Evening star., 1934-10-14
Visitors to Nicaragua Can
See Route for Proposed
Ocean Canal.
This is the fourth of series
OF articles on trGDel in Latin
American countries.
BY WILLIAM A. REID
tForeign Trade Adviser
Pan-American Unionl

en- route to the Pacific and the Call
fornia goldfelds, and today the United |
States holds the right to construct |
another canal linking the Atlantic and |
Pacific oceans.
Costa Rica and Nicaragua are no
less interesting than the stream. Both
countries are largely in the making,
yet for centuries descendants of abori- |
ginal peoples have roamed these |
lands and left many traces of ancient |
skill and handiwork.
Costa Rica is about as large as West |
Virginia. Nicaragua's square miles |
compare with those of New York
State. In both nations we may visit
the scenes of heroic exploits and en-
JOY the sights of many of Natures |
marvels And both countries are well |
coming the tourist in increasing num- |
bers
Parlor Car Travel.
Costa Ricas traffic artery is the |
railway from Limon on the Atlantic |
to Puntarenas on the Pacific. Six
hours ride in a parlor car transports |
the passenger from the hot coastal re-
gion to the Spring-like climate of San |
Jose. the capital. A new hotel offers |
comfort and rest. A much shorter |
rail trip from Puntarenas brings the |
stranger from the Pacific side. Both !
routes are replete with winding curves |
and magnificent scenery.
San Jose. at an altitude of about |
1000 feet, is a pleasant and prosper
Gus city of $4,000 population. 1t is a :
convenient place from which to visit |
other cities and towns of the high |
lands. Modern roads radiate in VAIL |
Gus directions from the capital. |
Among the places of interest within |
short drive of San Jose are Herida,
Alajuela Gracia. Fine cattle and cof- |
Zee estates are to be seen on these |
drives.
In another direction, 13 miles !
away on modern motor road. is Car !
tago, the starting point for the horse
back journey up the Slopes OF the
mighty sleeping volcano, Irazu, II 800 |
feet above sea level.
Magnificent Views.
Leaving Cartago in the early morn
ing. the air is colo and delightful. |
Flowers adorn the upward trail |
Rising higher and higher, vegetation |
ceases and finally the top of IraZu is
reached. Awe-inspiring is the scene |
below. Looking westward we see the |
Pacific Ocean; turning eastward the |
Caribbean comes into view. Between
are Costa Rica's rivers, lakes, forests,
bana plantations, coffee estates.
Irazu, the giant cone upon which |
we stand, has three craters-a
mother" crater and two daughter"
craters. Smoke and gases rise into
the sky |
Costa Rica is a land of bananas.
For years it was the leading producer
of the world Along the railway be-
tween San Jose and Limon, after
passing below the altitude of the COZ
fee zone, the country for miles is !
sea of banana plantations. The
stranger should stop over at SiquirreS
and observe how the giant industry is
conducted. Again, at Limon, If the
ship is in port loading the fruit. one
may catch a glimpse of another phase
of this business enterprise.
While in Costa Rica, one should try
"pancake," a griddle cake made OF
banaha flour. At certain hotels or
restaurants this form of bread is OBJ
tainable. 1t is novelty worth tast-
Ing.
Enter Through Pacific.
Nicaragua has never enjoyed the
modern travel facility of railway or
highway connecting eastern and west
ern coasts, and no tourist boats ply
from the Caribbean up the San Juan
River. Nicaragua, therefore, is en-
vi pQFlf1H
port of Corinto. And Corinto is one
of the few Central American ports on
the Pacific that possesses modern ,
pier. /
The entrance to the harbor is f1anked
by islands and mountains, mostly COW
cred with tropical verdure. Drawing
toward the pier one is told that Cor
into is a village on an island, separated
from the mainland by a narrow strait. |
Corinto is small, primitive, inter-
esting. Sandy streets, OK carts, few
motor cars are noticeable. A pleasant
hotel with a large patio abounding in
Towering plants offers accommodation !
until the daily morning train is avail
able for the journey inland to Mana
qua. the capital city.
Ones baggage is carried upon the
heads of native men or boys the quar-
ter of q mile between the train and
the hotel. Some of the younger por-
ters have learned considerable Eng
lish and are proud to show their ability
in conversation. The 90-mile journey
to Managua begins about am. and
early in the afternoon the city is
reached. A few miles outside Managua
a baggage man or two board the train
tI,o fnr
They pass cards which say in English
"I am your man." Il work cheap"
'The reliable porter" etc. At Managua
station await motor cars and horse
drawn vehicles. BY either method of
conveyance one is taken quickly
through the streets to the Gran Hotel
Lupone.
View From Hill Top.
Managua, with a population of
10000, is gradually rising from the
ravageS of earthquake and fire few |
years ago. A mile or two from the |
shore of Lake Managua and domi- |
mating the city is hill several hun
dred feet high and somewhat fiat on
top. This eminence is now crowned |
by the new Presidential Palace.
view from the heights presents an
enhancing glimpse of the city. In
one direction the visitor looks into a |
volcanoes crater, which today is filled |
with clear sparkling water-a novelty
In volcanic formation. A more dis
tant view is that of Lake Managua |
on the opposite side of the city.
Ball grounds and tennis courts are
along the shore. Dario Park, an at
tractive recreation center, also faces |
this body of water; at opposite ends |
of the park stand the Ayuntamiento
(City HalD and one of Managua' S |
finest club houses. Flowers, shrubs |
and trees abound and the park is an
afternoon rendezvous for many a
eitizen.
A new highway leading to northern
departments or states of the republic
is open to travellers who are willing