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CHRISTMAS INTERNATIONAL HOUSE
PEACE MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA

 Clearwater, Florida is located on the Pinellas Peninsular on the West Coast of Florida.   Its 35 miles of broad, graceful, white-sand beach stretched from Crystal Beach to Ft. De Soto Park and is one of the prettiest in the state.  The varied cultural offerings, water recreation opportunities and savory Spanish and Cuban influenced cuisine reflect the history of the area.

The Timucuan and Tocobaga tribes inhabited the area centuries before the first Spaniards arrived.  The Pinellas Peninsula takes its name from the Spanish phrase meaning “point of pines” and the city of Clearwater borrowed from the Tocobagan word meaning “clear water.”  During the 18^th century the bay belonged to pirates who left an influence on the area.  Every year Tampa celebrates the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which has been held since 1904, named after Jose Gaspar, one of the area’s most notorious pirates.  After the Civil War, Henry Plant brought his railroad to town in 1884, later building the Belleview Hotel, the first luxury hotel in the area, which is still standing today.   By 1890 the Ybor City (Tampa) cigar industry was in full swing and a neighboring town Tarpon Springs had one of the largest sponge industries in the south. Following the Spanish-American War in 1898, Theodore Roosevelt and his Rough Riders set up camp in Tampa and staged their Cuban invasion from the port of Old Tampa Bay.

While you are here you will join four other international students for two weeks of activities in the Tampa, St Petersburg and Clearwater area.    You will spend time relaxing on Clearwater beach and Caladesi Island;  visiting the Sponge Docks and Museum of Tarpon Springs; walking along the St. Petersburg Pier; viewing original paintings in the Salvador Dali Museum; and taking a walk  through the Pinellas County Botanical Gardens and Heritage Village.

While in Clearwater, your transportation, meals and entrance fees on group excursions will be provided at no cost to you.   There will be optional activities available if the group is interested.  These include: Lowry Park Zoo  $19.95; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay $69.95; Florida Aquarium $19.95; Salvador Dali museum $17.00 and the Ringling Museum of Arts $10.00. You will be responsible for paying for these optional trips.

This area is notorious for its spectacular weather.  During December the average high temperature is 72 and the low is 55 during the day. 

The closest airport is Tampa International Airport located along Old Tampa Bay.  Some local bus transportation is available.

We hope that you will choose to come and share our hospitality and fellowship.  We are looking forward to meeting you and sharing our city.

 Planned Activities include:

1.     Clearwater Beach – rated as one of the best beaches in Florida; one miles of soft white sand.  Excellent for hunting seashells and watching migratory birds make their way south or just relaxing in the sun and listening to the waves rush on shore.

2.     Caladesi Island State Park is reached by passenger ferry.  This park is a refuge for endangered birds, including ospreys, egrets and storks.  This beach was recently voted as the best in the country.

3.     Florida Botanical Gardens –a 150-acre garden dedicated to herbs, palms, roses and topiaries.  Native Florida plants and exotic specimens suited to the local climate are represented in both natural and formal settings; a true tropical paradise.

4.     Heritage Village – more than two dozen structures relocated on a 21 acre site depicts life during the early days of Pinellas County.  Here is a chance to see how the early settlers lived.

5.     Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks – Tarpons Springs was the center for sponge fishing in the early 1900’s when Greek divers settled in the area.  This Greek influence is still evident in the area, where sponge shops and Greek restaurants and bakeries are plentiful. 

08/29/09