Another friend turns 30. Thank God they are all doing it before me!! It softens the blow, and kind of lulls me into thinking I am already 30. I've got a couple months more to go before I hit that milestone (landmine?). Anyway, 30 is a pretty big deal to us humans -- it feels like an appropriate moment to look back and forward, and to share with your favorite people -- so at the close of May, Karin and I converged upon Katie in Gainesville, the sleepy town that is home to the Florida Gators. If you weren't a fan of the Gators before going to Gainesville (like me), you're less of a fan once you see the Gator mailboxes and orange and blue gas stations. It's not like there is much going on in G'ville, other than the most AWESOME pizza parlor and junk emporium I have EVER been to in my life. Satchel's is not only awesome atmosphere, but an awesome blend of kitschy eclectica. I seriously wish St. Pete had the same kind of place because then, my town might be close to being a 10. Clearly, there was no other choice than to hit Satchel's for dinner before going out on the town (for the first time that weekend). Satchel's did not disappoint.
After dropping off the Satchel's leftovers at Casa de Katie, we headed out to downtown G'ville where we met up with more kindred folk to continue the celebration. At the first bar, there was a band that was completely, and surprisingly, amazing (think NPR All-Songs-Considered fare, and then smile because it is good fare). I was impressed, and energized. As the set ended, Katie downed her midnight birthday shot, then our merry group ambled onto to The Top. On our way, we negotiated a free birthday weiner for Katie from a sidewalk vendor of processed meats. Apparently, processed meats do not rise to the top of Katie's favorites list, and the bite we egged her to take, was not a delicious bite. [And here is where Katie and I differ. I love me some street vendor hot dogs, sausages, kielbasa, what have you, especially late at night after a few cheaply priced beers. What doesn't taste better? Well, OTHER than a hot dog at the ball park?!?]
I hit my wall at The Top. I had driven up from St. Pete straight after working a full day, and I was wiped. I was falling asleep on my bar stool, and I couldn't concentrate enough to hear the conversation over the background din. Yet, somehow, we made it to last call before calling it a night.
Hey, good thing the neighbor in the apartment downstairs knew that we had gone out for a late night!! Because what says "Good Morning" like blasting the effing Bee Gees' "Night Fever" at 7:51 AM?!!?? And better yet, let's repeat the song, then follow it up with John Travolta's theme song from "Saturday Night Fever"?!? Disco usually doesn't make me so cranky, but at 8 AM, it's a different story. I ended up falling back asleep, only to awake distraught from the throes of a thoroughly upsetting dream. Good thing I had my best girls and a day at the beach to brighten my mood.
After a quick breakfast, and packing up supplies, Katie, Karin, and I hit the back roads of northern Florida, headed for the beaches of St. Augustine, FL, the oldest city in the U.S. Juan Ponce de Leon set foot there in 1518 (I'm pretty sure), where he discovered The Fountain of Youth (and we'll get to that later). In about 2 hours, the three of us were bathing beauties on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. The water temperature is perfect this time of year. Cold enough to be a bit a of a struggle, if you just wade in, but wonderfully refreshing once you're in it, basking in the sun and hot air. St. Augustine is a beautiful beach. It's pretty flat and firm, so you can ride bikes along it, and in places, even drive your car right up on the beach and park for the day. We kept it simple with beach towels, sarongs, and a cooler.
We got our fill of the beach, then headed over to our hotel to check in. We scored a pretty great deal at the Quality Inn, where we got ready for dinner, drinks, and dessert. We ate a New Orleans flavored meal at Harry's, then headed over to The Tini Martini for some potent drinks and gifts.
After gifts, giggling, and gabbing, we felt it was time for some ice cream. We grabbed the last few scoops from Whetstone Ice Cream. Ice cream in a waffle cone is better than birthday cake, if you ask me. I'm not the birthday girl (yet), but I think Katie felt the same. We drifted off to bed knowing it was our last night in St. Augustine, and the next day would be filled with travel home; however, the long goodbye would not begin before we tasted the water from the Fountain of Youth.
My God. Where do I begin? We are all tourists at some point or another, and we all love a good attraction. The Fountain of Youth has to be the most GLORIOUSLY tacky spectacle I have ever seen; this INCLUDES South Carolina's way over-hyped South of the Border. [The only other destination I have been to that might rival it -- Spongeorama in Tarpon Springs. Oh yeah, you read right.] We arrived at the Fountain of Youth via streets lined with Spanish moss-encrusted trees and a lovely arched sign.
With an entrance like that, the Fountain of Youth has GOT to be something great, right? You have NO idea...Armed with our coupons for $1 off the admission price, we paid the fee, and entered the site of Ponce de Leon's miraculous discovery. Peacocks abound on the property, which rolls right up to the Intracoastal Waterway.
I hadn't seen this many peacocks since my days living in Miami, when I would see them toodling around Coconut Grove in the mornings during my runs. They are beautiful...and loud, sqawking little birds. I kept a safe distance in case one should decide to start pecking at me. Thank you Mom for having me watch Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds at such a young age. I forever fear the pecking of birds.
I know, you're all just WAITING for the big reveal -- the great, and mighty Fountain of Youth. Let me tell you, it's beyond any sort of tacky you can imagine. You enter, and this is what you see:
Oh yeah. Plastic manikins, plastic flowers, painted murals, Christmas lights, and the lovely fountain itself is about 2 feet wide with some nasty tasting, very minerally water. I got asked if I was 23 at a bar the other night, and I still get carded for alcohol, so maybe the water really does have restorative powers. Maybe.After tasting the water of youth, us gals tooled around the rest of the property until it got a little too hot (and a little buggy). We checked out the uber-tacky gift shop, and debated over magnets, shot glasses, and perhaps purchasing some bottle youth water.
As always, I'll end my post about a (not-so-) far-off place by saying that I wish I had more time there. It never seems that a city opens itself up to you until you spend at least a week there; and it that time it either lulls you into thinking you've only scratched the surface (and you need to stay longer to discover all its secrets), or you've had enough and it's time to discover new place to explore. St. Augustine made me feel the former, and I hope I'll take another road trip - this time to become more than just an acquaintance with this old city.
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