The Oldest City

Today we had the pleasure of visiting St. Augstine, the country's oldest city. We actually went the day before, but got there 'late' in the day and purchased a multiple day trolley pass...so we scouted things out and when we returned on Friday, we got discounted tickets for the activities we wanted to do.

First stop was the earliest and largest masonry fort built, completed in 1695, the Castillo de San Marcos. It was built by the Spanish, as the city had been plundered by English corsairs, including Sir Francis Drake. Walls are several feet thick, and made of cochina, native to the area, a porous rock made of sand, earth and shells. When struck with a cannon ball, cochina does not crack or break apart like firmer masonry. The fort was never 'taken' by military force.

There are musket and cannon firings through the day, performed by guys in period military clothing. Lots of interesting displays, information and cannons. It was interesting to find out that the U.S. Government actually put some 70 plains indians here as 'forced inhabitants' and the Captain in charge tried to make them 'white', through indoctrination..he used the phrase "(to) kill the Indian and save the man". Yet another stupid chapter in our nation's history.

We also toured Flagler College, a 4 year private school, much of which is in the building previously known as the Ponce de Leon Hotel, built in the late 1880's by Henry M. Flagler, a wealthy man who co-founded Standard Oil. He also created the Eastern Florida Railroad, with tracks running down the eastern seaboard of Florida...including that RR bridge he built to the Keys!

All along the route he built posh hotels for the infant, yet blossoming tourist trade heading for sunny Florida. The Ponce de Leon is a remarkable structure featuring Spanish influenced details, and poured concrete. His hotels were vanguards in the use of this building process. There is amazingly handcarved trim and pillars throughout the building, and the grand dining hall is now used by college kids to snack, eat and text message in. Each original chair (there are many still in use!) is valued at $2100. Lots of 24 carat gold leaf, and marvelous murals, plus a ton of Tiffany stained glass.

Surprisingly, the student tour guide said the tuition, room and board for this private liberal arts college is only $19,000 a year!!! Flagler College is rated in the top 200 4 year schools in the country.

Flagler College, previously the Ponce de Leon Hotel

We then walked around a bit, as this old city has tons of charm and beautiful buildings and churches. We took a scenic boat tour of the harbor and waterway leading to the lighthouse, and along Anastasia State park which used to be an island, but through natural processes became part of the mainland. We saw lots of birds including brown pelicans, egrets, herons, and osprey, as well as some dolphins. The sunset was gorgeous.

There are many more sights to see, as well as shops and galleries and restaurants to try, and I am sure we will return in the near future. St. Augustine is about an hour south of our RV Park.