Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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PORTUGAL Ci OLUMBUS ahoy! , came the resounding roar from the ship we were relieving. As we steamed into the port of Lisbon, Por- tugal, the crew of the BALTIMORE turned out a gala welcoming committee for the ship that was filling her bill in the Sixth Fleet. Flags flew, posters were plastered from the forecastle to the fantail, some energetic members of the BALTIMORE crew clowned with feminine togs, and from the general attitude of the BALTIMORE sailors It was obvious they were happy to be heading home. Lisbon, according to an informal poll, ranks high In popu- larity among the sailors aboard. It isn ' t too difficult to under- stand why. The city affords a varied selection of entertainment, rivaling nearly any port in the Mediterranean. Many large movie houses feature American movies. While we were there such films as Francis Goes to West Point , Quo Vadis and The Three Musketeers ' were playing. The numerous parks and gardens which can be seen from almost any portion of the city relate a tale of a people who have a great deal of pride and affection for the city in which they live. The climate is mild and equable throughout the year, thereby securing favorable conditions for the growth of nature ' s finery. Just about every place where even a little grass is grow- ing, you can find flowers planted. Cobblestone streets and orange-colored roofs seem to be the trademarks of the city also. The Inhabitants are friendly to all and the street life of the city Is full of interest. The bare-footed fishwives bearing flat trays of fish on their heads; the bakers, bending beneath a heavy load of bread slung in a huge basket over their shoulders; the knife grinders, and the calls of the fruit vendors all contribute to the bustle of this colorful city. The tours that were provided proved themselves to be of great Interest and worth. Fatima and the hloly Shrines Indicating the sites of the visitations of Our Lady of Fatima offered many sailors an opportunity to see the actual vista of a miracle they ' d read and heard of all their lives. The tours to Sintra where the palaces and castles of ancient Portuguese royalty stand; where the relics of a dead era live perpetually on, instilled In us an experience that we won ' t soon forget. Even though the regular bull-fight season had ended when we reached Lisbon early in October, a special fight was arranged for the fleet. For those sailors who had never seen a bullfight before, the ancient sport proved to be as interesting as It was

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covers 74 acres of land; and the Royal Palace, at the head of the city ' s main thoroughfare, Karl Johans gate. With a population of approximately half a million people, Oslo is the largest city in Norway and nearly half of the merchant ileet is centered there. Bearing in mind that Norwegian merchant shipping ranks third in the world, one can quickly realize that Oslo is the chief seaport of a seafaring nation. Many tours were arranged in Oslo, including one to the mountains which would have been particularly good except for the inclement weather. Those who selected the city tour reported that it was far above average. As one might imagine, a city with all these advantages makes an excellent location for the nation ' s capital. And therefore, Oslo has been the capital since 1814. Founded in 1060, the city was completely leveled by fire in 1624 and was replanned and built up by King Christian IV on a site west of the original city. It took eight years to build the new towa. The country remained neutral during World War I and from September 1939 to April 1940 tried painstakingly to do the same thing as hiitler marched into one country after another in Europe. German forces invaded Norwegian soil on 9 April 1940, however, and the German minister at Oslo demanded that the country be handed over. When the government refused to submit to the demands, the Invading armies swept across the country in two months, despite stubborn resistance. The king and the government fled to London and declared their intention of carrying on the war from there. Early in November 1944, Russian armies liberated parts of northern Norway from German occupation and she was officially freed of occupation on 8 May 1945. Now the country is a participant in the Marshall Plan and a member of the Atlantic Pact, which she joined in spite of a protest from the Soviet Union that It was an unfriendly move. Trygve Lie, the country ' s foreign minister became the flist Secretary General of the United Nations. The courageous and hardy people of Norway are a symbol for the free people of the world. Regardless of the fact that they are a small country In both size and population, they refused to surrender to the Nazis without a fight and will not be dictated to by the nearby Kremlin today. These were the kind of people we met when the COLUMBUS visited Oslo from 25-29 September. We ' ll remember it as a good city, inhabited by good people. The Monolith In Frogner Park New City Hall Scenic Norway

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centuries ago. Many of the sailors present were so enthused that they relinquished all claim to their hats as they flung them into the arena, in honor of the brave matadors. In Portuguese style fighting, the bull is fought by a man in 18th century costume mounted on a beautiful, spirited horse, often worth over $10,000. The bull ' s horns are padded with straw and straps. Men on foot with capes help maneuver the bull into position where he can charge the horseman, who tries, each time he is charged, to place a decorated barb between the shoulder blades of the bull. The matador ' s skill is judged by the accuracy of the barb ' s placement. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the animal is never killed in Portugal. Far more popular with the people as a whole are the many romar- ies, fiestas, and market-days. Romaries are pilgrimages to Catholic shrines, in which religious duties are combined with secular pleasures on an outdoor holiday, and compare with old-fashioned English county fairs. Brilliantly colored costumes are worn on these days. One of the main drags of Lisbon, the Avenida de LIberdade, s regarded as one of the finest avenues of Europe. Its tree- shaded sidewalk cafes and expensive restaurants are a favorite haunt of the city ' s society people. Less than a five minute walk from the Avenida, with all its wealth and prosperity, beggars and peddlers abound In the Alfama district, however. There, amid narrow, steep and winding streets and alleys is found the seamier side of Lisbon. The people there still maintain the medieval aspect which other parts of the city have lost , to quote the guide who accompanied at least one of the city tours by COLUMBUS personnel. Various other units of the Sixth Fleet were tied up in Lisbon during the COLUM- BUS ' visit, either being relieved to go back to the States or joining the Med Fleet. It was the early morning (In fact, before sunrise) of 9 October 1952, that the COLUMBUS left its berth at Alcantara dock in Lisbon and steamed down the Tagus River to the. Atlantic on its way to a week of fleet exercises before stopping at Augusta, Sicily, for replenishment. Portuguese Fishing Boat Customs Building