Juan Ponce de Leon, zette in zijn zoektocht naar de Fontein van de Eeuwige Jeugd op paaszondag 3 april 1513 als eerste Europeaan voet aan wal bij St. Augustine in wat later de Verenigde Staten van Amerika zouden worden. Hij noemde het gebied La Florida noemde, omdat er vele bloemen groeiden. St. Augustine werd gesticht in 1565 door de Spaanse ontdekkingsreiziger Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Daarmee is het officieel de eerste, vaste nederzetting van Europeanen in de Verenigde Staten van Amerika. Het plaatsje bleef gedurende 200 jaar in het bezit van de Spanjaarden totdat het in 1763 in handen kwam van de Engelsen. 20 jaar later, in 1783, kregen de Spanjaarden St. Augustine weer terug. Pas in 1822 kwam Saint Augustine samen met Florida in handen van de Amerikanen. Nu is St Augustine een sfeervolle (bad)plaats ... read more
Start your day with a self made waffle and fresh brew coffee at 6 am. All right you say but we had no intention to get up at 6. The time gap, you see. We're not the only early birds. A softball team and their drill sergeant are keeping us company. The first rays of sunlight change our mind-set and let appear a big smile that will stay there hole day. Goodbye Hampton Inn & Suites at Colonial Town Park (worth a recommendation if you’re looking for a stay close to Orlando airport) and off to an encounter with one of nature’s strangest species. Blue Springs State Park hosts the Florida manatee, a large marine mammal relative of the elephant. Weighing up to 1500 kg and 3 m long, this gentle, slow-moving creature is fascinating. You ... read more
What’s the last thing you want to see when you’re all fired up for a holiday… to the States? ‘Flight cancelled’. And if that comes with the following message from the nice lady behind the counter: “It’s likely you’ll only get a flight tomorrow”, you’re pissed, really pissed. The cue in front of United Airlines desk is discouraging. But then luck is on our side. Our Orlando flight is rescheduled via Houston instead of New York. We found our Nemo! (the winter storm Nemo is killing people and cuts of millions from electricity in the northeast). Mission control to Houston, a few extra hours of flight, but hey - who cares? We’re off! Houston! Admittance cleared and a big smile on our face as we wait in the sun for our connection to Orlando. Upon Florida ... read more