Last of Florida, start of Georgia

St Augustine, oldest city in US was founded in 1565. Lots of history here, starting with the Spanish. Visited the Castillo de San Marcos, a fort dating from those times. Saw dolphins from the battlements. Looked around the town, then headed North to Georgia. Stopped to see an old plantation, (rice not cotton). Still with all the original furnishings. Now in Savannah.

At Castillo de San Marcos with original resident

Friday 16 June

Just back from seeing Savannah. We went on a trolley tour. These are open sided buses that go round all the places of interest while the driver gives a commentary. We had an excellent driver and there were only a few of us on the bus, so it was well worthwhile. This is a gorgeous city - very prosperous in the 1800s due to cotton. The city is laid out in a grid with shady squares at all the major intersections. These are a pain to drive round but look lovely. You may remember Forrest Gump being set in one of them, though the bench is now in the museum. There are literally thousands of gorgeous old houses, most with numerous columns and iron work. Houses from different periods are found in different areas, fascinating if you like architecture. This afternoon we went on a paddle steamer on the river, which sounds good, but as it was only a 1 hr trip, it was basically a tour of the docks upriver from Savannah.

Catfish hunter

Finished off by driving to the coast and having a meal in a sea food restaurant right where the fishing boats come in. R had a low country boil up, prawns, sausage, spuds and corn. I had a fried oyster salad. No wine in the place, only beer or cocktails.

Dinner venue

Dolphins off St Augustine, Fl

Fishing boats

In case of hurricanes

Mansion 1

Mansion 2

Mansion 4

Mansion 5

Old Georgia plantation house

One of the squares

River boat

St A museum

St Augustine town