Pet, Author Ernest Hemingway. He was a known lover of animals and his love for his pets can be seen today in the manner he meticulously interred them with quaint inscribed gravestones and carefully tended plots. The location near Havana at his Villa, "Finca Vigia" (Lookout Farm) was Hemingway's home from 1939 to 1960. The burial site inhabits a place of honor beside the swimming pool located behind the residence. The dogs were not special in terms of exotic breeding, but merely of the Heinz variety. "Blackdog" was rescued from the neighborhood where he was living as a stray and was a Springer mix. He had the distinction of being the Hemingway favorite. The others, Linda, Negrita and Neron had similar histories. They shared the villa and its grounds with dozens of cats with names like "Crazy Christian" and "Black Spade." All had the run of the place and quietly lay in his study as he penned some of his greatest books..."For Whom the Bell Tolls" "The Old Man and the Sea" and posthumously published works "A Moveable Feast" and "Islands in the Stream. In 1960, Ernest Hemmingway left Cuba fearful of the man now in charge, Fidel Castro, leaving behind everything, personal belongings, furniture, books and his beloved fishing boat "El Pilar." Thinking the property would be vandalized and confiscated, he needed not have fretted as his legacy and physical property still endures. Legacy...Built in 1886 on a hillside, Finca Vigia where the author resided for some twenty years was declared a museum by the Cuban government. Currently, it is the single most visited cultural site in all of Cuba. Visitors view the house by walking around from the outside and look through the windows as entry is restricted. The house which chronicled Hemingway's life has penciled daily records of his weight and blood pressure still visible on the bathroom wall. He had at times tipped the scales near 300 pounds. A diligent museum caretaker staff was able to keep the property intact but lacked money allowing the property to fall into decay. Hurricanes, repressive tropical heat and other natural elements have taken their toll. The roof leaks, foundations have shifted and the building has become dilapidated and seedy. Thousands of books, personal belongings and furnishings were removed and placed in dry storage. The "El Pilar" rests on blocks on a site located behind the pool. During World War II, German submarines would board Cuban fishing boats for the purpose of replenishing their food supply. Hemingway in an attempt to bag a German U-boat armed the "El Pilar" with machine guns, automatic rifles and grenades while using the craft as a decoy anticipating boarding by a German submarine. He hoped to bag the vessel then sink it with explosives. The venture was never successful. The 15 acres surrounding the home has become overgrown with coconut trees and green bamboo. Currently, cooperation between American preservationist and Cuba have been established and money appropriated allowing for a full restoration to proceed. The Rockefeller Foundation has given a generous grant.