Continental Europe: Country Inns and Back Roads

Here’s an Idea of What You’ll Find Inside:

“First, we walked around the outside of the chateau, where the massive walls are overgrown with a green cloak of ivy. In the gardens a deep pool had been created by the waters of the brook, which was shared by playful ducks and unusually large trout.
“The trout are too large for the ducks,’ said M. Jadot. There was a little outdoor dining terrace, which, he explained, was used for dinner in the warm weather…”

“The interior decorations in this rather smallish hotel are traditional Tyrolean, and I remember most vividly the impressive vaulted ceilings in the dining room. Here and there are indications of a Tyrolean heritage in the old uniforms on display, as well as painted tiles and walls adorned with such typical things as a zither and a wooden rake …”

“Our meal started off with one of the specialties of the house, called Ratsherrimspiel, consisting of various kinds of meats, onions, sausage, bacon, and other succulent things served on a skewer with potato croquets. It was served on a special plate that is used only for this particular dish. For dessert I had a local cheese that was very strong and peppery and came wrapped in a napkin. Marrianne insisted upon my sampling some sliced apples that had been dipped in a batter of meal and beer and then dropped in hot oil. They were delicious…”

“Cordoba is a city of flowers. There are flowers everywhere-on the plazas, the bridges, the squares, and on almost every corner. There are some streets with flowers in all of the windows and potted flowers hanging from balconies…”

“It was obvious that this hotel had been well cared for by its owners and loved by guests for many years. In the main living room, a fireplace with intricate hand-painted designs of Norwegian flowers was surrounded by deep leather chairs that invited both reverie and conversation…”