SUBURBS OF HAVANA. 
Vedado, on the Gulf west of the city, is an attractive suburb overlooking 
the sea and having the characteristics of a residence park, as the Spanish 
name signifies. The detached houses, many of which are elaborate and 
costly and present pleasing diversity of architectural design, are em¬ 
bowered in flowering vines and surrounded by gardens filled with tropical 
shrubs and flowers; here are seen in profusion and of marvelous size many 
floral rarities which in northern climes are known as carefully protected 
conservatory plants. The route to Vedado is by a fine calzada, or boulevard, 
carriage fare $i or $1.50 for the round trip; or by the Vedado electric 
cars, fare five cents, time ten minutes; it is a pleasant ride skirting the 
Gulf with a view seaward. The Vedado shore is a level shelf of coral 
rock, littered with shells and broken branches of coral thrown up by the 
surf. Bathing pools are excavated in the rock. A boating excursion of 
much interest may be made up the Almendares River, whose banks are 
lined with giant ceibas, royal palms and feathery bamboos. 
Chorrera, on the Gulf at the mouth of the Almendares River, is inter¬ 
esting for the relic of the old Torreon de la Chorrera, a fort built in 1646 
for protection against the pirates; it is often called the Buccaneers’ Fort. 
It was one of the defenses taken by the British in the siege of Havana in 
1762. According to Bernal Diaz, when the town of San Cristobal was 
removed from the south coast, it was first established at Chorrera, after¬ 
ward moved to the present site, and in course of time came to be known as 
Havana, which was the name of the Indian tribe inhabiting the district. 
Cerro. —The suburb of Cerro (the word means hill) has always en¬ 
joyed a reputation for salubrity, and many wealthy families have made 
it their home. The Cerro road is one of the most attractive in Havana. 
Take Cerro cars. 
Jesus del Monte, on a hill rising 220 feet, is the highest point of 
Havana; many fine residences were built here in the days of large 
fortunes from sugar planting. A fine view may be had from the 
grounds of the church of Nuestra Senora de la Guadaloupe. The route 
is by the Jesus del Monte cars. 
Marianao, on an elevated ridge ten miles west, is the favorite summer 
home of many Havana families. It has many handsome villas, among 
them the stately palace which was occupied by General Fitzhugh Lee 
when Military Governor. Marianao is one of the places to which 
excursions are arranged by the hotel interpreters; these trips provide the 
most satisfactory way of visiting the place. One whose visit to Cuba is 
limited to the vicinity of Havana, will gain from the Marianao excursion 
a good notion of Cuba and Cuban life. The route is by electric car, the 
Vedado line connecting; or by rail from the Concha station, reached 
by the Principe line. The stations on the railroad are Tulipan, named 
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