I finally made it to the Tampa airport to see the big flamingo statue. It’s really big and right in the middle of the airport. I was there picking up my sisters. Both were in town for a week of Florida fun. We had a busy week doing tourist things and eating a lot.
Our first stop was the Manatee Viewing Center at the electric plant. They had put in a new dock that goes half way across the channel. The electric plant seemed so big seeing it this close.
It was much better seeing the manatees close up as they swam under the dock to get to the inside of the channel. The view from the old deck (which is still there) is much farther away. Since it was late February and the water had been cold there were hundreds of manatees in the channel that stays warm from the water flowing out of the electric plant.
I was hoping to see some birds here. Last time I saw an eagle but this time I only got a turkey vulture.
After a morning watching the manatees swim by we headed into Tampa to eat lunch at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City.
One morning we headed up to Tarpon Springs to walk along the docks and shops and get some Greek food for lunch. We ate at the famous Hellas Restaurant and then stopped in their bakery to get some desserts to take home.
One day we drove over to Orlando to go to Disney Springs for lunch. Debbie and I were hamming it up with Tigger.
On Debbie’s last day we spent the morning at Honeymoon Island looking for shells. I was tired from the week and took a break on the sand while she continued to look for shells. Somehow she fit a box of shells in her carry-on bag.
We did much more but I’ll save that for later.
What a fun week! That flamingo statue is amazing. I love the manatees.
What a great place to be a tourist in your hometown! 🙂 I have been to the Manatee Viewing Center twice and loved it. I always manage to fit a bag of shells in my carry-on, too. Visiting from the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup.
Looks to me like you made an excellent tour guide.
I have been in Tampa’s airport a few times and somehow managed to miss the giant flamingo?! It sounds like you had a wonderful time with your sister.
Wow you were a good host, every single thing you show looks wonderful — I can imagine how happy your sisters were! We forgot to go to our Manatee Park this year while it was “cold” . Yours were good to poke their noses out for you! I said everything you showed looked wonderful but so does everything you mentioned without showing a picture — I’m now craving a visit to the Columbia Restaurant! We loved that place in Ybor City.
Very cool place to visit! You tempt me!
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-rare-book-collection.html
Very cool pictures. I would love to visit Tampa.
Thank you for sporting our logo on your post.
Thanks so much for participating and sharing at SSPS 307. See you again next week https://esmesalon.com/tag/seniorsalonpitstop/
It’s fun to visit your hometown with a visitors lens! It is also interesting at the many new things one can photograph.
Take care and best wishes.