The Wandering Disciple

During the late 1800's and early 1900's immigrants flocked to the United States to chase the American Dream.  While New York City got much of the attention, there were melting pots across the country including Ybor City in Tampa, Florida.  Settled originally by Cuban cigar makers, Ybor eventually became home to Spaniards, Italians and Germans.  Today the immigrants are memorialized by a statue in Centennial Park. (Photo: May 13, 2018)

The Cuban culture in Tampa can be traced back to as far as the 1520’s when conquistador Hernando de Soto sailed to Tampa from Cuba. But it wasn’t until 1886 when Vincente Martinez-Ybor settled into the city and started his cigar industry that Tampa would become little Cuba. Today this area of town bears his name, Ybor City. Around every corner you can find Cuban influence from architecture to food and even a small Cuban park which is actually considered Cuban soil. (Photo: May 23, 2014)

A Teco Streetcar passes through historic Ybor City.  Active throughout downtown Tampa, the streetcar system is a glimpse into the past when the streetcar was a main form of transportation in cities nationwide.  (Photo: May 23, 2014)

Tampa, Florida: After months of talking about going and life getting in the way, we finally made it to Ybor City for a ghost hunting tour. Friday after work we headed north for dinner and a night of ghost hunting in what would turn out to be the best ghost tour we have been on. Located in the heart of Tampa, Ybor City was the center of Cuban life in Tampa. Here Cuban immigrants worked in Cigar factories and lived in the small casitas located throughout the neighborhood. While the factories have gave way to clubs and restaurants, the Cuban culture is still evident throughout Ybor City.  After arriving in Ybor, we began our evening with dinner at Columbia Restaurant. Opened in 1905, it is an original landmark here in Ybor City. The restaurant is just as much of a reason to go as the food.  Spanning an entire city block, the building housing the Columbia is elegant in its design and the history within its walls is amazing. The food at Columbia was very good.  ...