pb explorer reports

Neil Armstrong - JS

Amerigo Vespuci - LG

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa - SD

Marco Polo - JE

Neil Armstrong - By JS

(Top)

Introduction

I am doing my explorer report on Neil Armstrong, the first person who walked the moon. I also wanted to learn more why they had Apollo 11.

Before Apollo 11

Neil Armstrong earned his pilot license in Wapakoneta, Ohio, even before he knew how to drive. Neil didn't like to cancel flights. 1955 is the year that Armstrong joined N.A.S.A.
In that same year Neil served as a pilot in the Korean War. Armstrong was the commander of Gemini 8, he was also apart of the backup team for Apollo 8 & 9.

The Voyage Begins

On July 16, 1969, sat Saturn V the most powerful rocket on launchpad 39A. Neil also commanded Apollo 11. Armstrong had to go to training camps, and meetings to get ready for Apollo 11. N.A.S.A. workers, and trainers say that Armstrong was probably the best astronaut among all of the astronauts. The countdown was watched, heard, and sawn by more than 1,000,000,000 people. At 9:32 a.m.on July 16, 1969, Saturn V launched with the crew members (Neil A. Armstrong; Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.; and Michael Collins) of Apollo 11.

Bound For The Moon

Armstrong headgear looked like an old pilot cap. Neil's spacesuit cost $1,000,000,000 because it was specily designed for him.

Apollo 11 is also called Columbia. After Apollo 11 left Earth's orbit Armstrong took off his bulkey suit, and his helmet. Under Neil's spacesuit was a two piece white nylon jumpsuit.

Armstrong shot a live T.V. broadcast from Columbia. This broadcast became a smash hit.

It took Apollo 11 three weeks to fly 214,000 miles away from earth. Neil sometimes got woke up by Mission Control. It was mostly for news from Earth. Armstrong tried to desribe what the Moon looked like.

The Landing

Neil lost contact with Mission Control when he, and Columbia went past the dark side of the Moon. It was for about 1/2 hour.Armstrong slept for five to six hours before he walked on the Moon. This was the shorest rest of the flight.

As soon as Neil got up he went striaght to Eagle. After Armstrong departed from Apollo 11 he told Mission Control that Eagle has wings. Neil was told to land Eagle at the Sea of Tranquility, which was on the smooth part of the Moon. Armstrong saw on the site where Eagle was spoused to land he saw huge bouders, so Neil flew Eagle to a better landing site on the Moon. After Eagle had landed on the Moon over a quarter of a million miles away people were notified of what had happened moments ago.

Neil was taped by a camra that was placed inside Eagle. Armstrong was also the first person who ate on the Moon. Armstrong walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969. When Armstrongwalked on the Moon he said, "That's one small step for man ......... one gaint step for mankind!!!!!" Armstrong was on the Moon for 21 1/2 hours.

After Armstrong was back on Apollo 11 he had to let Eagle depart from Apollo 11. Armstrong was sad to see Eagle go because it served him well.

Return To Earth

On Thursday, July 24, 1969, Amstrong reentered the Earths atmosphere. President Richard M. Nixon welomed Armstrong back home on U.S.S. Hornet.

It took Apollo 11 three weeks to go and come back from the Moon. On August 10, 1969, Armstrong got to see his family again. After that Armstrong rode in parades, and gave speechs for two months.

Closing

The reason why N.A.S.A. wanted Neil Armstrong to go and walk on the Moon wasn't to set a record it was to get data from the Moon.

Amerigo Vespucci - By LG. (Top)

Amerigo Vespucci

About: Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian merchant and ships pilot or navigator. He is mainly remembered as the person in whose honor the Americas were named.

Travels: In 1492 Vespucci was sent to Seville, Spain, where he became head of a branch of the Medici bank. On the voyages made in 1499-1501, he explored about 10,000 kilometers of the South America coastline. Two voyages were undertaken for Spain, in 1497-1499 and two for Portugal in 1501-1503.

Travels: In 1501 he noticed that the great land mass now called South America was a continent, not a series of small islands. Following the Brazilian coastline south they came to a point where South America turns sharply west. Amerigo turned back at San Julian.

Trip: The voyage began as a pleasant one with good weather and wind.

Decisions: He decided that he would sail for unexplored lands for himself. He decided to continue the voyage west. Amerigo changed flags from sailing for Spain to Portugal.

Sailing: King Manuel asked Amerigo to sail under the Portugal flag again. The voyage of 1499-1500 he would have seem to have left Ojeda after reaching the coast of what is now Guyana. On May 10, 1503, Amerigo sailed as a captain of a ship in a six-ship expedition. His ship got separated in a terrible storm and after eight days he found one other ship. The expedition made a short trip of exploration south, then turned and sailed to a cape they named Cabo Frio.
Amerigo sailed back to Portugal leaving colonists with supplies for six months. On Nov. 1, All Saints Day, the explorers discovered a bay and named it All Saints Bay.The expedition reached the part of C 'adiz in Spain on June 8, 1500. His three-careval expedition left Libson on May 10,1501. They went all the way to Dakar, where the African continent juts farthest out into the ocean sea.

Sailing: His expedition finely left Dakar, sailing south and then west into the worst weather he'd ever seen.They went south for a while down the coast of North Africa. They sailed down it until they reached a place 28 degrees north of the equator and then turned west. The ship Amerigo was on and another headed southwest to explore new territory. After three weeks of sailing, they began to wonder when they would see land.
They sighted land and went north looking for a spot to get out of the rowboats then went south. The expedition sailed south until they came to a place where the water tasted fresh. They saw a huge river pouring it's water into the sea and a river so huge couldn't come from an island, so they must of reached China.
They reboarded the ships and went south. On his first voyage he sighted land that was to be called Brazil. He sailed thirty-seven hundred miles in 24 days. He also sailed up the Amezon River and noted that the water was less salty than other sea water. Sailing up the coast let him see different people with different languages. They loaded the ship up with inhasitants as slaves and took them back to Spain. On his return home, Vespucci was sadden that Portugal had sailed around Africa and beat Spain to India.

Position: In 1508 he was appointed the pilot major or chief navigator of Spain. He was also to head a university of mariners. Vespucci instructed ships outfitters what to supply the colonists.
During his four years as pilot major he suffered an occasional attack of chills and fever undoubtedly from malaria. As on the Spanish voyage Amerigo was a master pilot and not a captain.

Interests: Discussion of voyages of mariners were always being discussed and that interested him.

Beliefs: Native Americans thought Vespucci was responciable for Spain's neglect of Columbus. Most people came to believe Amerigo Vespucci was a liar.

Food: As the trip went on food supply got smaller. The ships ran out of meat first, then firewood and they ate the last of the cheese and olives. Mills were cooked over an iron fire box on an open deck.

Suggests: In 1507 a German geographer and mapmaker, suggested that South America be named after Amerigo Vespucci. Maps: Inn his name first appeared on the French map.

Concerns: The Spanish King was concerned more with land than pure exploration of uncharted lands. That seem to have embarrassed him so he refused the offer of three ships from the Spanish King.

Competition: There always was competition between Spain and Portugal in the navigation and exploration of the seas.

Time Spent: There was little for sailors to do while the fair weather held.

Conclusion: He wanted to be the first to reach India directly by sea by going west. He enslaved or killed many of the people whose lands they explored. Amerigo Vespucci was the first explorer of Portugal to cross the ocean to the southwest.
He discovered a new continent that was not Asia or India. He retuned to Spain in 1500 and was about to embark on another journey. On February 22, 1512 Amerigo Vespucci died from marlaia.

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa - By SD (Top)

Vasco Nuñez De Balboa was the first European to see,and claim the Pacific Ocean for Spain.

Early life

Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was born at Jerez de Los Caballeros, Spain in 1475. he grew up in Monguer, Spain. Monguer is a town on the coast of Spain with a port which most ships docked in. When Balboa was 5 or 6 years old he said to his father that he wanted to be a sailer at sea. Balboa heard the tales from the sailers brought back from their expeditions,they spoke about the riches in the New World.

Beginning of Expedition

In the year of 1500, Balboa, now 25 years old, joined the expedition of Rodrigo de Bastidas, and explored the Southern Caribbean, what is now called Colombia. Bastidas was a treasure hunter, and found where the natives dove for pearls, but when exploring Columbia, sea worms infected their ship,and had to sail to Hispaiola. While at Hispaiola, Balboa learned about the natives, their food, and how to farm pigs! He found no gold, so he settled in Hispaiola as a farmer. In 1510,to escape his creditors, Balboa hid in a large barrel, and stowawayed on to Martin Fernandez de Enciso's ship, and almost was abandoned on to a deserted island. Luckily, Balboa got the permission from Enciso to stay on board. The expedition had reached to San Sebastian when Balboa took charge, he led the survivors of San Sebastian to Panama, and began the new colony Darien.

Balboa Becomes Governor of Darien

Balboa, and Enciso began to fight over who would be the new governor of Darien, but a little time after the fight Enciso was sent bake to Spain, and in 1511 Balboa became governor. Balboa, and his men attacked the natives of Careta insearch of gold. They soon made friends with Chief Chima. Balboa, and his men became very friendly with the natives.

Balboa let King Ferdinand know about his new discoveries. When Balboa was trusted by the tribe of natives, they told balboa of the,"Great Sea," and a place where people eat ,and drink out of gold. Only a strip of land layed between the new sea. Then he Married Chief Chima's daughter.

Balboa Discovers the South Sea

In 1513, Balboa sets out to discover the Great Sea he climed the large mountin peaks, and was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. After the claim the whole crew reached the Gulf of Miguel, and took possession of the South Sea.

In the year 1514,Balboa's crew recrossed the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived at Santa Maria. Balboa then became the governor of three new spots, Mar del Sur, Provinces of Panama, and Coiba. When Balboa returned to Darien, he spread the word of his claim to Spain, but the king had already sent a new governor, Pedrarias D'avila, to Darien.

Balboa is executed

Balboa had planed to explore Peru, the land of gold. Pedraria didn't want this to happen. Pedrarias was very jealous of Balboa so he seized him, and falsely charged him of mistreatment of natives, also of high treason. Balboa was beheaded by Pedrarias on, January of 1519.

Marco Polo - By JE. (Top)

About: Marco Polo was a merchant from Venice Italy. He took a journey that lasted 24 years. Marco was an Italian trader and traveler,became famous for his trip from central Asia to China.

Setting Out: He wanted the Pope to send him a hundred men of learning who could explain their religion to him and his nobles.

A Teenage Traveler: Marco went to China for riches and spices.

Setting Out: Marco was at the age of 15 when Nicolo and Maffeo returned to Venice. In 1271 Marco took his first trip to China. They had traveled far to the east.

History: The Polos were the first Europeans to reach China.

Findings: In Marco's travels through China,he found a high ,rich country with many wonders. The wonders include flaming springs and amazing black rock that burned longer than wood. But Marco didn't know that the flaming springs were oil fields and the burning black rocks were coal fires.

Setting Out: Greaf Khan had given them a mission to perform. He gave them letters for the Pope in Rome.

War: As soon as the Polos left,they ran into trouble. WAR! Their route ran straight through Armenia. Ahead of them raged a war. They heard terrible rumors and they were worned to turn back. They would not go back and give up a journey they have already started. The journey would be dangerous but the Polos still refused to turn back.

Survival: The rumors were right,but they made it alive.

Landing: Marco reached China in 1275. In China Marco gathered and traded riches and spices.

Farewell: Marco stayed in China till 1292. Marco was sent on many trips by Kublai. Marco lived in the city of Yangchow for 3 years. Kublai had appointed Marco to be one of it's rulers. The city Marco liked best out of all the places he visited,Marco liked Kinsai the best. We call it Yangchow.

Homeward: Marco met traders and sailers at every port. Marco was a good observer and listener.

Homecoming: Once again the Polos traveled overland on the route to the northeast from Hormuz. Marco,Nicolo,and Maffeo were now free. They had sailed to Tabriz then to Trebizonedon the black sea. They went across the black sea to Constantinople,and then out upon the Mediator anean.
At last the day came they were back at the city they left so long ago.

VENICE:The Polos had been away for 24 years. Marco left when he was 17 in 1271. When he came back in 1295 he was 41.
When the Polos got back nobody recognized them. Nobody believed what they said. But their families were not proud of them. There clothes made them look like beggers. There families thought they were using a trick to find a place for themselves.
The story says Marco,Maffeo,and Nicolo planned a surprise. When they greeted everyone they disappeared. They each joined the others in a red satin robe. Perhaps the Polos are telling the truth after all. There was one more surprise. The 3 Polos had riches and wonders. They did tell the truth!

Go to the top!

	Explorer Reports The Polar Bears have been doing research on explorers. Here's some reports. Some students did the HTML themselves! More reports will be added as they get processed on the class computers. Here are the report guidelines. PB work or Explorer Thanksgiving Neil Armstrong - JS Amerigo Vespuci - LG Vasco Nuñez de Balboa - SD Marco Polo - JE Neil Armstrong - By JS (Top) Introduction I am doing my explorer report on Neil Armstrong, the first person who walked the moon. I also wanted to learn more why they had Apollo 11. Before Apollo 11 Neil Armstrong earned his pilot license in Wapakoneta, Ohio, even before he knew how to drive. Neil didn't like to cancel flights. 1955 is the year that Armstrong joined N.A.S.A. In that same year Neil served as a pilot in the Korean War. Armstrong was the commander of Gemini 8, he was also apart of the backup team for Apollo 8 & 9. The Voyage Begins On July 16, 1969, sat Saturn V the most powerful rocket on launchpad 39A. Neil also commanded Apollo 11. Armstrong had to go to training camps, and meetings to get ready for Apollo 11. N.A.S.A. workers, and trainers say that Armstrong was probably the best astronaut among all of the astronauts. The countdown was watched, heard, and sawn by more than 1,000,000,000 people. At 9:32 a.m.on July 16, 1969, Saturn V launched with the crew members (Neil A. Armstrong; Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.; and Michael Collins) of Apollo 11. Bound For The Moon Armstrong headgear looked like an old pilot cap. Neil's spacesuit cost $1,000,000,000 because it was specily designed for him. Apollo 11 is also called Columbia. After Apollo 11 left Earth's orbit Armstrong took off his bulkey suit, and his helmet. Under Neil's spacesuit was a two piece white nylon jumpsuit. Armstrong shot a live T.V. broadcast from Columbia. This broadcast became a smash hit. It took Apollo 11 three weeks to fly 214,000 miles away from earth. Neil sometimes got woke up by Mission Control. It was mostly for news from Earth. Armstrong tried to desribe what the Moon looked like. The Landing Neil lost contact with Mission Control when he, and Columbia went past the dark side of the Moon. It was for about 1/2 hour.Armstrong slept for five to six hours before he walked on the Moon. This was the shorest rest of the flight. As soon as Neil got up he went striaght to Eagle. After Armstrong departed from Apollo 11 he told Mission Control that Eagle has wings. Neil was told to land Eagle at the Sea of Tranquility, which was on the smooth part of the Moon. Armstrong saw on the site where Eagle was spoused to land he saw huge bouders, so Neil flew Eagle to a better landing site on the Moon. After Eagle had landed on the Moon over a quarter of a million miles away people were notified of what had happened moments ago. Neil was taped by a camra that was placed inside Eagle. Armstrong was also the first person who ate on the Moon. Armstrong walked on the Moon on July 20, 1969. When Armstrongwalked on the Moon he said, "That's one small step for man ......... one gaint step for mankind!!!!!" Armstrong was on the Moon for 21 1/2 hours. After Armstrong was back on Apollo 11 he had to let Eagle depart from Apollo 11. Armstrong was sad to see Eagle go because it served him well. Return To Earth On Thursday, July 24, 1969, Amstrong reentered the Earths atmosphere. President Richard M. Nixon welomed Armstrong back home on U.S.S. Hornet. It took Apollo 11 three weeks to go and come back from the Moon. On August 10, 1969, Armstrong got to see his family again. After that Armstrong rode in parades, and gave speechs for two months. Closing The reason why N.A.S.A. wanted Neil Armstrong to go and walk on the Moon wasn't to set a record it was to get data from the Moon. Amerigo Vespucci - By LG. (Top) Amerigo Vespucci About: Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian merchant and ships pilot or navigator. He is mainly remembered as the person in whose honor the Americas were named. Travels: In 1492 Vespucci was sent to Seville, Spain, where he became head of a branch of the Medici bank. On the voyages made in 1499-1501, he explored about 10,000 kilometers of the South America coastline. Two voyages were undertaken for Spain, in 1497-1499 and two for Portugal in 1501-1503. Travels: In 1501 he noticed that the great land mass now called South America was a continent, not a series of small islands. Following the Brazilian coastline south they came to a point where South America turns sharply west. Amerigo turned back at San Julian. Trip: The voyage began as a pleasant one with good weather and wind. Decisions: He decided that he would sail for unexplored lands for himself. He decided to continue the voyage west. Amerigo changed flags from sailing for Spain to Portugal. Sailing: King Manuel asked Amerigo to sail under the Portugal flag again. The voyage of 1499-1500 he would have seem to have left Ojeda after reaching the coast of what is now Guyana. On May 10, 1503, Amerigo sailed as a captain of a ship in a six-ship expedition. His ship got separated in a terrible storm and after eight days he found one other ship. The expedition made a short trip of exploration south, then turned and sailed to a cape they named Cabo Frio. Amerigo sailed back to Portugal leaving colonists with supplies for six months. On Nov. 1, All Saints Day, the explorers discovered a bay and named it All Saints Bay.The expedition reached the part of C 'adiz in Spain on June 8, 1500. His three-careval expedition left Libson on May 10,1501. They went all the way to Dakar, where the African continent juts farthest out into the ocean sea. Sailing: His expedition finely left Dakar, sailing south and then west into the worst weather he'd ever seen.They went south for a while down the coast of North Africa. They sailed down it until they reached a place 28 degrees north of the equator and then turned west. The ship Amerigo was on and another headed southwest to explore new territory. After three weeks of sailing, they began to wonder when they would see land. They sighted land and went north looking for a spot to get out of the rowboats then went south. The expedition sailed south until they came to a place where the water tasted fresh. They saw a huge river pouring it's water into the sea and a river so huge couldn't come from an island, so they must of reached China. They reboarded the ships and went south. On his first voyage he sighted land that was to be called Brazil. He sailed thirty-seven hundred miles in 24 days. He also sailed up the Amezon River and noted that the water was less salty than other sea water. Sailing up the coast let him see different people with different languages. They loaded the ship up with inhasitants as slaves and took them back to Spain. On his return home, Vespucci was sadden that Portugal had sailed around Africa and beat Spain to India. Position: In 1508 he was appointed the pilot major or chief navigator of Spain. He was also to head a university of mariners. Vespucci instructed ships outfitters what to supply the colonists. During his four years as pilot major he suffered an occasional attack of chills and fever undoubtedly from malaria. As on the Spanish voyage Amerigo was a master pilot and not a captain. Interests: Discussion of voyages of mariners were always being discussed and that interested him. Beliefs: Native Americans thought Vespucci was responciable for Spain's neglect of Columbus. Most people came to believe Amerigo Vespucci was a liar. Food: As the trip went on food supply got smaller. The ships ran out of meat first, then firewood and they ate the last of the cheese and olives. Mills were cooked over an iron fire box on an open deck. Suggests: In 1507 a German geographer and mapmaker, suggested that South America be named after Amerigo Vespucci. Maps: Inn his name first appeared on the French map. Concerns: The Spanish King was concerned more with land than pure exploration of uncharted lands. That seem to have embarrassed him so he refused the offer of three ships from the Spanish King. Competition: There always was competition between Spain and Portugal in the navigation and exploration of the seas. Time Spent: There was little for sailors to do while the fair weather held. Conclusion: He wanted to be the first to reach India directly by sea by going west. He enslaved or killed many of the people whose lands they explored. Amerigo Vespucci was the first explorer of Portugal to cross the ocean to the southwest. He discovered a new continent that was not Asia or India. He retuned to Spain in 1500 and was about to embark on another journey. On February 22, 1512 Amerigo Vespucci died from marlaia. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa - By SD (Top) Vasco Nuñez De Balboa was the first European to see,and claim the Pacific Ocean for Spain. Early life Vasco Nuñez de Balboa was born at Jerez de Los Caballeros, Spain in 1475. he grew up in Monguer, Spain. Monguer is a town on the coast of Spain with a port which most ships docked in. When Balboa was 5 or 6 years old he said to his father that he wanted to be a sailer at sea. Balboa heard the tales from the sailers brought back from their expeditions,they spoke about the riches in the New World. Beginning of Expedition In the year of 1500, Balboa, now 25 years old, joined the expedition of Rodrigo de Bastidas, and explored the Southern Caribbean, what is now called Colombia. Bastidas was a treasure hunter, and found where the natives dove for pearls, but when exploring Columbia, sea worms infected their ship,and had to sail to Hispaiola. While at Hispaiola, Balboa learned about the natives, their food, and how to farm pigs! He found no gold, so he settled in Hispaiola as a farmer. In 1510,to escape his creditors, Balboa hid in a large barrel, and stowawayed on to Martin Fernandez de Enciso's ship, and almost was abandoned on to a deserted island. Luckily, Balboa got the permission from Enciso to stay on board. The expedition had reached to San Sebastian when Balboa took charge, he led the survivors of San Sebastian to Panama, and began the new colony Darien. Balboa Becomes Governor of Darien Balboa, and Enciso began to fight over who would be the new governor of Darien, but a little time after the fight Enciso was sent bake to Spain, and in 1511 Balboa became governor. Balboa, and his men attacked the natives of Careta insearch of gold. They soon made friends with Chief Chima. Balboa, and his men became very friendly with the natives. Balboa let King Ferdinand know about his new discoveries. When Balboa was trusted by the tribe of natives, they told balboa of the,"Great Sea," and a place where people eat ,and drink out of gold. Only a strip of land layed between the new sea. Then he Married Chief Chima's daughter. Balboa Discovers the South Sea In 1513, Balboa sets out to discover the Great Sea he climed the large mountin peaks, and was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. After the claim the whole crew reached the Gulf of Miguel, and took possession of the South Sea. In the year 1514,Balboa's crew recrossed the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived at Santa Maria. Balboa then became the governor of three new spots, Mar del Sur, Provinces of Panama, and Coiba. When Balboa returned to Darien, he spread the word of his claim to Spain, but the king had already sent a new governor, Pedrarias D'avila, to Darien. Balboa is executed Balboa had planed to explore Peru, the land of gold. Pedraria didn't want this to happen. Pedrarias was very jealous of Balboa so he seized him, and falsely charged him of mistreatment of natives, also of high treason. Balboa was beheaded by Pedrarias on, January of 1519. Marco Polo - By JE. (Top) About: Marco Polo was a merchant from Venice Italy. He took a journey that lasted 24 years. Marco was an Italian trader and traveler,became famous for his trip from central Asia to China. Setting Out: He wanted the Pope to send him a hundred men of learning who could explain their religion to him and his nobles. A Teenage Traveler: Marco went to China for riches and spices. Setting Out: Marco was at the age of 15 when Nicolo and Maffeo returned to Venice. In 1271 Marco took his first trip to China. They had traveled far to the east. History: The Polos were the first Europeans to reach China. Findings: In Marco's travels through China,he found a high ,rich country with many wonders. The wonders include flaming springs and amazing black rock that burned longer than wood. But Marco didn't know that the flaming springs were oil fields and the burning black rocks were coal fires. Setting Out: Greaf Khan had given them a mission to perform. He gave them letters for the Pope in Rome. War: As soon as the Polos left,they ran into trouble. WAR! Their route ran straight through Armenia. Ahead of them raged a war. They heard terrible rumors and they were worned to turn back. They would not go back and give up a journey they have already started. The journey would be dangerous but the Polos still refused to turn back. Survival: The rumors were right,but they made it alive. Landing: Marco reached China in 1275. In China Marco gathered and traded riches and spices. Farewell: Marco stayed in China till 1292. Marco was sent on many trips by Kublai. Marco lived in the city of Yangchow for 3 years. Kublai had appointed Marco to be one of it's rulers. The city Marco liked best out of all the places he visited,Marco liked Kinsai the best. We call it Yangchow. Homeward: Marco met traders and sailers at every port. Marco was a good observer and listener. Homecoming: Once again the Polos traveled overland on the route to the northeast from Hormuz. Marco,Nicolo,and Maffeo were now free. They had sailed to Tabriz then to Trebizonedon the black sea. They went across the black sea to Constantinople,and then out upon the Mediator anean. At last the day came they were back at the city they left so long ago. VENICE:The Polos had been away for 24 years. Marco left when he was 17 in 1271. When he came back in 1295 he was 41. When the Polos got back nobody recognized them. Nobody believed what they said. But their families were not proud of them. There clothes made them look like beggers. There families thought they were using a trick to find a place for themselves. The story says Marco,Maffeo,and Nicolo planned a surprise. When they greeted everyone they disappeared. They each joined the others in a red satin robe. Perhaps the Polos are telling the truth after all. There was one more surprise. The 3 Polos had riches and wonders. They did tell the truth! Go to the top!

Explorer Reports