San Marcos (LSD 25) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 57 text:

13 Q ,Q 1' J ,Q 135 js ,fe . XX ,f'1- f r X . 5 ink' .i ': ' '- I FE 'UU lltllli A .1 '? . -, f 501- A f Q W.- Grand Harbour 5. 'Q l - . Q v - . ,, , , M' ' ,451-3': -.t,, .. '-I. L. A -, . p bl , ' 'Q-f - Q 5 . i W I - '- +-V + P r -J-T' .1 Q-ff W ' . T I 5' '-'l'.1 .Al f 'Y ! ? .5 P .' ,, , 1 f , ' ' - ' 'h ' ' fini-nam 1 5 wx Q , LW - , V . I. , kxnr ,rv ,' g J - . ,,...1- .al Q - 15 V x ,,L -8. IHQT , isa' gn, . - 1 V V' H 3 - - NY- , V ,.v4g,,..,,,1 - M, W1 - , A.. . I. Q th W - are. - ' 2 1 I i, t 4 ' Q xv-... - Pu 5 1 , Ax .x, .- -'i A -L 4 1 ' . f ' L no s 1 f-. -AN. g,...- . H ' R !m M r ' , ,. , Grand Harbour from Upper Barracca - Valletta Gozo f 3U'v-1 , L .nv ,... View of Senqlea and Fort St. Angelo , .V Q AGLQ 1

Page 56 text:

W' -0 A,.,,.,.',feiM'l3 L5 Q Waite T The people of Valetta, capital city of Malta, were preparing to celebrate their second annivers- ary of freedom from British rule, when the SM pulled into port. The festivities lasted well into the night, and the fireworks, thundering and flashing into many-colored brilliance, were quite impres- sive. The Maltese lslands, with a population of 330,000, comprise an independent state of the British Commonwealth. During World War Two Malta, then a Crown Colony, played an important part in aiding Allied shipping and in hindering Axis shipping. Consequently, it became the most heavily bombed area in the World, undergoing more than 1,200 air raids, ln appreciation of their gallant support during the war, the King of England award- ed the Maltese people the George Cross. The pop- ulation of Malta is still strongly patriotic to Eng- land's rulers, 25-' ' ., , r .,,,,,r. , .. Q b CW ,, , T , We met a lot of old friends at the Vernon Marsaxlokk Club , 'CT eff? 4 Mdina , ,pu iwsirwe ,c fans y . . 4 Faigg 14 H' vi, pf, f ' ixj g . I, I .VAX Y T ex- fe- l th? iff! I! ,, ,M I , bn liberiy went down. F 5,

Page 58 text:

at A , if b A A ' -.rt ,. -' A , . -. --' 'V ' r Q s ' X, ' - . , deign , - .MU ,, , U 0661060 General view SAN MARCOS arrived in Palermo, capital city of Sicily, on October 8, sit,- Catacomb Cappuccini uated on a fertile plain and encircled by lofty hills, Palermo is a city of 730,000 inhabitants. Many of the local customs seem curious to us, a result of the inter- mingling of Norman and Arab cultures. Sicily is a part of Italy, though it is self- governing to a certain degree. The Central Italian Government reserves the right to veto laws made by the Sicilian Regional Parliament. Some of the facilities which we made use of during our stay were the local tours of the city, the bowling alley in La Favorita Park, and dancing at the Villa Zgrea. Local specialities in the way of souvenirs are jewelry, ceramics, dolls, and cameos. The shopkeepers customarily bargain with the customers, and the SAN MARCOS sailors were soon haggling spiritedly over their goods. ' ' The Cathedral Castelnuovo Square, Platform for musical entertainments