Charles S Sperry (DD 697) - Naval Cruise Book

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, Af s A f i'5f!S.. ,x af fr - Z 'iff 1 V H ,. Gi ' . , -4 i fwgf JJ 53' 4 we r lit! WN T-15 I I Ww- --u-....,,,, ffl? A' 321 '-'- wt ., W., . . by t ., -K r -' Barcelona is famous for its plazos Of course, practically everybody went to a bullfight. This colorful sportis syn- onymous With everything Spanish and naturally the arena was always packed. There were two bullfights during the Sperry is stay in Barcelona and each time the score was Matadors 6, Bulls 0. Seafood connaisseurs found this city very much to their liking as practically every type of dish was available in- cluding some real delicacies such as squid, and a wonderful item called Paella Valencia, a combination of rice and fish. Adventurous spirits also tried snails, a popular European meal, and found them delicious. Thus it was with sad hearts that most of us left Barcelona, and headed once again out to sea. Desron 24 in Barcelona with Yachts La Bullfights were enjoyed by many The fleet landing and the Santa Maria replica Barcelona Maids li 'SX if 'ii

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ug , J N Ji A . Barcelona as seen from the bridge. B One of the many famous fountains The city of Barcelona, Spain is one ofthe favorite ports of the fleet in the Mediterranean. Barcelona offers something for everyone. This beautiful city which appears peaceful and restive to Americans is actually the most prosperous and industrial in all Spain with a growing population of over IVQ mil- lion. Immediately conspicuous as one enters the harbor is the statue of Christopher Columbus, point- ing the way to the New World, for, it was to Barcelona that Columbus returned in 1492 where he was met by Queen Isabella. Sperrymen who thought that they could speak a little Spanish soon discovered that the predominant language was not Spanish but a dialect called Castilian. Most of the people, however, are at least bi- lingual, and this proved to be no problem. Probably the most striking thing aboutthe city was the sharp contrast between the broad boulevards of the new cityQprincipally the Ramblasj and the narrow, winding streets of the old quarter. In some areas large fountains, rerniniscient of the Eternal City were found. Beautiful churches, quaint shops, and stunning examples of Spanish architecture abounded. It was, of course, impossible for everyone to see everything, but Sperrymen did take advantage of tours of the city of Barcelona, as well as a three day tour to Madrid, and a one day tour to Mont- serrat, the site of one of the world's most famous monasteries. The Patricia Kay underway The Christopher Columbus monument

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,,. V. ,ft :Janis-IIIK. In ., ,gi nf' Q The Sperry ot anchor in Son Remo Boy Liberty party waits for boot at quorterdeck Our at sea time was quite brief, however, and five days later the Sperry arrived at San Remo, Italy, which is located on the Italian Riviera, about thirty miles east of the French border. This petite city nestles between the blue waters of the northern Mediterranean and the steep slopes of the 'ifoothillsn tgood-sized mountains by American standardsj of the Italian Alps. The older part of the city is primarily built on the slopes while the new town with its fine hotels, spacious villas, and Casino, stretches along the shore. In recent years the city has become quite popular as a summer resort town and it likes to think of itself as the heart of the Italian Riviera. The principal industry, other than tourists, is flower gardening, mainly carnations. The Carnation Market in San Remo is second only to the Dutch Tulip Industry as the world's largest flower enterprise. For the men of the Sperry, however, the principal attraction was probably the beautiful beach. This is very difficult for this writer to understand. The only major difference between this and any other beach was perhaps the bikini-clad females. In addition water skiing and small boats were available. Many Sperrymen also took time for a brief jaunt into nearby France to witness the celebrations of 14 july, the anniversary of French Independence. Many took advantage of a one-day tour which went to Nice and then to Monaco fof Grace Kelly Faiuej and home of the fabulous Casino of Monte Carlo. Another interesting tour which lasted for one da.y was taken by some into the Italian Alps. Several- Speffymen I' discovered a beautiiiil little golf course on the slopes above the city. As the Sperry departed San Remo all agreed that here was truly a beautiful city and for many the memory of high peaks with terraced slopes dotted with picturesque villas, towering above a wide, sandy beach and clear, blue water, would not soon fade.