WINGS TO CUBA AND THE CARIBBEAN

[Music] airways presents [Music] i wonder they like this sure it's got everything why who are you i'm clip the spirit of travel i've flown everywhere seen it and know all about trips i see you're interested in the west indies i have two weeks vacation maybe you can tell me where i should go uber trip would be to fly from new york to san juan a little trip to the demographic in haiti another to the virgin islands they're only 30 minutes away then down to trinidad across the caribbean to jamaica up to havana over to miami and back home how's that wonderful come on let's go no that's impossible i haven't a thing to wear nothing to wear uh-oh how many times have i did that just look over there 10 pounds 20 40 50 60 66 pounds see what you can take within 66 pounds all the clothes you need and then some no passport required just call your travel agent he'll arrange all the tails attention please plan american clipper flight 201 leaving for san juan port of spain rio and buenos aires passengers may now go aboard swat abort right beyond this pan-american gateway lies adventure romance and realization of your fines lands rich in lore and legend of conquest and faith islands of tropic beauty dot the sapphire sea where lusty buccaneers once sailed and plundered where men of daring quenched their thirst for adventure in exploration struggle and accomplishment america's sea of destiny san juan aerial crossroads of the caribbean daily passengers for many lands come and go at the pan american guest house the guest house is maintained for the convenience of passengers and has all the comforts of a modern hotel your host is proud to show you picturesque sites even introduce you to a little mystery long dark tunnels dank cisterns thick brooding walls ah the devil's sentry box every sentinel every station here disappeared leaving only his uniform and a strong odor of brimstone in the name of britain these towering spanish battlements were besieged several times once in their hour of despair the island people formed a long procession carrying lighted tapers they prayed to center sula and her eleven thousand virgins seeing so many lights and certain that reinforcements had arrived the british abandoned their siege a hundred years before the pilgrims landed at plymouth rock cobblestone streets had been laid in san juan today this is a bustling city with modern buildings colleges and luxurious clubs like the casa de espana with its atmosphere of old spain san juan cosmopolitan and a little provincial sophisticated and sometimes naive friendly and always hospitable by clipper the virgin islands are only 30 minutes away in the air new beauties unfold blue surrounds us bright shining blue below the indigo blue of ocean depths and the white lace of breaking surf edging the birds of saint thomas across the bay bluebeard's tower still looks down upon the city yes blue that bold ruthless pirate who captured golden treasure and women's seven wives he had each one he killed some he buried right beneath this patio famous islands rich islands so many clustered islands that columbus himself named them for center sula and her numerous virgins for them uncle sam paid all of 25 million dollars today st thomas is a duty-free port and the busy downtown section offers incredible bargains from french perfumes to oriental silks and american cigarettes once a pirate's paradise today a shopper's paradise [Music] like a precious necklace the myriad isles of the antilles dot the pulsing sea each stamped with its own lure and vivid history when columbus landed the savage carobs lived here for them the sea was named from them the conquerors learned to smoke tobacco eat potatoes and sleep in hammocks spanish fleets soon sailed the seas with fantastic new world wealth over the horizon loom pirate ships and buccaneers with blood-stained hands infested the islands the indians died off the treasure was gone men turned to the rich soil and into every port sailed slave traders their filthy caravels laden with human cargo trinidad also named by columbus lies straight ahead swept by gaels he vowed to name the first land cited for the holy trinity he called this island a terrestrial paradise lakes of pitch streams of tar oysters growing on trees fish that sing strange stories and far-off lands lands of new adventure new-found friends well i'm glad to hear you enjoyed your flight miss dale i know you're going to have a nice visit here in trinidad i'm sure of it oh mr reed miss dale i'd like you to meet one of your fellow passengers mr reed how do you do it oh you did mr reed's one of our clipper commuters flies around these islands quite regularly say as a matter of fact he's going to be on your plane next thursday oh how nice yes i'm going to kingston on business where are you going i'm going to kingston too but not on business you see this is a trip i've always dreamed of and never thought i could take i only have a two-week vacation then i take it this is your first visit here yes it is well i know trinidad like a book and i'm sure i'd make an excellent guide may i have the pleasure i'd love it well suppose i get your car fine music is on the soft tropic air calypso that rhythmic singing ballad uniquely trinidad's own spontaneous and unwritten its witty lyrics carry important messages or give barb comment on people and events an american calypso the world's your home today [Music] [Music] the world's your home some days it's been real you'd rather be or drop from the skies on car rides your home is in europe where they still got kingdoms [Music] i'll be your homeless in paradise one half on the earth and half of the skies although under the british flag part of spain presents the picture of an east indian city bazaars line the streets filled with the riches of the far east ivory jade and brass turbine fakers conjure prophecies and mumble fortunes in the streets men of many races and religions side by side and muhammadan mosque and hindu temple to minimize slave uprisings african drums were prohibited but ingenuity outwitted municipal decrees new instruments were contrived from anything at hand a weird collection of discarded oil drums gasoline cans break shoes hammered twisted and shaped and the steel band was born [Music] the north shore is mountainous dense with luxurian jungle growth sweet with the fragrance of spice trees long winding roads twist and turn under branches dripping with scarlet blossoms has streams nearly lost in magnificent arches of bamboo beyond these palms along the same rugged shore many a pirate crew has sailed and in battle lost his chests of gold to the depths of the silent sea [Music] on the basque rich central plain sugar cane grows high and gives the island one of its chief industries during the cane cutting season men women and children swing their huge machetes to the steady drone of their work songs then at night the downbeat echoes beckoning all from hills and plantations to join in africa's ancient dance the old european custom of fencing becomes the famous stick dance a good stick dancer can knock out a predetermined tooth or even stop the falling raindrops to the delight of wide-eyed youngsters the school proceeds from one captivating dance to another there is turret african tempo in the shanghai and ballet age of ritual dances of mass hypnotism these dervish worlds of far eastern religious ceremony are executed to an african syncopation by musicians uniquely squatting on the ground in hindu fashion oh [Music] [Music] 1400 miles away as the clipper flies lies jamaica jamaica where that most notorious of pirates henry morgan became governor of the island and was knighted kingston the capital typically british colonial all the flavor of the old world white helmeted police direct traffic with stoic calm in the beautiful gardens of the myrtle bank hotel jamaica's regiment band gives it sunday concerts [Music] in hope gardens the display of blooms plants and ornamental foliage is extraordinary gigantic trees with branches and enormous trunks cover huge areas trim lawns are dotted with bubbling fountains exotic flowers flamboyant in color stand out in exquisite contrast against the bright blue skies in common with all the island peoples jamaicans express their feelings in rhythmic song warm gay and careful come on [Music] rafting down the rio grande is good fun if there isn't a native raft handy the river boys will make one for you on the spot recipe good sturdy bamboo poles whipped together with strong sinewy vines and presto there's your river conveyance downstream is easy but tell us captain how do you get giraffe back you see in going up back the river they let the little boys take it up back you see when you get to the dead water they pull it along to the rapids they tie to the string and drive behind them until they are over you see if you go fast you may get up by four hours see too slow it's quicker by clipper from quiet lagoons to cool mountain tops there's wide scenic variety on the north shore rambling hotels offer golf tennis bathing yachting riding and even mountain climbing through emerald forests where the remote silence is broken only by bird calls montego bay winter haven for the pleasure loving international smart set boasts the finest crystal clear water in the world an average of 80 degrees the year round oh yeah [Music] okay [Music] terraces are alive with gay entertainment for a shilling or two jamaican jitterbugs give their all perhaps not as hot as harlem but just give them a few years and these youngsters may yet make the big time [Music] [Laughter] [Music] oh what a wonderful place i wish i could stay here longer i have news for you what i've just gotten a cable from my friend mauricio cervantes in havana inviting both of us to come and spend the weekend in this place there oh how nice you like his wife mary very much too mary's mother is a cuban but her father was born in the states she has all the charm of both nationalities when do they expect us well i've made arrangements to leave for havana tomorrow [Music] and now cuba pearl of the chili's the world's sugar bowl and cigar box opening its arms wide and welcome havana playground of the caribbean a city riotous with color tile groups green closets and perpetual summer its charm is bold its splendor strident its tempo vigorous there is a fullness of light pavements crowded with smartly dressed people country cousins and high peak straw hats youngsters with trays of orchids turbine mammies dolefully hawking newspapers lottery sellers calling lucky numbers their cries mingling with the raucous shouts of fruit vendors clanging trolley bells a medley of sound playing a lively counterpoint to the wistful melodies of the always present street singer [Music] [Music] havana bears the earmarks of time yet much of it is ultra modern sleek motor cars and a steady stream speed along wide boulevard past buildings of other centuries in the heart of the city el prado double planted boulevard the president's palace the marble capital fame for the 24 karat kimberly diamond embedded in its floor beneath the dome throughout the downtown section the buildings are traditionally spanish wide high ceiling sidewalk arcades give shade from the hot sun and shelter from sudden showers [Music] the coffee-colored buildings of the old city crowd closely upon its maze of narrow streets iron grills musty shops and genius gadgets for appealing fruit flower vendors alley cafes and shadowy bazaars are all bits of local color to talk about back home beautifully colored tile on pillars doorways floors walls give a moorish accent to many an old building a love of artistry fast being destroyed by mass production [Music] no language problem in havana that insignia identifies an english-speaking officer polite courteous and well-informed towering against the blue skies partly hewn from the rock itself el morrow crowns its jutting promontory rigid forceful as a male fist [Music] through the tread of visitors footsteps a unique street singer gives voice to the famed la paloma foreign maine the fashionable hotel nacional [Music] along spacious parkways and palm line boulevards by with those of wealthy cubans set in luxurious gardens are built around quiet patios are homes of modern architecture [Music] on the outskirts of the city are numerous resorts where one may and stroll beneath tropic sky tropic gardens the spirit of havana greets you in the small drawing of a dark-eyed senorita sing whether your love goes away [Music] sing [Music] foreign [Music] and other white sand beaches dot the shore thousands relax to the tune of laughter music and clinking glutton famous varadero one of cuba's finest resorts sending sands to the wide open sea is the restful custom of most visitors to vast towers in the woven sun and indulge in prolonged late morning bathing [Music] you