Pawcatuck (AO 108) - Naval Cruise Book

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4 Michaelangelo, Botticelli and Perugino adorn the walls and ceiling. The Vatican museum offered works by Ra- phael, Titian and many otherltalian masters. After lunch we proceeded to the Coliseum, one-of Rome's famous landmarks. With a little imagination we could picture the great throngs which once iilled the massive arena to watch gladiators and beasts fight to the death. Now many portions of the Coliseum have fallen to ruin but much of the grandeur still remains. From the Coliseum we went to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian, the burial caves of the early Christians. We were guided through only a small section of the under- ground vaults but we saw enough to sympathize with those who found it necessary to congregate there. Leaving the Catacombs, we once again took up our journey along the Appian Way, this time heading for Naples. Supper at Formia rounded out our day and although we were tired, we were able to ask When is the next tour to Rome ? THE POMPEII, AMALFI. AND SORRENTO TOUR A memorable experience wasthe tour to Pompeii, Amalfi and Sorrento. Our first stop was at a cameo factory a few miles outside of Naples. Here we were able to observe for ourselves just what constitutes the making of a cameo. It became apparent that the value of the finished product is determined by two factors, the nature of the raw material and the skill of the craftsman. A short ride brought us to the ancient city of Pom- peii located almost at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. Here, more than three hundred years before the birth of Christ, some twenty five thousand people lived a re- markably civilized existence. Pompeii was buried by the erruption of Mt. Vesuvius in seventy-nine A. D. Since 1861 the Italian government has been systema- tically excavating the city and today a large part of it is now open to the public. A few of the more famous structures we observed were The Basilica, also known as the palace of justice, The Forum, which was the center of the life and activi- ty of the-city, and the Amphitheatre, a hugh circular arena which was the scene of sports events and bloody performances. The Amphitheatre was capable of seat-' ing more than twenty thousand spectators. As our guide led us through the straight paved streets he pointed out what were once shops, homes, temples, baths, aqueducts, gambling houses, hotels and whatever else was necessary for a completely functional city. Upon entering a bath house we found dressing rooms, swimming pool, and cold, warm and hot bathing rooms. Hot baths were heated by furnaces located be- neath the floors. . Legend has it that Pompeii was destroyed by the gods because of the sinful life of its inhabitants and some of the statues and paintings found among the l I 1 1 ri It i ... ,...:.,.- I il lv I la l ll i 1 U y : 6 1 l l l a l 1 1 1 l l l i l 4 j l i w i l i F 1 l l r i V V n y i v w

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ROME The first Rome tour of the 1953 season was made on August 5, by the Captain, two officers and twenty-three crew members. Our large group left Naples at 0600 traveling in a comfortable bus furnished by the Aloschi Tour Agency. After passing through the suburbs of Naples our party soon found itself traveling on one of the most famous routes in Europe, the Appian Way. This road, built over two thousand years ago by Appius Claudius, is kept in excellent repair. The bus made good time, driver Salvatore keeping one hand on the steering wheel, the other on the horn. We stopped briefly out- side the ruins of a Roman Theatre at Minturno, pausing long enough for a few photographs. Anxious to keep moving we traveled quickly to the town of Formia on the Italian coast. Here We stopped for refreshment and for more photographs although the sky was overcast. We did more refreshing than photographing. After leaving Formia it was two hours before the dome of St. Peter's was seen shining dimly through the haze which covered the Eternal City. Passing Roman Aqueducts and Pagan Ruins we soon entered the outskirts of Rome and begin to get an idea of the size of this ancient city. We passed through the Roman wall and entered Rome proper making note of the interesting spots pointed out by our guide Fernando Ruocco. Our hotel furnished us a good luncheon and a needed rest after the 5 hour journey. In the afternoon we be- gan our tour of the great Basilicas of Rome, St. Peter's, St. John's, and St. Paul's. St. Peter's, the world's larg- est church, with the dome designed by Michaelangelo, could house the Pawcatuck with plenty of room to spare. The church is nearly 700 feet long, the dome 464 feet high. The stately beauty of St. Paul's Basil- ica impressed us and we would have stayed longer but our audience time was drawing near. Leaving the city we traveled south for about twenty miles to Castel Gan- dolfo the summer quarters of the Pope. When we arriv- ed automobiles and busses were already Parked, their passengers descending and joining groups on foot for the final climb to the top of the hill where the palace 1S situated. We entered the courtyard and found lt prac- tifully filled with people. There were nearly three thou- sand persons there, men, women and children of all nationalities. Pope Pius XII stepped out on the balcony promptly at 1800 and was greeted by cheers and songs from those gathered below. He spoke to the various groups in their native tongues and offered a prayer to Almighty God for peace in the world. He blessed our religious articles and in his long white robe, extended his hands in a final blessing for all of us. Amid loud cheers wishing him good health he departed to his pri- vate rooms. After supper at the hotel, those who were not too tired from the day's activities began a tour of Rome by night. We didn't need a guide this time. Next morning we set out for a visit to Vatican City the formal residence of the Pope in Rome. Here we saw the Cistine Chapel where the greatest works of

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Q f W xyf ruins seem to bear out the fact that the morals of the mlpeople left much to be desired. Ra' Leaving Pompeii we headed for Amalfi. The wind- wing road we took gave us a wonderful view of the Medi- iogterranean many hundreds of feet below. Arriving at hAmalfi, a quaint resort town, we stopped for dinner. EHere we enjoyed an excellent meal made more pleasant Wg by the music of a small Spanish band. 4 Our iinal stop was at another resort town, Sorrento. if Unfortunately we .stayed at this world famous mecca ll for tourists only long enough to take a hurried look if' around and buy a few souvenirs, but many of us felt th that we should like to return some day and explore more closely its narrow streets shaded by beautiful Utrees, and hear again the music and laughter of its Epeople. ' is A half hour later we were back in Naples, tired per- haps, but content in the knowledge that we carried with us a few more unforgettable memories of our Mediter- ranean cruise. CAPRI 3 About twenty miles south of Naples lies the famous E Isle of Capri. The two hour trip is made in a sturdy 9 open excursion boat. The trip went rapidly, though, 9 with animated but limited conversations with the Ital- X ian passengers. 9 First on the agenda was the Blue Grotto. The Grotto is a water filled cavern which can be entered only from f the sea. The opening is so low that a rowboat is the e largest craft able to squeeze through. Even then it is necessary for the occupants to lie prone at the entrance. - Once inside, however, the cavern enlarges considerably. 1 The most striking feature of the grotto is the eerie, luminous, blue glow that the water gives forth. The - small boats slipping through the glowing water in the t otherwise darkened cave give one the impression that he has been transplanted to a strange new world of fantasy. E I . In order to get to the more elevated parts of the is- ' land it was necessary to ride the Funiculare, a cable car which runs up into the hills at about a forty-five degree angle. By this time we had worked up a sizeable appe- tite and so were grateful for the opportunity to take time off for lunch. In the afternoon we were shown the exotic rock gar- dens of the island and were treated to some breathtak- ing views of the rocky crags jutting into the sea far below. A visit to the Ville of St. Michael and a bus ride around the island completed the days activities. By seven P. M. we were back in Naples. To us the Isle of Capri was no longer merely the title of a song.