St. Augustine

This Tree is one of the oldest oaks anywhere its massive.

 So we did a day trip down to St. Augustine. Tim, my brother has told us about it for a long time. Has a shrimp place he raves about, Steen's. Well we didn't make it there, but really enjoyed getting an overview on this trip to the oldest settlement in America of the new settlers/explorers in Florida.
  We opted for the trolley tour to save our feet, and see as much as we could in 4-5 hours there.
Was not disappointed. I love history as you know, and learned of a chap named Flagler, that I never heard of before, who in 1880s thru early 1900 really built St. Augustine and surrounding area with his own money and efforts.
I have not had time to study him yet, But he had to be worth as much as Rockefellers or Actors or Carnegie. The guy built or bought everything  he wanted or needed.  The railroad wasn't here. So he built it to come to St. Augustine, then down the rest f the way to Miami, then to Key West. Hurricane wiped it out a few years later, no sweat. They used the pilings for RR for the highway to Key West later.

 Ponce De Leon. statue. He was 4'11".

Yes there is much about Ponce here. The "fountain of Youth" he tried to find, and some say he did. Average age of people back then was 40-45. He drank of  the spring water from the Ticuan tribe, because they were living to 70-80s. He thought it was there spring water. If he wasn't wounded and died from a battle with another tribe in his late 50-60, He would have lived much longer. Hence the idea that he found the Fountain of Youth.

 Below is the fort that never was taken by battle. We didn't tour it, save it for another day. But it has amazing history to it. Look forward to learning of it.

Here is a sponge, that always fascinated me. I mean its a sponge in the ocean. How cool is that?

So as we toured around, we got off at just the 1 stop by the Fountain of Youth. There were lots more too see. But the talkative conductor on trolley had so many facts about this guy Flagler. He built or bought, then converted several old buildings to hotels. And if you wanted to rent a room from his hotels, you paid for 5-6 months rent up front. If you left early didn't matter. the well off, and millionaires wanted to stay there. He started Flagler college. many hotels. When a rich millionaire decided that Flagler needed competition in the hotel business, Flagler warned him not to build, it was a bad idea to compete against him. The man spent 7,000,000 bucks to finish hotel. only had enough left o furnish like 3 rooms. No one came to stay there, Flagler just lowered his prices at his other 4 hotels, The man went bankrupt after 1 season, Flagler bought his hotel for 380,000. And renamed it, It was a gorgeous place that rivaled his on opulence. He got it on the cheap. But in other things he over spent, but it didn't matter. So I just want to know, Just how much $$ did he have anyhow did he come by it? Henry Ford stayed at his hotels, and all the muckitymucks. Last president was Lyndon Johnson. Very interesting fellow.

Attended Baymeadows Congregation Sunday, then had CO, Bro Fain and wife serving, He gave a nice service talk, that was very direct and effective. Basically addressing those who tend to be complainers. Or feel they have been hurt, slighted, or offended by some"brother". He likened them to someone who had admired a mountain range full of beautiful trees in the fall. From a distance, they watch the scenery and are in awe of the beauty and majesty of the forest, with all their colors, size, and enormous variety. But as they get closer, and become a witness, they find themselves in the middle of the forest, and now they see, dead trees laying fallen down, stuck by lightening, or fallen to disease, The forest floor is layered with dead lies, some dead trees leaning against other trees, being pushed over by the fallen tree next to it. So he told them they need to step back, remember what attracted them to truth in the beginning, and never to forget how beautiful Jehovahs people are, when compared to the majority of people in the world, serving false gods, worshipping in a false way, mislead about the real reasons that the human race is suffering, and who has the real answers. And then to get on their knees and ask forgiveness of the Father for looking at his beautiful creation of the spiritual paradise, and the people He has drawn to that paradise. And he added that all of us at times can fall victim to that perspective if we aren't careful. What a beautiful picture he painted in that illustration.
There is about 160 publishers in the con. with 14 elders, if I remember right. Several approached us warmly and inquired of us.
Went in FS Sat am, but guessed the wrong time, went at (;30 out of habit, but Baymeadows met at 9, so we joined some friends from the other english cong, Atlantic and went with a couple who was from? Where else, Dayton Ohio, Elaines old hometown, And who knew Charlie Stevens well. They started in Dayton in 1978, so Elaines folks had left and were pioneering or in Circuit work by then, and her family had moved away.

Elaine is returning to St. Louis to pack up the condo things, and bring what we want here to Florida next month. Hopefully 1 of the boys will drive her down in rental truck with our things. Tim & Jane told us about an airline that flys out of Belleville area airport by Scott AFB, that flys down to Orlando for $54 to 70 1 way. So that will be very nice. Ill drive her there thursday,morning to catch er flight.

Weather is very nice, temps are in low 70s in day, 40s at night. But they have a string wind by ocean and you still need a jacket or sweatshirt on. Here is our view from 2nd floor apt. we enjoy.

So no buildings behind ours, nice too wake up to.
Love to all. And soon we will be ready for guests.
Tom & Elaine.