The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-24
4 JOURNEY To
TROPICAL MEXICO
The Air Redolent With the Perfume
of CameIias and Cardenias.
REAL PARADISE FOR HUNTERS.
Snipe. Heron, Deer and Wild Ducks,
in Fact all Kinds of Game
Abouud-A Storm on The
Gulf OF Mexico,

Many tourists visit Mexico every year,
and return home again: some 10 sing its
praises some to laugh over its peculiar
customs and people others 10 disparaSe
even its wonders. Soma persons can only
view things and people through smoked
glasses. These we may pity, for they are
shut out from The Joys OF those VINO, so
where they may, are prepared 10 make the
best OF even the worst that may befalf.
While year after year this tide OF human
t:y flows in and out, 10 few comes the
rare pleasure of visiting this particular To-
cality where it is our good fortune 10
bs euSconced.
French families who have drifted here, per-
haps upon the tide OF Fate; afterwards
intermarrying with natives, and thus
eventually becoming, IN a measure. Mex
scanized. though still while they speak
both languages fuenuy, stH loyal 10 their
native land, they use only that idiom with
In their gates
San Rafael is not an accessible spot, be-
Ing situated on the banks OF the Bobo
river, in the State of Vera Cruz-to use
current phrase, twelve miles from no
where" To reach this point one has the
choice OF TWO routeS-either to come "a
cabaIIo'' over rough and at this season
muddy roads. as We'll as dangerous Give
days Journey, or TO come Via Vera Cruz,
est point. which designated as nowhere
We lief: Puebla TO escape the high alt-
tude and cold winds which there beset one
at this season, 10 enjoy during theses
months that touch OF summer one can al
WAYS find in the tropics. Upon leaving
the '.City OF the Angels" we discovered
that, owing TO storm on the Gulf, our
steamer would not sail till the sea was
calrner: and as there was no rumor afloat
IF yellow fever in Vera Cruz, We decided to
await the departure of our "yapor" in ia
lapa. There remained during ten de-
hghtful sUn-lit days and star-Nt nights. Ia
;apa every one knows; all who coma 10 Mex
leo eventually visit this town of Sunshine,
flowers and pretty girls. 1t is a quaint
little place of one-story houses. whose
tiled roofs, like big poke-bonnets, reach out
In front and we'll over the paved though
narrow sidewalks Like life, il is a sue
cessiou ef ups and downs, being built up
on a number of hills; some SO abrupt
that to reach the street below you must
needs decend o steep stone stairway. While
comparing its situation to that of man in
life's Journey / could not but wonder if
ever they had there any tipSr stragSlers
nj the night. and, IL SO. how they avoided
.allins, down 10 the streets below While
winding homeward their respective ways.
TOWERING MOUNTAINS.
waitins. is usually weary work, but
Tor our party Il was fraucht with pleasure.
No occasion 10 fret over delay when by
walking TO the plaza one could View the
real rrsndeur of Mexico. as on a canvas,
sread Dat around the City. Mountains
u,.n mountains towering. There the white
peak of O-izaba glistenins as silver G6
10 u IN the sunlight: here the purple and
crimson "Confre de Pero;e, and ever
above II all the intense blue Sky that one
can only find In Mexico.
Then there were little outings to the
villages round about. where the air is re-
doient with the perfume of camelias and
cardenias: where orange trees, al! laden.
tal, under their weight OF golden fruit;
and coffee trees. scarlet with berries. lux
rr..ts GlisteninS streams OF water, too.