St. Augustine - Take Two

We had a great time yesterday visiting St. Augustine, Florida.  It is a fun and vibrant city.  The Spanish settled St. Augustine in 1565 and came ashore just a bit north of the current municipal marina.  We were at the marina, which is in the middle of all the action.  Tourists, boaters and school kids of all ages mixed downtown.  We walked through the historic center and out to the fort.  It is all close together.

 A class of fourth graders was visiting the fort, and when we arrived they were rolling down the hill.

Flagler built the Ponce de Leon Hotel in 1888.

Here is the fountain out front, surrounded by stone frogs spitting water. 

 Windows and glass are by Tiffany.

Now the hotel is part of Flagler College.  

I stayed here several years ago as part of an NEH colonial history seminar.  

It was a treat to have such grand accommodations.  Students still have dorm rooms and meals in this building.

After touring St. Augustine, we returned to Aunt Aggie for cocktails and dinner.  We had a perfect night:  The weather had warmed; we listened to our first Jimmy Buffet album, A1A; we watched two sailboats sail into the mooring field across from us.  Such skills!  We felt content and happy to be right where we are.  "Life is just a tire swing," as Buffett sings.

Today we left St. Augustine and moved to a marina below Jacksonville.  We've done some chores this afternoon.  On the river we saw a few boats carrying palm fronds in honor of Palm Sunday.  

Can you see the palm branch attached to the bimini and waving like a flag?

We've learned a new skill:  When we see a big boat gaining on us, coming up from behind, George hails them on channel 16 and says he will slow down, so they can pass us.  Then they say they will pass slowly.  One captain today said, "You won't even know I'm there."  They always thank us.  This keeps us from being waked by bigger boats coming too close and too fast.  

Today we saw a bald eagle swoop three times to catch a fish.  He had it and dropped it, tried a second time, and then grabbed it securely and flew up into a tree for lunch.