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noise.  People here seem not to mind it.  And the whole hotel is noisy, always something clanging or banging.  They seem to enjoy making noise.  and the electric cars in these narrow streets, together with the shrill cries of street venders make it worse than New York.  If I learn to sleep under these conditions then I shall be able in the future to sleep in a boiler factory.

Feb'y. 24. This is the national holiday.  Clear sunny sky.  Many people out in their best clothes.  Great animation in the streets.  In Parque Central a man holds an oration, which he reads.  A bunch of people listening attentively al-
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though it is practically impossible to hear on account of din of electric cars etc. Long walk first to the Punta; visit of navy hospital; a young physician Dr. Figueroa, and the chief escorted me after I had handed my card.  The Dr. studied at Tulane University.  Everything very clean.  Soldiers and sailors dressed like ours.  This is the cleanest place I have seen thus far.  I wish the hotels were half as clean.  I notice many soldiers everywhere.  They like to parade their uniform and wear it well; even the negroes.  Long walk along Malecon as far as Vedado, a fashionable residential resort.  Fine houses but execrable roads here instead of the excellent asphalt of the Malecon.  Walked all afternoon