11/21/2010 TAMPA BAY

SUNDAY

TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM

Larry from Tampa Water Taxi Co. (888-665-8687 and www.tampawatershuttle.com) arrived to shuttle us to the Marriott Hotel for a possible rental car pick up. Didn’t quite work out as we hoped as no cars were available until tomorrow morning but we had a great day seeing Tampa.

We strode Tampa’s River Walk, coming to the Tampa Bay Arena and home to the Lightening hockey team. This unlikely contender won the Stanley Cup in 2004. The 70” lightening sculpture was created by Borofsky and is not only a tribute to the team but also recognized Tampa’s title as the city that receives more lightening than any other city in the United States.

TAMPA'S RIVER WALK

LIGHTENING SCULPTURE AT ENTRANCE TO TAMPA BAY ARENA

The tallest building in Tampa, officially known as 100 North Tampa, reigns over the city with its pewter tinted glass and Spanish granite. What a beauty!

100 NORTH TAMPA

We were drawn by the minaret domes peeking over the tree tops so set off to explore the story of their heritage. What we found was the University of Tampa. The site was originally built by southern Florida railroad baron, Henry Plant, and was a resort destination in the 1880s. Never a huge success, it was sold then in 1930 it became part of the University of Tampa. What kid wouldn’t love this campus setting?

WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA

TOWERING PEAKS TWEEKING OUR INTEREST

MAGNIFICIENT DOORWAYS BECKON US TO ENTER

THE WINDOWS IN THIS ROUND BUILDING HAVE ROUNDED GLASS

After still more walking we decided to take advantage of Tampa’s historic street cars. Back to the Marriott Hotel where the line starts and off we go, headed to historic Ybro City (pronounced EE-borh). Founded in 1880 by cigar manufactures, this city was home to immigrants from Cuba, Spain and Italy that rolled millions of cigar each year for the next 50 years. Hard times during the depression and WW II led to the decline of this once thriving community. Interests in the importance of historic preservation and redevelopment have begun to bring this area back to life and it is emerging as night club and entertainment extension to Tampa.

ONE OF TAMPA'S HISTORIC STREETCARS



Image by State Library and Archives of Florida via Flickr

CIGAR MAKERS IN YEARS GONE BY

After riding the streetcar as far back towards our destination as possible, we ended up hiking the rest of the way back to our marina home on Davis island. With weary feet, Dan stopped at the marina office to watch the end of the NASCAR race and I collapsed back on Quest.

We were happy to spend the evening onboard with our feet up watching the world pass by. Cruise ships sailed out, Sunday boaters cruised on by and the vigilant Police Boat was ever on the prowl.