THE STANDARD GUIDE. 
i «3 
tourists from the United States feel entirely at home as soon as they 
arrive there. The island is now dotted with charming bungalows and hand¬ 
some residences of wealthy Americans who spend their winters in its 
superb climate. 
There are many springs of mineral waters, chiefly magnesia, all over the 
island, much of which is bottled and enjoys great fame and an enormous 
sale throughout Cuba. In fact, mineral water to-day constitutes the prin¬ 
cipal item of the exports of the island. 
Many social and other clubs have been formed at the various colonies, 
and there is a healthy rivalry for preeminence among the districts, which 
produces satisfactory results in the way of general progress. Fairs and 
expositions at- one town or another are not infrequent events, and the 
annual exhibition held in the town of Santa Fe early in the month of 
February is an institution of recognized merit and prestige, and is well 
worth visiting to see its splendid exhibits of fruit and produce grown in 
the island. 
Communication with the Isle of Pines is effected by the American-owned 
steamer “Cristobal Colon,” which plies between Batabano and the island. 
This steamer was especially built for this service and is in every way up- 
to-date; the staterooms all have running water and are cool and com¬ 
fortable. Three trips a week are made, and the passengers may leave 
Havana on the evening of Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, by taking 
the train to Batabano, which leaves the new Central Station at 6:10 P. M., 
and reach Nueva Gerona early the next morning. There are, perhaps, few 
other trips in the world so delightful as the one from Batabano to the 
Isle of Pines, especially on a moonlit night. The calm tropical sea, over 
which there is always a gentle, cool breeze blowing, and the brilliant 
constellations overhead glistening brightly in the clear atmosphere of the 
tropics, make the night on deck so seductive that, no matter how cool and 
comfortable the staterooms may be, one feels that the open deck on this 
occasion provides a rare chapter in life. 
