Tarpon Springs and Dunedin, FL

We have spent a week in the Tarpon Springs area and it has been fun.  The weather was a bit up and down.  Several days were pretty chilly and windy, not making for great kayaking.  Instead Keith and I decided to head south in the rental car and explore Sarasota for a day.

Our first stop was the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota.  This is a non-profit marine research lab.  They have an aquarium and some of its rehabilitation and marine animal rescue facilities are open to the public.  In this way they are able to better educate the public about marine life in the local waters as well as around the world.  In addition to the usual critters found in most aquariums, Mote has two manatees; and I was very excited to get an up close look at these creatures.  Usually all I have seen of them during our boating is a hump in the water that looks like a log.  Hugh and Buffett are half brothers and live full time at the aquarium as ambassadors for their species.  They are the only manatees in the world that are trained to participate in special research projects at the facility.  They are helping the scientists at Mote understand manatee eyesight and hearing as well as other ways that manatee interact with their environment.  Manatees can live to be 40-60 years old.  They also eat about 150 lbs of food a day for the average 1,000 lb manatee.  They cannot breath under water and usually surface every 3-4 minutes to breath but can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes if needed.  We got to see them feed the manatees and the otters while at the aquarium.

Mote Marine Aquarium and Research Labs

Hugh and Buffett

Sea Turtle

Fishy Fishy

Nemo

Seahorses

I see you, do you see me?

After visiting the aquarium, Keith and I went to the Ringling Museum of Art.  This estate with several museums and a mansion, was the winter home of John and Mable Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Circus.  John Ringling was born in Iowa in 1866.  He had 6 brothers and 1 sister.  He, along with 4 of his older brothers were responsible for starting the Ringling Bros. Circus.  Although their first circus was opened in the 1870's, it was small and charged just a penny admission.  Over time the brothers continued to expand their circus and even took to the road with it using wagons to transport the acts and workers to neighboring cities.  Eventually they began using train cars to move their circus wagons more efficiently across large areas.  In 1907 they also acquired the Barnum and Bailey Circus.  This acquisition made the Ringling Brothers the largest circus in the US and made John Ringling one of the wealthiest men in the US.  About 2 years later, John and Mable started visiting Florida in the winter and they decided to buy property for a winter residence.  They built a 30 room mansion and named it Ca'd'Zan (meaning house of John) in the Venetian dialect.  They also built a museum on the property to house their extensive art collection.  Because of additional real estate investments and later making the area the winter headquarters of the circus, John Ringling is seen as a pioneer in the development of Sarasota, FL.  John Ringling's brothers died before him, but by the 1930s his health was declining.  The Great Depression also dealt a severe financial blow to his empire.  He lost virtually his entire fortune; but did retain his mansion and extensive art collection.  He died in New York City in December 1936 with $311 in the bank.  He willed his property, mansion and art museum to the state of Florida.  The mansion and art museum are open to the public as well as two buildings housing a museum of circus history.  We toured the circus museum.

Circus Museum

Wagon used by the circus

The Human Cannonball Truck

Ringling Family personal Train Car

Next are two pictures of an enormous miniature display of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.  This display was created by artist and sculptor, Harold Tibbals and he called it the Howard Bros. Circus.  Tibbals was born in 1936 and attended his first circus at the age of 3.  From that time on he had a love for the circus.  In 1956 he began working to create his miniature circus model.  Most of the model was completed by 1974. It premiered in 1982 at the World's Fair in Knoxville, TN.  Today his miniature circus is on display at the Ringling estate.  The collection is extensive and beautifully detailed.

We were treated to a beautiful sunset on the way back to the boat from Sarasota

The weather finally improved at the end of the week and I was able to do some kayaking.  I also visited Rainbows End Quilt Shop here in Dunedin (just 5 miles south of the marina).  It is a great shop.  I could have stayed forever, but of course I picked a few things and brought them back to the boat for new projects.

Kayaking Pictures

Keith and I also attended a concert at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center called a Celtic Christmas.  This featured Irish music, dance and storytelling. There was a musician that played the Uilleann Pipes.  These are the national bagpipes of Ireland.  They are not like Scottish bagpipes and it was amazing watching them being played.  Pictures were not allowed, but we both had a good time.  The weekend is to be capped off by a Christmas boat parade tonight which starts at the marina.  We plan to leave and make our way to Long Boat Key where we will spend all of next week.  Captain Keith plans to do some golfing with good friend Pete Ferrara while we are there.