Part 11 (2/2)

Again, on the railroads, many journeys have to be made at night; and it is seldom that one can secure a sleeping-coach. On much-travelled lines these are usually bespoken a week in advance. Failing to get the _wagon-lit_, as the sleeping-car is called, after the French fas.h.i.+on, one may sometimes engage a _berlina_, which is simply the _coupe_ or end compartment of a car. This, being made to seat three persons instead of six, is allowed to be reserved. It costs about two dollars for a distance of one hundred miles.

The route to be followed in any particular case has, in the nature of things, to be determined by the purpose and circ.u.mstances of the tourist. One may make a geological and mineralogical tour, inspecting the mountains and the mines of Spain, and find his hands tolerably full at that; or, one may wend his way to the Peninsula solely to study the achievements of the former national schools of painting there, in which case Sevilla and the picture-gallery at Madrid will be his only objective points--the latter chief and almost inexhaustible. The architectural treasures of Spain const.i.tute another source of interest sufficient in itself for a whole journey and months of study. But those who go with aims of this sort will find all the advice they need in guides and special works. What will more probably be sought here is merely an outline for the wanderer who sets out to obtain general views and impressions in a brief s.p.a.ce of time. Him, then, I advise, if the season be propitious, to enter Spain from the north, pursue in the main a straight line to the southern extremity; and then, having made the excursion to Granada--which in the present state of the railways must be a digression from the general circuit--proceed along the sh.o.r.es of the Mediterranean toward France again. In this case his trip will arrange itself in the following order:

DAYS

Paris to San Sebastian 2

Thence to Pamplona. Back to main line.

Burgos 3

Valladolid 1

Thence to Salamanca 2

Back to main line. Avila 1

Escorial, and drive to Segovia 2

Madrid 8 Or, from Avila go direct to Madrid, and then to Escorial, Segovia, and return.

Alcala de Henares (birthplace of Cervantes) may be reached by a short railtrip from Madrid eastward 1

Aranjuez 1

Toledo 2

Cordova 2

Sevilla 5

Cadiz 2

Gibraltar (by steamer) 2

Malaga 1

Ronda (by rail and diligence) 2

Granada 4

Return to Malaga 1

Cartagena (steamer) 2

Murcia (rail) 1

Elche palmgroves (diligence) 1

Alicante (diligence) 1

<script>