Newport News (CA 148) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 26 text:

However, the biggest thrill of being in Athens was the realization that you were walking among the structures where our modern civilization was born. Even the people resembled the characteristic figures of classic art. Our visits to the ruins of the many temples and palaces, and to the Acropolis were enhanced by the detailed and inspiring histories portrayed by our guides. From this insight one could sense the attitude of sane balance and clear- sightedness that dominates the Hellenic mood. We came to know the Greek spirit which influenced the development of mod- ern -science and free society. athens, greece Anchoring out in the bay of Piraeus our visit to Greece began by piping aboard King Paul and Queen Fredricka. Old friends of Admiral Cassady and the NEWPORT NEWS, we knew that their call was an gf. ficial welcome to the land that reflected today's modern culture against the ancient roots where it began. Everyone felt the warmth of the people in the grace of their queen's smile and recognized that symbolic nobility again when seeing the classic lines of the architecture of ancient Greece. The city of Athens was a short bus ride from the fleet landing. There were seen the fruits of American foreign aid as recon- struction flourished amidst the devastation of World War ll and the detoriation oftime. The boulevards were lined with some of the finest, most modern stores we had seen in Europe, all well stocked with products manufactured by Greece's budding in- dustry. ,,

Page 25 text:

at our most easterly posit 5136 miles from norfolk in . . . istanbul turke Sanlmg through the Dardnnelles the sea of Marnar and anchormg un the Bosporus we saw physlcal evidence of Istanbul s century old strategnc posntlon as guarduan of the sea lanes of the near east and entrance to the Mednter ranean The rest of the anclent Constantlne Empire and the holder of many bottle rlbbons down through hlstory welcomed us Into the waters of the Golden Horn and the heart of the cuty Almost lgnormg the ommous fact that the Black Sea was lust around the corner we set about the business of enloyung ourselves As far as lnberty was concerned most of us were very pleased with the way we were treated In Istanbul The Turklsh people were more than helpful we learned that earller when we met their naval personnel during Turknsh Sky I exerclses The food un the local restaurants was very flne and In general thlngs on the beach looked mighty good to us after a lang hard period at sea There were many flne Items to buy among whlch meerschaum plpes were prob ably the most popular as seen from the many that were being puffed around the shnp dunng the ensulng weeks Puzzle rmgs and fme work rnanshlp ln preclous metals and jewels also proved to be wlse purchases In fact one might say that the Grand Bazaar experlenced a mlld business boom while we were ln town We vlsltecl St Sophia the Blue Mosque and the old clty ln splte of the very poor weather prevallmg during our stay One thmg we know we wall not be forgettmg for a long tnme IS the smell of those turkish cigarettes They seemed about the hardest part of the local atmosphere for us to get accustomed to Our stay however was a pleasant one malnly because of the attitude of our hosts The Turklsh people seemed to take to Amen cans and our way of lnfe most naturally Al though there may be many mules between us we all know personally that we always have a sincere friend In the land of the turkish towel and turkish bath dug the crazy beachguard shack N4 Qhwxmxww two strong alhes work together ln turklsh sky ll'll street scene fleet landnng, Istanbul .

Page 27 text:

their royal hellenic majesties, arrlvlng temple of alympian zeus. the llvmg tradltlon of their land TQ'-5 fs theatre at diohysus.