Albany (CA 123) - Naval Cruise Book

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u i I NAPLES v. » a jr Well to the south of Genoa lay Naples, and with it our tour of Italy came to an end. We found the city highly Americanized, probably because of the large NATO base set up there. The Armed Services Exchange as well as the com- mercial stores in town had many buys which we could not afford to pass up. Our problems with the language were eased: almost everyone spoke English here. But, with the language barrier went some of the character of the city which we had begun to associate with the towns of the Mediter- ranean. Again, a tour to Rome was scheduled as we+I as one to the ancient town of Pompeii. If t had been in season, we might have lolled around the resort areas, the most famous being Capri. The time rolled around again and, loaded with goods and more experiences in interna- tional living , we weighed anchor for another operating period.

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' . i p N V Si Ddramna Si ?®S tf stCi0fr BARCELONA From the moment Spain — and Barcelona — hove into view, our traditional schedule was shat- tered. Although not as harsh in their hours as Madrid, everything was set back in Barcelona. Consequently, when ashore we were forced to conform and conform we did — with pleasure. Not the Spain of dark hair, sultry nights and flashing eyes, which is in the South, but a Spain of mod- erate prices, good entertainment and in general, a sailor ' s delight. Outside of the local tour, we went to the monastery at Montserrat with its breathtaking cable-car. We can say that no cruise of the Mediterranean is complete without a stay in Barcelona, although leisurely, the most industrialized and inventive city in Spain. Too soon we had to leave. We sliced through the green waters of the Med for the last time as we headed for a two day stopover in Gibraltar after which we detached from the Sixth Fleet. Homeward bound. Happy, tired and proud, both man and ship. jff H K ii • v I,!.., -b ' G 8 ' ■