Quote:
Originally Posted by ALadysMom
Thanks! I’ve read that Tarpon Springs is known for its sponge harvesting. Are there any waterside spots to see the boats unload?
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When I was 12 in 1962, my 6th grade class went on a field trip to Tarpon Springs and they took us out in a boat. It wasn't very big, maybe ten of us at a time, and we watched the hard-hat diver go down and bring up a sponge. They still have the tours.
Tarpon Springs is home to a Greek Community and part of their heritage was hard-hat diving for sponges. There use to a very famous Greek Restaurant at the harbor in Tarpon Springs called Louis Pappas. It first opened in 1925 but I found that it closed in 2005. We had another very popular one in St. Petersburg (Pasadena), but it also has closed. They still have smaller locations in Clearwater and Tampa. So if you see a 'Louie' Pappas Restaurant, it's excellent Greek food.
St. Nicholas Boat Line
Tarpon Springs Tours - Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
https://www.louispappas.com/?fbclid=...-Amofw9wHW_JGU
This huge building was the Pappas Restaurant at Tarpon Springs, it closed in 2005.
Now the nearest to Tarpon Springs is this Clearwater shopping Center location.