New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-25
A JOURNEY IN CUBA.
V.-TRINIDAD DE CUBA.

We reached in our last letter, the Hotel Grand An
tilla II was built splendid private residence, at
the cost Of go co., and is perhaps eighty feet front
with wings running back at both ends, nclosng the
universal court ward. Along the lower story is, in
front, series of arches, supported by six massive
piers, and covering a broad, paved portico, behind
which a single broad arch admits pedestrians horses
and yoantes into the court On each side OF this arch
way are rooms once intended for the subordinate Of
fees of the household, but occupied on one side
BY the sore-roons and an active biliardabie
tie other divided into two or three bedrooms, stone
paved and lighted by huge, grated, unglazed windows
Similar chambers admirably arranged for publicity
surround the area. fight of broad stone stairs, with
heavy mahogany baustrade, leads to the upper
principal floor entering first long apartment next the
court, used as a dning.room. This is separated by
archways filed in with doors and closets, from the
large central parlor and this again communicate. with
with the front parlor By three handsome open arches
all are paved with marble. Bedrooms sdjoin these
parors at each end i'll secluded for their windows
commanded from the balcony, and the partitions cense
far below the rooan arrangement very good tor the
circulation of air. aud equally for the circulation OF
sound 30 let the occupants speak low and be quiet
gallery runs round the second floor inside the court
This il evidently most ill-conrived house for the
purpose. of a hotel, but it built to suit Cuban
ideas Of comfortable residence aud not for public
house The same may be said of other hotels in the
i.land. and believe there is hardly one which was
constructed for its present use. The inconvenences
and annoyanccs arising from this cause are perpetual
and the idea Of ones taking hi- in hi' inn" is
here prepo-terous. II relief to us at last to
quit all Cuban hotels and occupy the cabins AID state
rooms Of the COhaNba
II il difficult to give any ineligible description of
the interior OF Cuban house, but if the reader will
-tep out from the front upper parlor the balcony
with us We will try to give him idea Of the and-
scape thenco seen.
This balcons extends along the whole front snd
round the angles Of this yellow building. Immediately
below, lie- the new Plaza d Arna. an open square of
an acre. now improved by being laid out into walks
and plats for -hrubbey, separated by low brick and
cement walls. \ dozen convict', black and white.
each with clanking chain riveted on his ancls, and
tie other end tied to hi- wai.tband, are employed
under the directos Of a corporal. in completing the
work le~urcy rounding the paving-stones, or carry
iu. in pair or hXd-j0Tors, the earth 90 fl up and
level the ground.
On our len i apparently Roman ruin, ssquarc ed
inc, with walls of small irregular stones set in cement
and stately porico OF brick columns extending across
IT, whole 'front.' Ii 10 roOtesSs and its interior is hed
with grass and bru-hwood, clad in fresh verdure aud
at frst sight it genuine relic OF classical
antquitv 1t H. however merely M unfinished chufch
planned BY and thus far erected at the cost ut a
wealthy citizen. whose death stopped its progress and
left il to attain rapidly its present venerable aspect.
The town of 10000 inhabitants spreads before and
below US bsoad exISnse Of low-waed, rooted
dwellings, streets wider and boter Ytovided with side
walks than at Havana, and mode ratey Clean as they
have decliyty, which allows every shower to wash
the dit away. 1t has a nuraber of wealthy citizens
and handsome houses and is one Of the most ancient
towns the island having been but thus FAR frum the
port to avoid the dreaded incursions with which the
buccaneers of old every coast Of the Caribbean
On our right rise above few los inter,cninc houses
the many-gabled roof and tail gals painted tower Of
the cathedral edifce which. frr- wee ap~d