July 28

Born into a noble family in Andalusia, Rodrigo de Bastidas undertook voyages to the New World in the early 1500s. He meticulously mapped the coastline from present-day Panama to Venezuela, providing valuable charts for subsequent explorers. In 1525, he established Santa Marta, the first Spanish settlement on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. His encounters with indigenous communities were often marked by negotiation rather than outright conquest. Bastidas’ careful records expanded Europe’s knowledge of South American geography and paved the way for further colonization.

Born in 1937 in Innsbruck, Austria, Sepp Mayerl was a mountaineering guide and alpinist who completed numerous first ascents in the Dolomites and Zillertal Alps. Known for his technical skill and bold routes, he led expeditions throughout Europe and trained aspiring climbers for decades. His passion for the mountains inspired the Austrian climbing community. Mayerl died in 2012 while on a mountaineering trip, leaving behind a legacy of alpine achievement.