After mentally cancelling an AM run again last night, I found it funny that I woke up at 7:30 (before my alarm) with energy to exercise. I decided to stay indoors due to the fact that Matt was asleep and found the hotel fitness room, which was nothing more than a treadmill and a weight machine. I didn’t really feel like running (since I had a few days in a row) so I set the incline to 3.5 and the speed to 3.5 and walked briskly for about 20 minutes with a magazine I”d brought from home.
Then I heard rustling at the door and who walks in but Matt! For someone who’d been passed out solid at 1AM, I was surprised to find him in workout gear. He wasn’t feeling the gym and suggested we go for a run. I agreed so long as it wasn’t a very long one. I left without any form of watch, but I’m guessing we ran about 3 miles? We tried to find the beach but it was covered by houses.
We came back sweaty and red faced looking for the breakfast room. We finally found it – and the sign that said it was $12.95! I don’t know about you, but this is the first time in about 20 years of chain hotels that the breakfast hasn’t been complimentary. Cheerios and mealy apples would be enough to keep me happy! I was pretty annoyed. I had LaraBars and oatmeal packets in my room, so at least I had backup.
But we were out of time. I had to quickly shower and blog before we had to leave for the wedding brunch, so I actually didn’t have time to eat. It was OK though because there was a great breakfast at the bride’s parent’s house when we got there at 10.
They live right on the beach. Check out their backyard!
The brunch included a baked cinnamon raisin french toast, delicious eggs, bacon and fruit with a yogurt sauce. I had some of everything
And a cup of coffee
After brunch we said goodbye to many of our friends and decided to take a trip to St. Augustine with our friend Canada, aka Chris, who is from Canada! He was Matt’s college roommate for 3/4 years.
Now I consider myself to be pretty laid back when it comes to heat and hot weather, but GOSH IT IS SO HOT HERE!!! It’s the humidity more than anything. I am always soaked in sweat! So after 15 minutes of walking through historic St. Aug. we found ourselves in a cold Ale House!
Of course Matt wanted to try the micro brews
I had a sip of each along with an ice water. They were really good beers!
Once we’d cooled off, we walked around a bit more on our way to lunch.
And found this Mayan Cafe! Matt worked on an archeological site in Mexico one summer on the Yucatan so whenever we see Mayan we’re drawn in.
And I was excited to see that the whole menu was centered around fresh organic ingredients!
We actually started out on the patio and moved inside when a table opened up. Thank goodness because it was steamy out there!
Alcohol didn’t cross my mind until the owner told us about the Hibiscus Flower Sangria made with organic wine and no added sugar. SOLD! It was awesome, and definitely was not very sweet. Refreshing too. I didn’t really feel it, which makes me thing it wasn’t too strong (that’s a good thing for this lightweight!)
It came with two straws and I joked that they were to be used as chopsticks for picking up fruit!
Cheers to college!
The boys wanted some guacamole but didn’t want onion breath if it was made with raw onions. So Matt asked if it had them and the owner replied with “Nothing is pre-made so we’ll just make it for you without them.” Can’t get much fresher than that!
I ate a handful of chips with guac – it was delicious
I ordered the Yucatan Salad for lunch with mango, avocado, and mozzarella cheese. Lite and refreshing.
As usual, Matt rocked the XXXXX hot sauce
He ordered a vegetarian wrap with beans, mango, avocado, hummus, queso fresco and veggies.
We had planned to share the wrap since Matt wasn’t very hungry from brunch, and I ate about 1/4 of the wrap
It was the perfect lunch. I wish Charlotte served as many fresh ingredients as these Florida restaurants!
St. Augustine is packed with ice cream, smoothie and gelato places, and I was planning on getting one, but truthfully after lunch I was full and didn’t feel like I had much more room for an ice cream. Maybe tonight after dinner!
After some R&R we are headed into Jacksonville to meet a blog reader for dinner in San Marco!
Lara (Thinspired) says
Kath, the wedding yesterday was beauiful, and you do such a good job with balancing on vacation.
Looks like you are having a wonderful time, even if you haven’t found your bakery spot yet…it will come! You look great. Thanks for giving me a little taste of the South. I’ve always wanted to go 🙂
Help Meghan Run says
Mmm…that salad looks great! I love fruit in salads.
HelpMeghanRun.com
Laura says
Aww, I love St. Augustine! The hubby and I always go to the A1A Ale House (great beers and fantastic food!) there, and he proposed to me on the Lion’s Bridge across the street from it!
And yeah, it’s just a little hot there…
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
What lovely Mayan food! It’s hard to find the authentic stuff anywhere! Have a great rest of your day!
Adi (oatonomy.com) says
Looks like a great time! Well, minus the life-sucking humidity.
melissa says
Everything looks delicious! cute dress
Jo says
Great brunch – that food looks right up my street!
You said that Matt was on an archeaological dig – I studied archaeology at University and went on a number of digs – I can’t resist anything that reminds me of those days! Did he study it or was it just an hobby?
Lisa says
Aiieee! St. Augustine is one of my most favorite places. I love all the different stores on St. Georges street – some are super-tacky and some are super-swank and the others are all in-between.
And if you’re too full for ice-cream after dinner, take a walking tour of the city’s haunted places. You’ll want a cup afterward, and both the tours and the ice-cream are worth it!
Shannon, The Healthy Beach Bum says
loving that cheesy egg b-fast!! MMM i could eat that for every meal of the day lol. And that guacamole looks great too 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
I agree… now days, I think it’s almost expected to have a complimentary breakfast or at least some kind of free buffet. Good thing there was a delicious brunch ahead of you!
And that lunch sounds AMAZING! What an AWESOME place. Everything sounds so healthy and fresh!
Enjoy your relaxing time! 🙂
Vanessa (Last Night's Leftovers) says
Nothing cools you off like a good microbrew!
(Says the girl who works in a microbrewery…:P)
Elizabeth says
I was jealous of the brunch – and then I saw your lunch eats and turned absolutely green!
St. Augustine is fun… hope you find room for gelato. 🙂
K says
Thumbs down to the hotel breakfast – I guess they’ll nickel and dime you for everything these days! That Mayan meal looks INCREDIBLE!!
Sarah (LovIN My Tummy) says
I was going to say you were glowing, but then you had to go and tell me it was sweat!
I want to make that sangria stat! I think a Kath recreation is in order!
Christina says
One of my old college roommates was called Alaska because she was from Alaska. Pretty funny that Matt has a friend with a location name too!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Good thing you missed the yucky hotel food for that lovely brunch!
My husband is fascinated by everything Mayan related. That restaurant seems awesome! Floridians are so lucky to have the weather for so many fresh foods year-round.
Jenn
Christie @ Find My Weigh says
Looks like you guys are having a great day! The Mayan food looks amazing!
Michelle says
Hey Kate,
I live in St. Augustine and love it. I also love the Ale house. The other restaurant that you went to I will have to try. It is extremely hot here right now, but only from mid June to early September..then it is beautiful. Glad you enjoyed it here minus the heat.
Michelle says
Sorry Kath…hit an e instead of an h.
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
That guacamole looks so fresh and delicious!
Jessica says
Haha in your post before … I just wanted to say how funny it is that you love the icing and will eat the icing other people don’t want but not so much the cake …
because i am exactly the same!!!!!!!! 🙂 I don’t understand why people don’t want their icing … but I’m glad for it.
-Jessica
Melissa @ For the Love of Health says
Great photos Kath! It looks like you are having a fab time, even in the heat. 🙂
The line up of beer is such a re-freshing photo! And I love the b-fast photo. I could eat b-fast three times a day!
Victoria says
Looks like fun. That restaurant sounds wonderful! And I’m with you on the Florida humidity – it’s rough.
ashley says
I have been there so many times and I’ve never eaten at your lunch spot. I will be checking that out next time. You want to talk about hot? The heat index here in Palm Beach was 105 today! yikes Happy trails.
Heather says
I absolutely love St. Augustine! Hope you guys had fun 🙂
The heat in Florida is absolutely RIDICULOUS right now. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! (Like you need me to tell you that…ha!)
Kristen says
I am also a lightweight and with sangria my fiancé usually ends up reminding me repeatedly not to drink it too fast! It’s so good I can’t help it. 😉 Mayan food looks wonderfully bright and healthy. Enjoy your time there!
Mrs. Myers says
I love your dress, kath! Sounds like you’re having a great time.
Becky says
Hey, you made it down to my neck of the woods! and yes it’s so humid in Florida, try living here for years! I’m so jealous you live in NC!
Did you take a tour through St. Augustine? I loooved that city!
http://thehealthyfloridian.blogspot.com/
biz says
Hooray for no onions in guacamole! I hate onions, except I like vadalia onion fried rings for some reason!
Joelle (Chasing Pavements) says
Ahh, sangria AND guacamole? Perfect Sunday!
Oh She Glows says
lol…ohhh what part is Canada from???
Lovely backyard- I WISH!!!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Those sunglasses look really cute on you, Kath!! 😀
Looks like such a fun time! 😀
Christina says
I love St. Augustine! My family has spent a week there 4 different times for vacation. We always go into historic St. Augustine a few times during the week but we actually stay in the town of St. Augustine beach. It is such a nice, clean beach town and the beach is HUGE and very beautiful as well. I am from the Charlotte area and, in my opinion, St. Augustine beach is much better than any of the NC beaches! I miss it!
Kath says
Jo,
He was an Anthropology major at Davidson, so he took quite an interest in archeology.
Oh She Glows,
Toronto!
Kath
Felicia says
I love St. Augustine! My parents have a house near there; I’m actually heading down there myself later in July (as part of my grand road trip vacation). Looks like you had lots of fun!
Stacy (Eating To Live Love Laugh Tri) says
Casa Maya looks like a great place to eat. Yummy!
Susan says
I love waking up in the morning and having the energy fo a workout 🙂 Unsweetened sangria sounds wonderful! Especially on a hot day. And I love the looks of that lunch. Gotta love places that make everything fresh. Not enough places do anymore, which is a shame, because we sometimes pay a lot of money to eat good food when we’re out!
MelanieF says
This would definitely be my dream house. Wow, what a view! I would love to visit St-Augustine one day. We are going to Orlando (I’m from Canada) for 2 weeks in September and I remember the last time we went to Florida the weather was crazy hot! So humid.
I’m glad you’re loving your trip! Enjoy!
Lynn (The Actors Diet) says
What a pretty dress!
Sarah says
Glad you enjoyed St. Augustine! I lived there for a year following college with my first “real” job, also were I decided to start living healthy:) The town has wonderful food.