I’ve been quite intrigued by Tarpon Springs for years and years. In the early 1900s it became famous as the sponge fishing capital of Florida. Mainly this was as a result of an influx of sponge fishermen from the Dodecanese Islands of Greece. They discovered there were thousands of sponges out on the ocean floor and set about harvesting and farming them. The industry was almost wiped out by a serious red tide in the 20th century but it survived albeit as a much smaller industry.

Today it is a charming small seaside town with a large fleet of sponge diving boats moored up alongside a host of Greek restaurants and gift shops selling sponges and sponge goods, shells, beach clothes, olive oil soap and other products.

It had rained heavily all morning so we didn’t depart till after lunch. Our morning was made more exciting by the arrival of an alligator, lounging just on the bank outside the back of the house. He wasn’t very interested in us.

Anyway, we got to Tarpon Springs about 3 and we went for drinks at a nautical bar called Rusty Bellies. It was just starting to be happy hour which was handy so we had 2 rounds of $5 drinks. It was a nice place. After that we spent some time exploring the shops along Dodecanese Avenue. Bought some sponges.Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill | Seafood Restaurant in Tarpon Springs, FL

Had an early dinner at a restaurant called Hellas which was busy and bustling and straight out of Athens. They brought us an amazing basket of bread (they have an adjoining bakery) with fresh peppery olive oil. I had a fabulous noodle meat and cheese sauce dish. Bob had an enormous mound of fresh calamari. Dave and Fran both had moussaka and they said it was great. Prices were very reasonable. Would definitely recommend and go there again.Hellas Restaurant & Bakery – Authentic Greek Cuisine