Technology

I love Technology.

As some of you may know I am pursuing a specialty of Archaeology when I head to graduate school. I just received my first letter of acceptance, now I really need to start saving my money. Anyway, The Centre for Metropolitan History and Museum of London Archaeology created a detailed map of London as it was in 1746.

They used John Rocque's map of 1746 London and georeferenced (placing the image in its correct location by determining its features) it. They then overlaid it onto the current map of London on Google.

You can travel London as though you were in 1746 and the best part is that you can see differences of then and now by moving the 'Streetview'. The differences include showing the modern roads. The industrial revolution and the onset of the technological age have rendered London to grow exponentially.

Site I have gained my information from: 

http://usvsth3m.com/post/77080517628/1746-map-of-london-now-available-as-an-incredibly

http://www.locatinglondon.org/index.html

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St. Augustine - Fountain of Youth Part 2

Since the site is an archaeological site important to both European and Native American history, there is a mix of the two in the park. The front of the site is dedicated to the 'Fountain of Youth' and the lifestyle of the Timucuan Indians at the time of the Spaniards initial landing. Towards the back of the site, there is evidence of the excavation and the location of where the Spaniards had set up camp.

A canoe

The Timucuan village.

 Excavations of the area showed evidence about the lifestyles of the inhabitants. Archaeologists were able to tell which wood was used in the making of the huts, and how far apart they were by the stains left behind.

 This area is a reproduction of the original site.

This is the location of where the Spaniards had set up camp. Not too far from the Timucuan village.

The original location of  the mission of Nombre de Dios. This, of course, is a reproduction.

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St. Augustine, Fl: Our Lady de La Leche at El Nombre de Dios Mission

There is no charge to visit this site but you can leave a donation. It is a shrine dedicated to the Virgin Mary and this site is the birthplace of Christianity in the New World. The location of the shrine is known as 'the sacred acre'. Many expectant and hopeful mothers make the pilgrimage to this site to ask for the blessings of Mother Mary to conceive or to bless their unborn child. A prominent feature is the Great Cross that was erected to proclaim that this site is indeed where Christianity came to the New World; there is portion on site where there is a rustic altar built to show where the first mass in the New World took place (according to archaeological finds). On site there is also devotional statues to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Seven Sorrows of Mary, and the Stations of the Cross.

The Great Cross

This is a memorial dedicates to Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales (what a mouthful). He was the chaplain on Pedro Menendez's expedition and the founding pastor of the St. Augustine parish. He celebrated the first Mass in this new colony on September 8, 1565. (A paraphrasing of the sign on the left.)

One of the many shrines on site

The sign says: 

"Following the civil war, the Sisters of St. Joseph came to St. Augustine to teach the liberated slaves. Interred in this holy ground are 6 members of their congregation".

The chapel to Our Lady de La Leche

The Rustic Altar where the first mass was held

The believed remains of a religious monument dates to the mid-1800's. Was discovered in 2009

The coffin of Menendez

What a strapping lad this Menendez was back in the day.

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Castillo De San Marcos Parte 2! I try to be funny and snarky- hashtag edition

Some of the more glamorous shots I took of the fort.

The Spanish crest on a cannon, go Spain. Putting your crest on everything is like monogramming it. Good for you. #southern #preppy #spanishcrest

It's a doorway that was cemented up. So sad, perhaps it was another entrance into Narnia.

So 4 people slept in this bunk bed and everything they owned was put on the hooks and in that drawer space. #cuddlebuddy #bros4life #militarylife

El Necesario. The Necessary. The Bathroom. The Restroom. 

Call it whatever suits your fancy but this is where the occupants of the fort went to empty their bladders and bowels.

Looking out into the bay #gorgeous #nofilter

An inside look at the fort, so spacious and I love the inner yard

Looking out into the bay. I love the sky #blue #ocean #travel

A shot looking out from the second story of the fort looking into Historic St. Augustine. #florida #sunny #st.augustine #cannon

This was taken outside of the fort, a photo of the moat area and you can also see historic St. Augustine in this shot.

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Castillo de San Marcos- St. Augustine, Fl- Part 1

     Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the U.S, located on Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine,Fl. Construction began in 1672 and continued until its completion in 1695, at this time Florida was still part of the Spanish Empire. One can assume the placement of the fort at bay was strategic. The bay has a mouth leading out to sea and the fort is placed at a spot in the bay where men could see for miles around to ensure the city was protected. 

     About 80 years after its completion the British took over and renamed the fort St.Mark (mostly because they lacked imagination). Not to worry in 1783 the Spanish gained Florida back, but just as soon as they gained it back they have it away to the U.S in 1821.  Despite being a military fort it was only besieged twice in its history and all the change in possession were made in times of peace. When the fort was in possession by the U.S it was used as a military prison to imprison members of various Native American tribes, the first being the Seminole. 

The sleeping quarters. 

It even has its own fireplace! It can get cold in Florida (trust me). Located right next to the dungeon.

Set of buildings that contain officers sleeping quarters, chapel and mess hall.

Spanish crest

The Chapel!

The Sacristy!

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'Ode to Joy' Flash Mob

So, I was looking around the internet for some distraction. I found distraction in the form of classical music with this video. In 2012 there was a flash mob of a bunch of musicians playing Ode to Joy, one of my favourite pieces used by Beethoven in his 9th Symphony. Beethoven brought the song to the equivalent of 'cult status' because it was deemed as a failure by its original writer and composer in 1785. This flash mob occurred in a Sabadell, Catalonia which is a city close to Barcelona. The bank pictured in the background hired an orchestra to celebrate their 130th anniversary.
What is unique about this flash mob is that while this type of artistic expression is normally associated with Generation Y there are some members who appear not to be of this generation. Also what is unique is that most flash mobs are usually choreographed dances to contemporary music, Ode to Joy is not contemporary nor is an orchestra a dance. Some of my favorite moments in the video: 0:19, 1:57, 3:07, 3:41, 4:10

To imagine it all began with a coin.

P.S This makes me want to learn to play my flute again

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St. Augustine, Fl, USA- Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse Part 3

Previously mentioned was the statues at the schoolhouse commemorating men important to Latin America's history. These are the pictures of the statues with their flag and the inscription! This was a request!

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