Chikaskia (AO 54) - Naval Cruise Book

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5 t H113 .' ., While in' Naples, two three-day tours to Rome were arranged for the BIG Cl-IIK crew. The chance to see the enchanting city of Rome, along with the chance to ba away from the ship, drew many enthusiastic volunteers. The tour parties stayed in the Palatino l-lotel. Every day tours to various places throughout the city were available. l-lowever, it someone wanted to sightsee on his own, he could. The Vatican, the famous Colosseum, and the Arch de Constantinelwere some of the historic spots on the tours. - Both tour groups, ironically, ran into the American screen and TV star, Ernest Bourgnine, in downtown Rome. lVIr. Bourgnine told the Cl-llK sailors that during World War ll he was a gunners mate in the Navy. A very warm and kind man, lVlr. Bourgnine was one ofthe high points on the tour. On the return bus trip, the- tour group stopped in the h ome town of Julius Caesar. ll-le wasn't home.l lt car be safely said that a wonderful time was had by all.

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,Ma ,ta The much visited port of Valletta, Malta, is located 150 miles south of Sici y ' h withstood three years of constant bombing by the appears to be carved from rock, which may be the reason s e ' ' l ' a defense-minded island in a strategic position to in- Axis Powers during World Vllar ll. l-listorically, lVla ta is ' ' d South Mediterranean waters. The Knights of the Order of St. John fluence shipping along both North an gave Ivlalta most of its b kthe Turks in 1566 against tremendous odds, l .At first glance, the city of 319,000 defensive character when they turned ac The Cl-llKASKlA'made two visits to Ivlalta during the cruise: the first, to Valletta, enabling her to make neces- re airs to the boilers' the second visit, a fuel lift, was to lvlarsoxloklc. On both occasions, the crew enjoyed SGW D . tours, individual sight-seeing, and some outstanding shopping sprees. l P, Q, ,A 4 l