The Fountain Of Hooey: Ponce De Leon In Florida

By: Dave Text

It probably won’t come as a surprise to too many people nowadays that the Spanish Conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon was not, in fact, really looking for a genuine fountain of youth on his explorations in Florida. This myth was most likely born in the 1560’s after Ponce’s death.

The grain of truth that supposedly sits at the center of every tall tail may have to do with his metaphorical search for rebirth in finding new glories in the New World in the form of resources and wealth. These would certainly be the next best thing to a new leash on life to the world-weary chancer that took up the task of conquering the “Island” of Florida.

Even without the mystical McGuffin embodied by the Fountain of Youth, Ponce de Leon’s exploits, explorations and adventures in Florida are worth remembering.

Ponce de Leon was a veteran sailor and soldier of many years experience when he accompanied Christopher Columbus on his 2nd journey to the New World. He had fought the moors in Granada as a young man, and as such would prove a valuable asset to Spain’s conquest of the America’s in the violent years to come.

Ponce was the 1st European to land on Puerto Rico in 1508. He was made the Governor of Puerto Rico a year later, and his eventual capitol was named after his more pious namesake, San Juan. Local Indian tribes like the Tainos would have surely preferred San Juan over Governor Juan, who quickly enslaved them and forced them to work in the mines. In a familiar story, the indigenous peoples of Puerto Rico also died in droves from infectious European diseases that they had no natural immunity to.

Politics and legalities care nothing for the vastness of oceans, and that was true in Ponce’s time as well. In 1512 Diego Columbus had pressed the Spanish Crown to sign over the right to govern Puerto Rico as part of an earlier agreement the king had made with his father Christopher. As such Ponce was removed as governor.

Unsurprisingly, Ponce felt cheated. Determined to recover his glory and good name, Ponce equipped three ships (at his own expense) and set sail for the undiscovered countries to the North.

In 1513 Ponce de Leon was probably the 1st European to set foot on what is today known as Florida (or maybe not, as he supposedly met a Floridian Indian who spoke decent Spanish latter that year). The date of the landing was April 2, the Pascua Florida, or Flowery Passover a.k.a. Easter Season. It is from this holiday the region received its name.

Still lusting for glory, Ponce returned to Spain in 1514. There he received a commission to conquer the Caribs of Guadalupe. He attempted this in 1515, but was unsuccessful and returned to Puerto Rico. It would be another 6 years before he ventured forth again.

In 1521 Ponce was in his 60’s, no mean feat for an explorer in the 16th century. If Florida really did have a fountain of youth, he surely would have done his best to find it. With his time to claim a land of his own quickly running out he tried his luck in Florida once more. It was one time to many. Native Americans attacked his party and Ponce received an arrow wound. He made it to Havana, Cuba before he succumbed. Juan Ponce de Leon was entombed in Old San Juan.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

About the Author:
Get a great deal on an all-inclusive Florida vacation this year from our site. We have discounted rooms, airplane tickets, and car rental!

Tags: travel, fountain of youth, ponce de leon, christopher columbus, old san juan

Please Rate this Article

Comments

Share This Article - Quick and Easy Using This Button:

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Travel Articles Via RSS!

Read More Articles From - Home | Travel

Italian Villas Are A Terrific Deal By: Lars Pedersten - Preparing for Your Country Holidays in Italy While there is a place for tourism, there is also a place for learning about the local culture. Most seasoned travelers agree that to really relax and get away from it all, there is nothing like the Italian countryside and its pastoral hills.
Tags: travel, travel, tips, advice
Vegas Golfing Prospects Look Hot By: Charles Davis. - Las Vegas, Nevada is widely sought out for its masterfully-designed, yet affordable golfing destinations. Sunny and warm for over 300 days in a year, and with temperatures between 58 and 100 degrees, there are over a hundred golf courses to choose from... a destination for golfers from any walk of life.
Tags: travel, las vegas golf vacation, las vegas golf package, golf vacations, golf packages, las vegas golf, golf
Luxury Travel Packages for Gleneagles By: Michael Donner - If you are seeking luxury travel packages for Gleneagles, one thing to keep in mind is that if you are traveling to Scotland, you should also take in some of the other delights that this magnificent country has to offer.
Tags: travel, luxury packages for gleneagles, traveling to scotland, tours to st andrews, visit to edinburgh castle, packages fro gleneagles, glasgow
P and O Cruise Destinations By: Karl Guevara - P & O Cruise is Britain’s favourite cruise line. If you are cruising from the UK, you will have to board the ship at Southampton. This is because Southampton provides the best access from all over UK. The check in will be fast and easy.
Tags: travel, p and o cruise
How to Get the Best Cruise and Stay Deals By: Karl Guevara - To get the best deals on stays and cruises, a fair amount of research and effort should be put in. The best place to start the search is the World Wide Web (the internet). Popular sites such as Expedia, Travelzoo, Orbitz and Travelocity can be looked for both, and sites like Last Minute Cruises can be referred to for cheap cruises.
Tags: travel, p and o cruise
A Travel Guide to Seattle By: Robert Kokoska - Seattle is a port city, located between Puget Sound, an arm of the Pacific Ocean and Lake Washington, is the county seat of king county. Seattle, a vacation destination of great prominence is by population the largest city in the US state of Washington. The land of coffee growers and coffee lovers.
Tags: travel, travel, seattle, tourist, guide
Beautiful ski huts in Solden Glacier, Austria By: Robert Thomson - In fact, it is one of the only places in Austria that caters to the Big Three—this means that there are three mountains that reach over 3,000 feet, and you can see them all here. The Big Three—really the "snow gods" of the area—keep you protected and make for one of the best ski seasons in Europe.
Tags: travel, solden glacier skiing, solden glacier austria ski resort, solden glacier hotels, rooms, cheap accommodation, solden glacier snowboarding
Take a Family Trip to Appalachian Mountains By: Robert Thomson - Hark back to a time when life sauntered along at a slower pace. When folks could stroll into town to visit the general store for sundries and gossip. The town of Boone, North Carolina, retains much of that life-is-simpler atmosphere. And you can enjoy a true chance to get away from the hectic tempo of today's world with a Boone vacation rental.
Tags: travel, boone vacation rental, boone lodging, boone accommodation, boone cabin rentals, boone vacation
San Martino di Castrozza Dolomiti Superski, Italy By: Robert Thomson - Plus, the area is perfectly situated to receive snow for the entire ski season—which begins early and ends late—making it possible to cater to a wide range of guests. The Dolomite Mountains in the distance are part of the Alps, and the refined atmosphere will remind you of this one fact.
Tags: travel, san martino di castrozza skiing, san martino di castrozza italy ski resort, san martino di castrozza hotels, rooms, cheap accommodation, san martino di castrozza snowboarding
Dubai Travel Update: Where Luxury Goes Deluxe By: Paul Partridge - In a recent poll of travel agents, 51% chose Dubai as the most important tourist destination of this century. They already know what the rest of us will soon find out—that Dubai is a world class travel destination like no other, poised to capture the attention of U.S. luxury travelers.
Tags: travel, dubai travel deals, luxury dubai travel, dubai luxury travel, dubai travel, dubai