Surprises in Tarpon Springs

After one last run to Publix and feeling assured that Lainey was all tucked in at Eckerd and didn't need anything else from us, we headed home.    We decided to take US 19 through Clearwater and stumbled upon the little treasure of Tarpon Springs.  We saw on our GPS that we were near water and thought we might discover some marina's worth visiting.  We did not find a marina to our liking, but what we did find  was quite a surprise.  

While driving through Tarpon Springs I spotted a nice down town with sidewalks and antique shops that I felt then need to visit.  Mr. Adventure assured me we would come back after finding the marina.  I have long since learned that we indeed would come back--but it would probably be after the 5:00 p.m. closing so that we could do some window shopping that most always doesn't require the outlay of any cash or the use of a credit card.  

My disappointment was short lived because when we approached the water in search of the marina we found the Sponge Docks District of Tarpon Springs along the Tarpon Bayou.  We immediately found a place to park ($3.00) and set out to discover this most definite tourist spot.  At one end of Dodecanese Avenue we found the Tarpon Springs Aquarium and on the other we visited the Historic Sponge Exchange.  Greek restaurants and boutiques selling sponges and other items fill in the shops in between the two landmarks

Greek immigrants first landed in this area to work was sponge divers in the sponge harvesting industry.  In the early 1900's John Corcoris recruited divers from the Dodecanese Islands to work in the sponge industry.  Many divers brought their families which helped to make Tarpon Springs the city with the highest percentage of Greek Americans in the United States. 

GETAGURU--the named called me inside!

We were told that there were 32 Greek restaurants in the area.  We saw too many to count.  The bakeries had the most beautiful storefront displays.  We drooled over the goods but didn't purchase anything.

My favorite---Baklava!

We talked to Nick Bada Bing who was sitting on the other side of the van offering us hand rolled cigars!

The Aquarium

Steve was drawn to this shop--Carol's Boutiki Hut

I'm not feeling so tall anymore!

I found the definition below from Dictionary.com   Enjoy the mini science vocabulary lesson!

sponge

[spuhnj] 

1.  any aquatic, chiefly marine animal of the phylum Porifera, having a porous structure and usually a horny, siliceous or calcareous internal skeleton or framework, occurring in large, sessile colonies.

 

2.  the light, yielding, porous, fibrous skeleton or framework of certain animals or colonies of this group, especially of the genera Spongia  and Hippospongia,  from which  the living matter has been removed, characterized by readily absorbing water and becoming soft when wet while retaining toughness: used in bathing, in wiping or cleaning surfaces, etc.

 

3.  any of various other similar substances, often porous rubber or cellulose, used for washing or cleaning.

4.  a person or thing that absorbs something freely: His mind is a sponge gathering historical data.

 joy