Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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These are open Super Markers, Halian sfyle. They combine 'Phe merchandise of a Five and Dime srore wi+h 'Thar of a Fish marker and corner grocery. Here we found streets named after the months of the year and the age-old custom of differentiating between residences and busi- ness establishments by the color of the street numbers. Red was used for stores, black for homes. Genoa served as a tour center for many of the inland cities we visited. Because of the length of time spent here, parties were sent to Pisa, Florence, Rome, Venice, and the Italian Riviera as well as outside of Italy to Paris. A large group went to Sestriere and another to the famous ski resort of St. Moritz, in Switzerland. Upper Right: A cenruries old cobbled Genoese s+ree+, 'lypical of 'ihe older secrions of the ci+y. Middle Righrz Sfafuary such as rhis was nor unusual for 'Family memorials in rhe Sfagliano cemerery. Lower Righrz A monumenr sfands +0 Christopher Columbus in one of 'ihe downrown squares. The American Chamber of Commerce of Haly in Genoa was enferfained wirh a luncheon aboard aHended by over 200 local Halian and American business leaders. ln appreciarion, fhe ship was presenfed with a large seascape which now hangs in 'rhe officers' wardroom. U2

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I l 1 Five cenfuries ago a Genoese boy named Chrisfopher Columbus played in 'I'he arch of Genoa's Cify Gafe and 'lhen scampered down 'lhe road io his small brick home. The remains of bofh of fhese siruc+ures are preserved foclay in 'lhe miclsi' of modern buildings. beauliiul ce meiefles ln T sk . e OE illhe rn? 5 lo oi Slaqllalliil jvnas laid Oul in e CamPoSan ihe wo' ENOA was the cleanest and most modern of all the Italian cities wegvisited. By visiting this modern metropolis twice, we learned our way around rather well and we were therefore able to penetrate the city and learn more of its interesting places and of its history than of most ports. Many of the stores, though smaller, were similar to those we had been used to back home, with the exception, perhaps, that they lacked Hxed prices in all instances. Crossing a street in the business district was not quite as difficult as in New York, but one did well to keep a weather eye cocked for the speedy midget Fiats and Lancias. They zipped along doing their best to reach an 80 kilometer per hour speed limit Q50 mphj that was imposed in congested areas. l l

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I l l I I The' Piazza di San Marco was ihe only large solid piece of +erra firma in ihe ci'l'y. li' is iherefore i'l1e social gaihering place for people, 'fes- iiviiies, and pigeons. E , ANY OF US, tiring of the hustle and bustle of Italy's more modern west coast cities, took advantage of an exciting tour to the unique canal city of Venice, situated at the top -and back of the boot. A Here one is not bothered by fast moving trallic of a mechanizedage, but is treated instead to the romance of Venice's ancient waterways and modes of transportationg Life-in the city has become tempered languorously to the gondola. 2 y Slow-moving gondolas wend their Way among quaint canals lined with shops, business establishments, dwellings and beautiful churches. So adjusted- to its canal highways is this city that one sees a floating equivalent of every wheeled vehicle known to land- bound creatures. Citizens conduct their businesses and jobs in every conceivable form ,of boat. It is not uncommon for a speed- ing gondola to be overtaken by a policeman and asked to Row over to the beach and receive his just dues for floating or rowing past a stoplight. Leaving the railroad station one must bid goodby to vehicular traflic and go by gondola down the Grand Canal, winding like'an inverted S through the center of the city and end finally at Piazza San Marco or StL Marks Square , the artistic centreand meeting place 'of Venice. There we see the Basilica of St. Mark and the famous clock tower with its huge Weathervane. All along the Grand Canal, which divides the city into two equal parts, we saw more than a hundred grand palaces whose architecture goes from Veneto-Byzantine to Gothic and Renaissance, as Well as uncountable bridges across which the pedestrian only may pass. i Venice, to the tourist in blue is long remembered for its su- preme spirit of hospitality. Even though not accustomed to the American sailor, the people showed natural and friendly curiosity. Clean hotels and excellent food add to the feeling of well-being and comfort that is typical throughout the beautiful city. Even they millions of pigeons in the square showed us partiality. Gram reminders 1, There is a quief sori of enchanfmeni' on ihe canals ai' nighi, buf be sure you sfep ' oui of the gondola on Aihe proper side. I Ven' ' ' . lCSSma'n can when V ' ang ln H19 muse . l . emce was neiiiler pgglcglwlgigc of +l1e days qulef. al winds fhrou h boufevamg 'he CNY 'fke 6 wide