Tarpon Springs is a very interesting community just north of Tampa and the drive is a tad over two hours from the Glen. There are countless small towns along our Florida Gulf Coast, each with its own distinctive character. Tarpon Springs has the highest concentration of Greek Americans per capita in the entire U.S. Greek immigrants began arriving in the early 1900s to harvest natural sponges in the warm Gulf waters. These immigrants wrote their relatives and friends back in Greece to come over and help work a market that they knew well – Greece is composed of over 6,000 islands, and the country’s economy is centered around the Aegean Sea. So those immigrating Greeks were very familiar with sponge diving.
One of the Greek island groups is known as the Dodecanese chain, where many immigrating families originated. This group of islands shares strong ties with Tarpon Springs—even the main street along the waterfront is called Dodecanese Boulevard.
Walk down Dodecanese Boulevard and the influence is unmistakable. Authentic Greek bakeries sell fresh loukoumades (Greek honey puff dessert pastries) and baklava (that delicious honey, walnut and phyllo dough sweet dessert). Family-owned tavernas serve slow-roasted lamb and spanakopita (a classic Greek savory pastry filled with spinach, feta cheese, eggs, onion, garlic and dill, which is baked in flaky phyllo dough).
In addition to the authentic Greek bakeries, tavernas, and restaurants, you will find the stunning Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, which is a replica of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey (about 40 HG Travel Clubbers saw the Hagia Sophia on our Mediterranean Cruise last September). This cathedral is a tribute to their Byzantine heritage. The Byzantine Empire was the Greek speaking, Christian Eastern half of the Roman Empire from 2,000 years ago. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is a mosque now.
The sponge industry is Tarpon Springs’ big draw. In the early twentieth century, Tarpon Springs was the sponge capital of the world, producing more natural sponges than anywhere else on the planet. Greek divers harvest natural sea sponges from the Gulf floor by hand, using hard hat diving equipment. This is difficult and dangerous work. The sponge industry waned after a blight in the 1940s, but it never entirely disappeared. Today, the docks remain a working waterfront where sponge boats still go out, and shops still sell genuine natural Gulf sponges alongside souvenir trinkets and fresh seafood.
Tarpon Springs is real. Florida has experienced a lot of overdevelopment and commercial areas. Many distinctive coastal towns have lost their charm as a result of strip malls and housing developments. But in Tarpon Springs, many third-generation Greek families still run the same restaurants that their grandparents opened. Tarpon Springs is the genuine article.
Our Travel Club is planning an overnight trip to Tarpon Springs and the world-famous Mote Aquarium in Sarasota in May or June. Come and join us on this exciting trip!!
