St. Augustine - Saturday

 

After cutting JB’s hair on the deck of our boat while tied to a mooring buoy in a very busy area (My excuse for the worst hair cut he ever got!) and several chatty phone calls we finally made it to shore at noon!  Never having been here and not wanting to spend three days walking, JB decided we needed to buy a three day ticket for the trolley that takes you to the various attractions.  Good idea.  As it was we got to see the Castillo de San Marcos fort which part of the National Park Service.  ( This is a photo of the Bridge of Lions from the top of the fort.  We are moored on the opposite side.)

We arrived in time to see the ceremonial procedure the Spanish used to fire the cannons. Due to the fact that the fort changed hands between the British and Spanish so many times in its 338 year history, every year the historical lecture is changed to reflect the other side. It was a really great experience to hear about this special fort.

                                                                           

The fort is made of Coquina rock, hand carved out of nearby Anastasia Island and brought to this site on barges.  It is hard to imagine it as a “soft” substance since the fort has survived many battles and the ravages of time.  But the story goes that the canon balls stuck into its surface and the inhabitants would go outside, pry them out and repair the wall with straw and concrete while under siege.

 

My high school friend, Bill Thompson and his wife of 38 years, Connie, came to visit us.  We had fun catching up on missed years while walking down St. George Street lined with historical buildings turned into quaint little shops and restaurants.  Then we dined at my favorite restaurant, Hooked on Harry’s.  Not only is the food superb, but the outside terrace is under old      trees covered in tiny white lights.  Then the band started playing.  With a full moon, it was very romantic.  And we didn’t even need jackets!

How can we not be happy!  We have another two days here before we continue to Daytona for Thanksgiving week where we will be joined by my sister, Nancy.  Since we walked so much yesterday, we plan to ride the trolley today.  Tours of the St. Augustine History Museum and Fountain of Youth are awaiting us.  We are told we can drink from the Fountain of Youth.  Sounds like something worth trying!  What do you think?