Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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l Caplan' 90 af The TARAWA's Cafhdlic choir sang in fhifs cafhedral. Ashore people were friendly and enjoyed performing colorful folk dances for our benefit. Our Catholic choir sang mass in one of the churches. Liberty parties scattered, some on tour to the caves of Manacor, others sampled wine made all the more enjoyable for being served in ancient wine shops. Every- one visited the little shops on narrow side streets that twisted and jogged in unexpected directions. It was not uncommon to see someone TARAWA-bound carry- ing huge bundles, for the shops were filled with hand-blown glass vases, and linens. Although we were there in mid-january the weather was mild and the wide tree- lined promenade was filled with people either strolling leisurely or taking it easy on a bench at the side. Somehow the people there seemed healthier and happier than in many other places we visited. e Spanish Admhavs Drach Caves fcaves of rhe Dragon, 200 'Feei' underground. Miniafure swords of T I 0 Edo sfeel y dauied bY th 'f . . Duerfeldi is appiiiwn iversonahw' Mallorcan wineries were well sfocked.

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I , 1 V The Goihic caihedral of Palma, which was commenced in fhe year I230, siis wiih maiesiy ,. ' ihai rivals ihe surrounding 'Mallorcan ierrain. ALLORCA BALEARIC I LE ALLORCA was a real treat. It is the largest of the Balearic Islands lying 100 miles from the southeast coast of the Spanish mainland. Low 1500-foot hills roll out of the sea along its southern coast and give way to a wide valley that runs the sixty-mile length of the island. The valley rising northward sweeps up to a 4000-foot mountain range that drops abruptly into the sea. We entered the harbor of Palma at daybreak just in time to see the city waking up. Directly behind the city were mountains. An old Spanish castle was perched on a small hill near the shoreline and a huge Gothic cathedral dominated the center of town. Smoke from thousands of breakfast fires filled the air making sand-colored buildings vague and indistinct in the early morning light. It was enough to make you yawn just looking at it. Avenue Generalissimo Franco, Palma. Dances-We were enrerfained by 'this group who in I949 won firsf prize as a resulf of 'rheir pariicipaiion in an iniernaiional coniesi of folk dancing in Greai' Brifain.

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l diterranean i hap .. . Q i m WE CROSSED the Atlantic, visited seven different countries, discovered many strange customs, and came to know something of other ways of life. We learned that 3000 V l miles of salt water do not change human nature, that, on the contrary, people are basically alike the world over. For the most part, those whom we met were kind and hospitable, if sometimes a little bailled by our Americanisms. Often they went to considerable trouble to help us enjoy ourselves and to assureour understanding the justifiable pride they take in their cultural heritage. Courtesy Q and goodwill were the ruleg in most every port, however, there were exceptions. These con- sisted of a few individuals who seemed convinced that our sole mission in Europe was to buy E anything at any price, and it must be admitted that some of us gave them reason for thinking so. I I ! JOE? '2 x Q QPNGWQ 55 tl A VOON WL -L 50 xg' C Vi? QM Nik VJ? '38, as W ft Q X are Jw, wif f X W vw Q 'M Q G9 .4 Y N XX xi C- SJ Q! I L D f ,ft-ff NN Y- 7 i x , L- 1, ya .. QS! 5 f gy-WN L4 S .1 i Hifi!! K 1 L'f, Z! V- V J V ll ,T f i l st... ,M X, L il gag :W - i I A -LIL QQ7741 V f Q 42 assets: I 'effk MV V if C7 mmm: 1 X U 1 Q mme l pk Z EW-E iv X N. ts, up x W J R EJ' Q, S Q, i l X .,v-is--V-,,,,....-.- ,h ,,-w W X X Q' S if y H23 xg - c, 5 tb X y - x. ,SX-Q h ALL OF US had been cautioned against street peddlers, stores without marked prices, native drinks, and smiling women. Those who felt that these words to the wise were so much gobbledygook proceeded to learn for themselves. Y 11 4 1, , '- 5 1 1 souvenir a A 1 Q Q5 6X Q . X ' . 6? it ' Y J Q x 0 rx fx ' fl M165 H l