Sunday, January 17, 2016

Wow!  When I said Tarpon Springs was Greek, I meant it.  It has the highest percentage of Greek Americans of any city in the US.   The old world flavor takes one to a different time and place.    I have enjoyed their culture, cuisine, and Grecian people.

One of those was Joe Vidalas, our marine mechanic for the day.  He was professional, but personable.  And, not bad looking either.  He kind of reminded me of Jesus in a beanie.  He became our "trip advisor" during our stay.  Wish we could take him with us.

Joe and the Captain

Our favorite lunch stop.  Bikes are definitely the way to get around.

On the docks waiting on our burger.  Tarpon Springs is still a working seaport.  

the Greek burger

The weather and our fellow Looper friends have kept us here for several days now.  We are only a couple of blocks from the Sponge Docks.  The sponge industry began in 1873 when a Key West turtle fisherman accidentally got his nets tangled in them.  By 1900, this city was considered the largest sponge port in the US.

We saw manatees over in Spring Bayou, a bay not far from Sea Jamm.  We watched them about half an hour, but couldn't capture them in a picture.

Alan and I hosted our first docktails.  We had 6 others join us for drinks and munchies before heading out to dinner down the street.