The area of St. Augustine, on the northern Atlantic coastline of Florida was first explored in 1513 by Spanish explorer and governor of Puerto Rico, Juan Ponce de Leon, who claimed the region for the Spanish crown. Prior to founding St. Augustine in 1565, several earlier attempts at European colonization in what is now Florida were made by both Spain and France, but all failed. St. Augustine is also the oldest continually occupied city in the United States.
Our first stop was parking and tickets for the hop on hop off trolley. There are free places to park with a trolley ticket purchase but they are at at the end of the routes. Had we known.......
The trolley ride itself was a surprising solution to getting rid of that "full breakfast feeling". The streets are all brick laid and the ride is incredibly washboard because of that. We did one complete circle of the old towne and hopped off, never to hop on again. It's also hard to hear the guide when your brain and ears are disconnected during the vibrations, rockin n rollin, and general cacophony of the ride. But fun all the same.
Early in the morning the multitudes of pretty streets to spend your money were quiet. This change dramatically after everyone got up and moving around 11 a.m.
Yes, there's also a Scarlett O'Hara's too.
This chain is the actual chain used, or maybe it's a reproduction of previously used chain....I can't recall. But it was specially designed by an artist back then, and no I can't recall his name either. I'm just sharing this because it's interesting chain.
The oldest house in town. It actually looked pretty good and I wasn't able to verify it's age. We saw a few other "original" to the town and a few "been here since Juan".
The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the fortress. We came back later for a self guided walking tour. More later.
Further along the trolley route we came to the Mission Nombre De Dios and the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche. The cross marks the location where over 400 years ago the pioneers and priests designated this as the sacred spot for devotion to Our Lady of La Leche, that continues into the present. On September 8, 1565, Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed and proclaimed this site for Spain and the Church. Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of Aviles expedition celebrated the first Mass and began work on the first of America's missions.
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The Old Senator sits smack in the middle of the Howard Johnson parking lot, marking the spot of the oldest oak tree in America in the oldest city in America...but where else? So named the Old Senator because it's crooked and shady.
A beautiful tunneled tree from overhanging mossy oak trees. This street is immediately outside the entrance to the Fountain of Youth.
Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spanish explorer was searching the legendary spring that would supposedly restore youth and longevity to anyone who drinks or bathes in its waters. These "springs" have been recorded for centuries before Juan came onto the scene. The AMA has of course debunked the legendary properties of the spring but that's only for now. Next year there may be a mecca to St. Augustine for a sip. The AMA now claims diet and exercise is the "fountain".
This wall is made of a local limestone and sea shells. Actually a lot of St. Augustine is made of blocks of this material. The sea shells make it really interesting.
We hopped off the "fat breakdown" trolley and went into the Visitor's Center. Here we purchased tickets to get the most historic information about the city in the shortest amount of time. That would be the Explorer Pass. It included admission to three sites. The Colonial Quarters, The Castillo de San Marcos (fort) and the Government House Museum.
Cute Bill.
First walking stop was the Colonial Quarters. The street leading to the entrance passed this interesting building. The oldest wooden school house in the USA....of course in St. Augustine. Admission is about $5 each.
Instead of opting for another admission to school we chose to throw our $5 at a refreshing drink and a snack before the tour at the Colonial Quarters.
Happy Birthday Bill.
The Colonial Quarter is like a time machine that allows you to walk through the first 300 years of life in St. Augustine.
Where it all began, 16th Century (mid 1500's). Spanish rule.
The settlement is now fortified with soldiers.
Sentries were posted in the towns to watch for raiders...i.e. the French, the Indians, the British, and everyone else who had an ax to grind, a score to settle or just wanted what the settlers had.
The towns were built to the street with no front yards and no front doors. Access was through a gate that could be barred from the inside. No windows on the street side or left side of each house, thus assuring privacy from your neighbor. The strategic aspect of this residential construction was for protection against invaders. A sentry would announce a threat, everyone would rush inside their walls and bar the gates, soldiers would be placed in strategic corners with bowling alley views down the corridors of the village. First invaders to race down the roads would be trapped with no where to hide. Easy pickings.
This must have worked most of the time but not often enough. Florida as it was then was tossed back and forth in ownership many times.
A typical street as seen today with some not so secure additions, like windows and doors.. No need for sentries but you can see the house fronts on the street. This is a common feature in many countries.
Yet, one thing is certain, all the foods, plants, trees and many customs we assume were always here were actually introduced by the Spanish. Citrus trees that Florida is famous for...brought and planted by the Spanish. Potatoes, tomatoes, horses, other livestock...the list goes on and on.
But back to the Colonial Quarters tour. Our guide was Jake. He was superb. An actor, teacher, historian, comedian all rolled into one body. Mesmerizing with his words, lessons and interaction with the visitors.
Here he is firing off a flint rifle (without a bullet). It sounded like a cannon.
His clothing was very period and very dirty. I guess this could be expected given the lack of washing machines during that time. It made it seem more real.
Neighbors and friends did not come into the private homes but instead were intertained outside in the courtyard and under the trees.
Florida with it's proximity to South America and importing goods to Europe, this land paralleling the gulf stream was a benefit for back and forth travel to Europe.
Just across the road was the entrance to Castillo de San Marcos. The FORT.
The limestone construction of this fort happened after the first 9 were destroyed by invaders, burnt down, or simply slid into the sea following a hurricane.
But he was also a wonderful spokesperson for the history of the fort.
A walk through the town afterwards. Lots of restaurants, shops and places to spend money.
We did go to the Government House which was in itself historic but basically a museum of most of the history we'd just toured.
We decided to visit the white sands of St. Augustine and catch our first glimpse of the Atlantic ocean. It was beautiful and the weather was perfect. A great birthday for Bill.
The drive home. Pretty sunset.
So that was Bill's birthday present this year. Larry and Gail and Randy and Sherry preferred to make a 3 day excursion to St. Augustine so they'll head there on March 9th and join up with us around the middle of March in Southern Trails, Georgia. The FMCA rally will be in Perry, Georgia on March 17th to 20th this year. We'll be there to attend the rally one day and pick up our new recliners for the rig. We sold the couch in Orlando.
So, thanks again for visiting. Come back soon.
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