The city was the first European settlement in North-America and the place where the Spanish set foot the very first time. Yes, unlike what we were told in South African History 114 in between the Groot Trek, Columbus did indeed throw anchor in what is now the Dominican Republic, not North-America.
St. Augustine was developed to be a refreshment station - not unlike the VOC's idea with the Cape of Good Hope - for the Spanish treasure ships that sailed past to the homeland.
There's a rich, well preserved history in the beautiful little town, with the Indians, the Spanish, ze French, and the British each playing a role. It was taken by a pirate fleet, nearly by the French and later the British.
Ford Matanzas ("Slaughter" in Spanish) was build to protect the city's rear end from sneaky attacks. The French tried once and where nearly obliterated by a hurricane. The 250 survivors were then massacred by the Spanish, hence the name.
We also visited the original Ripley's Believe it or Not. Yeah!
Then there is the Fountain of Youth. A legend the Spanish heard from the Indians told of a fountain which water would bring eternal youth to the fortunate drinker. The Spanish king alotted a small fortune to Ponce de Leon to find this miraculous fountain, of which water Sarah and I drank.
Yes, for my 101st birthday, I'd like to river raft the Zambezi!
Sure the Indians laughted in their sleeves...
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