Middletown transcript., 1917-02-03
. COMPARATIVELY few travellers
who have made the long tour
. OF the South American CONT
nent care to cnntinnn tho vow

/
nent care to continue the vOy
age to the several countries bOrderin;
on the Caribbean without a period o
rest. They usually return to th'
United States directly from Colon, ant
| possibly visit the Caribbean nation:
on one of the many winter tours 81
extensively advertised by steamship
| and tourist companies.
However, to continue our sightsee
Ing in South America we shall proceed
from Colon to Colombia and Venezuela
and from the latter country voyage
homeWard via the Leeward islands te
New York, writes William A. Reid in
the Bulletin of the Pan-American
Union. From Colon there are in nor.
NAL times sailings Of passenger ships
once week or oftener, touching at
Cartagena, Puerto Colombia, Santa
Marta, Puerto Cabello, La Guaira,
Trinidad and Barbados. Service to
these ports is maintained by Italian,
Spanish, French, Holland, English, and
to some of them by American lines
the former trade to the various ports
Of Europe. One may cross from Colon
to Cartagena, $50 miles and about one
days sail, by the steamship line and
later continue eastward by vessels of
the other lines.
Cartagena. with population of
about 10000, is one of the Oldest cities
Of Colombia, and it's harbor ranks as
the best cf the country. Passengers
are landed at piers instead of by small
boats. One Of the interesting sights
is the famous wall that once surround
ed the city; it is sufficiently wide in
places to admit carriage and horses
Coaches are available at about 81 an
hour for sightseeing in or near Carta-
gena; and this drive should include
Manga, Espinal, Cabrera and Pie de
Ia Popa. Automobiles are growing in
number, but the excessive cost of gas
oline makes their use expensive. Other
places which the stranger should see
are the ancient fort of San Felipe, La
Popa castle, the tombs, Government
palace, Palace Of Inquisition and the
several cathedrals.
Santa Marta and Curacao,
From Cartagena or Puerto Colombia,
preferably the former, the traveller
may pursue his journe.' to Venezuela
by taking passage on steamer of the
lines already mentioned. If the boat
selected calls at the ports Of Santa
Marta, Curacao and Puerto Cabello,
the better Of course are ones chances
for observations of peoples and Gus
toms. at the former the traveller sees
phases of banana development which
has grown to large proportions within
q few years. Santa Marta itself is an
ancient town Of 1900 people.
The Dutch island Of Curacao, 50
niles off the mainland of Venezuela,
has at times belonged to various ma
ions; it is often a port of call for large |
steamers. Spanish-American history is |
closely interviewer with this island. |
Willemstad is the port and capital, and |
he governor Of the Dutch West Indies
esides there. A popularity noted by
he stranger is the inclination or bend
ng of trees and vegetation toward the
vest, condition attributed to the con-
tant trade winds from the east. AS
n many other parts of the tropics. the
lights are delightfully."- cool, while the
eat Of midday is tempered by breezes.
Curacao is a port of call for Vene-
uelan line of steamers plying to Mara
aibO. Maracaibo has $4,000 popula-
ion, is located OF fine harbor on the
part of Lake Maraca:5a,
nd has an extensive commerce with
lteriOr regions, whose products reach
he various ports of the lake by sew
raj short railroads, river boats, etc.