St Augustine - the Oldest City in US

the oldest street in US

Flagler (Hotel) College

Flagler - foyer rotunda

Flagler (Hotel) College - front gate

Galleon - full size, true replica

Flagler - courtyard

Castillo de San Marcos, commanding vantage

Castillo de San Marcos

St Augustine is a wonderful place to visit.  It is the oldest city in the US, founded by Pedro Menendez in 1565.  It was almost continuously under siege by the English, the English colonists,  and Pirates.  In 1672 the Queen of Spain ordered the construction of a stone fortress, the Castillo de San Marcos, to replace the wooden fort that was inadequate against the naval bombardments from the English.  The town is full of very old buildings - converted to museums or shops.  One of the most interesting sites is Flagler College, which had been built by a railroad magnate, Henry Flagler, in 1888 as a hotel for the very rich.  It is a wonder to see - the pics we posted only scratch the surface.  In 1968 the hotel was converted into a college at the behest of Flagler's grandson - it was refurbished for that purpose at a cost of $54million.  Flagler built another grand hotel across the street for the merely rich.  Another neat site here at the marina is a replica of a Spanish galleon - it is a true to size and structure reproduction.  These ships were armed merchant vessels - the type that carried all those Spanish dabloons (spelling?) minted in the New World.  And, oh yes, there is great seafood and drink served here in St Augustine.

Tomorrow we're headed north again.  We should arrive in Savannah on Wed, April 20 - we'll stay 6 nights.  There are numerous loopers moving north and we're liable to continue partying with some we've met here in St Augustine.  Life is 'mucho bueno'.