Blog

Let’s talk about the first of the really well known explorers:
Christopher Columbus, whose name can be seen all around Central and South
America as Cristóbal Colón. Although Columbus was born an
Italian, in Genoa, he obtained sponsorship from the rulers of both Portugal
and Spain and made four trips to the New World. He was amongst those who
believed that the world was round – not a widely held view at the
time – and he longed to sail west to the Azores and further, to the legendary
lands described by Marco Polo.

As every schoolchild in the UK knows, “In fourteen hundred and
ninety two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”. Even though the Scandinavians
had reached North America a long time before Columbus, Columbus’
trip was important in that he was amongst the first Europeans to set foot
on so many islands in the Caribbean, and land masses in Central and the
northern part of South America. The sad thing is that Columbus thought
he had reached the East Indies and that the islands of the Caribbean were
in islands off mainland China.

Of course, there were commercial motives in all these great ocean-going
trips, which often took years to undertake and in dreadful conditions
on board. These lay in buying new and exotic spices, although Columbus
was not too successful in this – he found capsicums and is also
attributed as having bought back tobacco, known locally as a “bewitching
vegetable” from the West Indies in 1496. On the one hand, he is believed
to have possessed great courage and explored parts of the world that were
completely chartered territory – his crew were in constant fear of toppling
over the edge of the world. On the other, historians reckon that he was
really quite greedy, constantly looking for increased wealth and a terrible
administrator (although a fearless explorer) and was cruel to the local
people he found in these new territories.

Next month: Vasco da Gama

Norway, in a cocktail lounge: LADIES ARE REQUESTED NOT TO HAVE
CHILDREN IN THE BAR.

Hungary, at a Budapest zoo, PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF
YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON DUTY.

Italy, in a doctor’s office, Rome: SPECIALIST IN WOMEN
AND OTHER DISEASES.

Mexico, in a hotel in Acapulco: THE MANAGER HAS PERSONALLY PASSED
ALL THE WATER SERVED HERE.

Japan, in an information booklet about using a hotel air conditioner:
COOLES AND HEATES: IF YOU WANT CONDITION OF WARM AIR IN YOUR ROOM, PLEASE
CONTROL YOURSELF.

If you have seen any funny signs, let the Beetle know!Beetle@globetrotters.co.uk

That the combined age of our two oldest Globetrotter members is 174
years!

Christina in Texas is to hold her second Globetrotter meeting at the
at the New Braunfels Public Library, 700 E. Common Street in New Braunfels,
Texas. from 3 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2001.

Gerri Wright, from Hastings Book Store will present a review
of Travel Books and Tour Guide Books and Trish Ross will discuss
Practical Pre-Trip Planning Tips.

Christina’s advice is to come early so you won't be late!
The Beetle’s is – come early and eat all the cookies! Handouts
and refreshments will be available. Anybody want to help Christina or
enquire about meetings, please contact her on: texas@globetrotters.co.uk

On Saturday, July 14th, we had the fabulous Yuan Li, a Professor Emeritus
from Rutgers University and author of several books on photography. He
gave a spectacular slide show about China! Breathtaking photos from Beijing,
Shanghai, and Xian. He truly captured the beauty of the people as well
as the terrain and helped educate all of us on where to go and what
to see in China. A true inspiration to us all!

Due to all of our summer travelling, there will be no August Meeting,
but next month, on September 8^th, we hope to have a talk from
Toni Kamis, the well-traveled journalist who has written several travel
books and articles

New York meetings are held at The Wings Theater, 154 Christopher
Street (btw Greenwich St and Washington St), to the right of Crunch Fitness,
in the Archive on the first Saturday of each month at 4 pm.

Meeting news from our branches around the world.