Our journey begins with a drive south on I-95 into Florida. It’s a short getaway for us, something we love to do. Seeking out charming, historic places in Coastal Georgia is fairly easy, yet, very few places have the charm and history of the oldest city in America, St. Augustine. Upon driving into the city and nearing the historic area we feel like we’re in another country. Could it be France….Spain….Portugal? Sailboats sway in the light breeze as they sit, moored in the Intracoastal waterway that winds its way down to Miami.
The Bridge of Lions makes me think….Paris! Spanning the waterway, this drawbridge is its most charming at night, fully lit and magical!
A right turn on Cathedral Place and we feel immersed in history. Unique shops, art galleries and restaurants fill both sides of the boulevard, some sharing their wares street side.
Then left on St. George and the scenery changes to charming turn of the century homes as we make our way down the brick street that reminds us of cobblestone. Our destination? The fabulous St. Francis Inn, a charming bed & breakfast where our reservations for The Wilson Suite await us. We turn into the designated parking lot and feast our eyes on this historic structure, the oldest B&B among twenty-seven to be found within the city. Our hosts, Joe and Margaret Finnegan have created a welcoming, warm environment which makes us feel instantly relaxed and pampered. Our room consists of a living area, bedroom and bath complete with whirlpool tub. We are drawn to the balcony with its porch swing and comfy rocking chairs. The perfect place to have a glass of wine and toast our time together.
A trip on the Old Town Trolley gives us the opportunity to sit back and let someone else do the driving, J.P. is our guide .We drive down streets canopied by ancient oak trees, past the Fountain of Youth and into the Mission of Nombre de Dios and the Shrine of Our Lady of Le Leche where countless women have made pilgrimage to pray for the birth of a child. The cross on the grounds towers more than 200 feet over the Matanzas River.
Our first day ends with a nightcap, courtesy of the St. Francis, a lovely decanter of sherry that we share as we sit in the cool evening air, quietly listening to a ghost tour that is being led just below us. I resist making any sound that might provoke thoughts of the supernatural as we sit, unseen, on our lovely balcony, surrounded by trees. During daylight we strolled through the gardens, so beautifully appointed and filled with local plants and flowers all lovingly placed and cared for by Jill Ziebell the master gardener responsible for the award for Civic Beautification given to the Inn.
The St. Francis is full of special amenities, all included in the price of the stay. Breakfast is served buffet style with so many delicious choices, accompanied by a latte or specialty coffee of your choice! The evening social time includes a glass of wine and treats of the savory variety. Bicycles are available at no charge if you’d like to get some exercise while sightseeing. We opted for walking, feeling like we were in New York’s Greenwich Village or some other lovely old world city as we made our way through the historic district. For reservations and more information: http://www.stfrancisinn.com/
Last week I told you all about Chef Jean-Stephane and his fabulous Bistro de Leon where we enjoyed a first class meal. There’s more to share next week as I tell you about our amazing lunch of tapas and sangria which followed a tour of the Colonial Quarter. And dinner at an Irish Pub, so delicious….I’m still remembering the Scotttish Salmon en papillote.
4 Responses
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Margarita Says:
Oh Melissa this is SO interesting ! Can’t believe it’s in the US! Makes me want to go there righ now! Best to you! Margaret
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Melissa Says:
It definitely feels like a little bit of Europe! I’d love to explore St. Augustine with you when you’re back in the States.
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Jeanne....Collage of Life Says:
As always Melissa…it looks like you are having a great time getting out and about. I love the way you travel and explore life, leaving nothing unturned. I imagine the locals love following in your footsteps…xx
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Melissa Says:
Thank you Jeanne! I’m just back from Eagle Island. It’s a magical place I’ll be sharing shortly! Hope all is well with you.
