Today’s Historical Note

On this day in 1513, the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida. This is the first recorded instance of what has come to be called "Spring Break" or "The Fountain of Youths."

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  By Uncle Pinky, Wednesday, 2 April , 2008 @ 7:55 am

  Funny how time twists the origins, and even names of festivals. When I was in Florida this was known as “The Fountaining Youths” with the truly devout performing their observances in many public areas. Bars, sidewalks, beaches and balconies; the air was heavy with the perfumed scents of bile and gastric acid.

  Good times.

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  By martian, Wednesday, 2 April , 2008 @ 11:33 am

  Good old Ponce (as he’s affectionatly known here in Florida) actually spent his first winter in Florida camped about 3 miles from where I am sitting right now. This makes him and his soldiers the very first official snowbirds!

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