Cuba past and present . ing of streets, by the installation of trol-ley lines and by modern methods of sanitation, yetthe town as a whole remains unaltered. The life,the people, the customs and the charm of localatmosphere are the same as a score of years ago— modernity has improved it, has eliminated muchof the bad and has robbed it of none of the goodand has left it the same lovable, interesting andquaint old town as of yore. Most of Havanas streets are narrow and leadbetween massive old Spanish buildings frontingdirectly on the narrow sidewalks, and as the trav-eller drives or walks towards
Cuba past and present . ing of streets, by the installation of trol-ley lines and by modern methods of sanitation, yetthe town as a whole remains unaltered. The life,the people, the customs and the charm of localatmosphere are the same as a score of years ago— modernity has improved it, has eliminated muchof the bad and has robbed it of none of the goodand has left it the same lovable, interesting andquaint old town as of yore. Most of Havanas streets are narrow and leadbetween massive old Spanish buildings frontingdirectly on the narrow sidewalks, and as the trav-eller drives or walks towards the central plazaand the hotel district he passes by great archeddoorways leading to dim mysterious patios, bywindows covered by iron bars and grillwork andby house-fronts decorated with wonderful designsin rich Spanish and Moorish tiles. Through these narrow streets flows a constantstream of traffic; pedestrians of every class, rub-ber-tired coches, rumbling drays and carts,huge auto trucks, chugging automobiles and. CHURCH OF THE ANGELS, HAVANA LA HABANA 81 clanging trolley cars. To the stranger it seemstruly marvellous that so much traffic can wend itsway through the narrow, congested thoroughfaresand one constantly expects collisions and block-ades ; but the traffic officers are efficient, the driversskilful and everything goes smoothly and withoutinterruption and accidents seldom occur. Among the first unusual things which attract theattention of the visitor are the numerous canvascanopies stretched across the streets and whichform a veritable covered way between the buildnings on either side. Unlike our Northern awn-ings, thse Cuban affairs are far above the side-walks and are gaily decorated with paintings,signs and fringes and give the appearance of anOriental bazaar to Havanas shopping district. Passing through these narrow, busy, downtownstreets the visitor at last comes out upon the Cen-tral Plaza or Parque Central — the centre ofHavana and the spot from which t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookidcubapastpres, bookyear1920
