Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-01-19

Yesterday morning 1--WE five" were
very happy as we started from Quay
anna on our Christmas tour around the
island. Our first days journey lay
around the eastern end of the island
and as far as San Juan.
The scenery for the first eight or
nine miles, though beautiful was not
new as we had been over the same
road several times before. We soon
came to one of the scenic places where
the road lays between the mountains
and the sea. For some distance we
drove along just at the foot of the
mountains and then we began to
climb. At a point of about $50 feet
above the sea, where Columbus at
tempted a landing on Christmas day
long years ago, the car was stopped
that we might enjoy the wonderful
view. The road is only a few feet
from the sheer drop to the water be-
low. The girls took some pictures
here.
The road descended into a pretty
valley. We passed through a little
town and then began another climb
over a mountain range. The noun
tains here present an appearance quite
different from any seen before. They
have great rocks and boulders scatter
ed upon them, there are also many
palm trees growing on the mountain
sides. We passed great boulders by
the roadside and some almost over
hung the road. We all left the car
and posed on one for a picture.
One view was wonderfully fine look
ing back upon the little town in the
valley and beyond to the sea. One can
imagine how pretty the towns in this
section look in the setting of green
cane fields for the buildings are paint
ed white and the roofs red. Beautiful
flowers are every where seen; lovely
roses and cannas, and morning glories
climbing fences on bushes or finding
nothing upon which to climb, just
trailing along the roadside.
When we reached the top of the
divide, a magnificent view of a large
valley, with green cane fields, wind.
ing river and another quaint town, lay
before us. 'E
ITO the left, across the valley, We
had our first glimpse of Mt. Yunque
and away to the right we again saw
the ever beautiful sea. We coasteC
down the mountain side, with man!
turns and windings, into the valley. A
few weeks ago, this ride would have
seemed perilous to me, for many
places we drove only few feet from
a steep descent of from 800 to 100C
feet
We were hungry before noon ant
stopped where the breeze blew fresf
and cool to eat our lunch
Our first stop after lunch was a
Humacoa a pretty little town, thirty
three miles from Guayama, with fine
school buildings and many modern
homes--houses with lawns and flower!
in front and ornamental fences, place:
beautiful to look at as well as live in
These are a pleasing contrast to tn,
average old Spanish style city O
plantation house with facade at tn
edge Of the sidewalk, a plain from
with or without balcony where tn
windows and doors are shutters dur
ing the day; and solid plain boar
doors that are bolted tight at night
Many of these houses are not so plai
in the rear however for there may b
a garden abundant in roses and man
plants Of brilliant foliage, all of whic
is for only the private enjoyment o
the family within.
Two or three miles from Humaco
is Humaeoa Park right by the sel
There is a large grove of coconau
palms and a pavilion, swings an
bath houses.
\ We all enjoyed the swings, and tn
i young people had a fine frolic in tn
sea as the breakers came in. TIL
two mothers enjoyed watching thei
and the, wonderful eoloring of tn
beautiful, beautiful sea. From her
we rode for miles thru groves of &C
coanut palms with the sea in vie,
thru a fringe of palms.
We stopped a short time in Jarad
to have a broken set of ball bearing
in one Of the wheels replaced. Fc
manv miles in this region we skirte
the foot of Porto Rico's biggest singl
mountain, Mt. Yunque, which look
very big for it stands alone. 1t
however only 3457 feet high, nj
nearly as high as ten or twelve other
farther toward the Islands center, tn
highest of which is 4398 feet.
We ate our supper in view of Yur
que, just at sunset, the mountain dar
and sombre, with it's mantle of prim
tive forest between us and the highl