Evening star., 1934-09-23
MEXICO OFFERS
MUCH TO VISITOR
Ancient, Colonial and Mod.
ern Seen Side by Side in
Picturesque Country.
BY ADAM CARTER.
Pan-American Union Stan

wonderful relics of various 1ndlan
civilizations meet the eye. There GER
tainly is variety in the country. and
to make il more attractive, everything
is woven into pattern that is un-
mistakably Mexican. This clear-cut
personality, as an American visitor re-
Gently remarked. is MeXicos greatest
asset.
Communications between the United
States and Mexico are now so well de-
yeloped that when a trip is Contem-
plated, the means OF transportation
are entirely matter OF choice
Mexico CITY can easily be reached by
air from Washington in two days. by
train in three days and four nights,
and by water from New York via
Havana and Vera Cruz in six. And
there is a fine highway from Laredo
to Mexico City, open now to traffic,
and to the official Inauguration OF
which. next Spring, President Roose-
welt has been invited.
The distance from the border to
Mexico City is about 800 miles, and
let it be said right now that not only
this. but all highways in Mexico are
safe As a matter of fact, travel in
Mexico is safer than in some parts OF
the United StateS-and in saying TINS
we quote Americans who have tried
both.
Varied and Picturesque.
Mexico City furnishes an excellent
example of how highly varied and
picturesque the country is. The city,
as an Indian metropolis, was old in
1926. when conquered by the Spaniards
and made capital of the Empire OF
New Spain. In the main plaza. or
"zocalo," on the site of an old Indian
temple, has stood for several centuries
what is still the largest cathedral In
the New World and undoubtedly one
of the most beautiful.
Another side of the main plaza
the place formerly occupied by Moe
tezuma's palace-is now taken up by
the National Palace. Here are the
presidential Offices, here lived the
viceyoys when Mexico was a Spanish
colony and here dwelt MaXimilian the
ill-fated Austrian Emperor
MeXico's White House. Chapultepec
Is also rich in history and tradition.
The palace is set on an emlnence, IN
the midst of beautiful park. full OF
tall. majestic trees which are thou
sands of years old. This park. first
choice with many visitors today. was
favorite retreat of the Aztec en-
perors. The modern palace, built by
q Spanish viceroy, began to rise about
the time that the Spirit of rs was
beginning to spread in the British
colonies.
Old Pyramids Stand.
INDIGENOUS and Colonial Mexico City
we're truly grandioSe. There are many
landmarks from those days. in and
near the city: Imposing monuments
such as the pyramids of Teotihuacan,
peculiar in America; thousands OF
Colonial churches and palaces. But
there is also he modern city, whose
architecture is a blend of national and
foreign, specially French, tendencies.
This is truly a cosmopolitan center in
which the visitors from any land can
feel at home. Here English-speaking
traffic policemen are found: fine hotels,
foreign clubs and recrea ton centerS
for visitors from abroad. And yet,
the personality of the city is so strong
that these conveniences don't make it
commonplace. don't ruin the sense of
newness, the Geep impression of ad-
venture felt when seeing it for the
first time.
In the way of amusements, Mexico
City has what any metropolis offers.
But perhaps the American visitor will
care. rather than for golf or tennis,
for bull fighting OF exhibitions Of Mex
Iii hot Of fco
not only thrilling, but also picturesque.
However one game he must not miss
is "fronton," or jai alai. as it is called
in Cuba which is the fastest game in
the world.
All Types or Food.
The dinner table in Mexico City can
be set exactly in the taste of the viSi-
tor. Those who are faithful to their
own foods can have American cook
ing; those who wish to experiment
have at their disposal the creations
OF chefs from practically all the Eu-
rOpean countries. and can also try
Mexican cooking. which is fine but
very highly seasoned and hard on
ones digestion. In regard to wines
and spirits Mexico City is paradise
The best from Spain and France can
be had here, cheaply. and so can
Scotch whisky. German beer and
wines. Oriental liquors, and so on.
Mexican beer is marvellous, and very
powerful. Mexican wines and liquors
are good and not expensive. and
pulque, SweeuiSh native drink, made
from the aga"e plant. is remarkable
in that its heavineSs. strength and
taste leaves the consumer a wide
range of choice.
1t would be impossible to go into
details about all the places in Mexico
worth visiting in one rela lively short
article. 1t would also be unnecessary
because the country has a personality
OF It's own that will be recognized. and
enjoyed, anywhere within its borders.
In the northern part of the country
Is round Monterey. largest manufac-
turing center in Mexico, which has
taken many leaves from the book of
Its American reighborS and yet re-
mained as Mexican as ever.
In Monterrey modern. tall. build
ings are seen beside the massive ar
cades of Colonial palaces. Westward
from Monterrey is Saltillo. at an alti-
tNNN "a OsOOO lCCl Ills NIly ID
nous for its "zar,ped." beautiful
woolen blankets with any '-rilliant
hues. The rest OF he ON the
border to Mexico CT - Ut e inter-
esting, as regards e .ry an, enters
of population. and comfor, re-
garding highways. railways and ac-
commodations.
Winter Villas.
From Mexico City a trip can be
made to Cuernavaca. distant so miles
over a lovely mountain road and en-
dowed with an excellent climate. Here
are found the Winter villas of many
prominent people, and also one of
Mexico'S famous silver churches"
tbuilt in the heyday of the white
metal by grateful beneficiaries) and
the gardens built by Borda, the silver
king. and later occupied by Maximil-
ian and Carlotta
Fifty-fve miles from Cuernavaca is