Peter and Vicki's Travel Blog: Florida isn't only beaches and nice weather!

Tuesday 03/05/2011

Before leaving Daytona Beach we made a drive by the famous International Speedway - the race was on - we could hear the throaty roar of the cars as they sped around the track! - practise I think!

next we headed to the beach to have a look at why the beach was "famous" - that's what the sign said!
Being a glorious day for the beach locals and holidaymakers where flocking onto the beach - and with their vehicles! This happens all along these northern Florida Beaches (they pay to take them on) - Drive, Park and Bake! Didn't find out why it was famous but it was nice. Still doesn't compare to the beaches in Oz.

From there we headed north up the A1A- the coastal highway - to St Augustines. It was a really nice hours drive through the quiet towns and areas that sat along the beaches - Ormond Beach, Crescent Beach, Treasure Beach, Butler Beach, and St Augustine's Beach. Miles of sand and waves and only a few people enjoying it all! A very nice coastal area and the Yucca's raised their heads again, they were growing prolifically in the sandy soil.

We crossed the Bridge of Lions from Anastasia Island and St Augustine lay before us and we knew it was going to be special - the architecture was amazing! and what a history - it is extraordinary!!

This town has existed for 444 years! - old for an American town. Founded in 1565 it is the longest chronicle of any city in the US. For most of the colonial period, St Augustine was the only significant military station defending the northwestern frontier of the enormous Spanish Empire in America. Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded the city and was named St Augustine because his fleet had reached the Florida shores on the day of the festival of San Augustin. So a Spanish settlement in Florida finally appeared 50 years after it was discovered in 1513 by Juan Ponce de Leon. Menendez sailed to America to expel the French intruders - the Huguenots (Protestants), from Spanish Territory. He took possession of Florida in the name of Phillip II, the King of Spain. He eventually defeated the French and removed the French colonists from Florida and from "this world" as well if they weren't Catholic. There is much more to tell about this cities colourful and dramatic early history, including a destructive attack in 1586 by Sir Francis Drake, but enough is enough! There are many structures and evidence of St Augustine's early says still remaining to be marvelled at.

On to some of the other influences that have impacted on this fascinating city and
St Augustine came under the American flag when they took possession of East Florida from the Spanish in 1821. In the aftermath of the Civi War Florida became a winter retreat for northern visitors (? it is still the same today - came across a lot of snowbirds!). Honeymooning in St Augustine, Henry Flagler, a self made millionaire (founded the Standard Oil Company with John D Rockefeller) conceived the idea to develop the city into a winter resort for the northern rich. He then set about the task of building a great Gilded Age empire of hotels and railroads that extended from St Augustine to Key West. The impressive
Spanish Renaissance Revival architectural style was used in his hotels in St Augustine and these stand proudly today for us to admire!

A hop-on-hop-off trolley operates, and is an ideal way to get an overview of the city before you starts to explore the areas that particularly interest you. The trolley leaves from The Welcome Centre and the added bonus is that you can park for free - as long as you take the trolley tour! The guides on the trolleys are very knowledgeable and provide an interesting and colourful overview of St Augustine's history - "it is a thrilling chronicle of more than four centuries of community life in the New World." - Robert Gold, Florida Historian.

We loved it!!!!

With our heads full of history we headed off up I-95 to Savannah in Georgia.

Daytona International Speedway

The Worlds Most Famous Beach
Think it might be that there is 23 miles of it!

Lots of instruction for a relaxing day with your car at the beach.
$30 for an umbrella and deck chairs!
It's not all like that - only designatd sections - the rest is for all to walk on and joy!

Drive, park and bake!
Very nice beach!

On the coast road to St Augustine- sand and sea all the way!
Lovely!

Pelicans enjoying the morning!

Beach Houses along the way

Driving into St Augustine across the Bridge of Lions - named so because of the lion
sculptures on each pylon as you enter/exit bridge

Wow! Not your ordinary city!

The old city gates built of coquina in1806 - they
replaced the original 1739 log and earthen gate

Bridge of Lions is a drawbridge across the Matanzas River

Grace Methodist Church
Th Story: Flagler built this Church for the Methodist congregation.
Why? He wanted the land where their previous church stood so he offered to buy the church.
They declined so he offered to build them a new church in a new location. Only one request fro Flagler - they were not to have a bell! They accepted and so here it stands!

Flagler's Memorial Presbyterian Church.
After he built the Methodist Church he set about building his own Church,
Bell Tower and bell included!

Villa Zorayda Museum. - America's great architectural scale reproduction of part of the "Alhambra",
Spain's most famous castle.
It was built with a new architectural material - poured concrete - see the horizontal lines.
Flagler liked this new building material and technique and used it in his buildings.

City Hall

Flagler College, established as a memorial to Flagler, is a private, liberal arts college with more than 2,000 students.
Originally a hotel, the Hotel Ponce D Leon was a former playground for the rich and famous.
Built by Henry Morrison Flagler in1887. It is renowned for its Tiffany windows, ornate
murals and Spanish Renaissance Architecture

The Casa Monica Hotel.
Built in 1888 and fully restored in 1999. The cities only
AAA Four Diamond Hotel. Known for its regal beauty and inspired service. www.casamonica.com

The oldest house in St Augustines.
Now a museum.

Castillo de sn Marcos, the oldest and largest stone fort in the continental USA.
It was built by the Spanish during 1672-1695. The fort was built of coquina (ko-kee-na),
a locally quarried soft shellrock. It was easy shaped by artisans and did not become
brittle and crumble under cannon fire. Originally there was a moat around the fort.
The fort, the city gate, and many homes in St Augustine were made of coquina which
is still evident today.

The Fort and in the foreground the remains of one of the fortified walls that were around the city.

The original Ripley's "Believe It or Not" - it was Ripley's family home.

Nombre de Dios
America's first Mission ,1565.
Over 400 years ago, Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales
offered the first Mass in America's first city. It was the beginning of the permanent history
of Christianity in America.