Day 54 – Tuesday 20 Feb 18 – La Rabida – Christopher Columbus
Glorious weather accompanied us as we walked the 100m across to the museum where the ships of Christopher Columbus are held. They are exact replicas built in Cartegena and sailed round the coast to their present location to celebrate the 500th year anniversary of his voyage.
There was an audio visual show and cabinets with information before the outside section where the ships were.
We saw a 14th century Maya Codex, one of four, made of tree bark and written on with feathers.
We also saw examples of navigation equipment of the day.
Columbus, born in Italy and trained as a navigator in Portugal, believed he could reach the Indies by sailing westward. In 1492 he sailed from Palos de la Frontera with 3 ships; Santa Maria the largest with the supplies, Pinto and La Nina.
On 12th October Columbus reached the islands that we know today as Bahamas.
After traversing several of the islands of the archipelago of the Bahamas the Santa Maria ran aground on a reef and was lost. Columbus returned to Palos with only two ships.
Columbus made three further voyages reaching mainland South America and other islands which are known as the West Indies in deference to his mistake.
All in all the museum was excellent and well worth the 3.20 euro each entrance fee.
Later in the afternoon we took a stroll along the River Tinto past the acres of strawberries and salt marshes.
Weather – Sunny and warm, 21 degrees.
Distance driven: nil
Overnight stopover: La Rabida near Huelva, N37.21054, W6.92577. No facilities. Monastry 500m, Columbus ship museum 100m.
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