The relationship between Mexico and the Philippines was enduring. Four months later, he landed in the Philippines, named them for his king, and set out to successfully conquer the islands for Spain. The Spanish built a fleet of five ships from local timber, and, with 500 soldiers, Miguel López de Legazpi set sail for the Philippines on November 21, 1564. With no Panama Canal, the Spanish "enlisted" the services of Indian slaves to build roads and transport supplies from Vera Cruz to the west side of Mexico - at Barra de Navidad.
Where better to launch the expedition from than Mexico?Īnd that is exactly what happened. Philip II (not yet chastened by the defeat of the Armada) decided that Magellan's discovery needed to be incorporated into the Catholic Empire. Magellan, in the service of Spain, was killed in the Philippines 43 years earlier. The Spanish Empire had expanded over the Americas, Africa, and Asia. And it began on my little piece of beach - or just south of it - in Barra de Navidad. 544 years ago, one of the world's great expeditions began. Give it a try! It is now on my list of things to do before I join the rest of you in Mexico. At times, I feel like an aging actor playing his 3000 th performance of Hamlet, who continually gets stuck on "To be or not -." (As an aside, I saw that very thing happen to Carrol Channing in "Hello Dolly." She didn't forget the soliloquy from "Hamlet " she forgot the lyrics to "Hello Dolly." I saw my future writ large.) My 60-year old memory does not hold on to vocabulary very well. This may be the tool that helps me to keep up my studies - at least, to the point where I can start using what I have learned. In fact, he is one of those people who you would simply like to invite to a dinner conversation. I say joy because Señor Jordan is one of the most exuberant language teachers I have ever encountered. On Friday he informed his readers that he had found a blog, Señor Jordan’s Spanish Video Blog, that uses YouTube videos to walk the most novice amongst us through the joy of Spanish. Mexico Bob, bless his blogging soul, has come to my rescue with a new language tool. Several times this year I promised to set aside time to study, but I have once again proven that I have the self-discipline of a 12-year old boy. I already know the one item that is going to pop up: learn Spanish. During the next week I am going to sift through my old posts and your comments to glean the most important points.
Now I need to start putting together the steps of getting from here (Salem) to there ( Melaque). The dog (if he is still alive) will go with me, and I hope to have an FM3 before I arrive in Melaque. On 1 May my living arrangements are available in Mexico. The cautionary tales of bachelorhood are well-founded.īut it is time for me to start putting together my final lists for my move to Mexico now that I actually have some specific dates for this project. Probably comes from a lifetime of living alone. Especially, those screaming meme lists.īut my antipathy applies to the garden variety "to do" list, as well. I told you in the me in meme that I do not like them. During the next few days, I want to group these topics and talk a little bit about what I have learned from all of you - and how I should apply it to the coming few months - as I head south to Mexico.
I had planned on doing a little blog review at the end of the year. It is an interesting mix - as are the comments.