We Remember Tarpon Springs, Florida

We dropped the boat in at a boat ramp in Tarpon Springs (below), one of our favorite cruising destinations. Lots of good food, colorful people, and happy music. While at the Farmer’s Market on Sunday we came across this memorial to Mother Meres (above), in the 1880s, she became one of Tarpon Springs’s most admired women – someone very special from the looks of the ornate memorial. Mother Meres was Pinellas County Florida’s original ‘Garden Fairy spreading her love of gardening.

Greek almond cookies are our favorite sweet treat in Tarpon Springs (the best are found at National Bakery and Athens St.). Lamb shank and spaghetti are very good at Hella’s Restaurant.

The Farmer’s Market was small and mostly arts and crafts but we did pick up some peppers and oranges to finish our provisioning for the boat. We talked with the guy who sold us the oranges (below-left) and since he was a boater himself, we had a little bit in common so we had an enjoyable conversation.

Hella’s Restaurant is a must-stop for us on every trip to Tarpon Springs, but this time we also tried Mama Maria’s because so many people recommended it to us, very good, we’ll go back again. Okay, I really think this dessert counter (below) at Hella’s is keeping us from shoving away from this unique little Greek community. We took turns picking out and sharing one of these heavenly creations several times during our stay.

Tarpon Springs is the “Sponge Capital of the World” so the sponge docks, on the water, are where all the good food, music, and colorful people are found.