The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-01-28
A Trip to Cuba.

experienced along tnlS llne, anu d.
ranged every detail for our pleasure
and comfort, and feel safe in saying
that more competent and agreeable
chaperons could not be found.
Arrangements were made for
very attractive itinerary, enabling
the party to spend short time at
the Florida east coast resorts and
giving ample time to visit historic
Cuba and interesting points in the
vicinity. The route was over the S.
A. L. Ry. to Jacksonville, the F. p.
c., through St. Augustine, Palm
Beach, Miami, and the Keys to
knights Key dock, the portion of the
F. E. c.. Ry. being over the great sea-
going concrete viaduct extension OF
Mr.. Flaglers line being constructed
to Key West, now in operation to
knights Key, practically port IN
mid-ocean, and is considered one of
the most remarkable feats in en-
gineering ever carried out in the
western hemisphere. :
From Knights Key dock to
Havana the handsome steamers of
the Peninsular and Occidental Steam
ship Co. are used. Our first stop
over was at St. Augustine, which is
one of the most picturesque and in
teresting little cities I have ever
seen. The old part of the town, the
streets are very narrow and the
houses have hanging balconies that
sometimes almost meet. st. Angus
tine, with it's many well-preserved
evidences Of by-gone age, rubbing
sides with modern palaces; its quaint
old concrete buildings erected dur
ing the Spanish regime peeping ou.
from the shadow of elegant latter day
structures; the unique, narrow
streets of the old city running into
the broad avenues f the new makes
it a most interesting city. We dined
at the richly appointed and luxurious
Hotel Ponce De Leon. The historic
symbolism of the decoration is to be
observed at the very gateway of the
court, so also in the interior OF the
building, the walls are decorated in
the Spanish renaissance style and
speak of it's storied past. .. r..
No traveller can ever forget the
entrance to Cuba's principal city, Ha-
vana. The city viewed from the
harbor is wonderfully picturesque,
with large and imposing structures,
solidly built with stone, and often
painted in brilliant colors.. The
steamship enters the harbor under
the guns of Moro Castle, showing
the frowning walls of Moro and Ca
banas; to the right, lies Havana, with
her $4,000 population. All the
structures, from the humble cottages
to the grand palaces, are OF stone,
everything is massive and substan-
tial. Modern American improve
ments are fast appearing, but 1t is
said that old Havana can never be
erased. Some of the business streets
are so narrow that carriages can
barely pass and the sidewalks are
so narrow that two can walk abreast,
but third person could not pass, so
the custom is to line along single
file.
There is so much of interest to be
seen in Cuba that could linger for
long time telling of the different
places of interest visited, among
which we're Matanzas, the Hermitage
of Montserrate, Bellamar Caves,
Yunnuri Valley, the old French
cathedral, the American Club House,
Colon cemetery, and other places TOO
numerous to mention.
On our return we breakfasted at
Miami, at Flagler's tourist hotel,
Royal Palm,' and then a carriage
drive over the city and out to the
tropical fruit groves. From thence
we went to Palm Beach for day.
Nature has done much for Palm
Beach and the lavish expenditure OF
millions has done more to make 1t
mecca, paradise on earth. Situated
as it is every opportunity is afforded
the landscape gardener, the fior1st'
the architect, and their creation is
the wonder of the tourist. On every
hand is seen the tropical tree IN all OF
it's glory, palm trees, cocoanut groves
in full fruit, and every tree In the
foliage of summer; while the park of
flowers along the lake front is
gaudy in it's tropical beauty-a
wealth and array of blossoming col
ors that can nowhere else be seen.
On this island this garden of eden,
the hoof of horse is not permitted to
tread, the place is too aesthetic, too
delicate to admit of animal feet. All
travel here is done on foot, on bl-
cycles or wheel chairs, the latter
method of locomotion being especial
ly popular; the wheel chair has be-
hind it bicycle attachment, where
on is mounted a stout negro guide.
There are hundreds of these wheel
chairs in use and when at night they
are strung out for mile or more
on the path along the lake front,
with each an electric headlight, the
effect is said to be very striking. we
were entertained here at the Royal
Ponclana, another of Flagler's tourist
hotels, which is so magnificent IN
every detail that description could
not do it justice. Next, and last on
program, was day at Jacksonville
where automobiles were provided for
touring the city, later on trip to
the ostrich farm and then back to the
Windsor Hotel for dinner, from