Definite improvement in the weather. We planned to walk across the Bridge of Lions to the Lighthouse, then rent some bikes and go to the beach. We spent the morning route planning and doing laundry.
We learned a little more about the bridge and the lions. The lions are modeled after statues that were at the Medici Villa and are now displayed in Florence Italy. The first pair was given to the city before the bridge in 1924. The bridge was completed in 1927 and named the Bridge of Lions. The western lions are named Fiel and Firme, (Faithful and Firm).
The second set are on the Anastasia Island side and were donated by a couple who first sailed here and fell in love with the city. They later moved here. They donated the lions for the city’s 450th anniversary in 2015. They are Pax and Peli ( Peace and Happiness).
Anastasia Island is a barrier island. There is a lovely anchorage between the island and the beach. Much of the beach is protected from development. The city of St. Augustine actually moved to the island for 6 years, 1566-1572. No remains of the old city are left.
The lighthouse is still a working light station but is now automated and belongs to the lighthouse museum. It has a rotating beam that scared me the night we were anchored when a bright light shone through my porthole. The lighthouse started as wooden, then a tower of coquina brick and wood. They anticipated the destruction of the original lighthouse and actually built the second before the first fell. The current lighthouse was completed in 1874. For awhile both lighthouses were working. As it was low tide, we could see the footprint of the old lighthouse. The coquina base of the lighthouse allowed it to stand safely for many years. The junior service league restored the current lighthouse in the 80’s and 90’s.
We rented bikes from island bikes and biked to St. Augustine beach. It was low tide and we could ride on the beach. We saw some surfers and a crazy hydrofoil. We stopped for a refreshment at the Beachcomber, a cool place behind the dunes.
We took an uber back to town as we had ventured out about 5 miles. We went to Nonnas Tratoria for dinner, an adorable Italian place we had been eyeing that completely lived up to expectations.
We then walked around the lights again. Grace told about some special lights in the plaza. The man who has arranged them for over thirty years, places one colored light for his daughter to find each year amongst all of the white lights. He now has grandchildren so there are 3. We listened to a guitar saxophone duo for a bit and then headed back to the boat.
