On The Road to Switzerland (1930s)

[Music] wherever the tourist may cross the Swiss border whether he comes by car or by cycle whether he is on his way south or working northwards whether he arrives alone or in Pleasant company at the wheel of a high powered roadster that tosses the miles in succession over his [Music] shoulder Envy in the hearts of other drivers always there lies before him the Wy Alps to be climbed a gigantic barrier but no one thinks of skirting it or turning back it is for him that the engineer skill has created those World famed works of art the Alpine roads Trace their course for hundreds of miles along the rocky slopes and but them securely in the solitary vastness of nature maintained with care they remain unaffected by heat or by Cold by snow are by ice and their surface is one that all tires can grip so that cars of low power may experience no difficulty in climbing the slopes a certain gradient is never exceeded and this explains too why the road was built with so many turnings today the constructors of roads and bridges no longer seek to avoid the rocks and mountains a modern Road absorbs the obstacles in its path by means of numerous tunnels slipping beneath the Thunder of waterfalls skirting the abysses and cutting its way through the living [Music] Rock here we are at the top of the pass but now a depth of 4 ft of snow on either hand still makes a wall along parts of the road and stretches its man mantle across the flanks of the mountains [Music] who then has cleared the road for us the snowplow loud voiced and efficient aided by the patient work of the sweepers spring has already come into her own far down below in The Valleys she is even showing her first tokens up on the heights but up here winter still holds Sway and it is thanks to them the men and the Machine that we can motor over the passes at this early [Music] season many a car must have a breather on the way a fine opportunity for stretching one's legs and then up here there are so many things to see all around a dam for example holding the water from glaciers and Ice Peaks feeding electric power to Industry and the Alpine Giants too we never could see such ease were it not for the roads thus constructed and now we are again descending following the quaint windings of the highway which seem to be traced on the Contours of the landscape with all the skill of an artist's [Music] hand one single Bend needs as much work of construction as a house in the town who could have imagined a few years ago that such monsters Laden with baggage and passengers should one day be able to climb the Alps as a beetle scrambles over a pebble of course the drivers must know their job the first villagers appear passing along the torrent with its Rushing Waters we arrive in the valley no shortcuts for us we cannot imitate the waterfall and leap from the brow of the Rocks here we are back once more amid the unhurried vehicles of the plane hassles arise before [Music] us and after the castles The Vineyards where the vintagers are working or chatting while they sample Autumn's luscious fruit for themselves but we are climbing again like all these people on foot more and more of them all converging towards one spot where can everyone be going there must be something well worth seeing around here a mass of dazzling peness yes of course it's the Rome glacier truly an a inspiring site and well worth a pilgrimage even on foot and now is the time to show off your knowledge if you've read up an encyclopedia beforehand they are busy at the hotel nearby for thanks to the Alpine roads it is possible for such a hotel to do good business and offer us if not all at least a good many Comforts though this I'm afraid is only water but in such a spot pure water is as good as champagne and a simple picnic is as welcome to a keen appetite as anything that comes out of a grand hotel [Music] kitchen of course one is not always alone but who Minds such a friendly look around others think of touching up their beauty I beg your pardon yes touching up their beauty oh well with so many gentlemen about we quite understand and here are the views that only the road can offer us here a venerable old castle perched on a Hilltop there a lake alive with sails somewhere in the woods an idilic white tent but keep your eyes ahead driver there's a train coming after you after you coaches common politeness demands it and so does the [Music] barrier [Music] [Music] there's no hurry we have plenty of time to stop and walk about whenever we feel like it to go exploring examine the trim houses and their picturesque mural decorations discover the quaint features of the local [Music] architecture Al last looked back at the pretty little village where we lingered for a while and then off once more the Waters of this torrent look inviting what about a dip it doesn't look cold nor is it for here we are already in the warm sunny Chino [Music] this is the country for holidays for bathing for reading for lazing in the sun where the villages are perched on the hillsides and the church bells ring out their peels for sheer Joy here and there we pass a roadside Chapel or perhaps a villa set in a verdant Garden by the lake shore glimpse of furing the mirror of the lake or a dashing speedboat and enjoy all the typical picture postcard views is with pavement cafes idle strolls and white duck trousers and when we abandon our Alpine Road and follow our route along the valley to the South by the Customs we are even a little afraid of the Customs offices and then alas we leave Switzerland this beautiful country with magnificent Mountain Roads