Deuel (APA 160) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 43 text:

■T TTnT kn ' ' fc ' lij OUR FIRST Mediterranean port was Algiers, one in which we were to learn a great deal. It w as our first introduction to the custom of bartering, and sad to relate we often came out second best. We w andered through the famous Casbah and wondered what Charles Boyer saw in it of a romantic nature. This was also the first time w e ran into a serious language barrier, so w e had to become proficient at the use of sign language. It is amazing ho ' w eloquent you can get w ith just your hands.

Page 45 text:

ANOTHER PORT, different money, a new language. Although this was primarily a work- ing port there was still time for a little play. The friendly Italians w ith their happy music, easy laughter, and fine wines and food made our short hours ashore pleasant indeed. Men who spoke even a little Italian w ere in great demand here as interpreters. Replenishment of the fleet took a lot of our time as did the normal upkeep of the ship.