River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-05-25

~ The world is fast grasp
- ing the fact that in the
comparatively small space between Mexico
and the Isthmus of Panama lies, as it were.
the Land of Promise-a promise Of wealth in
calculable to the realm of commerce, through
the cultivation and development Of marvel
ousy rich and fertile countries which are be-
ing opened up with wonderful rapidity by the
network Of railroads that are spreading
throughout the i've beautiful republics of Cen
trail America. More than a land Of promise
to the archaeologist who has here a vast
field for research wherein to unravel the mys-
terry which surrounds the history of the an
cient American civilization and throw some
light upon tho origin of the people whose won
derfus works are evidenced in the ruins of
prehistoric cities found hidden in dense trop-
zeal forests. land of beautiful realities to
even the ordinary tourist, who finds easily
accessible wealth of scenic beauty unsur-
passed and perfection of climate rarely
equaled.
This is particularly true OF Guatemala, the
most northern Of the Central American reDub-
lies and our nearest neighbor after Mexico
1t is reached by three days delightful sail
on the Gulf Of Mexico and along the coast of
British Honduras. The fine new ships of the
United Fruit company give every luxury and
comfort of ocean travel, and Guatemala in
the very near future will become the Mecca
Of those desiring to escape the cold and gloom
of northern winter Nowhere in the world
can be found more magnificent and varied
scenery than that which greets the traveller
especially IN the lake regions of this lovely
republic. Of the four larger Iakes-Peten
lying far to the north; YzabaI, near the At
lantlc coast; Amatitlan, on the Guatemala
central railroad not far from Guatemala
Guy ana Attlan, tucked away in the noun
Jams near the Pacific coast-there is small
CHOICE Differing so widely, each in it's wav is
perfect characteristic of its location and oil
mate. III
Upon our arrival at Puerto Barrios we con.
cluued 70 VISIT Lake Yzabal before going nm
10 the City of Guatemala. After one niob+ 80
resi- therefore, we boarded tho rt+1a 20 =,
boat which carried us out from the 1and1oaI-a1
pay, snort distance across the Gu1P of 49,,
uque and along the shore line, where oracaf,.,
palms stirred lazily in the perfumed brooaa
to Livingston. This town is nicturoaa.s1,,
situated ON a bluff at the mouth Of tbe d.
Duice' OF sweet river. new hotel wifi
comfortable rooms and excellent cuisiro III
lately been opened here. and da1, 10 n1e
may be well spent enjoying the many -
scenes In this quaint little town.
From the porch of the Hotel Pic NIL
look down through a maze Of nalno 49,
across the matched roofs of the TOWN - 49,
sparkling waters OF the bay, where the Carihs
Dart back and forth in graceful canoas In
" AneeIlhg posture and with only the use Of
a paddle, they skim across the water with in
credlDle speed The air is heavy with the
scent Oh Jasmine and gardenias; the CLEAN
OF oranges and the tiny golden balls of the
cumquat meet the eye at everv turn and tow.
erlng above all the great spreading branches
of the wonderful breadfruit tree.
Lake Yzabal lies about so miles inland and
q regular line of steamers ply between Iiy-
lhgston and Pansoz, in the interior on the
Poloch1c river. We did not however. avail
ourselves of this usual means Of transnorta-
tlon having had launch placed at our dis
posal
FOR the first ten miles we followed the
"lnolng course of the Rio Dulce, the beauty
OF which is only comparable to that of the
far-famed Saguenay BY some terrible con.
Vulsion of nature, the mountains have been
rent asunder and through picturesque can
yons and gorges this lovely river wends it's
majestic course to the sea. The shores gradu-
ally draw nearer together and we soon find
ourselves shut in between towering walls of
green, rising to a height of 400 to 500 feet,
with dense tropical vegetation and graceful
overhanging vines lazily swaying in the
breeze. Here the water seems to be motion
less It's CLASSY surface rejecting in absolute
perfection of detail each leaf and flower and
not sound breaks the silence The only
signs of life are the hundreds of beautiful
white Cara, the birds which furnish Dame
Fashion with the muchdesired and ever-expen-
sive aigrette. We passed occasionally ma
tive drifting downstream in his dugout, or
pitpan, as these canoes are called-his cargo
bunch OF bananas or string of fish.
The shores again receded and we entered
the Gulf of Golfete, pretty body Of water
some ten miles in length and dotted with nu-
merous islands. Another narrow channel and
we finally entered the lake proper. A beauti-
full picture is before us-the lovely expanse
of water with its wooded shores rising gradu-
ally to the rugged Sierras de las Minas to
the south, and the Santacruz mountains to
the north. Here stand the picturesque ruins
of the old Spanish fort Of San Felipe, built in
1926 by fernando Cortez during his march
from Mexico to Honduras and erected to pro-
tect the approach to the town Of Yzabal, which