12/3 and 12/4 To St. Augustine

12/3 was a short day on the water but a beautiful one.  We cruised along the Matanza River.  The area has many reserves on either side.

It was another clear day and the scenery was spectacular.  The wind started to pick up as we neared St. Augustine, just to keep docking interesting.  As we tied up to our slip, John noticed this turtle nibbling at our slip. 

We had lunch and then it was time to enjoy St. Augustine.  It is a very walkable city with history at every turn.  The Bridge of Lions is protected by lions on both sides. 

This weekend there were all sorts of Christmas celebrations going on.  Because Flagler had such an influence here, the newer architecture is fairly uniform.  This is now a building at Flagler University.

The Lightner Museum is also home to some of the city offices.  This courtyard at the Lightner is decorated for Christmas.   

Every nook and cranny of St. Augustine has something decorative.  Here a entrance way led to a courtyard with statuary. 

There were military demonstrations of Spanish, British, French, and American forces.  The Fort had been home to all.

Here an officer was taking a break.

I enjoyed talking with the man playing the hammered dulcimer.  He was very talented. 

There is so much history, including this building that is the oldest wooden school house in the USA.

This was the bravest person, I saw.  This police officer was outside a place that had exotic animals.  He is holding a red tipped cobra. 

We went to church at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.  It was a beautiful church.  It was the first parish in the United States.

During the day, they had a fundraiser/educational display where you could have your picture taken with St. Nicholas.  I did.

As evening fell, Christmas lights came on everywhere.  The city was busy.  We had dinner at a restaurant with a piano bar playing Christmas music.  There was a jewelry store that had ballerinas from the local dance school dancing as if they were on the top of a jewelry box.   We saw them as we went up to the parade and back.  What talented young ladies they were.

There was a re-enactment of a Torch Parade from the fort.  They marched from the fort to the City Square.  There were fifes and drums. 

They even fired their guns.

Everyone was in a festive mood. 

Sunday, the sun came out but so did the wind.  When some of the boats were leaving, there were some close calls at the marina. 

I walked over the Bridge of Lions and took a picture of the light house from the top of the bridge.