1936 On the Continent

assumption that your thirst for historical knowledge is nothing like so great as your thirst for the beer of Pilsen or the
slivovitsa
of Belgrade. When travelling with us on the Continent you will not require a foot rule, for we will never call your attention to the size of an ancient monument; on the other hand, we will tell you the size of the tip that will earn you a smile from a pretty waitress in Vienna.
    Above all, we will constantly remind you of one important thing that ordinary travel guides consistently—and surprisingly—omit to mention, namely, that, for instance, Rome contains not only magnificent monuments and priceless art treasures but also Italians. The main interest and enjoyment of foreign travel lies not only in “sights,” however magnificent these may be, but mainly in contact with peoples whose customs, habits and general outlook are different from your own, and who create that picturesque, quaint, strange, inspiring atmosphere that you seek under foreign skies. Our Travel Annual introduces you to the people of the country you are visiting, and endeavours to show you their human side without, however, forgetting the traveller’s human side, his—and her!—personal requirements in the way of comfort, amusement and general well-being.
    We do not altogether neglect what is generally described as “sights,” but even here we always endeavour to link artistic experience with the human factor.
    We have attempted to present all this in an easy, lighthearted manner, consistent with the happy thrill that foreign travel ought to give you. Originally we intended to commission a prominent writer in each Continental country to write about his own native land. But we found that, with few exceptions, native writers could not summon up sufficient detachment to make their intimate knowledge of their respective countries palatable to prospective English tourists or could not repress their own patriotic melancholia or over-enthusiasm about them. That is why, in most cases, we finally commissioned prominent writers and journalists who, though foreigners in the countries with which they deal, possess an intimate knowledge of them, combined with the capacity for detached presentation.
    The exceptions—native writers who write about their own countries—include the famous Hungarian dramatist Louis Zilahy, the Czech author František Langer, thePolish author A. Lutoslavski, the Jugoslav author Alexander Vidakovi, and several other authors with an international reputation.
    We do not flatter ourselves that we have produced an ideal travel guide or even that we have succeeded in embodying in this first issue all our ideas on the subject. On the contrary, we are conscious of many imperfections, most of which are due to pressure of time in placing “1936 … On the Continent” on the market before the travel season proper begins, and to technical causes. At all events, we shall be happy to consider any criticisms or suggestions from readers of the present issue, with a view to improving the next and subsequent annual issues.
    All we can claim is that we have made every effort to serve the interests of the travelling public, even to the extent of making inquiries about the standard of service at individual hotels in various countries. In this connection we wish to make it clear that there is no connection whatever between the advertising section and the rest of the book. Hotels and restaurants have been recommended on their merits alone, on the basis of personal visits by the writers of the various articles or of information gathered from other sources.
    But one thing of which we are frankly—and we think justly—proud is the price of our Travel Annual, which we have fixed low enough to place it within reach of all who are interested in foreign travel. For the small sum of 6s. 6d. we guide you through no fewer than 26 Continental countries, giving you not a brief sketch of each, but a total of
One Thousand Pages
of valuable and useful information that is published here for the first time.
    Wishing you happy holidays on the Continent.
    THE EDITOR

GENERAL INFORMATION
Passports—Extracts from Passport Regulations
    1. Application for Foreign Office Passports must be made on a special form which will be supplied on application. Husband and wife, and children under 16, can be included on one Passport if travelling together.
    2. Passports are issued in London between the hours of 10 and 4 (Saturdays, 10 to 1),