- Title: SPAIN: FIESTA COMMEMORATES CIRCUMNAVIGATION OF THE WORLD BY SPANISH EXPLORER.
- Date: 14th August 1981
- Summary: GUETARIA, SPAIN GV PAN Boat Victoria enters harbour watched by crowds 0.29 SV Officials parade through own with banners 0.39 SV PAN CU Crew members walk dejectedly to cathedral (3 shots) 1.20 CU Spectators 1.23 LV PAN FROM Statue TO procession with float carrying captain 1.43 SV Spanish "King" watches from balcony 1.48 LV Captain's float drawn by "slaves" arrives at balcony 1.58 CU/SV Crew members and captain standing in front of balcony (2 shots) 2.11
- Embargoed: 29th August 1981 13:00
- Location: Spain, Spain
- Country: Spain
- Topics: General,People
- Reuters ID: LVA4BNC79DSKM6ZD0H92492ISWP2
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: GUETARIA, SPAIN
INTRODUCTION: Every four years in the small Spanish town of Guetaria the inhabitants re-enact the most famous event in the history of their town -- the arrival in 1522 of Juan Sebastian Elcano, the first man to sail round the world. This year was no exception and a large crowd lined the harbour and the streets to see the re-enactment of that famous day more than four hundred years ago.
SYNOPSIS: It was a stirring moment as a replica of the "Vittoria", Elcano's ship, sailed into Guetaria Harbour. It was the only ship left out of five which set sail in 1519. The original fleet was under the command of Magellan. But on Magellan's death which occurred in April 1521 in the Philippines, the Basque navigator Elcano took over.
It was a considerable feat. The survivors had to run a gamut of hazards which included scurvy, starvation and harassment by the Portuguese.
Even so, the 17 Europeans and four Indians who staggered ashore in 1522 were exhausted and sick. Elcano however, survived and in 1525 together with Garcia Jofre de Loaisa was appointed to the command of a fleet of seen ships and sent to claim the Moluccas for Charles V of Spain. Elcano died while crossing the Pacific. The actors playing the crew members certainly looked the part -- dejected, sick sailors who had been at sea fro three years. Originally, Elcano arrived first in San Lucar De Barrameda in South West Spain before making his way to his home town of Guetaria.
The procession from the harbour included a cart representing five continents. In the pageant Elcano is pulled along in the cart by Indians. The same actor has played the part of Elcano since 1950. The procession stops at the steps of the cathedral where Elcano is received by an actor playing King Carlos the Fifth.
In real life Elcano was received by King Carlos who made him an admiral.The townsfolk were also jubilant on their heroes' return.
Captain and crew sand before the church and their king. Then the celebrators go to church as they did in 1522 to thank god for his arrival and sing songs praising Elcano.
<strong>Source: REUTERS - INAKI AIZPURU</strong>
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