Luz de la Luna al Amanecer

“Free Cuban Soil

Parque Amigos de Jose Marti or Jose Marti Park, Ybor City’s strongest remaining tie to Cuba. The title to the park is own by the Cuban government, who purchased the land in 1957 to commemorate Marti, the father of Cuban independence. Stones, decorated with the Cuban flag, sit in a six plots of dirt. Each plot represents soil taken from the six original provinces in Cuba.

Jose Marti Park

Jose Marti arrived in Tampa in 1891. A Cuban patriot and brilliant poet, Marti helped start the Spanish Revolution. While in Tampa, he gave fiery speeches, raised money for the revolution and inspired cigar workers to donate 10% of their salary. He was killed in battle in 1865 before Cuba gained its freedom from Spain but is credited with beginning the movement.

Surrounded by a rail fence, the park is located on the former home of Rupert and Paulina Pedroso, an Afro-Cuban family who housed and protected Marti from Spanish assassins. A white life-size statue of Marti, with his hand welcoming visitors, stands at the back of the park, flanked by a U.S. and Cuban flags. On the wall behind the statue, a color map outlines the provinces of Cuba.”

excerpt from: *A Cuban State of Mind“

Finally! This is the first “place” I’ve been able to mark as visited.

I recommend it highly especially if you are interested in Japanese culture. Every step brings something new and beautiful to see. Definitely get the hand-held tour “guide”. Learning about the philosophy of the gardens and the steps taken to create them adds a lot to the experience.

“An Earth-like planet spotted outside our solar system is the first found that could support liquid water and harbor life, scientists announced today.”

Major Discovery: New Planet Could Harbor Water and Life
By Ker Than Staff Writer posted: 24 April 2007 04:23 pm ET

My grandmother on my mother’s side was born in Aragon, Spain. The story says that her father was a doctor and he passed away when she was only one year old. Her mother moved in with her mother-in-law because she had been an only child of older parents and they were both gone. Her mother-in-law found her a new husband after the one year mourning was over. After a year, he decided to go to Cuba to work on the railroad. When she had not heard from him for a while, she packed up her daughter (my grandmother), sold everything she had in the world and boarded a ship for Cuba. They went on to have another four children in Cuba and stayed there the rest of their lives.

My father’s family was from The Canary Islands. The story says that they were in the input/export business. Some of them emigrated to Cuba back when the railroad was being built. There were two brothers that stayed in Cuba. One continued in the same business and did very well for himself. The other started his own business away from the family and was disinherited. My dad is one of eleven children from the disinherited side of the family. This is partly where I get my stubbornness from. :)

I was in college the first time I drove down to Key West to watch the sunset. The place was empty except for a few locals and tourists. That was in 1978. The last time I went there, there was a cruise ship in town and the streets were packed with tourists.

Viewing the sunset is a must! This includes, not only the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen (provided free of charge), but there were a multitude of street performers. Make sure and show them you appreciate their efforts! And a recent addition are stalls with local arts and crafts. I bought some delicate glass dragons for my daughters there!

There’s Jazz on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:00 pm on the second floor. I’ve been a few times and it’s always been great!

This is a beautiful place with a lot of history even prior to being set-up in Miami. I’ve been going here since 1967 and I still find new things to interest me when I go. It’s a wonderful place for photography and wedding receptions also. For a few years, I attended Shakespearean play here enacted in the original format sitting out in the gardens. It was great! It’s easy to get to (right at the end of I-95 off US1). There’s also a metrorail station a block away.