Evening star., 1934-11-04
VENEZUELA CHARM
GENUINE AND REAL
Traveller Discovers Country
Has Avoided Artificial
Tourist Attractions.
This is the sepenth OF series
OF articles on trapel in PQn-Ameri-
can countries.

This is the sepenth OF series
OF articles on trdpel in Pan-Ameri-
can countries.
ANA MARIA SHERWELL,
OF the Staff Of the Pan-American Union.
As Venezuela has but recently been
included in regular tourist schedules.
it has for the visitor the appeal of
freshness and newneSs, an unspoiled
charm that is becoming more and
more difficult to find. In vain the
traveller may look in Venezuela for
things purposely made or staged for
the tourist, for he will not find them.
the gracious hospitality of her Span
ish tradition and she will offer to him
only the genuine and real.
The country owes its name to Alon-
SO de Ojeda, who was the first to
travel along its northern shores. In
the middle of a gulf, named Coqui-
bocoa by the aborigines. he saw little
Indian village set on stakes. Charmed
by the sight, he gave both the set
tlement and the gulf the name Of
Venice. Later it became Venezuela
Little Venice. and afterward this
name was extended to include the
vast territory comprising the Spanish
Captaincy-General.
When the Venezuelan shores come
into view the traveller is impressed
with the rugged beauty of the coast
range of mountains, whose peaks soar
into the clouds, whose slopes descend
sharply to the very sea.
Town Runs Up Hill.
The ship approaches La Guaira. OF
this town it has been said that, flee
ing the angry seas, 1t started to run
up the hill behind it. and that is ex-
actly the illusion one experiences as
the ship approaches.
Scenes along the railroad and the
highway leading from La Guaira to
Caracas are magnificent. BY auto
mobile the visitor has the impression
he is travelling along the edge of a
tropical grand canyon. The panorama
unfolded along the road is but one
of the scenic delights Venezuela Of
fers the visitor. He will see ravines
so deep the eye cannot reach their
depths; mountains surging every
where, cutting vigorous and startling
outlines against the sky; patches of
red earth mingled with thickets of
great trees; clumps of enormous
vines, interviewer with flowers that
run the spectrum of colors. Now and
then he will see whole fields of cacti,
Stimulating grim sentinels, church
spires pipe organs, obeliscs, candelabra.
Whole mountains blaze like new gold
while others burst into flames. wear
purple cloaks or bedeck themselves
with emeralds: while far below there
is always the sea, the tumultous sea,
but now looking still and very blue
in the distance.
Old Caracas.
Caracas is entered through the
market place. There the burros with
their loads of vegetables make a very
picturesque sight. There are tropical
fruits of every description. If the
bananas tempt the tourist. he will
have more than a dozen kinds to
choose from; if his taste runs to
pAllcdpplcS, lLlcA JulClliCoS dllu SWCCt-
ness will surprise him. But he will
probably want to try some of the
innumerable fruits he has never seen
or even heard of before. There are
also curious or very artistic objects
made with coconut shells. sandals
made of bright wool, and many other
lovely souvenirs. In the good stores,
one may find, besides, native pearls
and tortoise shell articles.
In the center of the town is the
Plaza Bolivar, with its famous eques
trian statue of the South American
liberator and creator of five inde-
pendent nations This plaza is
f1oored with rare mosaicS and tiles,
Great trees are overhung with or
chids. These blooms, many of rare
beauty. grow everywhere in careless
profusion, to the never-dying wonder
of the visitor from the United States,
who is used to finding his orchids