Sightseeing & Lunch in St. Augustine With My Best Girl 3/15/2010

Today was Mom's day as she wanted to go into St. Augustine and walk around the old section and down Aviles Street one of the oldest streets in the U.S. Our first stop was Aviles Street which was named after the city of St. Augustine's founder, Aviles, Spain and holds much more interest when its story comes to light. Many of the homes scattered along both sides of this narrow cobble stoned street are well over two hundred years of age, and the shopping is simply wonderful. The first thing you'll notice if you're starting from the main entrance is the huge wooden archway quaintly stating the name of the street. To your left will be a huge pink (yes, pink, no matter what color the original inhabitants chose to call it) house with wooden balconies. This is the Seth Wakeman House, a historical home easily noticed along the main thoroughfare. The Wakeman House is just one of the old homes you will see along Aviles Street. The Father Miguel O'Reilly House, completely restored and filled with period furnishings, is a great stop. We walked down the street and back and the sights were amazing as you can see by the pictures. The homes were beautiful and the shops were very quaint and lovely.

Then we walked across the street to the Cathedral Basilica Church to see if we could get in as there was a Sunday service going on when we visited yesterday. It was open and we went in and walked through the beautiful building and again see pictures. We left and walked back to the car and on the way we saw a group of people digging in the park and we walked over to see what was going on. Well it was a archeological dig by the City and volunteers. There were previous digs there and they found remains of old walls of a building that they traced back to the early 1600's. We chatted with one of the city girls and she told us they had found all sorts of artifacts and the most important find was a silver button off an old jacket worn by one of the residents years and years ago. That would be something that both of us would have found very interesting to do.

Then we drove to the fort and parked there and walked across the street to the old section of the city and started walking the streets there. This sections main street was St. George Street which at one time was the main street of the colonial city. The Oldest House, located three blocks south of the Plaza at 14 St. Francis Street, is another traditional Spanish Colonial residence built circa 1706 and is the oldest surviving residence in the city's history. This area south of the Plaza is the oldest part of St. Augustine, and there are several other original structures along narrow St. Francis, St. George, Aviles, and Marine Streets. Many are private residences, but some are open to the public. The street are closed to vehicles so you are able to walk up and down them freely and look in the many many shops and historical sites. On both sides of the street, old houses provide some beautiful photo opportunities with their overhanging balconies. Many historic homes are filled with shops of all kinds. It seemed like we walked and walked forever up one street and down the other all over the historic section. As we neared the end of St George St we stopped and had lunch at Cruisers Grill. I had a cheeseburger, Mom had a catfish sandwich, and we shared fries and a root beer float and it all was very good. It was nice as we could sit outside and eat on a very lovely sunny day. We finished lunch and made a few more stops at a shrine and the post office and then drove back to the coach for the afternoon and evening. Well until next time we love and miss you all. Mom & Dad Dori & Dick