"Faisant L'Autostop"
To any prospective continental hitch-hikers I would like to offer this advice. Avoid France! Many hitch-hikers of all nations, especially German, make their way to France with the result that there are so many thumbing lifts that the average Frenchman is fed up to the teeth with them and is less likely to co-operate.
When our expedition commenced it consisted of three youths, aged 17. We arrived at Dover after two days' hitch-hiking and boarded the boat about 5 p.m. in the evening. The crossing was a nightmare. Even the water was choppy in the harbour. Many of the passengers were sick and when I went to see how my friends were faring, two pale-green faces appeared from behind two books. After docking at Calais we moved down to Rouen and then to Chartres, by-passing Paris as we did not want to spend up too early.
From conversation with various French people we found that they are very proud of their country and especially of their cathedrals. The Frenchmen were intensely interested in politics and world affairs. They asked our opinions on the problems of the Suez and Algeria.
Unfortunately, after two weeks' travel, we had to separate because one person can travel more quickly alone. In France, lorries cannot take hitch-hikers as there is no third party insurance, so this removed one of our possible modes of transport. Therefore, we separated and planned to meet on the Riviera. However, I never reached the Riviera and we did not meet again until we arrived home. My two friends reached the Riviera, stayed there a week, and returned home via Paris. However, I could not go any further. So I made by way into the Black Forest, Germany, then through the Saar and Luxemburg to Brussels where I stayed for three days. After reaching London and staying, there a week I returned home, having been away a month and spent about £24.
Of the many things that we saw, I should like to draw attention to one which will interest the geographers. Near Lyons we saw an "erratic", that is a huge boulder that had been transported by an Alpine Glacier, in the Ice Age, and left on the ground perched on another stone. It is very , enjoyable having a holiday on the continent, but we were glad to return to England, to the left side of the road and to good cups of tea.
We all returned convinced that our French had improved. Then back to school and the French teacher. It was then that our convictions sadly departed.
R. MILLWARD, VI.Lit.
A place of interest which I have visited
On May 12th, 1956, I went with Limeside School to York.
We visited the York Minster, the Castle Gardens and a number of other places, but the place that interested me most was the Castle Museum.
The Castle Museum is really a village built in a very big room. All the floors are either cobbled or of stone flags. As we went in through the door we went up a flight of steps and there in front of us was an old-fashioned living room and across from that a kitchen - both of which were fitted up in every detail.
As we went along in one street we could look through the windows of the house or shops and see everything inside. One shop was a Candlestick Maker's, another a Lace Maker's. In one street stood a carriage with a stuffed horse harnessed to it.
One of the last things we saw was the Blacksmith's Shop. Inside we saw some of the equipment a blacksmith uses. After this we left the museum and set off for the Castle Gardens.
After visiting many more interesting sites we went for an hour's sail up the river. Then we returned to the coaches ready for the return journey.
E. LOMAX.
Ode to a Loved One
|
She walks along, and as she passes by For days and days I dream of none but her, Oh, that I could be with her all the years, |