Caracas as a Place of Resort. 359 



running off with the hand baggage, but if they are 

 firmly remonstrated with, they are civil enough and cease 

 to be aggressive. 



There are always plenty of carriages at hand to con- 

 vey visitors to the hotels. These carriages are each 

 drawn by two sturdy little horses which travel along 

 over rough stones, pits and boulders, in a most remark- 

 able manner. The vehicles are lightly made with good 

 springs, and are well equipped ; and both driver and 

 beast are well found, the former being civil and obliging. 

 Cab hire is necessarily expensive, about two shillings a 

 mile. There are, however, tramways intersecting the 

 city, which run throughout the day, and late at night, 

 the fare for any distance being five cents. 



When one visits a new place, and intends remaining 

 a few days, the question naturally asked is, " What are 

 the hotels like?" In former times, and until lately, the 

 hotels of Caracas were its great disappointment ; they 

 were of the worst description, and there was not a 

 single modern comfort attached to them. Happily, how- 

 ever, the great influx of visitors, chiefly Americans, and 

 the demand of the better class of Venezuelans, have 

 altered this, and now the hotels " St. Amand " and 

 ''Americano" are good enough. The latest and best 

 hotel is the " Grande," just completed, and fitted with 

 every convenience, the bath and sanitary arrangements 

 being perfect:. 



The attractions of the city are numerous. The public 

 gardens, over which is the " Paseo del Calvario," are 

 pleasantly situated, tastefully laid out and planted, and 

 within easy walking distance of the stations and hotels. 

 On Calvario was, until quite recently, the finest statue of 



