Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of May 11, 1880

Overview

R. announces an excursion to Vesuvius, but illness soon derails the plan. The party struggles through a silent, anxious outing to the observatory, finds no room, and returns home early while the children continue to the crater with guides and come back exhausted late at night. What remains is not sightseeing but a dreamlike day ruled by worry.

Content

Tuesday, May 11:

R. announces at breakfast that we are to make an excursion to Vesuvius. Swift preparations, hasty lunch at Figlio de Pietro’s. R. sends word that he is unwell, and he does not join us at lunch, but nevertheless wants the outing to continue, feeling it will do him good.

Silent journey. Arriving at the observatory, we seek a room, none to be had. The children off to the crater with some guides; R., feeling worse, I suggest returning home. We do that, home at 9:30. R. to bed. The children, exhausted, do not return until close on 11.

Strange, dreamlike day, saw nothing, just experienced the reality of worry!