Obelisk marks freedom, compassion, history in St. Augustine

There’s lots to love about the St.Francis Inn in St. Augustine, Florida, a 1791 landmark in the oldest city in America with centuries of history within its walls, including a ghost tale or two. On the way back from town an odd statue caught my eye in the St. Francis Park across from the Inn, an obelisk covered in small photos of people. There’s a story behind this unusual landmark situated in a city park, and it connects to both the city’s Spanish heritage and the St. Francis Inn.

            At one time the Inn was owned by Col. Thomas Henry Dummett of Barbados, an officer in the British marines. He fled an insurrection in Barbados, arriving in St. Augustine and buying the property in 1842. Two of his daughters married military men who fought for the South in the Civil War. His other daughter, Anna, never married and later converted the home into a lodging establishment. A supporter of the Confederacy, Anna longed to honor those who fought for the South, so she raised money for an obelisk to be installed in St. Augustine’s central plaza. It remains there to this day.

            But that’s not the only obelisk in town. In fact, Anna’s obelisk was patterned after another.

The 30-foot Monumento de la Constitución obelisk was erected in 1813 when St. Augustine was the capital of the Spanish colony of Florida. The monument aimed to highlight the new constitutional government of Spain at that time and its focus on freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion. When the constitutional government in Spain was overthrown, these colonial monuments were ordered to be destroyed but St. Augustine resisted and the obelisk inside La Plaza de la Constitución is believed to be “the only surviving, unaltered monument in the world from this campaign,” according to a city historical marker. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2012.

Jump ahead to 2015 when celebrations began for St. Augustine’s 450th anniversary. Twenty-five artists were selected to created artwork on individual 8.5-foot obelisks, replicas of the Monumento de la Constitución. Artists were asked to interpret the values attached to the original monument — freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion. Collectively, the obelisks created a “Tour of Compassion” from Compassionate St. Augustine Obelisk 450 during the anniversary celebration from October 2015 to February 2016.

            One of the oblelisks was created by Leslie Robinson and featured photos of locals holding miniature obelisks. It’s now located inside St. Francis Park opposite the St.Francis Inn.

            “I hope to concentrate on the ideals of freedom, democracy, human rights and compassion by focusing on the individuals who make up St. Augustine’s community,” said Robinson in the artist’s statement. “While public monuments are erected to mark momentous events in history, it is individuals, and not official histories, who make daily progress toward positive change.

            “By posing with a model of the Monumento de la Constitución, individuals accept the freedom to create their own relationship to history. The obelisk stands as a record of those individual moments.

            “Governments mandate civil rights only after the will of the people push these ideals forward, and change will always be instigated by individuals moved by compassion and the will to seek a better future. We are history. History is ours to make.”

            Click here to view more about Obelisk Art 450.

Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by food and travel writer Chere Dastugue Coen, who loves unusual history. 

Southern Airports: Lafayette, Louisiana

Girard Park, Lafayette, LA

There’s a layer of fog kissing the ground at the Lafayette Airport, about two hours west of New Orleans, so unusual for late August. I contemplate that this may signal a delay in my flight to Atlanta, but again, it’s August in one of the hottest spots in the country right now.

Sure enough, the Delta plane reroutes to Houston and I have more than an hour to kill.

Lafayette has long been one of my favorite airports, mainly because its small size means easy access, free parking if you can get in and out in thirty minutes (and like a dollar if not) and a quick trip through security. Most of the time, my flights have been on time, but sometimes small airports pose interesting situations.

Take the time my flight from Atlanta experienced mechanical difficulties. We didn’t leave Georgia until late that night and arrived in Lafayette around 1 a.m. I’m not sure who was manning the booth at that hour but the folks inside the airport couldn’t get the breezeway to fit our flight and the tired folks inside my plane — including the pilot — were about to revolt after more than 30 minutes ticked by. I kept thinking, just open the exit doors and let us slide our tired butts down that blow-up thing.

New airport being built.

Then last year airlines scheduled more flights early in the morning from Lafayette, causing huge lines through security that resulted in many people missing flights. Right now it’s suggested that passengers get there at least 90 minutes before their flight if leaving early in the A.M.

Here’s the good news — a new airport is in the works, thanks to Lafayette residents passing a temporary sales tax to fund the expansion. But we’re looking at 2022 before that happens.

Breakfast at Acadiana Tap Room

Despite my delay on this foggy Tuesday morning, I still love my little airport. I arrive early to no lines at TSA — go figure — grab a coffee at the stand and make myself comfortable. Three TSA agents with little to do since the lines have disintegrated, gather near my seat and animatedly debate where to find the best boudin in Acadiana (for you non-Louisiana people, that’s a sausage filled with pork, rice and spices). Naturally, I listen closely and make notes.

When my plane gets delayed further, I head to the Acadiana Tap House, a bar-slash-café that straddles both sides of the security corridor. Here I’m able to watch the latest baseball games and listen to hot New Orleans jazz. Local beers are on tap here, namely Ragin Cajuns ale, Parish Brewing’s Canebreake and Abita. Since I’m a native of the Big Easy, I find myself nodding my head to “Basin Street Blues."

What: Lafayette Regional Airport

Where: Lafayette, Louisiana. Cajun Country. Two hours west of New Orleans.

What’s Good: Café offers gumbo and other regional favorites, plus local beers. Breakfast is pretty darn good. See photo above.

What’s Bad: Long lines through TSA in the early morning; it’s advised to get there 90 minutes early.

What’s Unique: Likely the only airport in the United States that gives announcements in French.

Wifi: Free, connected to the city's municipal fiber options. Pretty darn fast.

What’s Coming: A new terminal in 2022.

Return to Mayberry

Well, Barn, do you wish you could return to those slow-moving summer days fishing at the creek with a bottle of pop and a baloney sandwich? Do I hear whistling as you make your way to the water’s edge, fishing pole over your shoulder?

You don’t have to relegate your desire for an easier time in the old South to just watching “The Andy Griffith Show,” you can actually live them at the 30th annual Mayberry Days Sept. 23-29, 2019, in Mount Airy, North Carolina, “where Mayberry comes to life.”

There’ll be local bands playing those old songs Andy and Aunt Bee loved, a parade through town, silent auction, “The Emmett” golf tournament, games and so much more. Best of all, Gomer, there’ll be special guests and shows, including:

• John Floyd, "the Mouth of Mayberry," performs comedy at the Historic Earle Theatre on Sept. 23;
• Ballet Magnficat! performs “Deliver Us” Sept. 24 at the Andy Griffith Playhouse; and
• Ronnie Schell Comedy Review, with a Special Tribute to Andy Griffith containing stories of his time working with Griffith will be Sept. 26 at the Historic Earle Theatre.

There's so much more. Check out the schedule of shows here.

If you can’t make it for Mayberry Days, be sure and come back to visit The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the hundreds of items from the life and career of Andy Griffith collected by Emmett Forrest.

A fun way to tour the town Barney style is to take a Squad Car Tour in a genuine 1960s-era police car driven by natives who know both the town and its famous TV star. Visitors will leave from Wally's Service Station on Main Street and pass by Mt. Airy landmarks such as Barney's Cafe, Floyd's Barber Shop and Andy's birthplace, among other landmarks.

And don't miss an opportunity to sample sonkers, a cobbler-type dessert that's unique to this area of North Carolina. Read about the Surry Sonker Trail and the places to enjoy this special dish here.




Weird, Wacky and Wild South is written by Chere Coen, a food and travel writer who grew up with "The Andy Griffith Show" (okay, maybe the reruns) and who loved sampling sonkers.

The truth is out there…in Alabama

Note: This post originally was published in 2017. It has been updated to include this year's festival.

On Feb. 11-12, 1989, more than 50 people, including the chief of police, reported seeing odd objects flying over the small community of Fyffe in northeastern Alabama. The rash of UFO sightings, and the thousands of people who arrived looking for UFOs, resulted in the town being named the UFO Capital of the World. Not to be outdone, the state later proclaimed it the UFO Capital of Alabama.

On Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, the annual Fyffe UFO Day Festival will kick into gear. Visitors may not spot little green men flying around in saucers — or maybe they will! —but there will definitely be hot air balloons, arts and crafts, children’s games, 5K run, antique car and tractor show and food vendors.  

Photos courtesy

DeKalb Tourism

Headlining this year's event is David Ball, whose hit records stretch from the late 80s to 2004. Also scheduled to perform are The Sharps, Steel City Revival and Willie Underwood and Family.

Gates open at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Fyffe Town Park on Graves Street, but the hot air balloons take flight around 6 a.m. Tethered rides are offered for the public around 6 p.m. and hot air balloon rides across the Sand Mountain will be available, weather permitting. For information, visit www.ballooningal.com.

Registration for the 5K begins at 7 a.m. with the race beginning at 8 a.m. at Fyffe First Baptist Church. For more information, click here.

Parking and admission are free and visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. For more information on UFO Day Festival, call DeKalb Tourism at (888) 805-4740 or visit www.VisitLookoutMountain.com.

Want to know more about that rash of UFO sightings in 1989 and a few Alabama UFO reports preceding Fyffe’s encounters? Click here.

Here’s something fun (or maybe weird), a commercial aimed at keeping teenagers from driving and drinking using Fyffe and its UFO reputation as a backdrop.

Cheré Coen is a food and travel writer who loves weird and unusual things. 

Sip+Dip at Audubon Cool Zoo

It’s hot in the Deep South and sometimes you have to kick the kids out of the pool.

The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans is doing just that on Saturday, July 27, 2019, allowing adults-only after-hours access to its Cool Zoo, which includes the attraction’s splash pad and Gator Run lazy river. The Sip+Dip, which cost $30 per person, involves outdoor games, live entertainment and three complimentary drinks along with two light bite options. Additional drinks and a limited menu will be available for purchase. Tickets are available online.

“Audubon Cool Zoo is known as the hot spot to cool off for children and families during the summer in New Orleans,” said Audubon Nature Institute Vice President of Marketing Katie Smith in a press release. “New this summer, for one night only, we’re transforming it into the perfect oasis for adults to take a dip, sip a cocktail, and enjoy Cool Zoo after hours, opening-up a world of unique experiences for the kid in all of us.”

Cool Zoo splash park includes jumping waterspouts, an alligator water slide, spider monkey soakers and water-spitting snakes. The Gator Run 750-foot, three-feet-deep lazy river rolls by two sand beaches, lounge chairs, four water cannons, two water curtains and jumping jets. It takes approximately seven minutes to make a round trip.

Cool Zoo and Gator Run are located beside the Gottesman Family Endangered Species Carousel inside Audubon Zoo. This after-hours event is exclusively for adults ages 21 and over. 

Watch the Sip + Dip video here.