Before that we spent two good days in the Everglades, a haven for bird watchers, walking the boardwalk trails, finding lots of wildlife and exotic birds especially the beauitful dark red feathered roseate spoonbills, and swooping kites.
St. Augustine is a very interesting historic city, which has flown 6 major flags in its history - Spanish, French, English (briefly!), Spanish, Confederate and US. The massive fort, the most northerly point of the Spanish empire, guards the harbor. Later came the robber barons, railway moguls and glitterati to establish the town as a haven for vacationing northerners. It's all here along with lots of tourist kitsch now, but also lovely old neighborhoods and mansions and gardens. Sadly it's the start of rainy season too. A river runs down the cobbled street outside our patio today.
We're holed up in the annex of a graceful old B&B inn, where mimosas come with breakfast and free martinis in the Tini Martini bar overlooking the harbour at night. Everyone is very gracious and friendly, the tourist trade is the only game in town, even if it's unraveling a bit at the edges these days.
Southern food, fish and seafood restaurants abound. Last night sunset dinner over a river harbor with the pelicans, and flounder on the plate that was swimming earlier. I don't think I'll ever get to like hush puppies, like most things here, deep fried corn bread balls.
Many old houses are refurbished and open for tours, and the recreated Colonial District tracks the many colonial eras in an active manned historic park setting, rather like Calgary's Heritage Park.
With this heavy rain, we're not inclined to stroll around one of the 5 major walking tours today and may give in to find a launderette and get the clothes clean instead.
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