St. Augustine

On April 19 we arrived at Oyster Creek Marina in St. Augustine, Florida, where we spent a week exploring the city. One of the attractions is the St. Augustine lighthouse which has been preserved along with its keeper's house and other buildings.
St. Augustine is the oldest city settled by Europeans in North America. This picture shows the oldest surviving house in the oldest city. Typically, the Spanish house was one story with no entrance on the street. The first floor of this home reflects the Spanish contribution and the modifications to it and the second floor reflect the English influence on the architecture of the city.
Of course, our days were not all history and tours. Here our intrepid admirals take a break from their efforts at filling their shopping quotas.
Near the oldest tree in St. Augustine, a 600 year-old live oak called the Senator, is this scene. This street has been identified as one of the ten most beautiful streets in America. It is lined with trees which overarch the pavement and bordered by walls constructed of shells and limestone.
Henry Flagler was practically solely responsible for the beginning of Florida as a place for vacationing. He was a partner of John D. Rockefellar in Standard Oil. He used his wealth to develop rail transportation in Florida and resort hotels for the wealthy to use. One of his hotels is pictured here. It has its original Tiffany designed and constructed windows. Today it is the home of Flagler college. The tuition at this small school is very low, kept that way by the generous endowment. The students attending her still follow rather strict (for our times) moral codes. Women are housed in the upper floors of the hotel and may not have male visitors. Violation results in dismissal.