Bradenton

 

 

Manatee Display with Amy and Gerry

Pelican

 

Boats in their slips

View along the Boardwalk

Crane in the water

Chrisanda, Mike and Donna

We are now in Bradenton parked next to my Brother, Gerald and Amy.....Took a walk along the Riverfront Boardwalk.    It was a beautiful 4 mile walk .  Went to my brother, Mike and Donna new mini-home in 55+ park called Ridgewood in Ellenton.  What a beautiful place they have.  They are definitely enjoying Florida with everything it has to offer.   Chrisanda is visiting from England and it was sure nice to see my good friend.   It was a great visit and Mike made us a very special dinner.....Delicious Salmon!!!  My Fav!!!

San Sebastian Winery

 

San Sebastian Winery

 

 

Port maturing in oak barrels...take 1 year

Original part of building from 1923...see walkway made from oak barrels

 

Oak Barrels

Wines...odd shape bottle is Port and next to it is Sherry

Wine Tasting

Bottle rack and oak barrels

Have you ever and I repeat ever been to a wine tour that had wine tasting for free!!!!!  Well, folks I did today and got to sample 5 wines and 1 port and 1 sherry.  Awesome!!! The tour was great and I have pictures.  We purchased  Rosa(blush wine), cream sherry and a port.  Have to say these were great.   My Gram Lewis(England) loved her sherry and she would of loved this one!! My thoughts were of her tasting this. I remember going to visit her with I was 19 and she had one she absolutely love but it was more expensive so she only bought it on special occasions and I bought it for her.   I sent her money every year after that until she passed away in 81...Make sure I put extra in so she could buy a bottle of her favorite sherry.  She was one special Lady and I know who my Mum takes after!!!  Very special Day!!!  Love you and miss you....Gram

Butler Beach, Crescent Beach & Fort Matanza Inlet

Street on the Butler Beach

Wind Surfing on Fort Matanza Inlet

Steamed seafood Platter

South Beach Grill

Crescent Beach

Little friend outside the restaurant

Took a drive into St Augustine and took the Bridge of Lions over to Anastasia Island.  We drove along the island and stopped in Butler Beach, Crescent Beach and turned around at Fort Matanza Inlet.  There were 2 people wind surfing.  Boys!!  were they moving.  The beaches are amazing.  You can drive right on the beach.  Even have street name on the beach...Too Funny!!  Stopped in at South Beach Grill for fresh Steamed Seafood Platter(Crab, Shrimp, Mussels and clams).  Delicious!!!  Dropped my wallet on the way out and a very kind person gave it to the restaurant....When I realized I wasn't far and called!!!  Thanks Goodness or I would of had to have all my cards cancelled!!!  Yikes!!  The weather was gorgeous today....It was 31C today

Jacksonville FL

Jacksonville FL

Beach(see the bike) yeah!!

Million dollar homes along the shore

Yacht!!

Homes on the State Reserve(Sand Dune)

Along A1A, tree branch make a tunnel effect!!

We took a drive to Jacksonville and did a bit of shopping.   Afterwards, we drove to Jacksonville Beach, so picturesque.   Love the beach.  Free parking to go to the beach and such a big beach.  Love the fact people are biking on the beach.  After we headed along A1A to St Augustine and after you leave Jacksonville beach, you are on a State reserve for 18 miles.  It is build on sand dunes and is a natural causeway.  Part of the road are beautiful home build right on the dunes.  Not sure if I would want my house on the beach.  Not with hurricanes, etc.   As we took the bridge into St Augustine, what a big yacht along the shore....Now that I could live in!!!   All in all a great day and even better it was 25C and felt like 30C.    Sitting outside right now having a glass of wine and listening to the rain.  Only started raining once we arrived back to our trailer.

Daytona Beach

Ocean Walk Village Stage

 

Skyline of Daytona Beach

Access to Beach with your vehicle

Lunch!!!

Hush puppies and shrimp!!!  Yummy!!

Boardwalk with Slingshot ride!!!

 

 

Beautiful home!!

Took a drive to Daytona Beach.  It was enjoyable but some glad I am not going to be there during Daytona 500 and the Bike Rally.   It will be crazy at that time.   You can drive right on the beach and park your vehicle.   For a car, it is $5.  Along the shore are hotels, condos and gorgeous homes.   Parked next to Ocean Village Walk.  Right by the boardwalk(see the picture with the ferris wheel and the slingshot ride(watched people screaming in it!!!  Not a chance!!!) .   Had lunch at Bubba Gump(Tracey we thought of you).  We had Shrimp Hush Puppies and Shrimp Plantation(Tempura Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp and Cajun shrimp....Very yummy.  We drove along the shore on A1A.  So picturesque with the Atlantic ocean, and the gorgeous homes along the shore.....Wow...What a great day!!

St Augustine Part 3

Ripley Believe or Not Castle

Stallion made of crome

Inside the Redwood house

Livingroom

Frank Sinatra

Kitchen in Redwood house

Redwood House

Our Red Train trip began at Ripleys Believe it or not Museum was built in 1880 as a concrete castle.  The picture of Frank Sinatra was done with Crayola crayons glued lengthwise with the tips forming the picture...Unbelievable!!!  Picture does not do it justice!!!  The Stallion is made of 50 and 60 chrome bumpers and it is 9 ft tall...absolutely amazing!!   The Redwood 4 bedroom house is handcarved from 1900 year old tree and 267 ft high and 14 ft wide.  It has a bedroom, livingroom, dining room and kitchen.   This is amazing.....I cannot imagine how long it took to create this house!!!

Touring the City Part 2

Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth

Spanish Quarters



Castillo de San Marco



Lightner Museum



The Great Cross



Historic Old Drugstore

Here are some of the old building.  Such a great city....Ponce de Leon landed here and you can find the Fountain of Youth??  They have built the largest cross in the world in stainless steel 2 hundred and 8 ft over the Matanza River and weighs 70 ton. Castillo de San Marcos  is America's oldest masonry fort.  The Lightner Museum  sits housed within the former 1889 Alcazar Hotel.  The Colonial Spanish Quarter and Spanish Quarter Museum  encompasses the region just north of downtown.  Great for walking thru with shops and restuarants....The sites are endless....

Touring the city Part 1

Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine

First skyscraper on  Cathedral Place

Oldest Wood Schoolhouse in USA

St. Francis Barracks

Bridge of Lions

Red Train Tours

We took the Red Train tour of St Augustine which is a hop on hop off train so we got off on George St and walked along the old streets with shops and restaurants...Had lunch and Hopped back on for the rest of the tour....This city was founded in 1565.  What a beautiful old city and I am having a hard time trying to choose what pictures to put on out of the over 200 I took.  Absolutely picturesque.  Now I know why everyone says you have to visit this city!!!!  More pics to come!!!