Tour guide Max clearly loves Ybor City and the history of Florida. Heās a gifted storyteller who brings life to the events that made Tampa and Florida what they are today. He has to have great panache to compete with chickens, roosters, and chicks for our attention. We especially enjoyed hearing about the strategies and schemes used to get people to settle and work in this former swampland. The casitas are neat and an interesting contrast to the grandeur of the social clubs. Great stories about Vicente Ybor as well as Flagler and Plant.
Max is also very patient with wandering participants and looks forward to answering all questions. Be sure to ask him for recommendations on local restaurants. And if youāre lucky, you might get a chance to spot a ghost. Iām taking all my out-of-town visitors to the tour. Itās sure to give them a deeper appreciation of both Florida and Americaās history.