LATIN AMERICA 



Below the Rio Grande and the states bordering the Gulf of 

 Mexico, you enter a completely foreign land— foreign in language, 

 history and customs. Many of the people of Latin America are 

 of native Indian stock. Others are descendants of the Spaniards 

 and Portuguese who settled these regions and who created from 

 them extensive and wealthy colonial empires. These countries, 

 early in the nineteenth century, broke away from the mother 

 countries, and formed the independent nations we know today. 



MEXICO. The country immediately south of us, Mexico, has 

 had an interesting history. Conquered by Cortez, it became one 

 of the important outposts of the Spanish empire. From its settle- 

 ments were sent those missionaries who settled much of our 

 southwest. Its capital, Mexico City, contains the oldest univer- 

 sity on the North American continent. The city is noted for its 

 many beautiful parks, buildings and avenues; and is a center of 

 the art and culture of this section of Latin America. Its museum 

 contains the famous calendar stone of the Aztecs. Other monu- 

 ments of that interesting people from whom Cortez wrested 

 control are either in the city or within easy reach. The Pyramids 

 of Teotihuacan, the floating gardens of Xochimilco, are constant 

 attractions for the visitor. The markets of Mexico City are most 

 interesting and on successive days are devoted to the distinctive 

 products of different cities and towns. 



Other cities of Mexico which you may wish to visit are: 

 Acapulco, on the Pacific coast, famous seaside resort; Puebla, 

 center of the tile-making industry; Tehuacan, of the mineral 

 springs; Oaxaca, noted for its archeological monuments and its 

 great Indian markets; Taxco and Guanjuato, silver centers; 

 Mazatlan, picturesque seaport; Cuernavaca, beautiful city very 

 near Mexico City itself. Of special interest to persons inter- 

 ested in natural phenomena, is Paricutin, volcano which has 

 had its beginning in our century. 



Sports which the visitor to Mexico may enjoy are the bull- 

 fighting with the season from October to March; JAI ALA I, that 



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fast exciting Spanish ball game; and charro riding and roping 

 which takes place every Sunday in Chapultepec Park. 



One special section of Mexico is of special interest to the 

 tourist who is interested in the civilizations of the American 

 Indian. At Chichen Itza, and extending from this site in Yucatan 

 into Guatemala, are the great monuments of the Mayas, that 

 most highly developed civilization of the Indians of the hemis- 

 phere. The Mayan civilization has been compared to that of the 

 ancient Greeks. Their priests were accomplished astronomers 

 and mathematicians; their builders and artists have left remark- 

 able monuments to their art. These Indians had a well-developed 

 system of hieroglyphics, and an organized calendar. Chichen 

 Itza has accommodations for travelers, and is well worth a visit. 



THE WEST INDIES. The romantic setting, the beautiful 

 climate, the quaint cities, make the West Indies of the Spanish 

 Main a wonderful spot for a vacation. You may reach this 

 vacationland by plane or boat. You may go to one place for your 

 entire stay, or you may go on one of the delightful Caribbean 

 cruises, stopping at several ports. This is the land of Columbus, 

 the Spanish conquistadors, Sir Henry Morgan and his fellow 

 buccaneers, and the black Napoleon, Toussaint L'Ouverture. 



Havana, capital of Cuba, 'pearl of the Antilles/; Kingston, 

 capital of Jamaica, 'the most beautiful island in the world/; 

 Nassau, capital of the Bahamas; Port au Prince, capital of Haiti; 

 Curacao, of the Netherlands West Indies; are just a few of the 

 places which offer you beautiful scenery, exotic flowers, sports 

 of all kinds, including exciting deepsea fishing, dancing under 

 tropical stars, swimming in the blue Carribean or bathing in 

 limpid mountain pools. You may visit the ramparts of the Span- 

 iards; you may visit the haunts of pirates; you may visit sugar 

 plantations; you may see where famous rums and liqueurs are 

 made; you may shop. 



BERMUDA. While not a part of the West Indies, this crown 

 colony of Great Britain, in the Atlantic only about six hundred 

 miles from New York, offers much the same attractions. This 



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