We've had an incredible week of wildlife viewing and today was no exception. After having to get two new tires and after that had no effect on lessening the horrible noises the van has been making, we continued on to Fort Matanzas.
Now a National Park, it was originally built by the Spanish and used in conjunction with the Castillo de San Marcos to protect Spanish interests, namely their ships that sailed to Spain full of captured treasure.
Taking a free ferry to the island, where the fort is located, we got to see dolphins swimming along us. Just as friendly as we've always heard them to be the ferry captain referred to their frolicking as the "Dolphin Show." So distracting were the dolphins that we missed perhaps the best Ranger history lesson yet and caught only the final half of the talk. Though what we caught was fascinating. Apparently forgettable, but fascinating.
Next exploring the Castillo de San Marcos which flanks downtown St. Augustine we made sure to catch the history lectures, though this entailed following around lecturers speaking at a third grade level to student groups.
The Castillo is North America's greatest remaining example of Spanish colonial fortification. Made of coquina (a material made up of shells) it was built in 1672, replacing 9 wooden forts before it. The Spanish held the fort for over 120 years and it was eventually surrendered to America in 1821.
Spending the night in Jacksonville we were ambushed by a rain storm featuring bone jarring thunder, though it poured itself out before long so that we could sleep.
A kiss off to Kissimee and all the rest: horrible driving conditions, expensive beaches, the worst bug bites ever and to top it off, getting ticketed trying to escape-I was not sad to say goodbye to Florida.
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