About 125 miles north of Punta Gorda, FL is a cute little town, Tarpon Springs. It is on route 19, near Clearwater. I don't know the history of the town but it seems to be the sponge capitol of FL with a big Greek influence. Greek restaurants, Greek clothing, Greek food stores, etc. You can very easily bring back a Greek peasant blouse, dress or a more formal and exciting belly dancing costume!
Of course, being an "Old" Bag Lady, I didn't purchase the Belly Dancing Costume but maybe next time, after I retire I could take lessons??? I mean, being a woman "of a certain age" means I to keep moving, right? At least I'd have the basics I need for the class (I have a belly!).
But, I did go looking for books as Tarpon Springs advertises a lot of antique shops in the downtown area and indeed, they are there. But they are very, very book challenged in the antique stores. I don't know why - most antique areas have at least one book dealer within the antique malls - a specialist used/rare book dealer who just doesn't want to have a store. This wasn't the case in downtown Tarpon Springs.
I did find one booth that was mostly books but they weren't even trying to be specialists. They were $1.00 books in pretty good shape but not ones that any book dealer would be interested in. Just common books - not even store stock (they would be on the $1.00 table out front of any used book store).
So, after passing on the books and all of the glass antiques, booth after booth of glass collectibles (dishes in particular), even full stores of red glass dishes (well maybe some dish was white but I didn't stay long enough to see it) we went to the touristy section and I loved it.
There were lots of people walking around the shops which are located right next to water with tourist boats waiting to take us out for a cooling ride on the water. There was an art show set up in tents, lots of ice cream and cold drinks and Greek food. Lots of Greek food and beer and sweets!
If you haven't added Tarpon Springs to your list of places to visit when you're in the area/state, maybe while you're at the St. Petersburg book fair (in March every year), consider doing so. And you will get to go over the beautiful Skyline bridge, see a great view of what has to be a great fishing pier!
After all, you're writing off the trip to the fair, might as well add in a side trip and get some great Greek Food and well, maybe pick up that belly dancing costume.
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