Day Two: Visits To The Castillo de San Marcos & The Pirate Museum In St. Augustine

We were greeted on our first full day in Florida with what one expects, sunshine. The Navy Lodge provided breakfast and after finishing that up we had to decide on how to spend such a nice day. So, we opted for a trip to St. Augustine. However, our first order of business was to get our base passes. Let me say security is much tougher than it use to be (when I would visit the Naval Bases as a kid).

Little waterfall outside the Navy Lodge.

This ship foreshadowed the day.

Water tower on the way back from getting our base passes.

After more than an hour we got our base passes, and it was on to the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine. It is about a half-hour trip from the base down I-95. As Interstates go, I-95 in Florida is one of the best stretches in the country.

St. John's River.

Palm trees on I-95.

The oldest city in the U.S, founded 1565.

Our first stop was the Castillo de San Marcos. This fort was built by the Spanish in 1672 making it the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States (only the Castillo San Felipe del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico is older). It was built by the Spanish after the raids by English buccaneer, Robert Searle. The fort has changed hands six times, all peaceful, amongst four different governments (Spain, Great Britain, the Confederate States and the United States).  It was under U.S. control that its name was changed to Fort Marion in 1821. After returning to Union hands in the Civil War it housed Native American prisoners, after this possession of the fort passed from the War Department to the Park Service in 1933 and was designated a National Monument. In 1942, in honor of its Spanish heritage, the name of the fort was changed back to its original one, Castillo de San Marcos.  It was really cool to walk around one of the oldest and most historic locations in this country.

Castillo de San Marcos & the San Pedro Bastion.

Deb in front of the San Pedro Bastion.

At the San Pedro Bastion.

Castillo de San Marcos panorama.

The old Spanish flag the inspiration for Florida's flag.

The Spanish flag & San Agustin Bastion.

Pano of the San Agustin Bastion.

With the San Agustin Bastion.

When Deb was getting her picture taken she didn't see...

...these guys.

Pigeon.

Sun & the San Agustin Bastion.

Deb walking around the Castillo de San Marcos.

This is the shot furnace where cannon balls were heated up...

...to shoot out of these & catch ships on fire.

Sitting on the cannon.

Another view of a cannon.

Matanzas River.

The Bridge of Lions & boats.

San Carlos Bastion...

...& another view.

Deb & the San Carlos Bastion.

With the San Carlos Bastion.

The Francis & Mary Usina Bridge.

Sailboat.

San Carlos Bastion from the moat.

Panorama of the North Wall.

San Pablo Bastion.

The Cubo Line, a wall made of earth & palm logs that originally surrounded the town.

West Wall.

Another look at the San Pedro Bastion.

South Wall.

The bridge across the moat.

With small National Monument sign...

...Deb too.

Another panorama of the fort.

While the Castillo de San Marcos was a site to behold, the main reason we came to St. Augustine sat across the street from the old fort and that was the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum. Deb had wanted to go here for a quite a while, so there was no way we could miss it. The museum, started by Pat Croce, the former owner of the Philadelphia 76'ers, was once in Key West, but was moved to St. Augustine in 2010 and houses the largest collection of pirate artifacts in the world. There were a lot of interesting exhibits, which included some cool displays like a pirate ship deck, wax figures, interactive maps but the main thing are the historical artifacts.

The St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum.

Deb takes the wheel!

Collection of Blunderbuss.

17th Century "Surgeon."

What if meeting of Sir Francis Drake and Robert Searles.

There were plenty of guns, canons and other authentic pirate items. One of my favorites is the chest of Captain Kidd, his family bible and a journal of his last voyage (back to England for execution). These items were featured on a recent episode of American Unearthed where host Scott Walter visited the museum.

Captain Kidd's Chest...

...& other exhibits, including the journal (left) featured on America Unearthed.

Also at the museum is one of only three authentic Jolly Roger flags in the world. Also on display is the world's oldest wanted poster.

Deb with an authentic Jolly Roger.

Story of my favorite pirate, Bartholomew Roberts better know as, Black Bart.

The world's oldest wanted poster.

There are plenty of other great exhibits including the talking head of Edward Teach better known as Blackbeard. Also on display is the only known real pirate treasure chest.

Sleeping pirate...

...& his fate if caught...

...just like what happened to Blackbeard (his head talked, cool).

Bar of silver.

Treasures from the Atocha.

There is even a room dedicated to the pirates of Hollywood, including props from Treasure Island and the Pirates of the Caribbean films.

The Hollywood Pirates.

Deb with a Treasure Chest.

 Overall, the Pirate Museum was really cool, and worth the price of admission. But the best part of all was Deb loved it I think we all had a great time, oh the museum also has a nice gift shop. After leaving the museum we strolled down the back streets of the Colonial Quarter and the St. George Street Pedestrion Mall. We were going to eat at this restaurant, Columbia, but there was over an hour wait, so we moved on. It did look good, with that said we headed back down to the City Marina area.

Guy playing a didgeridoo with a pirate dog.

St. George Street.

Garden off St. George Street.

Emblem of St. Augustine.

Here we saw plenty of boats, the Bridge of the Lions and even found the Park Service sign for the Castillo de San Marcos before heading back to the car.

Pirate boat.

One of the many nice sail boats

Bridge of the Lions.

With the Park Service sign for the Castillo de San Marcos...

...both of us.

Looking out over...

...the Matanzas River & Atlantic Ocean.

Sea gulls.

Nice hat.

We headed back to Jacksonville where we decided to visit a place our waitress at Mulligan's (the restaurant at the NAS Jax Golf Course) the night before told us about, World of Beers. We watched a little football, had a pretzel and I enjoyed two beers. The first was from local brewer Bold City Brewing, the Super Secret Stout, but the second was the most interesting one. It was called Rivertown Death for Cincinnati, OH and is an Imperial Stout brewed with Ghost Peppers. I liked it, a lot. After here we headed to J.L. Trents Seafood & Grill for a seafood dinner completing a very good day.

At the World of Beers.

Jacksonville.

Another sunset.

I guess the knew the Wood Booger was coming.