I
read recently in a travel magazine that St. Augustine, FL was ranked
as one of the 10 best cities in the USA as a place to celebrate
Christmas. After spending this Christmas season aboard the White
Pepper in
St. Augustine at the Rivers Edge Marina I can hardily agree.
The
festivities begin on the Night of Lights when the central
park—Constitution Square—is illuminated with thousands of white
lights. The local businesses all put up white lights as well. The
effect is marvelous. I had read that the city puts in one red light
among all of the white ones—just because. Imagine my surprise when
I spotted not one, but two red lights.
Constitution Square festooned with white lights
Waterfront illuminated
Two red lights among 10000 white ones
There
is a lighted boat parade on the Metanzas River on Saturday night.
The old fort held a free open house that night as well. I have never
seen the downtown area more crowded. The tourist trolleys were
packed full with everybody singing along and shouting “Merry
Christmas.” It was a great atmosphere but with a cost. There was a
2 hour wait for dinner. Even getting a beer was a struggle. Next
time Jan and I resolved to bring a flask.
Lighted Boat Parade
White
Pepper was
decorated although sparingly. Jan stores all of our Christmas
decorations in a one gallon Zip Lock bag. Back in Beeville a whole
closet can barely hold the Christmas decorations.
Our Christmas tree and manger scene
Sort of a wreath
Christmas
Eve was not as crowded down town as the night of the boat parade. A
local church provided carols. We went to the evening service at the
Methodist Church. Then back at the boat Jan cooked a wonderful dinner
topped off with a bottle of good white wine.
Sacred readings and carols from the band stand
Mahi mahi smothered in shrimp
We
spent a quiet Christmas Day at the marina. Paul, the dock master,
organized a buffet. It was great although much smaller than many
similar events all up and down the Eastern Florida coast.
Christmas Day pot luck and buffet.
Surprisingly
New Year's Eve downtown was sparsely attended—almost empty. Later I
learned that 35,000 people had gone to St. Augustine Beach to watch
the fireworks there. We came back to the marina to sit around the
campfire. By “cruisers midnight” (10:30) we were sound asleep.
On New Year's Day we took a break from doing chores around the boat.
We spent most of the day listening to football on the Sirius XM
radio.
