Storm over the Everglades

The old Alligator Alley Road - or Highway 41

These beautiful sun ray came up after the sun disappeared

Have you ever seen a cloud like this? It looks more like a U.F.O. for me

It was of course NOT a U.F.O. even I would love to see one, though

It was dark already like in the night - but it was only around 3 p.m.

Can you imagine how high this wall of clouds were and to see this strange formation of that little cloud coming up - it was just a overwhelming feeling and very exciting

A tropical storm silhouette

The last time we drove trough the Everglades to Naples, FL a BIG storm came up. Immediately, the sky got dark, scary lightning flashed and then, the rain poured. In seconds the road was flooded and we had to stop and wait until the worst was over.

Then it was a magic game of mother nature, fantastic to watch, something I will never forget!

There is only one Everglades in the World.

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The area boasts rare and endangered species, such as the American crocodile, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. It has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance, in recognition of its significance to all the people of the world.

A Visit to Tarpon Springs - A Greek Sponge Diver Village

Sponge diver boats in the harbor

Boat Detail and reflections

Typical Greek shops and great restaurants with identical Greek food in the main street

A small taste of Santorini?

Memorial in Tarpon Spring in honor to all the sponge divers who lost their lives in this dangerous profession.

The early sponge industry created a need for eating places at the Docks for the boat crews. Soon, as news of this unusual industry spread, people began to come to the Docks to see the sponges. Shops opened so that the tourists could purchase sponges and other souvenirs. The tourism industry blossomed in Tarpon Springs. Some of the original shops remain at the Docks today, owned by the same families that started them. Through the years more shops have opened, putting the number at well over 100 today. There are approximately fifteen restaurants in the Sponge Docks area, several of them internationally known.

Visitors to the Sponge Docks can shop, eat, take cruises down the Anclote River to the Gulf of Mexico, go deep-sea fishing, visit a saltwater aquarium, see a movie depicting the sponge industry.

Other places to visit in Tarpon Springs include Tarpon Avenue, part of the National Main Street program, with its antique shops and artists' galleries.

The Cultural Center on South Pinellas Avenue provides art exhibits in its museum and walking/bus tours of the city.

At the Universalist Church on Grand Boulevard the paintings of George Inness, Jr., a world-renowned artist who made his home here, can be seen from October to May.

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, a replica of St. Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople, is open daily to visitors and worshippers. The Shrine of St. Michael, a small chapel built by a Greek family in thanks for the miraculous cure of their young son, is open daily.

The City Library, on Lemon St., with its collection of 85,000 print and nonprint materials for adults and children, is a member of the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative, allowing access to holdings of its fourteen member libraries. Access to libraries outside the Cooperative is available through interlibrary loan. The Tarpon Springs Library is completely automated and has special collections of maritime, business, and genealogical resources.

Read more about Tarpon Springs, FL here

Thunderstorm over Tarpon Spring

On the way to Tarpon Spring, looking for a Motel room, we got this magnificent thunderstorm clouds to see - and to photograph.