Aucilla (AO 56) - Naval Cruise Book

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390 i O 56 ' j,: ■ fS Akr. ■ • ' Khalkl ' s Piraievs )■ ' 48 ' ) ,37 53 Heves ' Ai ' yina t ' ' j ' .■ ■ ■ Mnvrovouni ATHENS. Birthplace of Civilization , Mother of Culture and Learning . This, and much more, could be said for this queen city of the Aegean Sea. From ancient Athens flowed the laws and writings that were destined to influence every succeeding civilization through the ages. Today, modern Athens stands as a living monument to the glories of a great nation. Dominating the entire city is the Acropolis, a collection of temples and palaces on a fortified hill. The ruins of these magnificent structures still justify their position as being perfect examples of architecture at its zenith. The Parthenon, mas- terpiece of masterpieces located on this hill, has been termed the most perfect building ever erected by man. Even today, some twenty four centuries after her construction, and despite numerous sub- sequent attempts at destruction, this marvel in marble still lifts her graceful pillars toward the sky. The Athens we saw was a bright, clean, modern metropolis of a million or so people surrounding its treasured ruins. The Greeks are a clean race, outstandingly clean. Of all the ports of call the Aucilla visited during our Med cruise, it can be honestly stated that Athens was the cleanest. A well-run city, amidst a beautiful setting. Unfortunately, our stay here was a short one. Perhaps the most important thing we did here was tour the ruins of antiquity. But Athens was more than just ruined temples of a bygone glory. She is a busy seaport, a thriving city, and the capital of the indomitable Greeks. Our stay here will be remembered by some men for the frequent liber- ties we pulled at the John Bull in Piraeus. Cer- tainly there was plenty to do in this crowded Greek port, and those of us who took the time to see Athens will long remember the magnificence of this city. We can ' t help but agree with those who say The West was born in Athens . 35

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34 BEIRUT. Our Home Port of the Eastern Med was perhaps the most Americanized port we hit during the cruise. Boasting an American Univer- sity, and an American community, U.S. ships and sailors were always welcome in this capital city of Lebanon. And welcome to the sailors were the warm sandy beaches of St. Simon and St. George, with their back home atmospheres. Tlie most vivid memory for some of us, though, were the several fine tours to the surrounding districts. Baalbek, the old temple-city dating back to the early Roman times, with the remnants of the world-famous Cedars of Lebanon, was one unforgettable experience. Another tour was the trip to Jerusalem, birthplace of Christianity. This trip included a side-track to Damascus, flying below sealevcl over the Dead Sea, a full day in Bethlehem, and a visit to the Garden of Geth- semane. Although Jerusalem was a disappointment to some, with its fierce racial rivalries, nobody could help but wonder at the Shepherd ' s Field, the ancient wall of the city, and the Mount of Cal- vary. Lebanon itself, smallest country in the Med- iterranean, is as old as the East. It was the home of the Phoenicians, who set their stamp on the whole Mediterranean world, and whose cities of Tyre and Sidon were famous ports of commerce at the dawn of civilized time. Lebanon was the Bib- lical ' Land of Milk and Honey , throughout the Greek and Macedonian and Roman eras, and later in the struggle between Arabs and Crusaders, Lebanon was always a prize of the first impor- tance. Perhaps our most enduring memory of Beirut, besides the warm hospitality of the American community, will be our near-drydocking on our last visit, which would undoubtedly have led to several more-enduring, less-endearing memories. 29 ISO -. Ce K Ras Ma ' amelteiii Bate de Djounic ' • 630 , ' ' ' ' 143 ' 35 I, ' .100 30, ' -; Ra lievroutli (Be.r„,) 230 290 ' ,81 88% ■ II 3tO mk 250 el IDA(siooN) , ' ■ Mar Elias ,. Mnimiyfh Salieh T Marus •• • Rummiet Rui VGinsemia .■» Rum

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TOULON. Toulon has had a varied and colored history among the naval ports of the Mediterran- ean. It is the oldest naval base in France and, at one time, the principal Mediterranean naval base. We were reminded of the total devastation Toulon suffered during World War II by the half-submerged hulks of French ships scuttled during the war and never raised. On 27 November 1942. three battle- ships (DUNKIRK, STRASBOURG and PROVENCE), seven cruisers, 25 destroyers, ten submarines and various auxiliary craft, totalling more than sixty ships, were scuttled in this harbor to keep them from falling into German hands. Post war recon- struction has raised the port of Toulon to a percentage of its once great eminence, but the scars of war have badly healed. In the city of Toulon we encountered more French sailors than civilians. The town itself was interesting and old and the populace showed little of the vivacity common to the Riviera area. Many of us traveled to Marseille in search of the ex- citement which Toulon did not offer, and in most cases we found it. For those young men who fol- lowed the advice of Horace Greeley and went west Marseille offered the night-lifeing, free spending mecca most enjoy. Others of us took a few days leave and traveled to Paris on one of the local tours. The less adventurous (including those who were broke) were content to amble into town for one of the famous French submarine sandwiches (which would make even Dagwood sick) and stop by at the corner bar to discuss just how the bar- maid got into that tight fitting skirt. So, with our bottles of SHAI.IMAR perfume stowed carefully in our lockers we left Toulon, smelling no the more sweeter, but thankful that Toulon left none of the malodorousness in our nos- trils that we have exp . ' rienced before. % %J 53 -%o 67 sm; .;138. 136 ' 164 224 391 451 41 6Q 62 SSA 43 38 333 5: 62 ---V.e« 52 , ■ 6 WW 374 19 „ . . - GlENS 13 ' :3i 21 Hade U 1 1 l . !2 ■ C- ' 3L;-23{ :- 3, , ' 188 . ' 508 First Liberty Party 36