Hundreds of years ago the Spanish set up a colony on a bay in the north of the Gulf of Mexico. Santa Maria de Ochuse failed in 1561, three years after this guy, Tristan de Luna y Arellano, founded it.   In mid-January 2011 the Geoexplorer was docked at a park commemorating his achievement.

The park was next to a marina with some fancy pleasure boats.

This guy was “tickled to death” when he got a tour of the geoexplorer’s engine room.

As with most decent sized towns, Pensacola has nice parks and courthouse buildings. 

Tourists flock to Pensacola in the spring and summer for the white sand beaches but in January it is not very crowded.  There are all kinds of beach things there like lighthouses and sunsets.

All over town are painted fiberglass pelican statues.

These Pelicans on Gardne and Parafox are for the armed forces.

Why is the Coast Guard pelican wearing a life jacket?  Pelicans can float.  If one falls overboard it will be fine without a lifejacket.  Silly Coast Guard.