Fort Matanzas

My tour guide at the Fort

Photos.

After decades of hitting every fort and historic military encampment on our travels, I was determined to avoid Fort Matanzas. However, Bob dragged me there after we left the Red Train -- "for a look". He traded in his old National Parks Golden Age pass for a new, Senior card and we got in free.

Salamander camouflaged in the wall

It's a worthwhile visit for anyone. I especially appreciated the views of the Bay: impressive buildings on the other side, shorebirds on a sandbar, the famous lighthouse in the distance. We walked up the old stone steps to the inner fort, where the 360 view of the area was quite spectacular. A little salamander ran past me and hid inside the wall, barely visible.

Shorebirds in the distance

We staked out our walk to the Cathedral and left the fort with a better idea of the history of the city. It was interesting to see markers portraying the English and French as the villains of past centuries, similar to ones I've seen in Spain and Mexico. 1600 does not seem so long ago in this part of Florida.