Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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TARA T0 ane of fhe four maior naval bases in lfaly, Taranfo, in fhe insfep of fhe lfalian Boof forms fhe soufhern anchorage for her fleef. The disasfer inflicfed on fhe lfalian Navy by fhe Brifish in I94l, is well known. Brifish planes from fhe lllusfrious flew over fhe lfalian fleef, apparenfly quife secure in fhe harbor, and broke fhe back of lfalian sea power in a few hours. Taranfo is one of fhe cleanesf cifies visifed in fhe Med. If is rafher small, and fhe sfreefs are very narrow. Wifh a populafion of abouf lO0,000, she does nof have fhe air of a big cify as some of fhe ofher-porfs have. Amusemenfs are few, and luxurious bars and hofels are non-exisfenf. There are a few side- walk cafes fhaf offer a pleasanf place from which fo view fhe Taranfios. Shop- ping is limifed, wifh mosf of fhe producfs coming from fhe norfhern cifies. The cify is nof indusfrial, nor does if have any nafive handicraff fhaf is worfhy fo menfion. Three Naval schools are mainfained here, and lfalian courfesies are many buf noi' lavish. Noi' far from fhe fleei- landing one can find modern club-hofels, which serve cognac, gin, and beer af reasonable prices. Fafher's Day was celebrafed by in- vifing a group of lfalian orphans fo a parfy aboard ship. If was hard fo fell who had fhe mosf fun, fhe children or fhe fosfer fafhers. The Navy meefs fhe Navy

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l748, and now mosf of fhe cify has been uncovered. Many of us will remember February l95l and our few days of shore dufy . Liberfy boafs on fhe 4fh found if rough going because of high seas and sfrong winds, and fhaf nighf when fhe men refurned fo fhe landing, fhey found fhaf boafs fo all fhe ships oufside fhe brealcwafer had been cancelled. Hours passed and fhe weafher grew sfeadily worse. and finally fhe word came fo load fhe men onfo buses and disfribufe fhem amongsf fhe various hofels in Naples. Nafurally fhere were foo many men for +he limifed space available, and a frip fhrough fhe hofels fhaf nighf found sailors sleeping in fhe lobbies, on fhe sfairs. in fhe halls and iammed by fhe dozens in rooms. There were also a few opfimisfic souls who slepf in some box cars af fhe landing. There were sfill no boafs fhe nexf morning. and iusf abouf everyone headed for fhe Seamen's Club, and a hof cup of coffee. Around noon fhey were herded back fo fhe landing, and fhose whose ships had come inside fhe breakwafer refurned. COLUM- BUS men were spread abouf fhe various ships, fo waif unfil fhe morning of fhe 7+h when liberfy boafs resumed schedule. We gof aboard iusf in fime fo load sfores - oh well, be if ever so humble There is no place lilce home . Waferfronf Pigna+oro Maggcre Caserfa Parade in Naples

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fglfhough if would be impossible fo lisf all fhe affracfions Venice has fo offer fhe sighf-seer, fhere are a few of fhe beffer known fhaf should be menfioned. From fhe liberfy landing if was buf a few shorf blocks fo fhe cenfer of Venefian life af fhe Piazza Di San Marco lSf. lviark's Squarel, filled wifh people, and E I E pigeons. On fhree sides if is enclosed wifh symmefrical colonnades, from which 1 exfend numerous cafe fables. On fhe fourfh side is fhe fabulous Basilica of Sf. Mark, fhe pafron sainf of Venice. The roof is a greaf clusfer of golden domes of various sizes, and is adorned wifh 500 columns of rare orienfal marbles, inside and ouf. The building is covered wifh mosaics of gilded glass and semi- precious sfones. On your leff as you leave fhe church is fhe l4fh cenfury Campanile. Above fhe brick shaff, I62 feef high, is a limesfone bell chamber which affords a wonderful view of fhe cify. Direcfly across fhe Piazza from fhe Campanile, over an archway leading info fhe maze of fhe cify ifself, is fhe Torre Del Orlo-Gio, The principal feafure of which is a frick clock. The bronze gianfs called fhe Mori or Moors, each armed wifh a sledgehammer, have been sfriking fhe hours on a large bell for fhe pasf 450 years. There are a number of palaces fo visif, perhaps fhe mosf famous being fhe Palazzo Ducale lDucal Palacel. This sfriking building has seen as much magnificence, cruelfy, lavish generosify, low infrigue, cafasfrophe, and prosperify as any building fhis side of Hades. The Grand Canal, fhe main drag of Venice is a rubber-neck's paradise, wifh anofher dozen famous and beaufi- ful spofs +o see. The Grand Canal In fronf of Sf. Mark's