St. Augustine

While Pasadena was reeling in the aftermath of the wind vortex, 3 of my colleagues/friends and I escaped the conference for half a day and headed to St. Augustine. And I must not have been paying attention to the history lesson on early colonies in the Americas, because I had to wikipedia the big deal of this settlement. And it is a big deal--the oldest city in North America.

I shouldn't have been surprised that the fort in St. Augustine looks almost identical to the fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico because of those Spaniards, ya know?

It's always nice to escape the claustrophobia of stifling hotel conference rooms, but it was exceptionally nice to old and new colleagues and blend groups together.

We ate pizza, snacked on treats, browsed the touristy shops, and toured the college campus in town.

That campus has ambience that I could fully support and emerse myself in.

And the many churches in town were beautiful, too.

I often wish that conferences were longer because it would mean that I'd get to spend time with these friends a little while longer.