Amerigo Entry 1-- Video

Amerigo Entry 2

March 18, 1497- March 27, 1497

          Hello, I'm Amerigo Vespucci!  I was born on March 9, 1451.  I am an Italian explorer, financier, navigator, and cartographer.  I am the third son of Sir Anatasio. I was born to a prominent family in Florence, Italy.  I have been very well educated by my uncle. As a child, I read widely and collected books and maps.  I worked in Seville, Spain. There I learned about the voyages of exploration and the men who were searching for a Northwest passage to the Indies. 

          I have an older brother named Max. He is five years older than me, and we don't really get along.  When I was nine years old and he was fourteen, he pushed me down our neighbors' dried up well.  He told my parents that I was at my best friends house, Jacopo.  Max told my parents that I was staying at his house for three days, so they didn't think that I was missing.  After four days, my momma showed up at Jacopo's house.  She asked where I was.  He said that he had not seen me for five days.  In a panic, my mom ran home to Max.  "Where is your little brother?!" she screamed. "I don't know" he lied.  My parents started a search party looking everywhere for me.  Almost a week after my disappearence, Jacopo found me. he screamed, "I found him! I found him!"  Another hour later, my father fished me out of the well.  I was unconscious.  I hadn't had any food in a week, and I had barely had any water since the well was drying out.  When my parents demanded an explaination, I told them what Max had done to me.  They said that he would have to cook, clean, and behave for a month.  I didn't think the punishment was severe enough considering what I had to go through.  The accident left me extremely claustrophobic.  I have been ever since.

Amerigo Entry 3

                                                                                                                      May 10, 1497-October 1498




          Today is May 10, 1497 and I am setting sail on my first voyage to explore the 'new world'.  King Ferdinand, King of Castille, has generously provided the 3 ships we are sailing on.  It is with much excitement that I set sail from the port of Cadiz sailing toward the Fortunate Islands.  From here we will head West.  I am eager to see what new lands are out there.  
           The first night was long and rough.  The waters were churning and the ships bumped and rattled all through the night.  This made the crew and myself very uneasy.  We are hoping to adjust to our new life on the water soon.  
           We have reached land.  We have landed in Guiana and the natives here are receptive to us.  We are going to continue sailing throughout the Gulf of Mexico.  The crew is still restless.  At night we are hearing strange squeaking noises from the ships floors.  We have investigated the noises but this far have discovered no explanation for them.  I have great hope that we find the cause soon.  The noises are making the crew very uneasy.
            Today, the culprit of the noises was uncovered.  There were hundreds of rats living in the lower deck of the ship.  Upon their removal, a sigh of relief was breathed.  I am looking forward to better rest from here on out for myself and my crew.
            We have continued to head north and have reached Cape Hatteras.  What a beautiful sight to see. 
            After  many months at sea, we have returned home.  It is now October of 1498.  I believe this was a successful voyage that led to the discovery of many new lands. It is with much anticipation that I look forward to another voyage very soon.
           

Amerigo Entry 4

  May 16, 1499-September 1500

        Just a year after I returned to Cadiz from my first voyage, I am setting out on my second voyage.  A total of two people are accompanying me, Alonso de Ojeda and Juan de la Cosa.  We are all eager to see what we will discover.
        We have spent many long nights aboard this ship.  I am hoping for land soon to help lift the crews spirits.  Alonso has been under the weather for about 2 weeks now and that is not helping morale. Happy sailing ahead for Cape Verde.
         Land ho...we have crossed the equator and have landed on the coast of Brazil.  What a wonderful place!  The crew is so excited to be on land.  We will take some time to explore here before we set sail again.  Spirits are high with so many new things around us.
         As we set sail again, along the Guianas, we are optimistic that we will discover more new places.  Alonso and I have gone separate ways in order to reach the Cape Verde Islands.  During the days I am making observations on the currents of the waters we are sailing in.  At night, I am noting Southern Constellations and the Southern Cross.  With each passing day this voyage becomes more successful.  We have now discovered the Amazon River and Cape St. Augustine.  I am amazed at the strength and courage of the crew to continue.  My health has been deteriorating with each passing week.  While we are all happy with the expedition, we are eager to return home for some much needed rest.
          We sailed for home to report or findings to the Medici family. Another long, successful voyage behind us.  I am very ill and looking forward to some time home to recover.  However, I am also eager to start a new search soon.

Amerigo Entry 5

                                                                                                              May 13, 1501-September 7, 1502

          On May 13, 1501, my third voyage set sail for Cape Verde once again.  I left from the Port of Lisbon.  I was joined on this voyage by Gonzal Coelho.  Gonzal is a Spanish explorer.  We are excited to set out on my third voyage and explore the land awaiting us!  King Manual funded this voyage.
          Our first few days at sea were rough.  The waves splashing against the sides of the ship were very loud and distracting.  Also, the ship was rocking back and forth often, which made us extremely seasick.     After about the first week, we got over our sickness' and it was Happy Sailing from then on!
          Finally, we have reached land.  The crew and I are eager to explore further.  We soon discovered the land to be Brazil.  We explored there awhile before moving on.  We also explored Rio de Janeiro.  When we arrived, we found a man sitting on the shore.  His boat had crashed and he had no way to get back to Spain.  His name was Esteban.  We decided to give him a ride home on our ship. 
          On this expedition, I confirmed that the place I had landed on was not part of Asia.  It was a new place that had yet to be mapped.
          I felt that this voyage was very prosperous.  We returned to Spain on September 7, 1502.  We were thanked greatly for transporting Esteban back home to Spain.  He gave me his favorite chicken for a feast.

Amerigo Entry 6

June 10, 1503- February 21, 1512

           On June 10, 1503, I set out on my fourth voyage.  Again, I was accompanied by Gonzal Coelho.  We set sail for Cape Verde.  We were excited to set sail once again!

           The third week of our voyage was one of our crew member's birthday.  His name was Mac.  On his birthday, we celebrated with some cake.  Ethan ate a little too much.  That night, Ethan was sick and kept us all up.  When Ethan finally fell asleep, Mac went to go check on him.  Ethan slept the rest of the night but was still feeling sick the next morning.  After some rest though, Ethan was all better. 

           We reached Cape Verde on August 5, 1503.  We explored Cape Verde.  After exploring for a few days, we headed home.  On the return journey, we discovered new islands.  We returned home on June 18, 1504.

          After being back in Spain for a year, I decided to become a citizen of Spain.  I became a naturalized  Spaniard on April 14, 1505.  On May 7, 1505 I married Maria Cerezo.  We were happily married.  Later that year, I made a 5th voyage with Juan de la Cosa.  We once again went to explore Cape Verde.  I returned home on October 12, 1505. 

          In 1507, I made my 6th and final voyage.  I went with Juan de la Cosa to Cape Verde for the last time.  I returned home on August 3, 1507.  That same year, German cartographer Martin Waldseemuller, printed the first map that used the name America for the New World.

           On August 6, 1508 I was elected Piloto Mayor of Spain.  Today is February 21, 1512.  Right now I am sick with Malaria and my days are numbered.