St. Augustine and El Galeon

While on our staycation beach adventure, we took a long, hot, humid walk through St. Augustine. We've been to this city many times, but decided to see things we haven't seen before.

 We trekked up the bridge to gaze over the two big ships in the harbor, then headed down to the docks to take a closer look.

 Josh wasn't happy with all that hot walking. He kept holding back, acting like he wasn't part of the family.

 Here they are, acting like Ponce De Leon (aka PDe L on this statue). I'm sure that's how he acted...like a lion, since, you know, that's his name.

We stopped to cool off in a magic shop where the employee put on a show for us using items the store sells. Ashley is in love with magic and is always trying out new tricks, so she was mesmerized by the act. And has a new wishlist for Christmas.

 We got some gelato because it was so hot. It cooled us off a little, and the kids loved their little plastic spoon-shovels.

 We also checked out the front (free) section of one of the little museums in one of the oldest buildings in town -- the pharmacy. I enjoyed seeing how this alcohol could solve so many womanly problems.

 Here's one last view of all the private boardwalks leading to the beach. We headed back to the beach early in the morning on our last day, and of course my camera died so I didn't get a picture of the amazing castle/lake/enchanted forest the kids built in the sand. We'll have to try again next time so they can have a picture to remember it. And I wish we also had a picture to remember the time I saw something white swim past us as we splashed around in the waves. Then a few minutes later a guy caught a hammerhead shark that matched the shadow I saw in the water. He wrestled with it on the sand for a few minutes, then threw it back in the water, right at us. Everyone on our part of the beach ran out of the water and didn't go back in for at least a half-hour. That was how long our fear of the shark lasted and we all went swimming again...

Such a great, relaxing weekend. We're so grateful to Chris's adviser who let us use her condo on the beach!