Through His Words: Day Seventeen

Reflections From and About My Grandfather
Alexander Capraro, Architect

Day Seventeen
Hotel St. Gotthard-Terminus, Lucerne

Switzerland
Monday August 1st, 1938

Darling Maude,

Arrived in Lucerne this noon from Interlaken, the ride being entirely thru the mountains. Today is the national holiday for the Swiss and the trains are loaded with people. It is a pretty little town with fine hotels overlooking Lake Lucerne and typical of Swiss cities, it has its flowers, fine lawns, etc.

View of Lucerne and Lake Lucerne – Wikimedia Commons

Today, Lucerne is the most populous city in north-central Switzerland. One of the city’s famous landmarks is the Chapel Bridge, the Kapellbrücke, a wooden bridge first erected in the 14th century.

Wikimedia Commons

A parade was held here and later fireworks on the lake. The lake is dotted with all sorts of little boats, each strung with lighted lanterns, people in them singing and yodeling to the accompaniment of accordions. Very pleasant sight.

Wikimedia Commons

There are girls and fellows in native costumes in the streets singing and having a good time. Quite a few English people here on visit. I have talked with them for the last two days at Interlaken and on the trains so that I am unconsciously adopting their accent. By the time I get home, I may have a foreign accent of some kind myself.

Alex was staying at another grand hotel, the Hotel St. Gotthard-Terminus in Lucerne. Below is a postcard from the hotel  as well as a luggage tag.

I am taking a steamer to a little town called Fluellen in the morning and from there will proceed to Como in Italy. I believe I shall be very happy to get in a country where I can speak the language and will not have to use sign language any longer. From there I will go to Milan, then Venice, Florence, Pisa, Montecatini, Siena and Rome. 

There is not much I can say tonight. Writing every day leaves only a little to say, except that I can repeat over and over again that I wish you were with me – it would make the trip a thousand percent pleasanter. Maybe a few years from now this may happen, OK  dear?

While that dream would never happen, Maude would always have Alex’s incredible stories, letters and photos to experience Europe and its treasures.

Give Marion a big hug and kiss for me and raise hell with Vinny and Billy for not eating what they should.

Regards to Pa and Ruth,

Kiss_________________ss________________________ss

Devotedly yours,
Al

Ciao,

Judy

Tags: Chapel Bridge, Hotel St. Gotthard-Terminus, Kapellbrücke, Lake Lucerne, Lucerne, Swiss Alps, Switzerland