One Hundred Years Later

In early July 1997 on a foggy morning, Jose set his feet on Beijing for the first time. His excitement was double. This was his first trip to Asia, but also it was on the 100th anniversary of his grandfather's trip to China.
Monsieur Gastaldi was born in 1880 in Marseille, France. He was rise in a family that owned a company of merchant ships. Even though he didn't grow up among the sailors and routes, he was gona had an experience worth telling. On his 17th birthday his father -my great grand father- gave him as a graduation gift a trip "around the world". Before leaving port, Jean Lui was given the position of cabin boy and was entrust to the captain for keeping him out of trouble (Jose's father did the same with the Colombian ambassador in Beijing: "sometimes he's hyperactive" was the only warning).
After leaving port they headed for Cape of Good Hope in the south most part of Africa bordering the west coast of Africa; and then through the Indic Ocean and the Malaca straight all the way to Canton.
rickshaws took them from the port to the city and to the local bars. Curiously enough, the first day Jose arrived in Beijing there was a beer festival in the Ritan Park, right across the street from the embassy building. One hundred years later; like (grand)father, like (grand) son.