Meandering...: Jacksonville Beach & Historic St. Augustine

Our first stop after driving through downtown Jacksonville this morning, was the beach at the City of Jacksonville Beach. The tide was going out and the wet, soft sand was extraordinarily beautiful.

You know I just had to walk out there into the surf. There were ledges and drop-offs in the sand so it was precarious walking, you never knew when you were going to step off into a deeper spot. What do you think happened after Rich took this?

A bicyclist passing by asked us if we wanted her to take some shots of us...so thoughtful!

From there we drove on down to St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied city in the 48 contiguous states of America. Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1513 when he came ashore in this area from Puerto Rico. Apparently the tale that he was searching for rejuvenating waters is now in serious doubt. However, I need all the help I can get so of course we went to the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine today to drink from that spring!

Rich and his new friend, Juan Ponce de Leon.

Just before entering the spring house

Standing in front of the spring shortly after partaking of the rejuvenating waters from the Fountain of Youth.

The Fountain of Youth!

There are several interesting exhibits on the grounds of the Fountain of Youth Park but we walked out onto the boardwalk over the marsh and were treated to some entertainment by nature.

There were fiddler crabs by the hundreds that would scurry down into their mud holes as our shadows passed by them.

Snowy Egret

American White Ibis

An osprey that is perhaps being attacked by a fish crow. We saw the osprey dive for food then land on this boardwalk rail; just then this other bird flew into the scene. What do you think? I know I have a couple of biologists out there.

Osprey in flight, searching for food in the water below.

Those weren't the only amazing birds in the park though. There are peacocks, including white ones!

It was 3:00 by the time we drove the short distance and parked at the Historic District of St. Augustine so we were hungry and started looking for a place to eat. We walked three or four blocks before finding something. Lucky me. Only after we were seated did I notice that we were at the Columbia Restaurant, one I had seen in brochures and was hoping we would have time to visit! This was our dining room, there are several, and photos of the delicious items we selected.

Sangria de Cava

Albondigas

Cuban sandwich with their "Original 1905 Salad"

White Chocolate Bread Pudding

And as I was leaving, I took this to show you a peek at one of the other dining rooms.

Rich went back to the car because the meter would be expiring while I took a much longer route to do some exploring. The architecture in St. Augustine is something to see.