Even if you don’t live in the Pacific Northwest, you know some local geography……….. like the Strait of Juan de Fuca separating the U.S. and Canada. Just learned that the man for whom the strait was named was a Greek! Ioannis Phokas, or Apostolos Valerianus (seen it both ways) “is better known by the Spanish transcription of his name, Juan de Fuca, born 1536 on the Ionian island of Cefalonia and died there in 1602. He was a maritime pilot in the service of the King of Spain, Philip II, and is known for his claim to have explored the Strait of Anian, now known as the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Now we both know!
