The Voyage - San Julian, Argentina

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Entry posted by Simbro_08 · April 22, 2010

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Now the story goes that the Portuguese since the early 1470's had already found a route to the Spice Islands via the Cape of Good Hope of Africa. They had been dominating the markets and that was one of the biggest problems for Spain at the time because Portugal and Spain have always been rivals. They just couldn't sit by and let their neighbours control spices in the markets. Remember, Spices back then were worth more than Gold.

Ah I see, then what?

Well this is where Ferdinand Magellan (a Portuguese) enters the scene.

He promised King Carlos V of Spain to fund an expidition to the East Indies, via the mythical South Western passage that the Patagonian natives had told Amerigo Vespucci when he sailed down the coast of Brazil in the early 1500's.

Now your earliest ancestor Enrique Diego de Velazquez as the story goes boarded one of the 5 ships which made up Magellan's fleet, accidentally becoming an indentured servant to Magellan.

Ok, so my ancestors were poor?

Oh yes, very. I mean not much was known about Enrique, but all I know is that he was born in Seville Spain.

If you want to find out more about him, then I suggest you go there oneday, but right now lets just focus on finding that secret compartment within this cross.

Here, these are a few old journals that I dug up following my father's death.

Omg, it's the secret journals of Ferdinand Magellan.

But how, these must be over 400 years old?

Yes, well Enrique and Magellan as the story goes got along pretty well and Magellan trusted him with his life, more so that he must have left these documents in his hands.

Sshhh, I'm reading......

Magellan's fleet of 5 ships sailing through a storm off the coast of Brazil

The fleet included the, Trinidad, San Antonio, Concepcion, Victoria & Santiago.

Alone in the dark, Magellan knew that this voyage had taken a turn for the worse.

The mutiny and the killings could not have come the wrong time, however he knew as an experienced captain that this was bound to happen, since the ships had been sailing for almost 5 months without stopping.

Out of the shadows though is a ray of sunshine, of hope through one man that was proving himself.

The question is, how far will he go to remain loyal to his captain? Only time will tell.

Founding of Puerto San Julian - a port of call at last.

Founding a new colony isn't easy for a man to do, especially when supplies such as food and rum are already running low.

This is a risk only the hardest man, with strong faith will take.

This is Puerto San Julian - Argentina (present time)

As you can see the city isn’t that big, with only a population of just over 6,000. However, the city itself is rich in history (as can be seen) and was at one time a major port of call (stop over) for ships crossing the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The city itself was founded by Ferdinand Magellan on his way to the Spice islands in 1519.

Old San Julian-est 1519

This little area is known as old San Julian, mainly because this is the oldest part of the city.

However, poor funding and corruption keep the town from developing further (virtually in stasis) if you will as if it had just be founded yesterday. These dirt roads are known for collisions and car crashes, in fact San Julian has been voted the most dangerous city in Argentina.

This is a birds eye view of downtown San Julian with fort Magellan below.

The fort itself dates back to the founding of the colony and legend has it that timber & cannon was used from the wreckages of the San Antonio and the Santiago.

Port San Julian

A shadow of its former glory, the port sees only a handful of ships nowadays since the Panama canal opened.

Sugar, Tobacco, Peppers and Bananas are usually exported from San Julian to Buenos Aires down south.

Shipwreck Bay

The remains of ships that were just too unlucky to make it.

The waters around San Julian have a very bad reputation for being rough seas and plans to build a lighthouse have been put forward by the concerned public. However, corruption is just too high and changes only usually take place after an under the table bargain.

Don Rafino Gonzaga's Pineapple farms.

The Gonzaga's are known as one the most prominent of the families in the city. Not because they own land, but because of their ancesteral past, having served in military roles since the arrival of the Spaniards 450 years ago.

This is Gonzaga Plantacion - the ancesteral home of the Ganzaga family.

The Gonzaga's literally make up 75% of the economy of San Julian, with the poweplant at 5% whilst offices and government buildings provide only 20%. It is safe to say that without the Ganzaga's, this town would have died years ago.

San Julian Coal ltd.

This is the main source of electricity in the city. SJEC or San Julian Energy Co provide the town with energy burning up coal because coal in San Julian is in abundance.

Dusk in San Julian

Residents don't normally venture out at night due to tales of beasts that lurk the jungles.

One woman said that she spotted a creature, half ape, half dog, half chipmunk, half squirrel, half chicken.

I mean either this mad science experiment exist or maybe she's hi on chewing the tobacco. xD

Night time in San Julian

The torches guarding the entrance to Fort Magellan are always lit as tradition states that Magellan's ghost will come and keep the city safe as it sleeps.

Downtown San Julian at night

Still looks very busy on the roads. Maybe its because midnight mass has just finished being held at the Church of our Lady of Sorrows.

The city does look very beautiful at night, its as if we're starring into history itself.

Wow, I never knew that looking at pieces of parchment would be like looking through time itself, as if I'm right there at San Julian in Argentina.

Found it! Let's go Juan, quickly.

The inscription?

Yes, hurry or else the guard will either spot us or lock us both in.

Besides, I have what we're looking for so we're done here.

And the parchments? I want to know more about....about Enrique, but I've only got two copies here?

I know, but that was all the old man had. I guess we'll just have to visit Cebu Library tomorrow huh, maybe they have more clues in there. Now quickly, before the guards see us.