Lloyd Thomas (DDE 764) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 50 text:

gigraffar After leaving Villefranche on 14 March we stopped on the 17th at Gibraltar to fuel for the long trip back to the States. YV e were not there long enough to go ashore, but it gave a chance for Co1nCarDiv 14, C0mCortDesDiv 62, and all the Small Boy skippers a chance to et t UA l g obet ier and rehash recent operations. . .

Page 49 text:

1-'-f ghe run, just about everyone considered the run much to difficult for skiers such as we. Much to our dismay we found that they were absolutely right. The first of a party of five arrived at the base of the run an hour and a half after starting, while the two beginners .made it in a little less than three hours. We might mention here that, the average Swiss skier makes this run in some- thing like twenty minutes, but the fact that we finished without any broken bones was a victory in itself. The phase of the skiing which hurt our vanity most was the embarrassement we felt in watching children of nine and ten zip by as we were extracting ourselves from various snow- banks. But it was not only our vanities that hurt when we got back to the hotel! XfVhile our intrepid sportsmen were attempt- ing to ski, another group, with more sense, went up to the Jungfraujoch where we were treated to the scenic beauty of the Alps. Here is located the lungfrau glacier, which moves slowly down the inountainside. In the glacier itself a tunnel is cut leading to a little bar-room carved out of the ice and containing all-ice fixtures. Farther on is an underglacier 'ice-skating rink with a large high-ceiling ha-ll supported by ice columns. The following morning, those who did not want to try the ski-run again, took the chairlift up to First . It is a strange feeling to glide over the mountainside and it is diflicult to say what is most impressive. It may be the continu- ally changing scenery, the quiet swi-ng over snow- covered chalets, or a small stream darting amongst tall evergreens laden with snow. The view during the climb is incomparably beautiful and one who has visited First can never forget the sight of those majestic mountains and glaciers, or the picture of the storybook village of Grindel- Wald nestled in the Alps. Shortly after dinner we said our goodbyes to the people of Grindelwald and were on our way back to Geneva. We did not leave without sadness. 'While in Grindelwald, we were treated wonderfully. Many of us thought that if we were given a choice of living anywhere in Europe, it would be among the Swiss. Passing back through Interlaken we took our last look, at the Alps of the Bernese Oberland. That afternoon found us in Bern where we were shown some of the sights of the Capitol City. Our visit included a short stop in the Kornhauskeller for beer, a place with much local color, including a Barva- ri-an Band costumed in green shorts, brightly colored suspenders and typical alpine hats. The band, to our American ears, gave out plenty of OOMpah-OOM-pah , but littlemelody. Back into the bus and off for Geneva. That night in Geneva, we took advantage of 'our last taste of Switzerland. Those who were able to walk reasonably well after their skiing experiences went out on the town. But many of us nursed our aches and bruises, took hot baths and hit the sack. The next morning, tired but well-satisfied with our short stayin Switzerland we headed back to Nice, loaded with Swiss chocolate, Cuckoo clocks, and a wonderful impression of the Swiss people and their beautiful country.

Page 51 text:

ijlze jfila gme On our return voyage we made a high- line transfer as shown here for the purpose of exchanging guard mail and movies Qfor instance The Radar Secret Servicenj. The movies and disc jockey program helped shorten the trip, but if you want to see what every man was anxiously waiting to see, then just turn the page ....