Cuban historian decorated with Belgian honor

(1 Jun 2016) The City Historian of Havana, Eusebio Leal Spengler, was honored by Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders Wednesday, in recognition of his efforts to restore the picturesque crumbling old city of Havana.
Reynders presented Leal with the Knight of the Order Leopold medal.
The ceremony took place in a restored palace in central Havana whose restoration was funded largely by Belgian money.
With the assistance of countries like Belgium, Leal has led the way in rebuilding tourist-friendly sites, such as El Floridita, where Ernest Hemingway is said to have helped pioneer the daiquiri, and another famous watering hole, El Bodeguita del Medio.
He oversaw restoration of some of the faded facade of the Malecon, the city's famous seawall, and El Morro, the Spanish fort that guards the entrance to Havana Harbor.
Leal's office has also returned many restored buildings to their original functions, such as refurbished docks and tourist sites focused on specific themes-like the El Conde de Villanueva, a hotel that caters to cigar aficionados.
Today, Old Havana's cobblestone streets are jammed with art galleries and museums, churches, shady parks and alleyways reminiscent of Rome or Barcelona.
The Historian's Office has spearheaded the restoration of more than 300 buildings, and maintenance crews ensure restored structures don't lose their splendor despite unrelenting tropical sunlight, sea-air humidity and coastal flooding that punishes all of Havana's infrastructure.
A vast majority of the funds used for these projects has come mainly from Belgium, Spain and Italy.


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