More tourist stuff in St. Augustine

We have been busy with "boat stuff" (like trying to find a replacement microwave over that fits our cut-out....) but did manage to get in some sight-seeing today.

I guess most know, but just in case --- St. Augustine is the oldest city in the USA.  So, what do you find in the oldest city in the USA?  The oldest catholic church in the USA.  The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is advertised as America's first parish, founded on Sept. 8, 1565.  It is a small cathedral, rather plain and modest by many standards.  But there is a beauty about it.  The inside lighting made it challenging to get a good picture.

The alter is very lovely.

For an interesting article on the church, click on this link http://www.thefirstparish.org/History.html

The church is filled with beautiful artwork.  One of the paintings if featured on the parish weekly bulletin.

I do realize that it is expensive to maintain a church and contributions are important.  But having local ads on the last 2 pages of the bulletin brings just a bit of a jolt to my Southern Baptist upbringing!

 

Back at the docks, Luke found this white heron, glaring at him.  Love the picture.

 

 

Much to our surprise, as we sailed through the Bridge of Lions, we found 2 large sailing ships at dock here in St. Augustine. 

The larger one (on the right) is the El Galeon, a replica of the galleon ships that traveled the coasts of FL between the 16th and 18th centuries.  These galleons transported soldiers, colonists, goods, culture, and ideas between Europe and America.  The galleon was a large armed vessel used in the transoceanic trade.   It evolved from Spain's need for an ocean crossing cargo ship that was capable of fending off pirates.  Pedro Menendez, founder of St. Augustine, is credited with developing the galleon prototype.  The first galleon to arrive in St. Augustine was enormous.  She carried 77 crewmen, 18 gunners, 317 soldiers, 26 families, provisions, and cargo (including cattle).  This one is not that large, only 170 feet.  She has the large, beautiful stern light that was used to send signals back and forth to ships traveling together in fleets.



 Her bow and stern are really high, making the ship really roll in heavy seas (per one of her crew members....)

And here are two non-crew members!  We are definitely not interested in managing something this big!

The  smaller of the two ships is the replica of the Nao Victoria.  This amazing vessel was the first vessel to sail around the world!  But not without hardships. The expedition started with 5 naos and 243 crew members under Ferdinand Magellan to open a western route to the Spice Islands.   In 1522, only the Nao Victoria and her eighteen men finished the 3 year navigation. One of the other four ships turned back from Cape Horne, the other three were lost to grounding and other hazards.  Magellan died in the Philippines during the trip. The Nao Victoria is amazingly small and crude for such a voyage. Here is a link to her story (click the previous word "story")

I'm always amazing to find "exotic" flowers growing wild.  Silly, I know, but to find this beautiful Bird of Paradise in full bloom just made my day!

We have tickets to use tomorrow for one of the trollies that run all over town.  Our plan is to stop at each of the places that interests us - we get to see more of St. Augustine than we can by foot.  Then, unless the weather changes our plans, we shall leave Friday for an anchorage about 60-70 miles further south.