London "Golden Hind" - a replica of the galleon famous pirate Sir Francis Drake, who played in the history of Britain's prominent role. Small sudёnyshko called "museum of living history": the children change clothes immediately pirates Tudor delight there is no limit.

Modern man is hard to understand how eighty people could travel around the world in the shell of a length 36 and a width of 6 to 7 meters. Expedition lasted nearly three years. It was the second in the world after Magellan's circumnavigation. So that the "Golden Hind" is worth a look.

The son of a farmer, Drake 12 years became a cabin boy. Dying, the owner of a vessel Drake did his successor, who at age 18 began his career as a captain. He became a pirate, when the Spanish ships sunk rabotorgovoy expedition, which was attended by the young captain. In retaliation, he went to the West Indies and on the Isthmus of Panama seized 30 tons of Spanish silver. Drake returned home rich and famous.

It is this determined man by Queen Elizabeth in 1577 sent to the Pacific coast of America: official - discover new lands, really - to plunder Spanish ships with gold. Drake had four vessels through the Strait of Magellan terrible held only "Golden Hind". In 1580 the pirate returned to England, bringing gold for 600 thousand pounds (two annual income of England) and still no one in Europe is not known if the tubers. Queen honored hero knighthood.

It was enough to glorify the name of Drake. But history has given him a new chance, and he took advantage of it. In 1588, England was the Spanish "Armada" - 130 ships, 30 thousand soldiers, intending to destroy the island kingdom. In a series of successful for the British naval battles Drake played a major role. Tacky "Spanish Armada" is not landed on English soil.

Admiral Francis Drake was buried in the ocean in a lead coffin. It is named after the strait between Antarctica and South America. In Germany, there is a monument Drake - a sailor holding a flower potatoes. On the pedestal is carved: "Millions of farmers of the world bless his immortal memory. It helps the poor, a precious gift of God to ease the bitter need. "

"Golden Hind" is on an eternal trick in Sausvorke, on the south bank of the Thames. It honored the ship: built in 1973, a replica of Drake's galleon since passed 225,000 kilometers of oceans that were not hospitable for four centuries. So everything is here - now.