The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-07-07
CATHEDRAL OF LION

~ ~ .AASlN
I seaports of Bluefields, Cabo Gracias q
Dios, Las Perlas and San Juan del
Norte, popularity known as Greytown.
Because of its inaccesslbility from
the Atlantic seaboard the trip to Mana
qua is most conveniently made from
Corinto. the principal port on the Pa
cific. On this coast there is also the
port of San Juan del Sur, an outlet
for the department of Rivas.
At Corinto your vessel docks along
side a splendid wharf, and as you de-
scend the gangplank you meet good
ly number of the population who eager
ly look forward to boat days for ac-
tivity and excitement Men and wOm-
en- crowd the wharf with gay-colored
birds, brilliantly plumaged macaws,
verdant parrots and parrakeets, tiger
and puma skins, panama hats, Offer
ing them for sale, and there are lively
scenes along the dock throughout the
stay of the ship. Corinto itself is
pretty port. The entrance to the har-
Dor is dotted with green islands and
the shores lined with tall graceful
palms. The streets are clean and well
laid out. Trees and flowers bloom
everywhere, the wooden-framed build
ings are tidily kept, while the many
well-stocked shops bespeak the COM
mercial Importance of this place. Along
the main street to within a few min
utes' walk from the water front runs
the railroad, and here you entrain for
the capital city.
Leon the Largest City.
The trip to the capital is pleasant
revelation Of the character of the coun-
try. Leaving the rolling waves of the
Pacific, its shore bOrJered with the
towering cOconut paims and man
groves, you soon come upon the bank
Of wide and deep inlet Of the sea,
the Paso de Caballos. Crossing this,
areas of thriving sugar plantations
stretch before you.
About 35 miles from Corinto you
come to Leon, the largest city in the
republic-the distributing center for
the coffee and mining districts of Mata-
galpa, Segovia and Jinotega. There
Is considerable movement about the
station. You jump into one of the
coaches, and a drive through the wide
and fairly level streets brings you to
the main hotel-large, airy, clean and
comfortable. En- route you observe the
many quaint low homes thrown into
contrast here and there by a larger
and more elaborate structure. Leon
is busy city of 10000 people. It has
number of fine public buildings, a
law and medical school, a number of
attractive clubs, and life in that city is
as enjoyable as it is charming.
Leon, it will be remembered, was a
time-honored rival of Granada for the
site of the capital, and SO spirited did
the contest for this honor frequently
become that compromise city had to
be chosen, and the privilege of housing
the national government of the repub-
lie fell to Managua. Leon boasts of one
of the largest cathedrals in Latin
America. Great and massive, 1t fronts
one side Of the plaza and either side
of the entrance steps is guarded by
the lion of CASTLE. For over a century
and half this edifice has witnessed
and withstood the historic trials Of the
nation.
Managua, the Capital.
After a pleasant stay at Leon you
resume your journey to the capital.
Once more you pass through fiat grass
lands interspersed with charming
woodland. Here and there stretch be-
fore you expanses of cultivated areas.
Presently Momotombo greets you, a
beautiful volcano, erect, imposing, and
constantly sending forth little volumes
of smoke that pass of into white
clouds as they ascend the skies. And
then Managua! The drive to the hotel
takes you through a large part Of the
city, and you get your first glimpses
Of the various public buildings, parks,
homes, stores and streets of the cup
ital.
Mapagua lies on the south shore of
the lake of the same name, a body Of
water covering 16 miles in width and
over twice that in length. At some lit
tie distance away and connected by
River Tipitapa is wonderful Lake
Nicaragua, sheet of water nearly 100
miles long and 40 miles wide.
At Leon you are impressed with the
commercial activity of the city. In
Granada you will observe a general
liveliness in the life in general. The
spirit of Managua is also distinctive.
There Is more of the quiet and dig
nifty that BELTS a capital city. Among
the public buildings worthy of special
notice are the national palace, the
presidents palace, the Offices of the
other departments, and the arsenal
that stands on a hill overlooking the
main street.