The children followed Julio out of the church and into the street.
The streets of Palos were busy with people carrying goods.
They were carrying supplies in their hands, in wagons, and on animals.
Everyone was heading in the same direction: to the docks.
Julio led the children in that direction as well.
Mandy could smell the ocean before she saw it.
"Mandy, look!" cried Vinnie.
At the end of the street was the harbor.
Vinnie pointed to three ships tied up at the pier.
One was bigger than the other two.
"The biggest one is—," began Julio.
"The Santa Maria.
And the others are the Pinta and Niña," said Vinnie.
Julio looked impressed.
"You'd better return that book to Columbus," Julio said to Mandy.
"He won't sail without it."
"Where can I find him?" asked Mandy.
"Aboard the Santa Maria, of course," replied Julio.
"Can you take us there?" said Mandy.
"Sure, come on," Julio said, waving his hand.
They walked down the street to the pier.
The harbor was busy.
Men were loading all kinds of equipment onto the ships.
Seagulls circled above the waves.
Along the way, they asked Julio more questions.
"Why are the sailors afraid of sailing west?" Mandy asked.
Julio took a breath.
He was still nervous about the trip.
"It is said that sea monsters live in those waters.
Even if you somehow sail past them, well . . . ," Julio paused.
"The ocean ends at some point.
Then what happens?"
"Oh, don't worry. The world is round.
Your ship won't fall," laughed Vinnie.
"How do you know what is out there?" Julio said angrily.
"I bet you haven't been on an adventure in your life!"
Vinnie and Mandy smiled at each other and thought of their photo trips.
"Julio!" someone called.
A middle-aged woman approached them.
She was carrying a wool blanket.
"Señora Molina! What a pleasant surprise!" Julio cried happily.
He introduced the children to her.
"Señora Molina owns a wool shop.
Her wool is the softest and warmest in all of Spain."
"Here, take this,"
said Señora Molina, handing the blanket to Julio.
"This will keep you warm on cold nights."
"Thank you so much," Julio said.
He hugged her.
"Be careful, Julio," she whispered, wiping her eyes.
Julio waved good-bye, then he and Mandy and Vinnie continued onto the pier.
"One day I will make Spanish wool famous,"
said Julio, holding the soft blanket close to him.
"How?" asked Vinnie.
"When I have my own ship, I will sell wool at every port on earth," Julio said proudly.
"Maybe you'll become an explorer like Columbus," said Mandy.
"Who wants to be like him?" replied Julio.
"He's a dreamer with some crazy ideas."
"But look at him now!" exclaimed Mandy.
"Look at what?" Julio laughed.
"He hasn't discovered anything yet!"