Castillo de San Marcos

Model of the Castillo de San Marcos

Summertime travels recently brought me to St. Augustine, Florida and the oldest masonry fort in the United States. Established at its completion in 1695 to defend Spanish territory after Sir Francis Drake attacked and burned St. Augustine in 1586,  the fort served under six flags. Its first test came after the  British occupied St. Augustine in 1702. Filled with 1,200 of the city’s residents and 300 soldiers the masonry fort withstood 50 days of siege at the hands of English soldiers. The city of St. Augustine, however, was torched and burned to the ground. In 1763, Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain as a result of the Seven Years’ War. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 returned Florida to Spain. Yet another agreement, the Adams-Onis Treaty handed Florida over the the United States where it remained until Florida seceded from the Union in 1861. After the Civil War, the Castillo de San Marcos once again returned to the United States upon capture by Union forces in 1862. Today the fort is owned by the National Park Service and as such has become a historic attraction.

Entrance to the fort is by way of the Sally Port over a drawbridge that spans the fort’s moat.

View of the Moat and Drawbridge with Matanzas Bay in the Background

The potcullis is a heavy sliding door, the only entrance and exit to the fort. Note the coquina fort walls, 14-19 feet thick at the base and 9 feet wide at the top. Coquina, a sedimentary rock formed of seashells and coral, formed an excellent barrier to incoming cannon balls which simply sunk into the soft limestone walls.

Once inside the fort, you see a large central courtyard surrounded on all sides by vaulted rooms or casements.

Entrance through the Open Portcullis

Many of the rooms are open for inspection. Included are rooms for supplies, a chapel, the powder magazine where munitions were stored, and school rooms used for Native American prisoners of war.

Soldier's Sleeping Quarters

A stairway leads to the gun deck.

Plaza de Armas

Once on the gun deck visitors enjoy a view of Matanzas Bay. Four bastions at the corners provided a protected lookout and signaling window for the lighthouse and ships at sea.

San Carlos Bastion

Cannons mounted near the parapet walls, or embrasures, show how the fort was protected. In 1740, this gundeck held 74 cannons.

One of many Cannons on the Gundeck

View from the Gundeck Looking East

Should your travels in the Southeastern United States take you to St. Agustine, the oldest European settlement in our nation, be sure to visiot the Castillo de San Marcos. It is a trip through history that you won’t forget.

Cape Florida

Cape Florida Lighthouse Tower Door

Key Biscayne is the southernmost barrier island on the United States’ east coast. Tucked on the island’s southern tip is Cape Florida, now secured within Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. On the cape you’ll find one of our nation’s loveliest lighthouses.

Cape Florida Lighthouse

Nestled behind coconut palms, the lighthouse hugs the warm waters of Biscayne Bay. Tropical breezes caress its brick walls as it sends out a beacon of welcome to seagoing visitors.

Yet, if you listen closely as your guide unwinds the history of this bucolic scene you’ll know that its conception birthed death and destruction. The first victim perished at sea on his way to construct the lighthouse in 1824.  A second contractor, a swindler, constructed a 65 foot tower, but with hollow walls! In 1835 a major hurricane struck the cape leaving the lighthouse and keeper’s house damaged and under three feet of water. The following year, during the Second Seminole War, a band of Indians besieged the lighthouse, burned the keeper’s house and interior of the tower, pillaged the grounds, wounded the caretaker, and killed his elderly assistant. The lighthouse was rebuilt and put back into service in 1847 with a tower extension to its present 95 feet in 1855. Just six years later, the American Civil War began, and in 1861 Confederate sympathizers destroyed the light and lens so that Union soldiers could not benefit from its guiding beam. The final threat to the structure came from the forces of wind and water that washed away 1/4 mile of beach adjacent to the tower. James Deering, International Harvester magnate and owner of Vizcaya, purchased the property in 1913 and arranged for the construction of a concrete foundation and breakers to stabilize the structure and prevent further erosion. Fortunately, the lighthouse endured both devastating hurricanes of 1926 and 1992. Cape Florida Lighthouse was purchased by the State of Florida in 1966 and since then has undergone complete restoration.

Come with me on my visit to Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. Just off the parking lot, I found a display of vintage lighthouse components. A coconut palm shaded walkway led to the lighthouse.

Approach to Cape Florida Lighthouse

As I turned right at the end of the walkway, I saw a replica of the light keeper’s house. A tour takes visitors through the house and adjacent cookhouse which is furnished with period furniture.

Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage

Once inside the lighthouse, I gazed at the spiral staircase leads to the top and wondered if it was worth the climb.

Inside the Lighthouse

Thankfully, I found that the 109 cast iron steps made the climb easy.

One Step at a Time

Two windows let in light giving me a view of the waters of  Biscayne Bay. The lighthouse walls are five feet thick at this point.

Breakwater as Seen Through the Lowest Window

Several landings along the climb made for a comfortable assent. Once at the top, I mounted the railed walkway that encircles the tower, just below the light. I found the view spectacular!

Northern View of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Beach and Miami in the Distance

Southern View Including the Keeper's Cottage and Cookhouse

While enjoying the refreshing sea breeze and tower-top view I happened to look down into the shallows. There a Spotted Eagle Ray glided over the sand.

Spotted Eagle Ray

I think I could have stayed on that balcony all day.  With a promise to return, I descended the spiral staircase and as I left the park snapped one parting shot.

Farewell

Venetian Pool

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Entrance to Venetian Pool

Hidden away in one of Coral Gables, Florida’s upscale neighborhoods is the largest freshwater pool in the United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Venetian Pool has provided for public  swimming since its opening on December 13, 1924. Brainchild of Coral Gables developer, George Merrick, the Mediterranean Revival style pool and accompanying buildings occupy what used to be a rock pit. Created for the securing of limestone for Coral Gables homes, including George Merrick’s, and the construction of  roadbeds, the quarry was an eyesore until Merrick’s artist uncle Denman Fink and architect Phineas Paist transformed it into a swimming pool for socialites and Coral Gables residents. The pool is drained nightly and refilled each morning with 820,000 gallons of spring water from artesian wells. To conserve precious water resources, the water is pumped down through the natural limestone substrate for filtration before being returned to pool the following day. No chlorine is ever used. Naturally, the spring water is always cool and refreshing.

Originally dubbed Venetian Casino, the social gathering place hosted parties, dances, water shows, tea musicales, and even alligator wrestling. Gondolas plied the water as movie stars performed, orchestras gave evening concerts on the drained pool floor, and elaborate water shows entertained guests. Gaming was never a part of the facility. Today the pool is used for swimming lessons, recreation, and private parties.

The sound of falling water and happy voices greet visitors as they walk toward the admission booth.

First Glimpse of the Pool

Two waterfalls refresh swimmers. This is the largest.

Venetian Pool's Largest Waterfall

The smaller waterfall sits to the side of two coral rock grottoes. The caves extend 12 feet underground. Can you make them out on the far side of the pool?

Swimming Pool, Caves, and Small Waterfall

A portico leads from one tower to the other. Beside it is the kiddie pool and a brick footbridge.

Kiddie Pool, Tower, and Footbridge

Note the small balcony, one of my favorite scenes. The ceiling of the tower still shows the meticulous detail used in the pool’s construction.

Tower Ceiling

A sandy beach lies to one side of the pool.

Venetian Pool Beach

A shadywalkway encircles the pool. Tropical foliage and flowers adorn the trees.

Pictuesque Walkway

Here is a view of the pool including both towers and the bridge taken from near the grottoes. Note the island complete with palm trees at the end of the footbridge. Behind it is the two foot deep kiddie pool. The larger pool ranges in depth from four to eight feet.

Venetian Pool's Towers and Bridge

This photo was taken from next to the large waterfall.

Venetian Pool, Tower, Island, and Waterfall

Behind the portico, a large patio supplied with tables, chairs, and umbrellas provides the perfect place for parties or just a casual lunch. A poolside cafe provides tasty food, drinks, and ice cream. Changing rooms and lockers await bathers.

A visit to this historic Miami Riviera delights visitors and residents alike.

due to technical difficulties

Difficulties, my foot.       Disaster!       Breathe. . .

I apologize for not posting on time. I lost a hard drive. The good news is that it’s under warranty. The bad news is that it looks like it barbecued my files.

That said, the fantastic news is that I have learned from the experience and am in the process of getting set up and backed up as I should have before–new PC, upgraded software, new external drive, and at least temporarily, online back-up. I should be posting again in a couple of days.

So, hang in there! I’ll be back!

Thanks for waiting,

Karen