Wow, we’re so far behind in our postings. We’ve just been having so much fun that we haven’t been able to sit at the computer and write! Actually as I write this, we are back home in Punta Gorda. After being away for over two weeks, the priority has been paying bills and catching up on other office work. But now maybe I have time to throw in a post.
We said goodbye to our friends in Jacksonville after breakfast Sunday morning. Lee and Linda are heading back to their home on Lake Lanier. Mike and Sharon are going home to Alpharetta. Doug and Marti are headed back South one hour to St. Augustine for a couple of days. We had a nice easy drive down to St. A, stopping at the outlet mall on the way. Would you believe a Tommy Bahama outlet store??? We did a slight bit of damage there! Before checking into our Bed & Breakfast, we had a great Mexican lunch at the Acapulco Restaurant in St. A.
We checked into the Bayfront Marin House–a charming bed and breakfast. Our room was overlooking the IntraCoastal Waterway with the St.A. lighthouse in the background. We had a private deck. Our room was the “Marie Antoinette Room”–very charming with a four-poster bed and antique furniture. We were pleasantly surprised by the flat screen TV in the room. Somehow the label “Marie Antoinette” did not bode well for modern technology! Like I said we were happy to see the TV since we wanted to watch the Vikings’ game Sunday afternoon. Neither one of us was hungry after our Mexican lunch, so we just watched the game and had snacks for dinner. The Vikings won over Green Bay at Lambeau Field, so it was a successful evening!

Bayfront Marin House

Our Room on the Second Floor

Doug Enjoying the View

Sunset from our deck
The next morning we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast served to us by a cute little French lady. Doug had ordered a pastry with his breakfast that was the most wonderful “melt in your mouth” thing I have tasted! Apparently the owners/managers/cooks there are French because they really know how to make pastry. Needless to say, when he was offered seconds he accepted because I had eaten half of his!
We spent most of the day walking around old St. Augustine. We especially wanted to visit the Memorial Presbyterian Church that Henry Flagler built in memory of his daughter. After our wonderful sailing trip this past Spring and enjoying seeing and learning about Flagler’s contributions to Florida development, we found it meaningful to visit the place where he is buried. The church is beautiful and was completed and dedicated in 1890.

Memorial Presbyterian

Henry Flagler's Crypt


We enjoyed our walk around St. Augustine. The day was cloudy and warm. We stopped at the Columbia Restaurant for lunch, having the required White Sangria (one of my mother’s favorites!). Before walking back to our room, we visited the old fort which was built in 1565 by the Spanish. Another relaxing, lazy evening where we enjoyed our deck. Tomorrow—-Savannah!

Lunch at Columbia

Castillo de San Marcos
After another wonderful French breakfast of pastry and quiche, we loaded the car and set off for Georgia. We had to laugh as we crossed the state line because the obligatory orange cones greeted us as we entered Georgia. We always encounter them as we travel through South Georgia on I-75–we were amused that even on I-95 across the state here they were again!

Welcome to Georgia!
On to Savannah! We checked into our second bed & breakfast in one week. This was the Azalea House in Savannah where we had booked the “Huntingdon Garden” room. Doug surprised me with roses, chocolate, and champagne which was waiting for us when we arrived! This is a lovely old mansion which is now a bed & breakfast inn like many of the old homes there. The staff was wonderful and we felt very comfortable there. The best part though—our room came with a Yorkie!!!! No, just kidding. However Joey the Yorkie spent a lot of time with us and was very comfortable resting on the couch in our room. Actually the owner of the Azalea House had to come upstairs and physically take him home (next door) when he wouldn’t come when she called! What a treat to have a “puppy fix”!

Surprise from my wonderful husband!

Joey


The Azalea Inn
Well, I’m tired now. It’s now 6am and I’ve been up since 4:30 because I couldn’t sleep. I think I’ll go back to bed for a while and finish the Savannah portion tomorrow–oops, today!
Bye for now!