The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-03-22
PLACES OF INTEREST IN HA.
vANA

Association visited during their re-
cent visit in Havana was old Moro
Castle-that fort that is so filled
with interesting memories. Never a
tourist goes TO the island but that al
most his first thought is TO go through
MORO Castle. Ii is partly built on
solid rock and partly hewn out of sol
id rock. Ii stands out in bold relief
against the blue of the sky line: tall,
majestic and seemingly indomitable.
1t is a magnificent natural fortress
that has beeen added to, improved
and strengthened by mans ingenuity.
The following description of MORO
will probably be of interest 10 our
readers, and we clip il from an 2rti-
Gle that We have just read on Cuba:
The ascent TO the entrance is by
an inclined road. which is shaded by
royal poincianas and laurels. and hedg-
ed with impenetrable cactus, above
which tower the moss grown walls.
All about us the prison like rooms,
easements, storerooms. kitchens. mag
aZines. bomb-proofs and dungeons,
with grated embrasures, vaulted roofs
and dark recesses. The walls are of
formidable heights, the bitches OF as
tonishing depths. 1t is not at all q
cheerful place, and when we come to
a narrow, steep, high-stepped stair
way descending into the interior
depths, We feel no desire to explore
its mysterious darkness, but turn in
stead to the more inviting way which
leads up to the ramparts. Here We
have a view we'll worth coming from
Havana to behold, over harbOr and
town and gulf. On the seward side
We are directly over the sea, and look
ing down into its clear depths per-
haps discern one of the monSJrouS
sharks for which these waters have
an evil notoriety.
The stone building on the harbor
side of the ramparts contains a well
equipped signal service station. The
lighthouse was built in 1884 by Gov
ernor-General ODOnnell. whose Irish
Spanish name is immortaliZed in huge
letters high up on the face of the tow
er.
THE guns are not of great age, nor
yet of the most modern type of coast
defense. Ii is believed that the walls
would stand the shock of firing heavy
guns. Below the castle, on the harbOr
side. down by the water. are the guns
of the Battery of the Twelve Apos-
ties. each of the twelve having its
apostolic name. These are the most
powerful guns on the island. They
command the mouth of the harbor.
Five hundred yards beyond is the bat
terry called La Pastoria-The Pastor.
East of the castle commanding the
sea. is the Velasco Battery. named in
honor of Captain Velasco whose fame
is indelibly associated with the his
tory of Moro
After a ramble all over and through
Moro we proceeded TO the fort of Ca
bana, which lies nearby. The ascent
to Cabana is exceedingly steep and the
entrance TO the fort is very massive
and odd looking and it is a somewhat
rambling fertilization but covers an
immense space.
After the sombre grayness of MORO
and Cabana we thought We should like
something a little more enlivenins
and gayer cOlored. SO after what we
would call lunch Cthe Cubans have a
midday mean we spent the afternoon
on the Prada. the center parkway OF
Havana and connects all the other
parks, the beautiful Malecon drive
and the Vedado5 The parks and drive
ways of Havana are extremely lovely
IL was Sunday afternoon and the last
Sunday of the carnival season. i
seemed as though the whole pOpula
ton of Havana were out in gala attire
and their one object seemed 10 be tC
have as gay a time as possible. =
very fine band-the Municipal-whicl
is employed by the city. played spirit
ed music and hundreds and hundred:
of carriages, buggies, the fire wagons
several floats and automobiles drOv,
round and round the Prado and Male
con drive from three O'Clock unit
dark. The carriages were filled Will
gaily and gorgeously dressed Cuban
principally women-many in fame,
dress costumes and wearing masks
They were throwing confetti and SCI
penrine and all having the most roI
licking time imaginable. Some of III
Cuban women are entrancingly beau
tiful and they wore most CorgeOu
costumes.
Ii was indeed q sight that made
lasting impression on the mind Of n
foreigner. IL was q scene Of mad rex
elry and one that will not soon b
forgotten by lis country editors.
a visit TO Cuba would not be con
plete without a visit TO PaletinO parl
which is 10 Havana what Coney Islam
is 10 New York The attractions ar
very similar 10 those OF this cOuntr!
There is a skating rink. flying m;
chimes. scenic railways. shows Of e'
cry description. lunch stands. fru
stands. etc. And 10. and behold. wha
should We stumble on al Paletino bU
Lunette. the flying iady-the sam