NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE - Goddess of Victory Virtual Cache
NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE - Goddess of Victory
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NIKE-GODDESS
OF VICTORY This is a virtual cache located in a PRIVATE park.
You do not need to trespass to enjoy the site. Please be careful
parking and leaving this site, it is a tricky spot, but more than
worth it to enjoy the sculptures and artwork here.
Welcome to Miraflores.
This 15-acre PRIVATE park, now owned by the University of the
Incarnate Word, was originally part of the summer home developed in
the 1920's by Dr. Aureliano Urrutia.
Dr. Urrutia gained his first notoriety when he became the personal
physician of President Porfirio Diaz at the turn of the century.
Because of the Mexican Revolution, Dr. Urrutia went into exile, and
eventually settled near the headwaters of the San Antonio River
because they reminded him of his home in Mexico. He gained more
fame and worldwide recognition for separating a pair of Siamese
twins in 1917. Always wearing an opera cape added to the Urrutia
fame.
When you arrive, notice the large panels on either side of the iron
gate covered with glazed tiles in the majolica style made at
Uriarte, a very famous workshop near Mexico City. If you look
through the gate, you will notice the sculpture garden and statuary
beyond.
One of the statues is of NIKE-Goddess of Victory. You can get a
better look at her if you walk up the sidewalk along the road and
look through the iron fence. She is beautiful. Also notice the
other statues and garden sculptures in the background. A pair of
binoculars will help you see them better, but are not neccessary.
A local legend about Dr. Aureliano Urrutia states the doctor was
attending a social event at the St. Anthony Hotel, and flashed
General Frederick Funston, of whom he had a few confrontations
during the Mexican Revolution, "the evil eye" and the general died
on the spot. (General Funston did indeed die of heart failure
during a function at the St. Anthony) Dr. Urrutia died in 1974 at
the age of 103.
In order to prove your visit to this site, please e-mail me which
direction the lions at NIKE's base are facing. Due to some glitches
in E-mail, occasionally your answer messages are sent to my spam
box. Please log your cache after your visit, and have
fun!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[ DO NOT TRESPASS. NIKE CAN EASILY BE SEEN FROM OUTSIDE THE FENCE. THE PARK IS WET MOST OF THE TIME ANYWAY. Look for the ducks.] Gur fvqrjnyx vf ohfl ng gvzrf fb jngpu sbe crqrfgevnaf.