Columbus (CA 74) - Naval Cruise Book

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ITALY

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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

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GENOA C OLUMBUS men had an opporfunl+y on this cruise to explore the boot of Italy from top to bottom. Beginning in October with the toe Augusta, Sicily, the ship then visited Genoa In the north and later on, Naples, which lies in the central part of the country. Probably one of the best liked ports on the entire cruise was Genoa, the birthplace of the discoverer of our country, Christopher Columbus. The ship found her precarious way through the narrow harbor and moored, Mediter ranean style, close by the Maritime Building on 29 October. Those sailors who had been to Genoa before were quick to get ashore and renew old friendships while the first cruise men soon found the city to be everything that It was said to be. Genoa Is both a medieval and modern city, crowded and bustling. The old part of the city Is full of narrow, winding streets, often with stairs and bridges, and hemmed In by lofty old buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a strange sight to see these alleys, left overs from a forgotten age, filled with small grocery stores, restaurants, and other places of business, with neon signs over their doors. Often an alley only eight or ten feet wide is an important thorough- fare crowded with people at almost any hour. Perhaps the center of town, at least one of the busiest places In Genoa, is the Piazza de Ferrari. A square with a beautiful fountain In Its center, It seems as though all the city ' s street cars congregate there. Traffic Is quite congested as the narrow sidewalks cannot adequately take care of the pedestrian traffic during the daytime hours, and the vehicular traffic has also outgrown Its streets. Many imposing buildings border the Piazza and the smart shopping district, of which the Via Settembre takes up a large part, is located right off it. We ' ll remember Genoa for the famil- iar bridge at the ship ' s fantail where the local people lined up each day to watch us at work(?). Actually, we ' ll remember it more for our frequent glimpses to see how many fair maids were there. Right, boys? COLUMBUS left Genoa on 3 Novem- ber to meet other units of the fleet and started Operation Longstep , which was smaller than ' Mainbrace but still the larg- T t .A ' .ti. ' i ' —