St. Augustine, the city that sleeps

Usually, when the Bridge of Lions is up, a traffic jam would form. However, without any cars on the bridge, this sailboat was free to ride through.

Usually, when the Bridge of Lions is up, a traffic jam would form. However, without any cars out, this sailboat was free to ride through.

By Jordan Puyear | gargoyle@flagler.edu

At 6 in the morning, you would expect that as I walked to the radio station in downtown St. Augustine to start my shift, I would be an unaware zombie. Don’t get me wrong, I usually am at that time. But during one chilly Monday morning I suddenly looked to my right. What I saw was an empty street: no locals, no tourists, no cars, no noise, just an empty street. After living in St. Augustine for over a year now, and walking up and down that street more times than I can count, I finally saw the raw beauty that was a silent St. Augustine.

The historic city is definitely a tourist attraction. Heck, it is the country’s oldest city. Who wouldn’t want to see that? Most of the time, St. Augustine is crawling with tour groups, traffic, families, students, etc. So, these days, it seems quite unusual to catch a time when the city is completely empty. That morning, seeing the streets of St. Augustine without its usual activity made me appreciate the city itself. Most people don’t realize how beautiful, and even sacred, St. Augustine can be. It deserves to be appreciated. But sometimes you need to take away all the background noise to do that. Sometimes you just need to stop at the right time and smell the roses.

Usually filled to the brim with tour groups, the former Hotel Ponce de Leon is a true attraction for people visiting St. Augustine.

Usually filled to the brim with tour groups, the Ponce de Leon Hotel is a true attraction for people visiting St. Augustine.

Road

Valencia Street, in particular, is one of the craziest. Trolley’s brimming with tourists, along with Flagler College students, always cover this street. But not this morning.

This road is especially busy with cars driving through and tourists trying to pass, so this was one of the first encounters I have had with seeing this street empty.

Ah, St. George Street, arguably the most popular destination in St. Augustine. Cars driving through always have to compete with tourists trying to cross. So it was definitely calming for me to not have to worry about getting run over.

The Matanza River is always filled with boats, but since it was too early to go out, most of the boats were still parked.

The Matanzas River is usually filled with boats, but since it was too early to go out, most of the boats were still docked.

With only a few cars this morning, the Bridge of Lions was only shared by a bicyclist and myself.

With only a few cars this morning, the Bridge of Lions was only shared by a bicyclist and myself.

The Castillo De San Marcos is known to host tours and reenactments, however, no tourists where here to fill the benches to take a break from the city.

The Castillo De San Marcos is known to host tours and reenactments, however, no tourists where here to fill the benches for a break from the city as the sun came up.

The Fort wasn't the only destination with empty benches. The parking garage, always busy with students, tourists, school field trips, etc. It is only at certain times, that you can find somewhere to sit.

The Fort wasn’t the only destination with empty benches. The parking garage is always busy with students, tourists, school field trips, etc. It is only at certain times that you can find somewhere to sit.

The city gate is a must-see attraction for pictures and people passing through.

The city gate is a must-see attraction for tourists’ photos and locals passing through, especially early in the morning.

The Lightner Museum is a typical stop for the St. Augustine Trolley tours. Workers are taking advantage of the empty attraction to attend to the yard work.

The Lightner Museum is a typical stop for the St. Augustine Trolley tours. Here, workers are taking advantage of the empty attraction.

 

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