The one of gold

The Spanish had a term for a city of great wealth. Explorers from Spain, in their wanderings around South America had heard of a city that was so wealthy that all commerce in South America went through it. It became known to the Spanish as the city of gold, or just the one of gold, not because it had a golden tint at sunset nor because it was paved with golden streets, but because it traded in coins and accumumlated wealth. The Spanish equated wealth with gold.

Explorers asked many a person where this city was, this one of gold. Interpretations exist about why the Spanish never could find this city, ranging from the explorers' defitiniton of wealth differing from the natives' of South America definition to explorers not having enough supplies and men to go down the Amazon river and find it. I favor the one that says the natives didn't want the Spanish entourage in their midst, so they sent them on a wild goose chase. All the natives knew there was no city of gold. I have to admire the ability of the natives to throw off the Spanish and at the naivety of the Spanish explorers and company.

The North American natives also used the same ploy with the Spanish explorers in Mexico and the Southwestern US. They told the explorers of the one of gold. At least one conquistador took a route through southern California just to find the city or the gold, he didn't care which.

It's the famous story of El Dorado, the one of gold. I think in life people can sometimes get caught up in the pursuit of legendary gold. And, sometimes they let that search keep them from their goals. But not all golden pursuits are vain pursuits for money. Some pursuits are noble and worthy and not misguided at all. I would like to be rich in knowledge, for example, and richer still in legacy. But, for sure I want to be wealthy, wealthy... gaudily wealthy... in the pursuit of Dorado when it pertains to matters of the heart, happiness, and hope.