Although the restoration of Old Havana resulted in the removal of thousands of Cubans who had once made homes out of abandoned colonial buildings, the raw beauty of many spaces and the admiration of foreign eyes contrived to strengthen the national pride of many Cubans who became frequent visitors to Old Havana. Palomas (the same word is used for both doves and pigeons in Cuban Spanish) also returned as snacks and treats dropped from the hands and plates of visitors made the Plaza de San Francisco a permanent bird sanctuary.
