Eusebio Leal, Havana’s celebrated historian and architectural preservationist, was the guest at last week’s Ybor City Chamber of Commerce luncheon–as well as Exhibit A for its “Cuba Initiative.”
The timing, of course, is obvious. The U.S. and Cuba are normalizing relations and the soul of Ybor is Havana. The roots are familial and historical: descendents of cigar workers and admirers of national icon José Martí, who frequented Tampa in the 1890s.
Leal’s history presentation, via an interpreter, underscored the proximity and nexus between Cuba and Florida–from trade to missionaries. And, for the record, Old Havana, just shy of its 500th anniversary (2019), is 50 years older than St. Augustine.
He later highlighted the old city of Havana restoration work that he presides over–from The Capitol to plazas, once-prominent buildings, warehouse reincarnations and Sloppy Joe’s. In so doing, he emphasized the priority that was repurposing and multi-use. “Restoration is not just a technical project,” said Leal. “It is also a social project.”
He also noted the role of tourism in furthering his restoration cause. He is counting on “the profit of tourism to carry out restoration.” For Americans, he pointed out, that means “finding part of their own history. Those ties will be re-established.”
There was no Q&A afterward. Just lunch, a Latin crooner and plenty of table talk about impressive restoration projects–as well as a certain trade embargo, remaining visitor limitations and scenarios for Cuba’s American consulate.