Day 25

Today was a day for exploration around St. Augustine.  St. Augustine has some great historical sites and is quite interesting.  It is the first European settlement in North America.  Ponce de Leon landed here, and this is also where the “fountain of youth” is located.  Yesterday we took a trolley ride around some of the town to help us decide what we wanted to go see in more detail.  Today we took the trolley ride around the rest of the town seeing some more of the historical section of town.  I must say there is a lot of tourist crap here, so you need to focus on what you really want to do.  Two of the things we wanted to see were the old fort, and Flagler College.  The fort was really neat with too many things to mention.  It was built out of coquina which is a mixture of sand, oyster shells, limestone, water, and maybe something else I can’t remember.  But it is impervious to cannon balls of the day.  Quite strong and durable.  You see it all around town and it used for walls quite a bit.  Flagler College is absolutely exquisite.  It started out as the Ponce de Leon hotel built by Henry Flagler.  It is quite ornate and no expense was spared to build it.  It was the grandest hotel around in its day.  I think it opened around 1888 or at least near that time.  Eventually the building and grounds were acquired by the college in 1968.  The college is a liberal arts college and received its accreditation in 1972. It is one of the most beautiful campuses in the country with about 2,500 students.  And get this.  It cost about $25,000 per year for tuition room and board activities etc.  Now, compare that to where I used to teach, Washington College, a liberal arts college in Chestertown Md., which costs $48,000 per year.  Almost twice as much for a similar education and a campus that is second to none.  Washington College, you need to sharpen your pencils.  I have some pictures that will describe these two sites much better than I ever could, so enjoy.

A view from outside the fort with the Spanish battle flag.

One of the ornate cannons used at the fort.

From the parapet looking out to the harbor entrance.

The moat around the fort used to graze cattle which was food for the fort.

Another outside view

Inside the fort looking at the chapel and the brig used at one time to house Indians they rounded up.

Steps leading up to the parapet

Ponce de Leon statue

Ponce de Leon statue

Marking the gate or entrance to the city

Gate to the city

Flagler College entrance foyer.  The gold is real 23k gold leaf.

Entrance foyer Flagler College

Great dome in the Entrance Foyer Flagler College

This is the dining hall at Flagler College.  The windows are Tiffany stained glass, irreplaceable and cannot be replicated.

Dining hall Flagler College.  Come on Washington College, you have to do better.

Fireplace in the "ladies parlor".  Note the original Edison clock.  Irreplaceable

Entrance courtyard.  The building houses freshman women.

Another view

Entrance archway with Henry Flagler keeping and eye on things.