Being the Tourist in St. Augustine

I have not written for a few days.  We were up early to do more of the tourist thing and I was tired when we finally got back to the boat.  The last post I wrote was going to the Castillo de San Marco.  Well the following day we did the self strolling thing.  We had the free tour books and maps.  First up was the Pirate Treasure Museum.  I really liked this.  It had the stories of many of the pirates and where they were from.  It had many interactive things you could listen to or touch.  Bill really liked the bar of gold that was in a locked box but had a handle so you could lift it to see how much it weighed.  I was like a little kid lighting the cannon a few times.  Sadly you could not take any pictures inside.  But of course that was to help preserve many of the items.  After this we just strolled around.  St. George Street is a mostly walking only, with all sorts of things to see.  This was the oldest tavern in the Colonial Spanish Quarter.  We had the sangria.  Very refreshing.  It also had some mindless games to play.

Then off to lunch and more window shopping. 

The next day the HMS Bounty came into our dock.  This was the one used in the Clark Gable film Mutiny on the Bounty.  I took a picture of it coming through though the Bridge of Lions so you could see how tall the masts are.

Then it docked at our gas dock. From where we stood it turned pretty sharp and did not go out as far as we hoped for us all to get a clear shot.

Then came many people to board her for a tour.  Since we used to be docked in New London Connecticut we could see the USCG Eagle and had gone aboard her a few times so we went in the other direction to try to avoid the crowds.  Did some more walking and stopping for lunch and appetizers at a few places.  At one time many of the places used mills. 

The next day was a walk to the Fountain of Youth.  The first thing you do is get to drink the water.  They have cups all set up for you.  I don't think I look any younger.  We will see how I feel tomorrow.

The grounds were absolutely beautiful.  They are still excavating the area.  They found some Indian burial grounds.

They were cooking and skinning hides for clothes.

Peacocks ran around the grounds.  The white one just simply refused to face me and the colorful one did not want to open the tail feathers.

On the walk back I took a picture of the City Gate.  You drive around this actually.

And there were these cute little cars/carts you could rent.  They are two-seaters.  If you look closely the headlights have eyelashes.

I think Friday will be a beach day. 

Patti and Bill :-)