Diario las Américas., 1958-06-21
Know thy
Nei9hbor
By ANTONIO RUIZ

ted rs miles from the port of We
racruz, and connected by rail as
well as by scenic paved highways
with the national capital and the
port. is the lovely semi-tropical CT
ty of Cordoba. founded in 1913 by
the spanish Viceroy Diego Fernan-
DEE de Cordoba, Marqu S de Qua
dalcazar 1t retains its colonial
charm, and today is the most inn
portant coffee and tropical fruit
center of the Republic. In the near
by Mills and mountain sides r
large coffee plantations, which pro-
duce some of the worlds finest co,
fees.
Covering the plains that stretch
east and south are vast sugar and
banana plantations, and further on
acres upon acres devoted to the
growing of pineapples and other
tropical fruits Huge mango trees
shade the countryside, some pro
ducing the small but tasty, fibrous
red and yelloy mango, others the
delicious manila mango, so priced
by all lovers of good fruit.
About a hundred years after the
founding of the city, a Spanish
merchant named Juan Antonio
Gomez de Guevara, planted the
first manila mango and the first
coffee tree. From this small be-
ginning grew the city's most i'm
portant industries One of the ar
cadeS thanking the main plaza has
been named after Gomez de Cue
vara, in appreciation of that good
mans foresight.
Like all major cities and towns
of the State of Veracruz, Cordoba
is steepec in colonial tradition. I'm
der wide, cool portals, they serve
refreshing drinks of papaya, man.
go Zapote tamarindo, jamaica and
many others, prepared from deli
cious tropical fruits and seeds. Ex-
cellent coffee can be had almost
everywhere.
In the center of. the Plaza, palm
trees tower over the sky. On one
side is the beautifulParish Church,
Dotting the city are several other
churches, all worth visiting. Pretty
patios and public gardens break
the lines of lovely one-story hou-
SeS.
There are several interesting
buildings. among the "Palacio de
los Condos de Cevallos," now one
OF the city's main hotels, where the
peace treaty between Viceroy DIDO
nolu and Agustin Iturbide. head
OF the %inSurgent army was signed.
Although the building has been
converted into a hotel, its wide o.
rrldors, high ceilings in the rooms,
and other features, bring back to
mind the glory and splendor of the
18th. and 18th. centuries.
The charming village of Forth
de las Flores, international known
because of its abundance of garde-
MAS, orchids, and other varieties
OF exotic tropical flowers, is mid
way between Cordoba and the in
dustrial city of Orizaba. Surroun-
oed by mountains. it has a spendid
Motel featuring a swimming pool
blanketed with gardenias.
Forth de las Flores, which was
founded by the Spaniards as a mi
litary outpost, is now one of Mexi-
co favor'ty resorts. There are beau.
uful spots everywhere. In the CEN
ter OF the little town square is q
miniature conservatory, where q
great variety of tropical flowers
are displayed ana sold. Along the
SIDE OF the paved highway that CO..
meets the town with Cordoba and
orlzaba, r stalls selling gardenias
and orchids at Incredible low pri.
ces. Carefully packed in followed
out pieces OF trunks of banana tree |
these delics te flowers will keen for
days If not removed.
Guarding Forth de las Flores
and towering high above the su.
rounding mountains, is the males.
tc peak Of Orizaba, snow-capped
inc year round. From Forth de
las FLORES a branch highway lead
over the mountains to Huatusco
ana then on to Veracruz and Jala,
pa.