The Paonia newspaper., 1911-03-31
~ ZX A1a6oS

N%lI port of all South America Is
INI La Guaira in Venezuela. II
NSN is not the worst place in the
NS)y world. yet a gentleman sent
out by department OF the
United States government to collect
Information recently arrived just in
time. by running. to make connections
with the train for Caracas. and de-
parting went out with the same speed.
In response to the question as TO his
object in neglecting commercial con-
ditions of this port, he said he was
told to avoid La Guaira. because no
man could endure its heat: It was pes
tilential-" Many people live in La
Guaira all their lives. and / know a
number who are not dead yet The
poetry a former American consul once
dropped into" entitled "Adios to thee.
La Guaira." is yet a famous text of
those who do not really know the
place. and may be II was worse when
Consul Bird Hoped his wings" about
its "calles" and -pulperias."
II is common among commercial
travellers. especially from the United
States. to rant and rave at La Guaira's s
climate and conditions But the ell
mate OF La Guaira Is fully as agree
able as one finds at any port of the
same latitude. They speak from
days experience: ] write from over a
years continuous residence. and II is
misrepresented. II is an eneryating
climate for a northern man II he stays
too long. but IT is delicious at times.
and rarely severe.
aNs4s~
variety of fruits and vegetables. many
OF them not usually found In tropical
ports; with delicious fresh fish daily.
and other commodities no; formerly
to be had. life Is not altogether un-
pleasant. as many seem to think
Situated at the base and on the
Jagged edges of cliffs OF high. rugged
mountains which rise almost directly
from the breaking surf Of the Carib-
bean Sea TO an elevation OF from 1000
to 5000 feet. It's location Is extremely
picturesque. The town is divided into
three or four villages. OF which La
Guaira proper Is the center: stretch
ing along the narrow shelf at the base
Of the hills for a distance OF four or
i've miles. encompassing Maiquetia on
the west and the Venezuelan. Baden
Baden. yclept Macuto. on the east
If Il were "Out West" II would surely
be nicknamed 'Stringtown.- but II
gives homes and employment to ten
or twelve thousand souls.
The towns OF La Guaira and Mai
quetia differ but little from other
Spanish towns. with cobblestone-
paved streets. opening out at unex
pected corners into oool.looking parks
as surprising and welcome as oases
In a desert. The streets are fanked
by brick or adobe succeed houses of
one or two stories: tho front rooms
frequently serving as shops. stores. or
'pulperias" for the sale OF fruits.
vegetables. matches. beer. wines.
liquors. and highly colored cottons
and alparagatas. the rear rooms and
second stories being the living rooms
OF the families.
La Gua.Ta Is the principal por, OF
northern Venezuela. and the port of
ingress and egress for the capital
Caracas. the Paris of South Amer
ica." with which II is connected with
a wonderfully scenic and picturesque
railway. II enjoys a large import and
export trade. with an average OF 20
ships engaged in international com
merce making II n port of call month.
ly. while the coastwise sailing craft.
many with this ms their home port.
are innumerable. II is a duh day In
deed In La Guaira harbor that finds
less than 15 or 20 small sloops and
schooners loading or unloading cargo
from the coast towns or the adjacent
Islands
The approach from the sea is pic
turesque ip the extreme. and the sight
as one steams into the harbor (or
out of IT. is one not soon TO be for.
gotten. II gives a curious inter
mingling idea OF the villages along the
Italian shores of the Mediterranean
and OF the Hopi cliff dwellers.
The streets wind and weave up the
guilies from the seashore. and narrow
trails and stairways zigzag along the
steep hillsides to where little white.
washed huts break the monotony OF
the red iron stain OF the barren
deciivities.
The old story OF narrow streets OF
medieval Spanish towns repeats It.
self here. Laid out In the centuries
OF turmoil and strife. all was with