The January 6 Epiphany Celebration in Tarpon Springs brings out young men of Greek heritage with a special intent: Dive into the chilly Tarpon Springs water and bring back a cross.
Greek sponge divers converged on Tarpon Springs in the early 1900s and developed the world's largest sponge industry.
George Billiris grins broadly at the memory of his dive so many years ago when he managed to snag just a fifth of it because in those days "it wasn't just the young lads but also the professional (sponge) divers and there was no politeness about it."
As he stretches back in his chair at a local café and adjusts his Greek fisherman cap, Billiris, now in his late 70s, recounts Tarpon Springs' early days when his grandfather arrived to start the family sponge-diving business and a tourist boat enterprise.
Greek sponge divers converged on Tarpon Springs in the early 1900s and developed the world's largest sponge industry. The city has "sister-city" status with a Greek Island, Billiris explains, and Greek divers are brought over to work.
"We want to retain the Greek reality here," he says as he gestures toward the sponge boats, which are based on a 2,500-year-old design.
It's All Greek To Me
Though most people's introduction to Greek came courtesy of the popular movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Tarpon Springs offers a real education in Greek life and culture - minus the baby blue bridesmaid dresses and cure-all Windex.
Visitors can cruise local waters on the St. Nicholas Boat Line and see a live demonstration of sponge harvesting where the diver uses traditional diving gear including a hard hat diving helmet. Or they can cruise through the streets, stopping at local shops and cafés.
From the Greek Isles to the Scottish Highlands
Nearby Dunedin's Scottish heritage is displayed with kilt-bedecked, bag-piped statues at either end of the city limits and a community newspaper, the Dunedin Highlander, with a tartan-plaid masthead. Docks built to accommodate schooners drew pioneers from as far as Scotland, and Dunedin became a chief Florida seaport.
Today, the town's upscale shops and restaurants draw many visitors. Mary MacDonald of Spring Hill brought her three daughters to one local shop which offers Highland apparel, foods, gifts and music, before heading over to a Scottish parade where the girls were set to perform Scottish dances.
Here you don't need a long plane ride to "travel" to another country.
Or take a guided walk led by a park ranger to learn about the many birds which make the islands their home, including endangered species such as the Great Blue Heron, Wood Storks and Snowy White Egrets.
Visit Clearwater Beach if you want an archetypal beach town experience. Seafood shacks, beach bars, pizza parlors and souvenir shops abound, along with a wide variety of accommodations.
