March 16 Tuesday

Jenny's lungs reported better.[RG]
The McCormacks took us in car for a day's visit to Italy – round Lugano, past Lake Piano to Lake Como. Lunch at Cadenabbia decoyed by a nasty little boy into an expensive restaurant where we waited an hour, then by rowing boat across to Bellagio (tourist & embroidering [sic: embroidring] centre) when I bought a silver peasant hair-pin for 12 lira – as a paper knife. We passed Villas Carlotta & D'Este but did not go in, had coffees & beers in Como, & back by Chiasso. Italy lovely, but the Duce's apothegms stencilled or engraved everywhere. Much trouble at customs. Laura had a headache.
(Today in Libya M proclaimed himself Protector of Islam – against English & French oppression).

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: ink correction
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black

Places Mentioned

  • Lugano

    Lugano, Switzerland
    near the Italian border, where RG and LR spent part of 1937 eds.

  • Lake Piano

    Lake Piano, Italy

  • Lake Como

    Como, Italy

  • Cadenabbia

    Cadenabbia, Italy

  • Bellagio

    Bellagio, Italy

  • Villa Carlotta

    Lake Como, Italy
    museum and botanical garden on Lake Como eds.

  • Villa D'Esta

    Lake Como, Italy
    Mansion-turned-hotel on Lake Como eds.

  • Como

    Como, Italy

  • Chiasso

    Chiasso, Switzerland

People Mentioned

  • Jenny

    Nicholson, Jenny
    Jenny Nicholson: oldest daughter of Robert by Nancy Nicholson.

  • Laura

    Riding, Laura
    (1901-91) American poet. Laura Riding (née Reichenthal; then Laura Gottschalk).

  • Mussolini

    Mussolini, Benito
    (1883-1945) Fascist dictator ( "IL DUCE") of Italy from 1922-1943. eds.

  • McCormacks

    McCormack, Walter & Violet
    Tenants of Ca'n Torrent. Had two daughters: Jennifer, a dancer, & Betty. Continued their friendship with Robert and Laura in England. eds.