Gearing (DD 710) - Naval Cruise Book

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VALLETTA, MALTA A twelve-day tender availability and USS SHENANDOAH provided the reason for visiting historic Malta. The tiny island is overflowing with ancient temples and ruins, Roman and Phoenician buildings and aquaducts, fortifi- cations and churches built by the Knights at St. john of jerusalem during their tenure, and British shops and parks of the last 150 years. One of the most popular tours in the ' 'Med is the one showing and explaining the many au- thenic historic sites Though no longer a British colony, the Maltese Islands retain much of the Britannic character. For us, Malta was a working stop, as we saw to it that necessary repairs and assistance were received from SHENANDOAH. There was still time, however, to take the tour, or to explore the city and island on our own. It was refresh- ing to be among people who could speak Eng- lish, even if a little more refined than the American variety. ' Often it is faster to hire a local dgaisa than to wart for the next scheduled liberty boat. 1 l With the fortified city of Valletta as a backdrop, GEA ki RING enters Grand Harbour, raiiiifrf Malta

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Kingsway, the busiest street in downtown Valletta, Malta, is thronged with shoppers from morning to late evening. 'ki 1 One of many historicall f ' P 1, C Y 9-SC1nating stops on the tour of the island is St. au s atacombs, near the ancient capital, Mdina.

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SI-IIP'S PARTY. The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Gravity plays amazing tricks. .554 Chaplain DeRuiter takes the traditional ride to the sea, I5 ' luv A PCDRT MAI-ION After an initial impression that the tiny island of Menorca would have nothing to offer the sailor CXPCII-2 enced in the Ways of Barcelona, the ten day visit turned. out to be one of the most refreshingly memorable of our: cruise. The island has a long history of friendship for American sailors. The son of a Menorcan became ther first Admiral in the United States Navy, Admiral Far- ragut. Port Mahon was a familiar home port for suchi naval sailing ships as the DELAWARE, and the CON- STITUTION Cnow in Boston harborj. Riding those, ships in the early nineteenth century were this QOQIUUYS' midshipmen, who received the bulk of their training 00 the high seas before the Naval Academy was founded if Annapolis. . d American sailors of today found the island still oliCfC enjoyable liberty hours. Most popular were the beaChE5v and. rightly so. Menorca is literally surrounded 3' breathtakingly beautiful coves, with crystal clear blue an torquoise water up to several hundred feet deep. Mani of us brought bought or rented scuba gear and eXp10fi the underwater terrain. The rest of us whiled aW2Yhbei1i hours nearer the surface or on the golden S8115 Off shore. l I I