Homer guardian. (Homer, La.) 1888-1890, 1888-12-21
The Floating Gardens Of Mex.
leo.

VIC tuOh Carriage, QUO uuc
morning, from the San Carlos Ho-
tel in the City Of Mexico, to visit
the Floating Gardens of Santa
Anita. After half an hours drive
through the busy part of tile city,
crossing the Plaza Major and
down the streets Of Jesus, we ar.
rived at the, "Pasco dc las flores"
OF Flower Dive.
This drive is nearly a mile long,
and has on either side two btauti-
full rows of trees and Cine drive
in the centre. Charmed beyond
description with the beauty Of the
place We could not resist the
temptation to drive to the end.
We were fully rewarded for yield
ing to the temptation, for en- route
we saw the fine fountains, stone
bridges and long seats erected
there
MANY, MANY YEARS AGO
for the elite Of the Mexican capt
tai. Arriving at the end we had
some moments to admire The
handsome statue erected to one OF
Mexico's most famous lnonarchcs,
Gudctimactzin.
How my pulse quickened as l
saw the beautiful dark eyed senor-
'tas on every side, breathing the
sof. balmy air and in such a beau.
tiful place. Their dark eyes seem
ed to reflect the latent passions
hidden under such calm and beau
tiful faces; but l am wandering.
Returning to the landing we were
saluted by half a dozen boatmen
each anxious to take us to Santa
Anita for cuatro reales (ifty
cents.) After much parley we
embarked in what is there called
a cano, made Of pine board and
covered with branches Of tree,
profusely ornamcnted with Aow-
css Of every description, We were
informed
THAT A BRIDAL PARTY
had had the canoa decorated for q
visit to one Of the distant towns
on the lake. Seating ourselve.
under the roses and tuning our
instruments, eve played soft
Mexican DANA, SO soft and sc
sweet, as only the Mcxl
cans play. The flowers seem
ed to bend nearer as the beautiful
strains Of three bandurrias and ,
guitar interpreted the emotions o.
the players, for We we're all young
and each in iove! We seemed K
throw our whole souls into music
and AZ the boatmen pushed II.
'down the canal with twolong pole.
and unit. the last strains had dice
away, you could have heard {
agum drop"
On NO went, passing under ;
stone bridge, and presently q ca
uoa hove in sight about two hun
drcd yards down the canal. w,
strained our eyes to see the occu
pants, butuntil nearing them quit,
close we're unable torecognize then
They proved to be the frat part O
our party that had left home mucl
earlier than We. When ovcrtaken
they we're nearing our destination
and soon all arrived at Santa Ami
ia together. Santa Anita itself j.
quite a small town, hut near 4
are very many pueblos. or villages
and on.
SUNDAYS AND FEAST OATS
the streets are quite animated
We entered what 10 considered the
best cafe for breakfast, and heart
ily enjoyed it, the tamales, enchil
adas and mole de guajolote wert
splendid, and although served OF
4 wooden table without . table
cloth, We ate With . gus.o that
made the walters stare. We next
walked down the principal street
to the gardens, whore smother ca
noa MAS taken to visit the flower
islands, which lie some distance
from town. These gardens are ar'
tiicial, made BY digging out The
bottom Of the canals and heaping
the earth up in places 20 % to b.
above the high water. OF course
the soil il very rich, and resem,
bles our black soil Of Louisiana