Spiritus on the Water: Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs, founded in 1887, is the "Sponge Capital of the World". Greek immigrants continue their traditional trade of sponge diving. Take a walk down one of the side streets and you will hear locals speaking in their native languages, adding to the feeling that you have been magically transported to the Mediterranean.

Fellow Loopers from "Tide & Time", "Blue Angel", and "Northstar" gather with us in Tarpon Springs the day after we all crossed the Gulf of Mexico.

Captains Eddy & Gary relive their "hair-raising" Gulf crossing experience! Poor Gary got so sea-sick he was literally incapacitated. His wife, Christelle, took the helm and basically made the crossing alone!

Enjoying a wonderful Greek meal with Gary & Christelle at Mykonos restaurant.

PIRATES!! They apparently hang out in souvenir shops these days.

Our marina was surrounded by crab boats and several crabbing businesses.

Separation tanks, where crabs are sized and cleaned.

New crab traps, made of wood and PVC pipe, being put together. The bottoms are filled with about 1 inch of concrete in order to sink them to the bottom of the Gulf and lay flat. We started seeing traps in water as deep as 36 feet when we crossed.

This group of pelicans were waiting behind a local fish market for the "scraps" of fish that were tossed out. No sense in doing all that flying around and hunting!!!

Sponge diving originally put Tarpon Springs on the map.

This boat owner is probably a former school teacher, don't you think?

Our friend, Ruth, lives in Tarpon Springs. Linda & Ruth were sailing instructors for the Wet Hens when we lived in Hawaii.

Nope, it's not Hawaii.....just a beautiful view from Sunset Park in Tarpon Springs!

Pinellas county has a wonderful bike/walking trail that is built on a former railroad bed. It stretches for 35 miles, from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg. We spent two days, one walking and the other biking, along this scenic trail.