Historic St. Augustine street scene

black mamba

It's best to navigate the historic district in St. Augustine by foot. These old brick streets, many even narrower than this one, make getting around by car very problematical.

Stumblebum

Cute! Where is this?

black mamba

@Stumblebum said:
Cute! Where is this?

This is Aviles Street in St. Augustine, Florida. It's in the heart of the historic district. This street is recognized as being the oldest street in the USA. It's great to hear from you Taz. Hope you're doing well.

Cornflake

I hadn't grasped St. Augustine's history.

black mamba

@Cornflake said:
I hadn't grasped St. Augustine's history.

Hey, Don. St. Augustine is the oldest town in our country. I'm not allowed to forget anything about the place....my wife is a direct descendant from one of the nine families that settled in the town in the early 1600's. They all came from Spain and Minoca. My wife's ancestors were from Minoca. It's amazing.....she and I can't walk the town without her having to waive to at least 300 relatives of some sort. In addition to my wife's family, there are representatives of every one of the early nine families that still live there.

Cornflake

Tom, your comments had me googling because in recent years I've been in two communities that claimed to be older. Wikipedia says St. Augustine is "the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the Continental United States." Oraibi, on the Hopi Reservation here, dates to 1100 and it's still populated. It and Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico are deemed the "oldest continuously occupied communities in the USA." So everybody's right depending on what qualifiers you use. Hope I don't sound like I'm picking nits--I find this stuff very interesting.

It's cool that your wife has relatives there that date back so far.

black mamba

@Cornflake said:
Tom, your comments had me googling because in recent years I've been in two communities that claimed to be older. Wikipedia says St. Augustine is "the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the Continental United States." Oraibi, on the Hopi Reservation here, dates to 1100 and it's still populated. It and Acoma Pueblo in New Mexico are deemed the "oldest continuously occupied communities in the USA." So everybody's right depending on what qualifiers you use. Hope I don't sound like I'm picking nits--I find this stuff very interesting.

It's cool that your wife has relatives there that date back so far.

I'm with you, Don, I find this stuff interesting as well. As you may surmise though, I have to be careful about the stances I take on local history. A determined onslaught from a 5' 3" 120 lb. gal of Minocan heritage is not to be taken lightly.

Cornflake

I understand.

redleash

Someday, I will get there.....

black mamba

How in the heck are you doing, Lauren? After a long-overdue visit you paid a short time back, I hoped we's be seeing more of you. We miss your contributions a lot.

Hey, if you get anywhere near this area, you let me know. I can help you a lot.

redleash

Hi Tom,

It has been a very stressful year and every time I thought I'd get back to DGrin on a regular basis something changed my plans. I have barely picked up my camera, although I did have a very nice outing and shoot with Ella Hudson last month while I was in Maine. Always fun meeting up with DGrin friends!

Did you fare OK in the storm? My stepson is in Jacksonville and made it through fine.

Lauren

black mamba

@redleash said:
Hi Tom,

It has been a very stressful year and every time I thought I'd get back to DGrin on a regular basis something changed my plans. I have barely picked up my camera, although I did have a very nice outing and shoot with Ella Hudson last month while I was in Maine. Always fun meeting up with DGrin friends!

Did you fare OK in the storm? My stepson is in Jacksonville and made it through fine.

Lauren

Thanks for asking, Lauren. I live about 14 miles from the beach. We had a lot of rain.... fortunately I'm on high ground.... and some wind gusts in the 25 to 40 mph range. Essentially, we dodged a bullet. Considering how rudely hurricane Irma treated me a year and a half ago, I admit to being consumed by paranoia. Hell, if paranoia was edible, I wouldn't have to go to the grocery strore for a year.

redleash

Glad you fared well. Is that paranoia with or without salt?

black mamba

@redleash said:
Glad you fared well. Is that paranoia with or without salt?

Well, my doctor would probably tell me to leave the salt off of the table but, honestly, dinning on paranoia without salt is a ghastly experience.