Travels in the 2nd half

  You can make the argument that the city of Tampa, Florida, might not exist today if it were not for the neighborhood of Ybor City . Yet many people, especially visitors to the area, know very little about this historic district. In the 1880’s, Vicente Martinez Ybor was looking for a new home for his cigar factory. He had already moved his business from Cuba to Key West, bringing it closer to his main market in the United States. He felt that there were two drawbacks to remaining in Key West. The island gave him very little room to expand the industry. And while Key West was close to Cuba, that proximity meant that progressive and pro-union organizers could easily move back and forth, building their relationships with workers in his factory. At this time, Tampa was a small town of around 700 residents, but it offered two important benefits to the growing cigar industry. First, it sat along a protected deep water bay, allowing ships to bring in raw materials from Cuba. Second, in ...

  The city of St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to many cultural and artistic institutions. I had the opportunity to visit two of them on a recent visit. St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts Shiva Nataraja - India 18th century   The Museum of Fine Arts was founded in 1961 by Margaret Acheson Stuart. The city donated a four acre, waterfront site, and it opened its doors in 1965. The MFA was the first fine arts museum in St. Petersburg. Leviathan Zodiacs by Kahinde Wiley Today, the museum has pieces that cover over 5000 years of human endeavor, from all around the world. In my opinion, it is strongest in its collection of 20th and 21st century art. These include some wonderful impressionist and post-impressionist works. These include pieces by Georgia O’Keefe and Kahinde Wiley. Susanna and the Elders by Frans Floris Juliet and her Nurse by John R.S. Stanhope The Houses of Parliment, Effect of Fog by Claude Monet Reading by Berthe Moriset Gathering at Church Entrance by Richard Hal...