Hue City (CG 66) - Naval Cruise Book

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Aqaba, Jordan Aqaba's history dates back to the 4th millennium BC. The name of Aqaba was given to the port city in the l4th century when it was ruled by the Mamluk Sultan based in Egypt. Previously, it was known as Ayla, a name which archaeologists and historians have often interpreted as the twin version of Eilat. During the lst century BC, the Nabataeans, who raised livestock and pirated merchant ships in the Red Sea, inhabited Ayla. Around 106 AD, the Romans used the town as one of their main trading stations en route to the sea. Ayla came under Islamic rule in 630 AD, when the spread of Islam from Hejaz reached the peoples of the Red Sea. During this time, the port was known as the Door to Palestine? Just prior to Islam the Ghassanid Phylarchs fa tribe from western Arabiaj controlled Ayla. on behalf of Byzantium, and its bishop at Ayla attended the Council of Nicaea in 325.+iEXcavations initiated in l994 by a team Hom North Carolina State University, located the Nabataean-Roman town of Ayla 2 km from Tell Al-Khalifeh, in the Circular area ,of modern Aqaba. I The walled city of Ayla was constructed during the early days ofthe Islamic era, a rareiexample of early Islamic urbanization policy. Its layout is marked by axial streets leading to 4 gates and intersecting in the middle, where a tetrapylon Q4 interconnecting archesj was set up, thus recalling the plan of Roman legionary camps. Unearthed in the mid-1980s by an American-Jordanian archaeological team are the remains of Islamic Ayla, located along the main waterfront road, near. the hotel district. , Aqaba. is wellknown for its beach resorts and luxury hotels, which service those who come forfun in the sand as g well as watersports like windsurfing and Scuba diving. It also offers activities which take advantage of its desert location. Its many coffee shops offer mansaf and knafeh, and baqlawa desserts. Another very popular venue is the Turkish Bath fHamamj, in which locals and visitors alike come to 'relax after a hot day. Cn August 20, 2005, an early-moming rocket attack nearly struck a U.S. Navy ship docked there causing damage to nearby facilities in the city, the attack also hit the nearby Israeli town of Eilat. Al-Qaeda or an affiliate claimed responsibility. 78

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Limassol, Cyprl1S Limassol is the second-largest city of CypruS, with 3 POPUMUOU Qf.161,000, and the biggest municipality of the island. The city is located on Akrotiri Bay, on the island's southern coast and it is the capital of Limassol District. It underwent great development after the Turkish invasion in 1974, becoming the biggest port in the Mediterranean transit trade. Limassol has since then become one of the most important tourism, trade and service-providing centres in the area. Limassol is renowned for its long cultural tradition. A wide spectrum of activities and a great number of museums and archaeological sites are available to the interested visitor. Limassolwas built between two ancient cities, Amathus and Kourion, so during Byzantinerulelit was known as Neapolis fnew townj. Limassol's tourist strip now runs east ralonggtheicoast as far as Amathus. To the west of the city is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area of the United Kingdom. , iliri also attracts a wide range of tourists mostly during the summer season to be accommodated in its several luxurious hotels and apartments. m Limmasol is the base for many of the island's wine companies, serving the wine- growing regions on the southeml slopeS of T139 Tfoodos Mountains fof which the most famousjgs, Commandariaj. The most importante-cones are KEO, LOEL, SGDAP and ETKO. Thenwines and cognacs Cbrandiesj thats-are produced by the grapes that grow in the countrysiddeixare of excellent quality, winning several awards in international exhibitions. There is a considerable.consumption of wine products in Cyprus by the locals and the foreign visitors. Big quantities are exported to Europe. The KEO factory also produces an excellent kind of beer. The town of Limassol is the biggest industrial center of the province. There are about 350 industrial units with 90 industry wares. These industries concern dressmaking, fumiture, shoes, drinks, food, prints, metal industry, electric devices, plastic wares as well as many other different industries. 80 .3 2 2 4 l l .1