Historic St. Augustine
Casablanca Inn
I've reached my weekend accommodation after a five-hour drive from Miami: The white, colonial-style hotel "Casablanca Inn" shines with an impeccably blue sky. The first glance already suggests what awaits me inside: lovingly, a bit cheesy furnished rooms with four-poster beds made of dark oak and a great view of the bay. Horse-drawn carriages rattle over the cobblestones past the porch of the Inn.
Castillo de San Marcos
With the nostalgic Bimmelbahn, by carriage or on foot, the sights of the old town can be reached from the hotel. My first stop is the Castillo de San Marcos, built in 1672. With the fort surrounded by moats and ramparts, the Spaniards wanted to defend the new world. Rangers of the National Park Service explain the history of the fortress built of shell stone. The Spaniards had laid the foundation for the fort, but ultimately it was the British who completed the mighty colossus. From the walls of the fort you have a great view of the old town and Matanzas Bay.
Oldest school building of St. Augustine
Continue to the city, to the tourist heart: The cobbled pedestrian St. George Street with the city gate at the northern end. School days from days long gone in the 18th century can be recaptured in the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse. At the time the teacher and his wife lived on the upper floor - the students squeezed themselves into the narrow classroom on the ground floor.
View into the kitchen of the oldest house of St. Augustine
Just south of King Street is the 250-year-old Oldest House, also known to its former residents as González-Alvarez House. Although the rooms were rebuilt over the centuries, the foundations date back to the beginning of the 18th century. In the house there was no kitchen - for fear of a house fire, the residents prepared the food in a separate building in the garden.
Flagler College
Everywhere in St. Augustine one encounters the influence of a man: Henry Flagler was involved as an industrialist and railway magnate significantly in the development of the city. He not only made sure that the city was connected to the railway network, he made them with the construction of three magnificent hotels also a popular destination for tourists from the cold north. Today, only one of them is in operation: The Flagler Hotel has been welcoming guests since 1999. The former Hotel Ponce de Leon was converted into Flagler College in 1971 and today hosts around 2,000 students. The red-painted building is a wonderful example of Renaissance-era Spanish architecture and can be explored on a guided tour.
Lightner Museum
The former Hotel Alcazar is home to the Lightner Museum, which displays a peculiar mix of antiques, art glass and musical instruments. In addition to the stuffed lion from Africa, there is Native American art and an idiosyncratic porcelain collection.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Saturday night I drive to St. Augustine Lighthouse just before sunset. From the 50 meter high observation deck, I have a wide view of the beach and the city - a great end to this short trip into the history of the city.
travel service
Overnight stay: Casablanca Inn Bed & Breakfast on the Bay 24 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, Florida USA 32084 Tel: 001-904-829-0928 Fax: 001-904-826-1892 Email: innkeeper@casablancainn.com Website: www.casablancainn .com. Rates per person / night with breakfast depending on the season and rooms from $ 99
Transport: City tour with the Old Town Trolley Tour website: www.historictours.com. Rates: Adults $ 20, Children 6-12 years seven dollars, Children under six are free Hours: Daily 8:30 to 16:30 (except Christmas and Easter)
Attractions: Castillo de San Marcos 1 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Website: www.nps.gov. Prices: Adults six dollars, children up to 15 years are free Hours: daily 8:45 to 17:15 (except Christmas)
George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Website: www.oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com. Opening hours: open daily
Oldest House Museum Complex 14 St. Francis Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084 Website: www.staugustinehistoricalsociety.org. Rates: Adult eight dollars, students six to 18 years four dollars, children under six years are free Hours: Daily 9am to 5pm (except Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving)
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum 81 Lighthouse Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32080 Website: www.staugustinelighthouse.com. Rates: Adult eight dollars, Children six to eleven years six dollars, Children under six free Hours: Daily 9am to 6pm (except Christmas and Thanksgiving)
Flagler College Tour 74 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084 Website: www.flagler.edu. Opening hours: Guided tours by prior appointment Prices: vary
Lightner Museum 75 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084 Website: www.lightnermuseum.org. Opening hours: daily 9am to 5pm (except Christmas) Rates: Adult eight dollars, children twelve to 18 years two dollars, children under twelve are free
More about St. Augustine: www.oldcity.com. www.getaway4florida.com/.
