A Christmas Day Trip

Gentle Readers and Dear Friends thanks again for stopping by, I do appreciate your visits, comments and emails.  I wasn't too sure about mentioning eating gator, but it is one of the things I get when I can.  There is a "southern" restaurant here in SF that I have even been able to get gator at!!  I first had gator in Louisiana, and found it delicious!!  If over cooked it can be a bit on the chewy side, but when done correctly it is a juicy "sweet" meat - to me it has a very distinct flavour not very chickeny - I love trying new things - food, experiences, places and people - life is to be lived and experienced... and you can't do that from the sidelines!!  A little pep talk on this cold Thursday morning!!

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More about my Christmas....... We took a day off from the Christmas fa-la-la and took a family day trip - since my mom lives so very close to St Augustine, everyone thought it would be nice to take a drive north and make a visit.  If you remember I was just there this past summer, but it is a super place and I was all up for another trip.

John, had rented a Harley the evening before and to make it a nice ride for him we took A1A along the ocean, it takes a little longer but the ride is so much nicer!!  We crossed over the Granada Bridge heading toward A1A and I took this picture from our car.....

This is John and niece on the Harley he got...  In Florida it is at the riders discretion whether or not to wear a helmet.  It was another lovely warm breezy, bright day - so the drive was really great...  we  headed north and after an hour or so ended up here...

The Castillo is a low lying fort but as you get closer you see how very big it really is....

The flag they fly over the fort is the "Cross of Burgundy" Flag (1506-1701) - this is the flag that the conquistadors carried with them in their conquest of the Americas.  We visited the Castillo first then went down into the old town....  I took a bunch of snaps....

There are lots of courtyards behind the houses, and I got this snap by poking my head through a fence.

This is The Pena-Peck House and was constructed c. 1750 by order of the King of Spain to be the residence of his royal Treasurer, Juan Esteban de Pena.

 is the inside of the Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine or you can click HERE to read more about the Parish - I love the ceiling painted such a vibrant red.

This is the main alter all decorated in evergreen for the season - even in this large space the scent of pine was wonderful!! 

This large mural depicts the spreading of the faith in Florida by the Spanish.

.. and they had up a lovely large Nativity for the season.

Here is a snap of the street the runs along beside The Columbia Restaurant.  A really nice place for a leisurely sit down type meal.  We got a great lunch The Bunnery Cafe on St George Street.

John took this snap of me - looking all sweaty and red from the sun.....

Here is another street shot - with typical houses and palm trees....  We had a super visit and I would totally recommend it to anyone who wants a little history and a break from the bigger attractions in central Florida.

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That's about it for today sports fans.  More to come tomorrow, do stop by again!!

Take care,

edgar