On the trail of John Smith

 In 1606 about 105 men both upper class gentlemen and common workers sailed from London in three small ships, headed for Virginia. They had three goals: establish a colony, find gold and discover a water passage to the Pacific Ocean. They knew they would encounter unknown lands, unfamiliar climates, and the powerful Indian tribes who inhabited the area.

They expected to trade with and be fed by the Indians, but they feared Spanish rivals. Two-thirds of the men would not survive their first year in America. But the Jamestown settlers would succeed in establishing the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States.

One of the men on board was a common born soldier called John Smith. He would go on to escape danger many times, became the colony's greatest leader, and documented the Chesapeake Bay area's beauty and natural riches in more than 4,800 kilometres of exploration in an open boat.

During the long voyage, Smith's outspoken nature angered others, and by the time they finally reached Virginia, Smith was in chains as a prisoner. That was Captain John Smith's story.

Nowadays the Americans don 't forget their past and they celebrate it at Jamestown for three days; May 11-13, 2007.