass little white steamers, small, but astonishingly com- fortable ; the cabins are fitted with every kind of convenience, while a miniature dining saloon provides Swedish food. From an arm-chair on deck the visitor can absorb the atmosphere at his ease. The canal steamers leave Gothenborg and Stockholm almost every day of the week, the journey of some 35o miles being completed in three days. During this time it is possible to obtain a panorama of Sweden that is unique, "for the progress of the steamers is leisurely, halts are frequent, and one may easily make actual acquaintance with the changing characteristics of the country. The mediaeval castles of Bohus and Lacko, high on their hills • the mighty waterfalls of Trollhatten ; Lake Vanem, the largest stretch of water in Sweden ; the great birch forest of Toreboda ; the wood-rimmed lakes, Viken and Bottensjon, the long, blue Lake Vattern, deeply set between the mountains ; Vadstena Caste, where the steamer moors in the moat ; the extra- ordinary staircase of locks at Berg, where one may visit the tombs of ancient Swedish Kings in Vreta Abbey ; the Baltic archi- pelago ; Malaren, the lake of thirteen hundred islands ; and the final mooring under the very shadow of Stockholm's great Town Hall—this is the barest skeleton of the three-day journey along the Gota Canal. One passes quaint villages, red-and- white farmhouses, wooden churches with their steeples by their sides as a precaution against fire. Fruit vendors run beside the boat with baskets of cherries, pears, plums, apples, peaches. The waterways are so narrow through the Westrogothian forests that branches almost brush the deck. In three days on the Gota Canal. a traveller can see as much of Sweden as another who has travelled the country for two months.
From Stockholm, the traveller may go north to Lapland and the famous walking country • of Jamtland ; or to central Dalecarlia, where folk-dances and peasant costumes still exist ; or south, to the thirteenth-century walled island city of Visby ; or Stockholm may hold him for the rest of his holiday—for he will go far before he meets another city of so great beauty and charm as this capital built over thirteen islands. Few countries of similar size possess such capacity for satisfying all kinds of tastes•from the familiar sands, sun and seaside of the south, west and east coasts, to • the mountains, people and Midnight Sun of Lapland, only a day's journey away. Those who choose Norway for their holiday will probably want to visit the world- famous Fjords, all of which, with the excep- tion of the Oslo Fjord, are situated in the west, most of them within easy reach of Bergen. The most impressive are the . • •
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Hardanger Fjord, the Sogne Fjord, and the Nord Fjord. The first can be reached by car from Bergen, or by local steamer, and there are many attractive fjord-side villages at which the steamers stop for goods and mails. Two excellent holiday centres are Norheimsund, Granvin (Eide) and Ulvik. The Sogne is the longest and deepest fjord in Norway. It is from two to five miles in width and 112 miles long. The depth reaches 4,000 feet. The scenery is mag- nificent, though somewhat grim. There are five branch fjords, each of which is beautiful. Another popular resort on the Sogne Fjord is Balholm, from which trips can be made to the Jostedalsbrae glacier. one of the largest in Europe. The most beautiful valleys are to be found on the eastern side of Norway, Oslo being a good centre ; but apart from its scenic beauty, Norway offers first-class fishing, shooting, mountaineering, and yachting ; the climate is warm and sunny in summer, the hotels are very homely and comfortable, and there is no language difficulty for British visitors. There are plenty of organised tours available at inclusive prices, from a nine days' tour at £13 75. 6d. to a seventeen days' holiday at £56 iss., or a 4,000 miles sea trip along the west coast at £27, with a reduction of £2 for first-class North Sea passage if starting after August 26th. Those interested in relics of historical interest should not miss seeing the Oseberg Ship, (excavated in 5904), at BygdOy, near Oslo. The ship dates from the year Soo.; its length is seventy feet, and width is sixteen feet ; a fine specimen of the smaller type of Chief- tain-ship. Detailed information and many holiday suggestions are obtainable from the Norwegian State Railways, Norway House, Cockspur Street, London, S.W. 1.
CRUISES
The popularity of the Bibby Line Coastal cruises is largely due to the excellent cuisine and arrangements made for the comfort and entertainment of passengers, and to the fact that the cruises leave London on Saturday afternoon and arrive Liverpool Sunday morning. Their first cruise of the season will be that of the m.v. ' Cheshire ' sailing from London on May 28th, calling at Hamburg and Rotterdam, and reaching Liverpool via the English Channel on June 5th. The next is that of the s.s. ' Yorkshire ' sailing on June nth via Antwerp, Hamburg, the North of Scotland and the Western Isles, arriving at Liverpool on June 58th. Similar cruises, calling at Hamburg and either Antwerp or Rotterdam, leave London at fortnightly intervals throughout the summer till September 57th. Each vessel has first-class accommodation only, including an open-air swimming bath. All the usual deck games are available, and miniature horse-racing will take place ; also dancing every evening. Whilst in port, the vessel is used as an hotel and the service is the same as at sea. Sightseeing and shore excursions are arranged at charges which include seat in motor-coach, entrance fees and services of English-speaking guide-lecturer. A representative is on board to give information and make shore arrange- ments for individual passengers. The (Continued on page 557.) Travel Notes
(Continued from page 556.) inclusive rate is 9-12 guineas. Full particu- lars are obtainable from Messrs. Bibby Bros. and Co., Martin's Bank Building, Water Street, Liverpool, or any passenger agency.
A cruise which should not be missed by those who can take a holiday of seven weeks is the Amazon Cruise organised by the Bot t a Line. These holidays are unique, calls being mace at Leixes, Lisbon a ad /V a leira, and thence up the Amazon for 1,000 miles to Mangos. There are expeditions to the falls of Taruma, to the famous lagoons where the g'a at Victoria Regia water lily abounds, and a trip by motor is made through the forest to Lake Aleixo. Special summer fares are as alable during June, July, and August. Sailing dates : April 8th, June 7th, August 9th, October 7th, December 8th. The Yeoward Line have regular railings to Lisbon, Morocco, Madeira, Canary Islands and the Azores from 18 to 26 guineas, of which full particulars may be obtained from their offices at 24 James Street, Liverpool, or from any of the Travel Agents. Another holiday which will appeal to many is a six- day tour to Holland at the height of the Bulb Season. Easter, this year, coincides with the period in which the bulb fields are in bloom. The sea voyage (1st class) is made in comfort by a steamer of the Batavier Line from Gravesend to Rotterdam. The tour includes sightseeing in Amsterdam, excursion to bulb fields, and visits to many interesting towns and places of historical interest. Departure date is April 14th, and the inclusive cost is £m Particulars may be obtained from British Overseas and Continental Travel, Ltd., at 136-142, Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1. The Finnish Travel Bureau, of 7 Victoria Street, London, S.W. 1, have recently published a booklet of cruises and tours costing from £5 to £12. They offer, for instance, a nine-day tour by cargo steamer from London, visiting Glasgow, Belfast and Southampton, returning to London, at £5 5s. Other countries suggested are Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Holland, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. Sea tours to Lisbon, Tangier, and Marseilles are to be found in the programme of the Rotterdam Lloyd Line, and the same company offer extended tours to Egypt, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Sumatra and Java. The Nederland Line have Mediterranean cruises to Algiers, Villefranche (Nice) and Genoa, an advantage being that you may stay as long as.you please at any port included in the trip, the tickets being available in other ships of the line. A very attractive holiday to the West Indies is suggested by the Fyffes Line, who offer a 28-day cruise for £47 (1st class), including two days at an hotel in Jamaica, with an alternative sug- gestion of 19 days at sea and 9 days ashore in Bermuda for £51 15s. The stay ashore may be extended at either place.
NEW LONDON--PARIS AIR FLEET Air trcvellers will be interested to learn that the popular ten-seater Golden Clippers of Air France which, since 1932, have maintained the fastest schedule on the cross-channel services, will, as from Sunday, March 27th, be superseded by an entire new fleet of the latest French type of passenger liner, the Marcel Bloch 220 for sixteen passengers. The new aircraft cruises at 20o miles an hour and will reduce the scheduled time for the journey between Croydon and Le Bourget from x i hours to 75 minutes. The soundproofing of the cabin is claimed as an outstanding achieve- ment, making it possible to talk in con- versational tones and be heard clearly from one end of the cabin to the other when in flight. There are two rows of eight seats, each passenger having a table and a window to himself.
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
Those who contemplate living in Southern Rhodesia will be interested in the announce- ment of Messrs. Douglas Young and Co., to be found elsewhere in this issue. The firm is responsible for selling a large estate within fifty miles of Salisbury.
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