For years we’ve heard about St. Augustine, the country’s oldest city (450 years and counting). We were told how beautiful it is to stroll ancient paths by the blue Atlantic water, how the boats seem whiter, more spirited, more seaworthy there. We heard how the citizens take great pride in their city, how they welcome visitors and know their history and are eager to share it. We expected scrumptious food and to be surrounded by charming voices in a multitude of languages. We knew the streets were narrow, the fort formidable, the palm trees lush and the fountain of youth waited to be discovered. We’d heard it all. However, we had not actually been there and that makes all the difference. The reality outshone the reputation and even though we only had two days in St. Augustine, the city made quite the impression.

The first day the girls and I ventured into St. Augustine, we were with our friends who were excellent tour guides. Did you know Ponce de Leon was only 4′ 11′? They showed us a live oak that’s 600 years old, the only street in America named after MLK that he actually marched down (and the house where he stayed while in town) and introduced us to the best gelato I’ve ever blissfully slurped down. Oh, man, it was good.

So good that we took Danny back for more two days later. When in St. Augustine go to the Cafe de Hidalgo for that divine gelato but first dine at The Columbia, a 112-year old restaurant that serves Spanish/Cuban food and had bread that was so heavenly, I kinda hated to eat it because then it would be gone. On that visit we also stumbled upon a cannon demonstration at Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest U.S. masonry fort. The National Park Service (we love those guys) got all dressed up like Spanish soldiers and shot a half pound of gun powder through the cannon. We all covered our ears but the sound rocked us anyway and we felt the old fort shake underneath our feet. They told us that in an actual battle the cannons (not just the single one we experienced) were loaded with three pounds of powder and a six pound ball! Can you imagine the noise? I would have crawled in the nearest hole and cried but of course the Spanish were defending their colony from the British Navy. They didn’t have time to be wimps.

We saw people dressed up like pirates, listened to street musicians play the tuba and accordion, toured a Women’s Exchange building with a volunteer guide who made us fall in love (even more) with her city. We just had the best time.

Oh, we’re definitely going back.