Ahoy from Norfolk! Forget Disney World. Th' real party be in Tampa celebratin' Gasparilla.
Fer more than one hundred years, pirates 'n fun-lovin' folks (some years more than 100,000) from th' Tampa Bay area 'ave gathered fer a unique 'n interestin' celebration. Th' Gasparilla Pirate Fest 'n Invasion started in 1904, but th' first naval invasion o' Gasparilla didn' happen 'til 1911 (th' pirates stormed th' city by horseback afore that).
Th' invasion be led by a group call th' Ye Mystic Krewe, who sails across Tampa Bay on th' ship Jose Gasparilla. Everyone knows o' thar power, so th' city does nah even fight it anymore; th' mayor simply gives them th' key t' th' city 'n allows them t' parade through th' streets o' Tampa. Stretchin' from January t' March, th' timin' o' Gasparilla be perfect fer celebratin' aft winnin' th' big game
But, who be this scallywag? Why th' celebration? Th' festival be named fer th' infamous pirate Jose Gasparilla. Legend has it that a Spanish naval officer named Jose Gaspar handsomely rose through th' ranks, achievin' th' rank o' fleet admiral at 27. 'cause o' his status, he became romantically involved wit' numerous beauties o' high society. O' course, that didn' end well when he angered th' daughter-in-law o' th' king. He was framed fer theft o' th' crown jewels, but escaped on a ship named th' Floridablanca. Now a pirate named Gasparilla, he sailed across th' Atlantic 'n operated from a secret base in Charlotte Harbor, jus' t' th' south o' Tampa. O'erall, he plundered more than 400 vessels 'n hoarded an enormous amount o' gold, jewels, 'n other valuables.
In honor o' such a great pirate, we drink, dance, sing, 'n party every year. 'tis better when we win though.
296 words
Fer more than one hundred years, pirates 'n fun-lovin' folks (some years more than 100,000) from th' Tampa Bay area 'ave gathered fer a unique 'n interestin' celebration. Th' Gasparilla Pirate Fest 'n Invasion started in 1904, but th' first naval invasion o' Gasparilla didn' happen 'til 1911 (th' pirates stormed th' city by horseback afore that).
Th' invasion be led by a group call th' Ye Mystic Krewe, who sails across Tampa Bay on th' ship Jose Gasparilla. Everyone knows o' thar power, so th' city does nah even fight it anymore; th' mayor simply gives them th' key t' th' city 'n allows them t' parade through th' streets o' Tampa. Stretchin' from January t' March, th' timin' o' Gasparilla be perfect fer celebratin' aft winnin' th' big game
But, who be this scallywag? Why th' celebration? Th' festival be named fer th' infamous pirate Jose Gasparilla. Legend has it that a Spanish naval officer named Jose Gaspar handsomely rose through th' ranks, achievin' th' rank o' fleet admiral at 27. 'cause o' his status, he became romantically involved wit' numerous beauties o' high society. O' course, that didn' end well when he angered th' daughter-in-law o' th' king. He was framed fer theft o' th' crown jewels, but escaped on a ship named th' Floridablanca. Now a pirate named Gasparilla, he sailed across th' Atlantic 'n operated from a secret base in Charlotte Harbor, jus' t' th' south o' Tampa. O'erall, he plundered more than 400 vessels 'n hoarded an enormous amount o' gold, jewels, 'n other valuables.
In honor o' such a great pirate, we drink, dance, sing, 'n party every year. 'tis better when we win though.
296 words
