A short drive north of Clearwater lies the town of Tarpon Springs, nestled in a series of salt water bayous that open into the Gulf of Mexico. Settled in 1882, Greek immigrants began arriving in 1905 to harvest the sponges that populated the waters in that area. At one point it was recognized as the sponge capitol of the world. In the 1930's, however, red tides decimated the sponge crop until the 1980's, when new beds were discovered and the sponge trade began anew.
Amazing to me is how many different kinds of sponges there are, and the various uses each one is best suited for. Cost varies widely from one species to the next. Lest you be upset by the harvest of living organisms, there are rules and regulations regarding harvesting size, etc. The sponges embed in the rock beds, leaving a part of them behind as they are pulled away, thus insuring new growth into new living sponges.
Once the sponges are pulled out of the sea in large nets and dragged onto the boats, the membrane (the living part) is scraped away from the skeleton (the sponge itself). They are then strung on ropes with a huge needle and hung across the decks to dry. They will be scraped further and cut into various sizes back on shore.
The Greeks brought their own culture with them, and we very much enjoyed the foods, amongst others things :-)
The American flag, however, has also found its way into the heart of this Greek town :o}
As in most of Florida, the connoisseur of cigars can find the perfect one to satisfy his desires, including one from Cuba if savvy enough.
I hear the summers in Florida can be brutal, but I surely felt like I could settle in this warmer, flatter land that boasts so much coast line!
