http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/ Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Jacksonville, but the reality is that if you are looking for a different type of vacation you must go to St Augustine. The beaches are gorgeous but not crowded, life runs at a slow pace, there are so many exciting restaurants, and it is a great city to simply rewind and relax.]]> en-us Gallery 2 RSS Module, version 1.1.0 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:24:09 -0500 0 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/d/228-2/staugustine.jpg http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/ http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/water-mill.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/water-mill.jpg.html
Right in the middle of downtown St Augustine is this fully functional, giant watermill. I don't know what it does but it sure is a great place to take pictures. When I was taking this snap, this cute girl was posing and her mama with a big butt stepped right in front of me.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:14:18 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/presbyterian-church.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/presbyterian-church.jpg.html
In the Downtown St Augustine area, the Presbyterian Church is a historic landmark as much as the Flagler College or Casa Monica Hotel. Just take a walk around the church building to admire its beautiful architecture and the arched entrance similar to the Methodist Church.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:14:18 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/moss-trees.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/moss-trees.jpg.html
Since I am from the Northeast and during my previous trips to Tampa, Miami, and Orlando , I never noticed the Spanish moss, I was fascinated when I saw it in St Augustine, Florida. It almost looks as if someone has purposely put something on the branches but it is all natural.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:14:18 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/model-photo-shoot.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/model-photo-shoot.jpg.html
For obvious reasons, downtown St Augustine is a great place for modeling photo shoots. Those cobblestone road provide a perfect backdrop for taking great pictures. Take a look at this skinny Latina posing to be photographed by a photographer.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/minaret.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/minaret.jpg.html
This interesting looking building is right next to Flagler College and its design did not remind me of anything else that I saw in St Augustine. The only area where I have seen such minaret type designs are the Middle East.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/methodist-church.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/methodist-church.jpg.html
In the downtown historical St Augustine as can be expected there are several churches. In this beautiful, pink building you can see a clear influence of Spanish and Moroccan architecture visible in those doorway arches.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/historic-street.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/historic-street.jpg.html
When you are in downtown St Augustine, you will see an America that does not exist any more, at least not in the suburbs, where we now have almost identical looking houses with no personality. For some reasons, these streets reminded me of being in a city in Latin America or even Spain.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/flagler-college.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/flagler-college.jpg.html
When you think of a college building, of course, you do imagine historical buildings like those of Yale or Princeton or Harvard, but they can often be rather bare. Flagler College, which started out as Hotel Ponce de Leon, is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also full of luxuries that students are not used. And you can take a tour of the campus. Definitely the second best building after the Casa Monica Hotel.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/casa-monica-hotel.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/casa-monica-hotel.jpg.html
If I have been singing praises of the hotel, this view will convince you to at least visit it if not to stay there (I didn't either since it was so expensive). I think just the architecture of the building is a good enough reason to spend a few hours in the hotel. It has great restaurants and a coffee shop where coffee is free if you buy dessert.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600 http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/casa-monica-facade.jpg.html http://www.mynippon.com/gallery/v/admin/staugustine/casa-monica-facade.jpg.html
Like the Hill Fort Kesroli hotel in Alwar, the Casa Monica hotel in St Augustine, FL is a historic landmark. Take a look at this photo from the street opposite and you will realize what a great building it is.]]> photo Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:57:29 -0600