Coral Walls of Old St. Augustine

We spent a few hours wandering through historic St. Augustine on the way home from a Florida road trip. Founded in 1565, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States. They used to just say it was the oldest city in the United States, which obviously isn't true. Regardless of the terminology, it's pretty old. Especially for America.

While its founders would be proud of the many pubs that line it's streets, I'm certain they never imagined it would be the tourist destination it is today, full of shops selling everything from gummy bears to magic tricks to plastic samurai swords.

Some things have stood the test of time, though, like these walls constructed of coral bricks likely pulled from the nearby ocean. The architecture and street design of St. Augustine is the true treasure of the city. That and maybe the pubs. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.

Miles Brewton House

Designed by Architect Ezra White and built in 1769, the Miles Brewton House is considered one of the most complete Georgian townhouses in the United States. It's considered a "double house" in Charleston because it is twice the width of the average historic Charleston home. The narrow row-home style of Charleston's early homes allowed residents to take advantage of breezes from the harbor when they opened up windows on both sides of the narrow homes. So while more elegant, this home was probably much warmer in the sweltering Charleston summers in an era before air-conditioning. 

This home was occupied on two different occasions by armies who used it for their headquarters. It was occupied by the British during the Revolution and the Federal Garrison after the end of the Civil War. The Brits even left some graffiti etched into the mantle that remains to this day. 

My favorite part of the house is the wrought iron fence, topped with chevaux de frise — or iron spikes. These spikes became popular in Charleston following a slave insurrection plot in 1822. However, most were melted down for artillery during the Civil War. One of the only remaining examples can be seen at the Miles Brewton House. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300. 

Chalmers Street

One block north of Broad Street and sandwiched between the South Carolina Historical Society and the Historic Charleston Foundation Shops is Chalmers Street. The idyllic cobblestone street — which runs for only two blocks — is made of tumbled stone that almost seems too beautiful to drive on when the light hits it just right. Many of the old roads in the historic district are crafted of cobblestone, lest you forget you are in one of America's oldest and most beautiful cities. 

This photograph was captured with a Sony a6300.