A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-14-05....Castillo de San Marcos - St. Augustine

Aquamarine; LadyX

[LadyX]

Oh, Johnny Mac - please look through all the thread at the things of interest I'm adding!
You, especially, would appreciate and love the atmosphere and history there.

[MEG33]

What a close one! I know the turnout is disappointing..

[MEG33]

Indeed! Thank you for the additions.

[LadyX]

A Brief History of St. Augustine
Periods of St. Augustine History

Before 1492 Pre-Columbian or Pre-Historic Period

1513 to 1565 Discovery Period
1565 to 1763 First Spanish Colonial Period
1763 to 1784 British Colonial Period
1784 to 1821 Second Spanish Colonial Period
1821 to 1845 U.S. Territorial Period
1845 to 1861 Early Statehood Period
1861 to 1865 U.S. Civil War
1865 to 1885 Post-Civil War Period
1885 to 1913 Flagler Era
1913 to 1919 World War I Era
1920 to 1926 Boom Time
1926 to 1941 Depression Era (Florida)
1941 to 1945 World War Two

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[LadyX]

Perplexed, remembering the French were involved in St. Augustine history, they of course tried to take it, attacking more than once, and were repelled.

However, I found the following:

From: -Here -
is the following information:

"These mirror-image resentments—Spanish bitterness at England’s treatment of its Catholics, English sympathy for the plucky Dutch Protestants and the underdog French Huguenots — melded with still-smoldering resentment at Spain over San Juan de Ulua and commercial competition to fuel the conditions for conflict. The English, French, and Dutch were also harboring ambitions to establish their own colonies in the Americas; what is now St. Augustine, Florida, was originally a French Huguenot settlement —Ft. Caroline—prior to being overrun and crushed by invading Spanish forces."

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This was of particular interest to me.
Among my forebears in South Carolina (in addition to the English at Charles Town and Georgetown) were French Huguenots in the Georgetown area.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Congratulations to both of you beautiful ladies.

You've made a history lesson highly enjoyable and held my intrest (something my former teachers didn't have the knack for)

I will bookmark this thread for later perusing. I haven't read each and every word but, so far....so good. : )

Very classy thread. (((((((Aqa-Maggie)))))))

[Aquamarine]

Cute cartoon. It is so clever the way you made a cross out of the rotor blades on the helicopter.

It is refreshing to know that Kinkade is doing so well. I noticed the local artists were doing alot of business in their galleries while in Gatlinburg the other day. Most of them paint the natural beauty of The Smokies and local wildlife.

[Aquamarine]

Am wondering why I never thought to tour the village before now. Guess I was more interested in getting back to Daytona Beach and working on my tan. lol

[Aquamarine]

We've tried leaving her behind but when we settle down for the night a major guilt trip starts to kick in. I know, we're a hopeless bunch. lol

[Aquamarine]

Hey Billie, I'm sorry I made ya sad.

I love you too. :)

[Aquamarine]

Sounds good. We hope to go back soon, the hubby wanted to see the Hunley but unbeknownst to us it's closed during the week so we want to try again.

[Aquamarine]

You're welcome. Glad you took the time to take the Virtual Tour. It is a good site.

[dixie sass]

Are you related to the Balls?

[dixie sass]

I've got to go and see that. Shame on me for not having gone before.

[LadyX]

These are some photographs I took on a visit to St. Augustine in 1997:

Entrance to The Fountain of Youth site.

This statue of Ponce de Leon is close to the shore where he supposedly landed.

Old Spanish cannons on the grounds near statue.

At the feet of the panorama on a stage beside the Fountain of Youth spring, workers in recent years were clearing piled up sand away that had blown in the open doors.

It is believed to be a cross of stones Ponce de Leon had his men place there, declaring Florida for God and Spain.
This was the first known claim for God in North America.

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I have (okay - highly questionable) proof of the efficacy of the waters from the spring..:))

Visitors are given a small paper cup to sample the water, so I downed my small quantity and went on the rest of the tour.

Walking the short distance down the path to the statue and shore, a couple about my age were coming toward me.
The husband said to his wife, pointing to me:
"See! I told you the water worked - she already is Miss St. Augustine!"

LOLOL

============================= And last is a photograph that is just one of many I have taken over the years of something that utterly fascinates me.
It's very close to the center of town, and not far from The Old House.
I sent Aqua a paper copy (couldn't locate where I put the original) I had made, so you cannot see how very weathered truly RED this wall's gate door is...

I am drawn to it, wanting badly to go through it and see what lies beyond!!

You will get that feeling over and over in this wonderful old town....

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for the links Lady. It was interesting to get a feel for the old homes, makes one feel pretty fortunate to live in this day and age.

[LadyX]

"Are you related to the Balls?"

Not to my knowledge - -
"but I DID stay at a Holiday Inn once," and had a ball!!

(hahahahahahaha..)

[need to start dinner, but will be back and forth to here.]

[Mama_Bear]

Finally got back here and thoroughly enjoyed this post! Kudos to both of you for the good job on this. This was a time and locale in history that I was not very familiar with. I had no idea that Spain played such an important role in our winning the Revolutionary War. (Even though I love U.S. history, there are still gaping holes in my knowledge of certain periods.)

Now, I must see this fort, Castillo de San Marcos, and the charming St. Augustine. Jk and I did see Fort Moultrie (mentioned in your post) while we were visiting Charleston last year. At least I HAVE been there!

Thank you both for this post and for the long hours of work that went into it. Finest hugs to two very special people....((((((((Aqua/Ladyx))))))))

[dixie sass]

I'm plotting a trip to St. Augustine for next year. I have got to see this amazing city. Thank you for tour.

[dixie sass]

Lol, silly cuzzzzzzz.