November 9, 2011

more from Argentina

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Jill sent this second report on the CAA group’s visit to Argentina:

“On Sunday, after a relaxed morning of riding or walking at will through the spectacular park at Estancia Bella Vista and enjoying lunch, we packed up our van again and departed for Tandil, to the south / southwest.

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the view from the back of Estancia Bella Vista (photo by Jill Ryder)

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“Tandil is a hilly area (the only hills in Buenos Aires province), and we drove four hours before climbing a steep dirt road and arriving at Amaike, our home for the night. This new hotel overlooks a valley and is spectacular. We enjoyed a group dinner (empanadas, sausage, salads, beef and finally lamb, all prepared on an open fire outside) and all went to bed early.

“On Tuesday, we visited what can only be described as the finest carriage and appointments collection to be seen anywhere. Years ago my father, Tom Ryder, had visited Argentina and was enthralled with what he found here. He took photos and notes of all the wonderful vehicles, and two years after he passed away and my sister and I sorted out his house, we found these photos and notes. When I last visited Argentina two years ago, I brought the appropriate photos/notes to the Fox family. They were so delighted that they made a DVD of all the information, and we enjoyed the “premiere” of the film today. I was presented with a copy for the CAA library. Wonderful.

“At the end of our fabulous visit, we loaded up, made the somewhat hazardous drive across the field again and found the main road, drove two hours and arrived in the small town of General La Madrid and the Hotel Europa. We arrived wet and muddy, but happy. It turns out this delightful hotel is owned by an Argentine couple who had lived for two years in England and spoke perfect English. They had a small but super restaurant, and we all enjoyed a great evening, topped off by a bottle of champagne provided by the owner, Antonio, at 11:00 p.m.!
 
“Today (Wednesday), the rain has changed our plans. Although the weather this morning was wonderful, with the sun shining and a great temperature, there was so much rain yesterday that the thirty kilometers of dirt roads to the estancias we were to visit today are now impassable. So we will stay here most of the morning and slowly make our way north to Pehuajo. We are working on finding another local bus to take us tomorrow to our estancia,  which is miles and miles on dirt roads. Fingers crossed.”

 

November 8, 2011

another look back

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In this old video, from 1903, President Roosevelt stands in his carriage to wave to the crowds lining a California street. His entourage is followed by a parade of carriages.

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If the embedded video won’t work on your computer, click here to go directly to YouTube.

 

November 7, 2011

three days in Argentina

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Here is Jill’s first report on the CAA group’s visit to Argentina, which is underway now. She was hoping to be able to send regular reports and some photos (depending on the spotty Internet connections throughout the trip), but has been having unexpected trouble with the charger on her laptop!

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Day One of the CAA’s 2011 Trip to Argentina:
 
“Everyone arrived at our hotel in Buenos Aires (known as BA) — with one participant having missed his connection in Atlanta and then being re-routed via Santiago, Chile. We all enjoyed a welcome dinner on Friday night at an Italian restuarant near our hotel (we thought it might be fun to enjoy pasta, knowing that we would be eating a lot of meat on the rest of the trip).
 
“On Saturday morning, we met our driver for the trip, Leo, and his immaculate fifteen-passenger van, and we were accompanied by Pauline Edbrooke of Biblos Travel, she who was responsible for all our arrangements for this unique trip, and off we set for Quilmos (about an hour’s drive away). There, we were warmly greeted by Marcielo Decoud and were shown the most beautiful stable, which was built in 1912 and had all its stable fixtures brought from France. Then we were shown the harness room with its set of four-in-hand Hermes harness. And then it was on to the carriage house to see the many vehicles by Holland & Holland, Binder, and some Argentine makers. 
 
“Then, sitting on a long table under the trees, we enjoyed our first asada (barbecue). Meat after meat was brought to us on large trays, all washed down with red wine! We were joined by several Argentine carriage enthusiasts, including Rodolfo, the president of the Argentine Commercial (Trade) Vehicle Association. Conversation was lively and after two hours or so, we boarded our van, having made new friends and with promises of visits to the U.S. What a great start to the trip!”
 
Day Two (Sunday):
 
“At 8:30 a.m.,  the entire group was ready with their luggage for a new adventure. Leo arrived, the van was loaded, and off we went for a two-and-a-half-hour drive south /southwest of the city to the town of General Belgrano. We were headed to the estancia (farm) of Guillermo Gibelli and his family. Once there, we were warmly greeted by Guillermo and Christine Gibelli and eventually his two daughers, one of his sons, his daugher-in-law, and several grandchildren. We talked and looked around the beautiful house, and then we were asked to follow Dr. Gibelli into the garden. There, he unveiled a statue of a coachman that he had commisioned several years ago. 
 
“Dr. Gibelli had gone to England earlier this year to attend the South of England Hackney Show and while there had met one of the judges, Roland Connelly of Scotland. From that meeting, Dr. Gibelli had asked Roland to come to Argentina and show the Hackney enthusiasts here how to show Hackneys. So Roland and his wife, Tracey, were there with us, and Roland produced several of the Argentine Hackney horses for us to see in-hand.
 
“We gathered in the house for lunch and enjoyed the fun company. Then it was off to see the carriages while Roland and the gauchos got four carriages ready to take everyone out on a drive around the estancia. The sun was shining, and it was simply a perfect day. 
 
“After enjoying an afternoon tea with the Gibelli family, it was time to thank them for their tremendous hospìtality and bid them farewell until we will see most of them again in Areco. A two-hour drive followed, until we reached our overnight accomodation at the Estancia Bella Vista de Guerrero. It’s hard to believe that we needed dinner, but at 8:30 p.m., there we all were, enjoying a super dinner at the estancia. Then it was early to bed for everyone; after all, it’s exhausting eating so much!”
 
Day Three (Monday):
 
“This morning we all had the choice of going riding (several did), or walking and enjoying the beautiful trees and flowers. Remember that is is spring here in Argentina. Some have seen hundreds of parrots in the trees, and E. G. Moody reports that he has taken more than three hundred photos so far!”
 

November 6, 2011

going a-hunting

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Today: a little more time-traveling.

In this old black-and-white video (to which someone has attached some odd horn music), you can see Austria’s Emperor Franz Josef and his hunting party arriving in horse-drawn carriages and then heading out for the hunt.

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As usual, if this embedded video won’t play on your computer, click here to see it on YouTube.

 

November 3, 2011

highway robbery

Posted by Jennifer under history | Tags: |
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One of the people I follow on Twitter has done a ton of research and written several books about Victorian London. Back in August, you may have seen a couple of his photos that I retweeted: then-and-now images of a coaching inn.

A few days ago, he posted a link to the online Proceedings of the Old Bailey. According to the site’s home page, it is a “fully searchable edition of the largest body of texts detailing the lives of non-elite people ever published, containing [the records of] 197,745 criminal trials held at London’s central criminal court” from 1674 to 1913. Talk about a treasure trove of interesting historical details!

Consider, for instance, this transcript from a trial on 10 October 1677, in which two men — noted as J.S. and W.F. — were tried for highway robbery.  

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“The most considerable Tryal was of two Highway-men apprehended at Westminster upon suspition, and in one of their pockets a Watch and silver Tobacco-box, in the others three Rings; of which notice being given in the Gazet, the Owners now came in and prosecuted. The occasion and manner of their being taken was thus: Lodging with others of the Gang, not yet taken, at an Inne at Westminster, some Gentlemen took notice of their often riding out and coming in at unseasonable hours, and inquiring who they were, ’twas pretended they were bound for Ireland very speedily; but suspitions dayly encreasing, the said Gentlemen finding them abroad one Saturday, resolved to watch them all night.

“About ten or eleven a clock the two that were now Prisoners at the Bar, came in, and going to bed, early in the morning they broke in upon them and secured them. There were here preferred two Indictments against both of them for several Felonies, which appeared to be Robberies in other Counties, and consequently excluded them from the benefit of the Clergie; and a third against one of them for stealing three Rings.

“For proof against J. S. it was plain, a Watch and silver Tobacco-box being taken upon him, which were respectively owned by two Gentlemen , one robb’d on Horse-back neer Blackheath by five persons; the other robb’d the day before in a Stage-Coach by a like number; and both of them swore they verily believed J. S. to be one of the Thieves.

“Against the other the Evidence was not so direct: ’Twas prov’d they rod out together on the Saturday-morning, came home again at night together, and were taken on the Sunday morning in bed together; that one of the Thieves was on a white horse, and he rid out on a Nag of that colour, &c. However he was brought in not guilty on both these Indictments, as likewise on the third for stealing of Rings. It seems he meets with a silly old woman one evening in drink, and perceiving she had good Rings, carries her first to a Confectioners and gave her Sweet-meats, then to a Tavern, where he laid her to sleep, and so went off with her three Rings: But he insisting that she gave him them, and she, by her own confession, appearing to have been insensible, the Jury did not think fit to finde the Felony against him.

“As for J. S. he was convicted on both the Indictments charged upon him. Nor could W. F. escape so: for there was soon after exhibited an Indictment against them both for a Robbery committed on the Highway Sep. 8. in the Parish of Southwine, neer a place called Potters Bar in the County of Middlesex: Upon which a Gentleman’s Servant gave evidence that his Master was robb’d of a Watch, Riding-scarf, Sword, Belt, &c. and swore positively that the said F. was one of the Highway-men: whereupon he was found guilty; but no certain proof appearing of his Companion’s being in this Action, he was brought in not guilty.”

 

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