Our last day of sightseeing on this trip

Today marks our last day of sightseeing on this trip.  We took advantage of it to see St Augustine.  First we visited the old jail, set up as it was in 1908.

Mark and Sheriff Joe Perry

Mark and Sheriff Joe Perry

One of the inmate trustees was admiring Mark's hat a little too much!  Mark wouldn't trade it for something in a canteen.

One of the inmate trustees was admiring Mark’s hat a little too much! Mark wouldn’t trade it for something questionable in a canteen.

Inside the old prison that was still in use in 1953.  There was no glass in the windows, no electricity, no plumbing other than a bucket in each cell.

Inside the old prison that was still in use until 1953. There was no glass in the windows, no electricity, no plumbing other than a bucket in each cell.

Breakfast was grits, lunch was hardtack on the chain gang or boiled pinto beans in the jail, and dinner was boiled pinto beans.  There was coffee at every meal to keep the prisoners awake and working

Breakfast was grits, lunch was hardtack on the chain gang or boiled pinto beans in the jail, and dinner was boiled pinto beans. There was coffee at every meal to keep the prisoners awake and working

There were four bunks, but often eight prisoners in a cell.  The cell was barely wide enough to stand in.

There were four bunks, but often eight prisoners in a cell. The cell was barely wide enough to stand in.

Prisoners were forced to watch every hanging.

Prisoners were forced to watch every hanging.

In the meantime, Sheriff Joe Perry and his family lived in a house adjoined to the prison.  The house and their food was free, plus he was paid to work at the prison.

In the meantime, Sheriff Joe Perry and his family lived in a house adjoined to the prison. The house and their food were free, plus he was paid to work at the prison.  If he needed more money, he could rent out some of the prisoners for hard labor.

His wife had their first child three weeks after they moved into this house.  Six years later, she had another.  Both were girls.

His wife had their first child three weeks after they moved into this house. Six years later, she had another. Both were girls.

The girls knew the prisoners were on the other side of the wall, and they said their prayers every night.

The girls knew the prisoners were on the other side of the wall, and they said their prayers every night.

After the jailhouse tour, we toured another museum:

An early form of RV called a tin can.

An early form of RV called a tin can.

Tin Can Tourists: Mark's favorite display.

Tin Can Tourists: Mark’s favorite display.

There were displays of things that have been brought up from various shipwrecks that have been located.

There were displays of things that have been brought up from various shipwrecks that have been located.

Then we hopped on a tour trolley.

We got off to walk the alley of colonial buildings.

We got off to walk the alley of colonial buildings.

I saw this woman walking down the alley and she saw me and posed.

I saw this woman walking down the alley and she saw me with my camera and posed.

A fountain in the Spanish style

A fountain in the Spanish style

Castillo De San Marcos

Castillo De San Marcos

One of the turrets of the fort

One of the turrets of the fort

Then we ducked into the Pirate and Treasure Museum.

Because Spain and England both wanted sole ownership of America, the governments originally hired crews to pirate the other country's ships.  At some point the pirates began working for themselves.

Because Spain and England both wanted sole ownership of America, the governments originally hired crews to pirate the other country’s ships. At some point, the pirates began working for themselves.

The original Jolly Roger from 1850

The original Jolly Roger from 1850

World's oldest surviving pirate chest -- four hundred years old!

World’s oldest surviving pirate chest — four hundred years old!

When we came out of the pirate museum, we caught the trolley for the rest of the tour.

A man named Flagler wanted to build a ritzy hotel in St Augustine, but he wanted a piece of property on which a church stood.  He kept asking them to sell it to him and they wouldn't, until he built them a beautiful new church elsewhere.  Then he built his hotel.

A man named Flagler wanted to build a ritzy hotel in St Augustine, but he wanted a piece of property on which a church stood. He kept asking them to sell it to him and they wouldn’t, until he built them a beautiful new church elsewhere. Then he built his hotel.

Soon other churches were asking him to build churches for them.

Soon other churches were asking him to build churches for them.

Window from one of the churches

Window from one of the churches

Memorial Presbyterian Church, built by Flagler

Memorial Presbyterian Church, built by Flagler

A window from the Presbyterian church

A window from the Presbyterian church

Turns out Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss.  It's an air plant!

Turns out Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss. It’s an air plant!

This hotel was built by a competitor, but he could only furnish five of the rooms because he tried to ship furniture from New York on the train.  Flagler owned the train company and the competitor's furniture never arrived.  He went bankrupt and Flagler bought his hotel for cents on the dollar.

This hotel was built by a competitor, but he could only furnish five of the rooms because he tried to ship furniture from New York on the train. Flagler owned the train company and the competitor’s furniture never arrived. He went bankrupt and Flagler bought his hotel for cents on the dollar.

This is one of the two church Martin Luther Kings march started from.

This is one of the two church Martin Luther Kings march started from.

Flagler's Hotel has become Flagler College.

Flagler’s Hotel has become Flagler College.

Several sailing ships replicas that are used for tours.

Several sailing ship replicas that are used for tours.

The striped lighthouse

The striped lighthouse

Another view of the Castillo De San Marcos

Another view of the Castillo De San Marcos

A really tall golden cross

A really tall golden cross

This tree is called the Senator because it was big enough that the whole town could gather under its shade for meetings.  There is a palm tree growing from its heart.  I think the guide said it is about four hundred years old.

This tree is called the Senator because it was big enough that the whole town could gather under its shade for meetings. There is a palm tree growing from its heart. I think the guide said it is about four hundred years old.

We got off the trolley again at the entrance to the Fountain of Youth.

Mark and Ponce de Leon

Mark and Ponce de Leon

There were all different kinds of peacocks walking around the grounds.  This was my favorite.

There were all different kinds of peacocks walking around the grounds. This was my favorite.

We went into the spring house.  They actually know from Ponce de Leon's charts that this is where he declared the Fountain of Youth to be.

We went into the spring house. They actually know from Ponce de Leon’s charts that this is where he declared the Fountain of Youth to be.

There is an actual bubbling fountain coming up inside the spring house.  We got to have a drink of the water from the Fountain of Youth.

There is an actual bubbling fountain coming up inside the spring house. We got to have a drink of the water from the Fountain of Youth.

Do we look any younger?

Do we look any younger?

There was a globe presentation.  Did you know Columbus actually sailed to the New World twice?  And that he brought Ponce de Leon with him the second time?

There was a globe presentation. Did you know Columbus actually sailed to the New World twice? And that he brought Ponce de Leon with him the second time?

There was a cannon demonstration

There was a cannon demonstration

It was pretty loud!

It was pretty loud!

One of the tour schooners sailed by.

One of the tour schooners sailed by.

We had to exit through the gift shop.

We had to exit through the gift shop.

This is for you, Delores!

This is for you, Delores!

We had to walk back to our truck because the trolleys weren't running any more, but the Fountain of Youth entrance was right next to the old jail.

We walked back to our truck because the trolleys weren’t running any more, but the Fountain of Youth entrance was right next to the old jail where we started.

On our way back we stopped for dinner and talked about all the places we’ve seen on this trip.  It’s hard to believe the trip is almost over!

As we were wending our way through the jungle on our way home, we caught an armadillo in our headlights.

As we were wending our way through the jungle on our way home, we caught an armadillo in our headlights.

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