I Had a Great Day in St. Augustine

Today we slept in...some of us slept until 0900 and it was glorious.  After an easy slow morning, Mark and Jon loaded two of the bikes, themselves and me into the dinghy to head ashore. 

Wait, before that, we decided to stay another night here.  Also, I decided that I was going to be a tourist today and leave the fellas to enjoy riding to the Sailors Exchange (a place to find all sorts of new and used boat parts and equipment) that I described as a real life boaters Craigslist.  They also needed to go to West Marine and hit up the Winn Dixie.  But first, lunch.

We went ashore and found a spot to grab a bite at La Herencia which is a Cuban inspired spot on Aviles Street in the Old Town district.  It was generally decided that we need to stop eating chips, brownies, muffins, biscuits and such heavy meals and start eating like normal humans.  We'll see how that goes but the warmer and sunnier it gets, the more skin we'll be showing ;-)

From there I started walking and looking around--three hours later, I had not left the Old Town area and could still go back and walk around more.  It was really neat with some great galleries and interesting shops.  I'm just going to load up all the photos I took but the thing that was really fun was looking at the different types of architecture--Spanish, Victorian, Craftsman.  I also saw the Ponce de Leon hotel that is now Flagler College (Tax family shout out!) as well as the Lightner Museum and all types of historic buildings and homes.  I spent time around the St. Francis Barracks which is now the National Guard facility and wanted to take more time in the cemetery, reflecting on the headstones of the departed veterans--some who served in the Spanish American War and some dated even earlier.  I was disappointed that I had to end my tour because I could have kept walking for three more hours I think.  Glad I have one more day.

The area south of King where I spent time today was so different than the more tourist oriented street we saw yesterday. Talk about a city with many personalities...glad I had the day today.  We met back up and went to Frida's for margaritas and tacos.  Sitting upstairs we were literally right across from the boat which was fun.  Plus we saw a couple having photos done and when they were close to Stray Cat, the boat honestly turned in their direction.  Photo bomber.  A treat was watching the full moon rise on such a clear and comfortable night.  Walking back to the boat, we learned about a couple of the carriage horses and got to pet them. 

Back at the boat, the guitars came out and the fellas strummed some tunes and sang some songs.  That was awesome and you have to love when reality is better than the image in your mind:  hanging out on the boat after a great day, drinking tequila nightcaps, under full moon, anchored (moored) off the shores of a pretty city, in the warmth of a Florida night, with the boys playing guitar...yeah, it really is like living a dream.

Here are a ton (no really, a lot) of photos from today--enjoy the slide show. XO Suzanne

Where I got a yummy smoothie - they make crepes too

Lightner Museum

Flagler :-)

The Record Building - now apartments

Villa Flora

Kitty!

Kitty's House

Where the oldest Presbyterian Church stood, check out the fence

St. Francis Inn

Fernandez-Llambias House 1763

Ximenez-Fatio House

Oldest House - those are Jack Daniels Barrels in that trailer

 

Officers Quarters home

More Officers Quarters

 

You cannot see it but these were both Spanish American War Vets

The porch columns are palm trunks

Loved the side porch on this one

St. Francis

Lord make me an instrument of your peace...

1840

1812

 

Hey, look at these hot dudes

Stray Cat trying to get in the picture

She did get in their photo

Grainy full moon rising

Guitar Man 1

Guitar Man 2