Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1917-01-25
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
OF HAVANA, CUBA
Life in the Island City Is Much
Like That of Spain
Itself

If you want to visit foreign coun-
try without travelling far-come to
Cubai 1 doubt is Spain herself is
more Spanish than Havana. After an
eight-hour ride from Key West, we ar
rived in the fine land-locked harbor
and about us curved the beautiful wa
ter front of Havana. The concrete col
onades, tinted in the delicate pastel
shades with which the fronts of the
buildings are decorated, are most at
tractive and inviting.
Our passenger list was cosmopolf-
tan. The Americans made quite 3
party, and after passing the inspection
officer we went to the La Perla hoteI
which one of our party could vouch
for. Our taxi driver 1eRnd we were
not posted on fares, SO he charged Us
double, which we paid without demur.
That is the Cuban way Of doing bush
ness-they charge expecting to accepe
half.
La Perla is delightful Spanish ho-
tel. It's handsome eOlumned frons
faces Colon Park, with it's winding
walks and luxuriant tropical growth
1t was an old Spanish castle and, i'm
common with it's type, it has an inn
mense arched doorway with great fold
ing wooden doors, which are kept fold
ed back, protected within by white IRON
grill doors. The windows are also
very high and arched, reaching from
the floors almost to the twenty-fooS
ceilings. They are allied with the delS-
cate grill work, and have blinds tn
close on the inside, and also folding
doors. This arrangement obtains be-
tween the rooms also. The walls ara
all very thick. The Aoors are tiled
and seem very cool and clean. The
inner court, with it's sanken tiled hooH
and border of tropical plants, makes
a very agreeable breakfast room. The
hall is remarkably attractive, with it's
open staircases, protected by griI1
work.
So you see we are IN real Spanish
house-but there it does not end. The
delicious fare is Spanish cookery-thR
attentive and elegant service-the lam
guage, and alas! the beds. We pam
pered Americans find them exceeding
ly thin and hard, and the solid white
rolls of cotton most difficult to use foE
pillowsI We comfort ourselves by
saying How nice and clean they are"
There is very fine aviary in Colon
park, and as we were admiring the
beautiful specimens this morning
wished the Baraboo Bird club could
shart the treat with us. / was partie-
ularly interested in the quail family,
which is large and beautiful.
In physique the Cubans are straight
and slender, bearing their burdens on
their heads We have not seen one
that was fat yet, nor have we seen a
drunken person, although light wine
is used with meals. The women ap-
pear modest and retiring and are very
little seen. They are courteous and
agreeable in their manners, and there
is no unpleasant urging Of the pros
pective customer to buy.
Many of the streets are so narrow
that traffic is allowed to pass only one
way. The Prado is very wide parked
and boulevarded street stretching
through the center of the city to the
sea wall at the mouth of the harbor.
Opposite stands MORO Castle. To
looks much grander than pictures led
me to expect; we find it very fascin-
ating. The street car service is we'll
systematized, the operators are I'm
either white or blue linen uniforms
and most obliging On the Prado one
can take a car to any point desired
When ready to return, take car GO
ing in the same direction and get back
to the starting point over an entirely
new route. This is called the nosiest
city in the world, and | believe it is
true. The many automobiles dashing
about blowing their harsh horns, the
changing Of the street cars, the calls
Of the vendors, the cries Of the news
boys, music pouring from many door
ways confined in the narrow cement
walled streets is terrific 'FRONT.' a. M
until 2 a. M, with only four hours
surcease. From this din one feels
somewhat annoyed at first, but soon
we became accustomed TO It.
MRS. J. E. ENGLISH.
Mrs. English is accompanied by
Dr. English, Miss Emma Gattiker,