Letter from Puertorico

Latitude: 18° 29' North

Longitude: 66° 08' West

Local time Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -4 hours

Dear mother,

The storm has finaly stopped , but our ship is in very bad conditions , the sailor that was on the stern at that moment died while was warning us about the storm . A big wave came unexpedtedly and he fell in the water. Then a big stone crashed with our ship and as a result, the boat had a big hole. The master is broken, our food is in the water. We couldn't eat anything . The sailors who left on the boat are trying to repair it but the ship is broken.

Puerto de Santa Cruz, Tenerife 4th of August.

My Dear mother,

I arrived in Tenerife two days ago. The trip here was not particulary nice this time as the sea got suddenly very rough and the wind started pushing us back. Thanks to an experienced crew and our quick Captain, there were no important loses in our ship. Our captain Mr. Russel, is 45 years old. In his face you can see all his experience in the sea. He has a lot of scars. He is a serious man, everybody was afraid when the journey started. Now, some people know that although he is very strict, he is also a good man. He is always worried about all the crew and the ship. He is a really good captain! We have a really good relationship because I always do what he tells me and with very good results.

We went to a very beautiful place called Orotava Valley yesterday, It’s a very nice valley with a beautiful landscape. It’s a place so greenish and fruitful that I was impressed. It’s located in the northern part of the Canary Island. We reached Pico del Teide, which is the highest mountain in Spain with 3718m. The weather was hot, and it took us 3 hours to reach the mountain.

I’m very well, don’t worry about me, I will send you another letter probably in 1 month. I love you mother, kisses.

Your loving son,

Jordi

The Diary Entry

Cadiz, Monday 21st July, 1788.

Dear mother and sister,

I hope this letter reaches you before you departure.
We have had a very pleasant sea and an uneventful voyage so far. As i am writing these lines we are getting into the bay of Cádiz.
My new Captain, Mr.Russell, has relieved me off duty and I can take some time to write you. The sailors are hurrying to and fro. The ship is huge, it has 6 very big sails, the biggest are in the mast. I'm working a lot every day, I get up at 5 o'clock, and I go to bed at 23 0'clock at night without stop, only for dinner. I'm learning a lot, i'm enjoying the trip. When the ship stops, William throws the anchor, and John rolls the sails. I do what the captain asks me. Usually, that means that Josep and me are looking through the telescope and calculating distances. That involves lots of work, we have to measure the wind, look at the sea and watch the tide. When I have free time, I write letters and I read books about ships and sailors stories.
The food is well, but we don't eat fruits. I'm tired of eating fish, but it's the only thing that we have. That and potatoes.
The last week a sailor called Hipolito had scurby and he died. It was very sad, but everybody is fine now. Don't worry about my health, I'm really well and I don't have any health problems.
I think all day about my family, I hope that you're well too.

A greeting, Jordi.

Jordi's Life

Jordi Balaguer McPherson was born in barcelona in 1768. He is 19 and wants to be a ship captain. He has been studying in the Escola Náutica of Barcelona and has already travelled to Italy and England but his year he has to complete his trip to America and back to get his certificate.

His mother suffers a lot because she protects her son too much. Jordi is the eldest and only male and for that reason he's in charge of helping his father. He's very much in love with a very sweet lady but they haven't told their families yet because Jordi is afraid to his parents will not accept the relationship since her family is way below their status.


A foto of Jordi Balaguer: