Pilgrims and Aliens

When it comes to exploring the unexplained, UFOs are my favorite topic to investigate. So in honor of Thanksgiving, we will look at some surprising evidence of extraterrestrials that we find deep in America’s past. No, I’m not referring to the hundreds of Native American accounts we have of otherworldly visitors. Everybody knows that unless white folks write it down then it’s just mythology. Believe it or not, pilgrims (the whitest people ever) were the earliest Europeans in North America to record a number of UFO sightings.

The first known incident happened in 1639, just 9 years after the establishment of Plymouth colony. The report comes from The History of New England, 1630-1639, a book by John Winthrop, a puritan and the first elected Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His writings are considered the central source for the history of the area.
One night in March of 1639, James Everell “a sober, discreet man” and two companions boarded a small boat and set out for a trip on the Muddy River in Boston. They had been moving downstream for about a mile when the night’s mysterious events began. The three men were suddenly confronted with the appearance of a huge, bright light hovering in the sky. The light “flamed up” as it hovered and appeared to be about “three yards square.” As they watched, the light “contracted into the figure of a swine” and moved “swift as an arrow” in the direction of Charlton. For several hours, the light moved back and forth in the sky between Everell’s location and Charlton. When the light finally disappeared, the men noticed that they had somehow been carried against the tide back to the place where they had embarked. Wait a second. Either these pilgrims ate some magic mushrooms or this matches perfectly with what some modern UFO witnesses report with close encounters! Winthrop’s book offers us even more strangeness to consider.

In 1644, a rash of bizarre sightings was again reported in Boston. The account says that mysterious lights appeared about 2 weeks after the destruction of a ship commanded by Captain John Chaddock, a pirate whose ship was intentionally blown up in the harbor. On several occasions, Bostonians saw a light resembling the moon rise from the water near the site of the sunken ship that merged with an identical light and then separated again, repeating this over and over while shooting out flames and sparks. The people of Boston attributed the lights to the ghost of one of the dead sailors, a confessed necromancer allegedly responsible for the ship’s destruction. According to Winthrop, this anonymous person had “done some strange things by his art in his Avay from Virginia hither;” to make things even more strange, Winthrop reports:

“all the bodies blown up were found but his, which never was. Hence it is left to be inferred that the master teacher of the black art of necromancy took away the body as well as the soul of his pupil, at the moment of the catastrophe.” 

Were the strange lights, the ship’s destruction and alleged sorcerer whose body is never recovered simply a coincidence? Even when examined separately, they are wildly fascinating events worth more investigation. Could the “sorcerer” have actually been an extraterrestrial or a time traveler sent to change the course of history and then teleported away after sinking the ship? It would make for a great movie sci-fi movie script, Pilgrims and Aliens. Unfortunately, the truth about what really happened may remain a mystery like so many events in the distant past. When it comes to unraveling Earth’s biggest mysteries, I need all the help I can get, so your comments and stories are welcome. Keep exploring!



(Murfreesboro Pulse November 2012)

Segovia: City of Culture and Mystery

Segovia: City of Culture and Mystery

In Spain there are many great cities. But there is one city whose mysteries, epic monuments and artistic legacy make it a necessary destination for those with a true passion for art, history and mystery. The city of Segovia is situated atop a steep promontory at the confluence of two rivers in the autonomous region of Castilla y Leon in the heart of Spain. I had the privilege of living there one summer about ten years ago, and since then, it has remained my favorite city in the entire world.


Upon arriving to the city, the senses are confronted by the sight of a magnificent Roman aqueduct that attests to the ancient origins of this city with roots that span more than 2,000 years. Hiking out into the surrounding countryside provides the best panoramic views of the city. From there you can see the protective wall called a muralla that surrounds the oldest district of the city as well as the beautiful 16th century cathedral that dominates the skyline. Of course, no ancient city is complete without a castle. Segovia’s fortress is called the Alcazar and is among the most beautiful and famous fortresses in all of Spain.


It’s possible to see many of Segovia’s great monuments in a single day, but she is not to be treated like a fast food restaurant. Take your time in Segovia and stay awhile. Her true value is found among the people who share her fascinating history and unique culture. Segovia has always attracted and produced creative individuals, establishing an authentic atmosphere where antiquity forms the backdrop for the bohemian and avant-garde. In fact, several prominent art schools and universities exist in Segovia that follow a long tradition of scholarship and artistic development. Naturally, art exhibitions are held in the many distinguished venues. Segovia is a city where every type of art, artisanry and performing art flourish, making it a center of creativity. It’s also worth mentioning that the city is host to the City of Segovia Festival of European Cinema—an annual film festival held in the Fall—and an international marionette festival called Titirimundi.



Aside from her bohemian charm, there are countless mysteries and legends that hide around every corner and plaza of the city. Perhaps the most enigmatic site in Segovia is the 12th century Church of the Vera Cruz known by locals as “el Templario,” which is believed to have been founded by the Order of the Knights Templar. For ghost hunters, Segovia’s ancient and obscure past make it a first-class destination for paranormal research.


One of the most endearing aspects of Segovia is that the city has a genuine character. It doesn’t put on a shallow display for tourists. Instead, it maintains a distinct culture that is dignified and authentically Castilian. For this and many other reasons, I miss Segovia. Too much time has passed since I went for an afternoon “paseo” on her streets and enjoyed “una copa” in the Plaza Mayor with friends. As a videographer, I’d like to return to Segovia to document the myths and legends attached to the sacred and ancient monuments throughout the city. Of course, I’ll have to postpone the documentary if it interferes with my training as a bullfighter and my flamenco guitar lessons. What can I say? I should have been born a Spaniard. What about you? The only way to find out is to go. Hasta luego.











En Español

En España hay muchas maravillosas ciudades. Pero hay una ciudad cuyos misterios, los monumentos épicos y la herencia artística lo hacen un destino necesario para aquellos con una pasión verdadera de arte, historia y misterio. La ciudad de Segovia, está situado encima de un promontorio escarpado en la confluencia de dos ríos en la comunidad autónoma de Castilla y León. Yo tuve el privilegio de vivir allí un verano hace aproximadamente diez años y desde entonces ha permanecido mi ciudad favorita en el mundo entero.

Al llegar, los sentidos se enfrentan por la vista de un magnífico acueducto romano que certifica los antiguos orígenes de esta ciudad con raíces que extienden más de 2000 años. El excursionismo a pie en el campo circundante ofrece las mejores vistas panorámicas de la ciudad. Desde allí puede ver la pared protectora llamada la muralla que rodea el distrito más antiguo de la ciudad, así como la hermosa Catedral del siglo XVI que domina el horizonte. Por supuesto, ninguna ciudad antigua está completa sin un castillo. La fortaleza de Segovia se llama el Alcázar y es uno de los castillos más bellos y famosos en toda España.

Algunos viajeros intentan ver la mayor parte de los grandes monumentos de Segovia en un solo día. Pero no se apure. Quédese un rato. Segovia no debe ser tratada como un restaurante de comida rápida sino uno de cinco estrellas. Quédese por un tiempo. Su valor real es encontrado entre la gente que comparte su historia fascinante y cultura única. Segovia siempre ha atraído y ha producido a individuos creativos, estableciendo una atmósfera auténtica donde la antigüedad forma el telón de fondo para una movida, escena y panoramo de vanguardia.

De hecho, varias escuelas de arte y destacadas universidades existen en Segovia que siguen una tradición centenaria de beca y desarrollo artístico. Naturalmente, se organizan exposiciones de arte con frecuencia en los distinguidos lugares de la ciudad. Segovia es una ciudad donde cada tipo de arte y artesania, así como las artes escénicas hacen que sea un centro para cada tipo de creatividad. La ciudad alberga incluso su propio Festival anual de cine europeo y un festival internacional de marionetas llamado Titirimundi.

Además de su encanto bohemio, también hay innumerables misterios y leyendas que se esconden en cada esquina y la plaza de la ciudad. Incluso hay una serie de túneles subterráneos que conectan varios edificios de la ciudad. Para mí esto es el cielo. Quizás el más enigmático lugar en Segovia es la Iglesia de la Vera Cruz fundado en el siglo XII. Conocida por los lugareños como “el Templario” fue construida por la misteriosa orden de los Templarios. Para los cazadores de fantasmas, el pasado antigua y oscura de Segovia hacen un destino de primera clase para la investigación paranormal.



Otro aspecto entrañable de Segovia es su carácter genuino. A diferencia de otras ciudades, Segovia no da una pantalla artificial para turistas o intentar ser algo que no es. Al contrario, Segovia mantiene una cultura distinta que es digna y auténticamente castellana. Por esto y muchas otras razones a Segovia la echo de menos. Ha pasado demasiado tiempo desde que he dado un “paseo” por la tarde en sus calles o disfrutar una copa en la Plaza Mayor con mis amigos. Como un videógrafista me gustaría volver a Segovia para documentar los mitos y leyendas relativas a los monumentos antiguos y sagrados en toda la ciudad. Sin embargo, voy a tener que posponer el documental si interfiere con mi formación como un torero y clases de guitarra. ¿Qué puedo decir? Yo debería haber nacido un español. ¿Y tú? La única manera de averiguarlo es ir. ¡Hasta luego!









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