ONE OF GUATEMALA'S HOTELS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2126, 18 November 1890, Page 3

ONE OF GUATEMALA'S HOTELS.

‘ The queerest hotel in the world is in Guatemala City, Central America,’ said an English tourist. ‘ While there a few weeks ago I stopped a day at the largest hotel, and met there more surprises than I had previously encountered in my trip around the world* The house is built only one storey high, on account of the earthquakes. It is constructed in the form of a hollow square, and the interior court is made beautiful with trees and flowers. The exterior presents the appearance of a prison. After pounding a high knocker on the outer door you are ushered into a scene of verdant beauty. The hotel was formerly the private residence of one of the richest families of Central America, but the owner was banished by President Barrios for. a conspiracy against the Government. Around, the interior were balconies overlooking a garden filled with orange and peach trees, palms and beautiful flowers. The fare was good, and we had our choice of pancakes with honey, fish, poultry, fruit, and coffee and chocolate, You can’t eat there if you are in a hurry, though. Only one thing is served at a time, and you can’t get a cup ef coffee until everything else has been served. The hotel furnishes candles, but matches are extra, Then there is a system of calling the guests which entitles the hotel to the name of the queerest one on earth. You are called by flies. The flies down there are nearly as large as an English sparrow, and they sting like a hornet, though the bite is not poisonous. They never kill them, but brush them away. The halls of the hotel are filled with these pests in the morning. Over each door is a tramsom. Now, if you leave a call for 7 o’clock, your tramsom is opened at 7, and the flies go in. Do they wake you ? I should say so! The sensation is like that of being sandbagged. In five minutes from the time your transom is opened you are downstairs looking for the proprietor. It doesn’t do any good to kick, though, for that system has been the custom for years.