Travel

A few Days In St Augstine


Oh! St Augustine! One of our most favorite cities! 


The countries' oldest city. Full of history and tradition. Full of restaurants and boutique shops and ancient buildings! We have had the good fortune to visit the city several times and so this trip only afforded a few pictures. 


I'll just post them here. 
No order or right or reason.
Just what took my fancy!

They have been rebuilding the Bridge of Lions for several years. It was due to be done before we arrived, but just like any other enormous project, it had fallen behind. These workmen were welding.
 The sparks caught my eye!

Many of the buildings are so old and the architecture is eye candy for us. 

New restaurants, new food. 
It's part of what traveling is all about for us.

 The Santa Maria is one of the oldest places and sits out on piers right across the street from one of our favorite old motels. The food is good, with an expected selection of seafood and steak dishes and hush puppies.
Opened on Sept. 15, 1954 by Louis and Marguerite Connell, they built a successful business with very little money and lots of hard work. In 1964, Hurricane Dora hit and the building was closed for nine months. Over the years, several renovations and additions were completed to accommodate the increase in diners.
 For me, the main attraction of this place is that you can feed the fish and birds through portholes around the bases of the windows. Lift a wooden flap and you've got a straight, open shot to the water. Your waitress will bring a basket of day old bread and buns to your table for you to beak up and slide through the slot. It's hilarious to see how the birds and fish jump on it! You'll see mullet, catfish, pan fish, trout and needle fish from March through September. In the winter months the birds will arrive to enjoy the buffet! Of course there's always a good chance to see a Manatee or Dolphins!
Mr Connell passed Dec. 31, 1970 and this landmark is now run by his son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Sylvia Connell.

 Now to Salt Water Cowboys!
I do not know for the life of me how we've never found this place before, but it's true!
If you are anywhere within driving distance to St Augustine, you really MUST go there and eat.
I know... it's just an old Fish Camp in the swamp, but this place makes heavenly food and the atmosphere is awesome! A vintage building, just whitewashed as it was and someone slapped a tin roof on it to keep the rain out. I am sorry I did not take my camera inside, but who knew? There's pictures posted on their website, link below.

This is the side of the building. They had a lineup before the doors opened and still when we left. They have a little Dutch Door there to serve drinks to those in the lineup. No-one seemed to be impatient or ornery and when you taste the food, you'll understand why.

Here's the link: Salt Water Cowboys.

I had a full rack of wood smoked ribs and Dick had Jambalaya. Beers and a half pound of peel and eat shrimp and our bill was only $45.00 with tip! In and out in an hour and a half! 


Ok! So all this talk is making me miss St Augustine already! Several trips and many days spent there and I can hardly wait to go back! That's the sign of a good destination, isn't it?


All of these photos were again shot and loaded directly from my Nikon P90 and then posted without alteration of any kind.