After the long and ultimately successful involvement with “The Sound of Music” we decided to take a few days in a warm place.
To tell the truth, I don’t much like Florida once I gave up sun worship, but I’d heard that St. Augustine is an interesting historical place – the oldest city in America. And interesting it is, though I’m glad I don’t have to pass a test on who controlled it when – the Spanish, the French, The British, the Spanish again? If you really want to know, I recommend googling it.
The first news, though, is that we hit it during a cold spell so I wore my warm Minnesota coat all four days we were there. This photo of a restaurant inviting people in to get warm tells the story. I’ll bet more often that sign says “Cool inside.”
And Old? Well, there’s the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the U.S.
And the colonial village with it’s quick run-through of years of history.
And the guide who made it so entertaining
The first thing to see is the fort that once protected the town. I caught Doug looking down as he began is walk on the ramparts.
Perhaps the most outstanding is the wealth that contributed to the town’s development. Once there were two extremely luxurious hotels for the 1% of the time, complete with every amenity one could imagine. Now the first of those hotels, built by Mr. Flagler, is a liberal arts school.
Across the street is the other hotel, now the Lightner museum. We started at the third floor ballroom which overlooks what was once the swimming pool. (women limited to the shallow end.) It is now the cafe where we had lunch after enjoying this really eclectic place.
We particularly enjoyed the display of old music makers. Wonderful sounds and sights.
The tour of the Ximenez-Fatio boarding house was an interesting look into the past. The rooms were made up as they would have been for some of the people who lived there. It wasn’t a quick stop-over place. People made their homes there. One room, for example, was furnished as it would have been for the doctor who lived there. It was also a reminder of how much freer single women were at the time to pursue financial goals, but limited in the businesses they could develop — especially boarding houses.
Just wandering the streets evoked feelings of the past.
And just plain interesting things, like this gentleman playing the Australian Didgeridoo, accompanied by his amazing calm, cool, collected dog companion.
Especially welcoming was the Penny-Farthing Inn where we were treated like invited family in a beautiful 1880s atmosphere.
with its lovely breakfast area. The hostess inquired about food preferences. When she learned I don’t eat bread products, she prepared scrambled eggs and sausage for me, while Doug had such goodies as Banana French toast. Really well cared for.
If you are wondering — yes, the Penny-Farthing Inn is a delightful place to stay. I guess we weren’t the only ones who felt that way. The rooms were full when we were there.
We also had three great restaurant experiences, like:
the A1A Brewing Company where I enjoyed a perfect shrimp cocktail and wine while Doug had a tuna steak sandwich. He said it was perfect.
the Collage Restaurant, reportedly the best in town, where we celebrated Doug’s birthday with perfect service and food.
The Black Fly where Doug enjoyed a rather huge pizza. I could have had a cheaper meal than I got, but, limited by the fact that I don’t eat bread products. I had a great fish meal. In fact, it was fresh caught fish in all three places.
monagustafsonaffinito 