Tarpon Springs and NARFE

We really enjoyed Tarpon Springs, which truly calls itself the "Sponge Capital of the World."  Unfortunately, we got there at 2 p.m., a little too late in the day to do everything there.  It was more like two hours instead of 90 minutes to get there.  After leaving the house around 9:30, getting gas, going to the bank with a question, and going to the post office, we didn't leave our neighborhood until around 10:45.  That put us into Tarpons Springs at close to 1 p.m., so we went straight to lunch first.

Mark read that this town was established by Greek immigrants, so Greek food is abundant.  He picked the restaurant Costas from the AAA website.  It was amazing.  When we got there, no one else was in the restaurant, but many tables were filled when we left.  The menu is gigantic and had so many vegetarian and fish options that we would love to go back and try something else. 

After lunch we walked around the quaint, shop-lined main street by the docks.  The little sponge museum in the Spongerama shop was closed (kind of looked permanently closed), but we were able to watch the informative movie on the sponge industry and different kinds of and uses for sponges.  Of course, I then had to go BUY one!  I brought home a small piece of a wool sponge to use for washing dairy dishes.  If I like it, I'll go buy another one when we go back for meat dishes.  LOL!  Mark was intrigued by the giant loofahs, so he got himself one with rope handles attached.  He will probably use it in the shower this morning to see how it works for washing his back.

I didn't know they also make olive oil soaps and lotions there. I'm such a sucker for that stuff that I got five bars of soap and a bottle of lotion. Of course, I also took their flyer on ordering online.

Well, lunch, the museum, the movie, and some shopping were our primary objectives yesterday. In that respect, we were successful; however, we didn't know there was a nearly two hour cruise to watch dolphins and manatees and go out to a little island for shelling.  Next time we will plan that in advance.  There is also a small aquarium that we can do next time, too.

Mark tried to find another open day to go back and it will be March 21 before that happens. Our schedule is CRAZY!!

Today we are going to the Plant City's NARFE chapter meeting.  It's their annual holiday party, which means bring an unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots.  We have some Disney toys to donate.  There's not even a meeting today, just a big buffet lunch and lots of socializing.  Should be fun!