Back in the Classroom and Field Trip Time

 

February 6, 2012

At our orientation session yesterday afternoon, our instructor, who will be our guide for the week, appeared in historical costume.  She told us that she is an experienced re-enactor with certification in cannon and musket firing!  She was dressed as a wealthy Spanish lady of the mid-16^th century.  Right away, we learned that black and red were colors associated with wealth because they were the most expensive dyes.  She also told us that a decent married woman of the time wouldn’t show her hair or elbows in public.  

The educational part of our Road Scholar program began with an introductory lecture this morning.  Today, our instructor was dressed less elaborately, since she was the wife of a Spanish military officer in St. Augustine in the 1740s. 

It felt great to be back in a “classroom,” taking notes and asking questions again!  Here are some of the fascinating historical facts we learned: 

• The Roman Catholic calendar of holy days determined the names of places:  La Florida probably got its name from the Spanish name for Easter, since it was Easter when Ponce de Leon first sighted its coastline 1513.
• King Phillip II of Spain sent Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles to La Florida to bring Christianity to the native people.
• St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in what became the United States.
• The Spanish in Florida got along well with the local Timucuan tribe and celebrated a Thanksgiving feast with them in 1565 – the first Thanksgiving in America.  
• Except for a short period of English occupation in the 1700s, Florida was Spanish from 1565 until 1821.  Therefore, Florida has a longer Spanish-speaking history than English-speaking history. 

Although I enjoyed listening to the lecture, I found it difficult to sit in one place for 90 minutes – I can sympathize with my students!  Fortunately, the rest of the day was more active.  Following the lecture, we went on narrated tour of the city.  After a quick lunch, we visited the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where we learned more about the founding of St. Augustine in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Aviles and Spanish missionary work in Florida.  At the mission museum, we saw the original casket that held the remains of Menéndez until 1924, when he was reburied in his hometown of Avila in Spain.

St. Augustine was primarily a military installation for its first two hundred years.  Our next stop on Monday afternoon was the large fort, Castillo de San Marcos, overlooking the ocean.  The sky was brooding, and the wind was whipping the red and white flag (not the flag of Spain, but the flag of Spanish rule in the Americas) that flew above the stone walls.  During our afternoon visit, I expanded my knowledge of artillery (which previously was non-existent).  Now I know the difference between cannon and mortar.  Cannon fire straight ahead at a low level and they can reach quite far.  By contrast, mortar fire travels up in an arc and falls on a target within closer range.  Just remember, mortar is shorter. 

After a very full day, we were ready for an early dinner at a restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.  I usually avoid fried food, but we were told that Florida fried shrimp is very lightly breaded.  I’m glad we ordered it, because it was quite delicious.