St. Augustine Museum March

Our first stop in the city was the Visitor Center, where we were persuaded very amiably to buy a package that would include days worth of discounted tickets to the area museums of our choice. We are dedicated museum-goers, and this seemed like such a good deal, but I fear that our ambitions may have exceeded our hours, days, mental and foot capacities. I should have known something was up when I saw the booth for "We Buy Back Tickets." We have quite a schedule in front of us, which is why I am working on this blog instead of standing in line right now. We have decided to stay here until Tuesday of next week if the Park can find room for us. Indeed, there is a lot to see and do in this town.

We started out in the elegant Lightner Museum, Splendors of the Gilded Age, a repository of all things Victorian. Formerly the Hotel Alcazar, the building accommodated wealthy vacationers from the Eastern seaboard until Palm Beach replaced St. Augustine as THE place to winter.
Note the photo of the old couple--yes, this trip has aged us.

Next we opted for the earlier history of the area by visiting the old fort, Castillo de San Marcos. It was built in the years 1672-1695 and replaced nine successive wooden fortifications that had protected St. Augustine. The fort was never successfully attacked and only changed hands as the result of treaties. Its thick, shell-layered walls were constructed from coquina limestone quarried nearby. Once again, the power of the arch is displayed in the room construction. To stand on the ramparts and look out over the sailing vessels in the harbor is a wondrous thing!

We finished our day at Aunt Kate's, the enchanting restaurant on the river/inland waterway just a short walk down the road to the west of us. Great food, casual atmosphere, picnic table dining on a patio that adjoins a dock connected to a small bait shop--Mike's. Even better, one can watch the sun go down and catch a few snapshots. Gotta do it.

Onward. Ripley's Believe It or Not is at the top of our list today.