Since old town St. Augustine is pretty much a vacation tourist town, Jim and I suspected that if we got out early in the morning when most vacationers would still be nursing their hangovers, the streets would be deserted and we were right. This was definitely the best time to capture beautiful photos.
We headed out to old town St. Augustine in the relatively cooler morning air. (Still humid, but not steaming.)
St. George street was quiet and we had only birds for company so we wandered, free to stop and plan our photos at a leisurely pace appreciating the smells of the tropical plants and really taking the time to look closely at the centuries old buildings noting that many of them had tiny pink and white seashells imbedded in the walls of lumpy conglomerate they used as local concrete over 250 years ago.
We headed out to old town St. Augustine in the relatively cooler morning air. (Still humid, but not steaming.)
St. George street was quiet and we had only birds for company so we wandered, free to stop and plan our photos at a leisurely pace appreciating the smells of the tropical plants and really taking the time to look closely at the centuries old buildings noting that many of them had tiny pink and white seashells imbedded in the walls of lumpy conglomerate they used as local concrete over 250 years ago.
When the shops and museums started to open up, Jim had only one request……. The Pirate Museum. So we headed over to the museum that was clearly meant for kids. The reason for this request? This museum has a 400 year old pirate chest and another one almost as old that you can actually touch! I don’t care if you are six or sixty, you will love this museum! It’s packed full of treasures from the days of the Caribbean Pirates. There are artifacts from Captain Kidd to Blackbeard and Disney has stepped in to make you feel as if you are on a real pirate ship. It’s magical! Unfortunately, no pics allowed inside so you will need to visit their website to see what’s inside.
Since this was to be Museum day, we trecked on over to the Lightner Museum. The Lightner was originally the Hotel Alcazar built in 1887 the height of the Gilded Age by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler. The stage is set immediately as you walk into what was the original elegant ballroom which acts as the entrance to the museum.
The first floor is stuffed with Victoriana and if you are lucky to be there when they are giving demonstrations of the music instruments you can learn a lot of really interesting information about the historic music of the period.
My favorite room was what seemed to me a giant cabinet of curiosities! A taxidermied aligator hangs from the ceiling and a giant lion stands roaring in suspended animation. A Egyptian child mummy rests behind glass and a shrunken head stares out from its pedestal. It’s a really fun room to visit.
My favorite room was what seemed to me a giant cabinet of curiosities! A taxidermied aligator hangs from the ceiling and a giant lion stands roaring in suspended animation. A Egyptian child mummy rests behind glass and a shrunken head stares out from its pedestal. It’s a really fun room to visit.
Upstairs we found elegant neoclassical furnishings and beautiful 19th century decorative items and gemlike Tiffany stained glass. In these rooms you can really appreciate the graceful architecture in rooms that the patrons of the hotel would have graced with their bustled dresses and topcoats. My favorite sculpture was a stunning multi-colored marble statue of Cleopatra from Italy, but there were lots of beautiful pieces of art to appreciate.
The best representation of the actual hotel days is in what was originally the spa/health facility. The old sauna room and bath area are still intact and the displays really give you sense of the people coming to visit and regain their “health”.
Caught up on our culture fix, we decided to drive out to Anastasia Island and the Conch House Marina and Resort which is known for its small thatched huts in which each are home to a table for dining and of course waterfront bar with its view of the marina on an inlet called Salt Run.
We were sitting out on the pier deck and drank rum and tonics watching the boats come and go when I spied Pirates. Yes, Pirates in full buccaneer gear, boots, hats, and swords, traipsing down the pier to bar! Actually, since that’s where you would expect to see a pirate on land, it took only a second or two for me to completely accept the scene. I was trying to secretly snap a photo when they noticed me and dragged me over for some friendly group pics. They were a jolly bunch and really seemed as if they had stepped right off their galleon for a taste of demon rum. I expected a Yo-Ho any minute!
Leaving behind our pirate friends, we made one last stop back in St. Augustine, The Prince of Whales Pub. It must have been our day for encountering figures from the past because we were greeted by kilted Scotts carrying bagpipes!
Sipping a pint of Boddington Cream Ale on the porch of an English Pub, under trees draped with Spanish moss while listening to the mournful wail of bagpipes! The perfect end to a perfect day!
Sipping a pint of Boddington Cream Ale on the porch of an English Pub, under trees draped with Spanish moss while listening to the mournful wail of bagpipes! The perfect end to a perfect day!
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