Tarawa (CV 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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OMR, the Eternal City, the city of the seven hills, a city the origin of which we know only by legend, is a city of many legends, but it is the city that saw the beginning of our modern civilization. Among its seven hills sit the ruins of the ancient forum where precedents were set which still form the basis of our judicial system. Nearby, partially destroyed, is the Colosseum in which so many Christians died as martyrs for Christianity. A few miles down the Appian Way are the Catacombs in which so many of these same Christians had taken refuge. Then, there are the ancient churches, of which Rome has so many. The oldest of these is the Pantheon built in 727 B.C. and dedicated to pagan gods. But the most famous, and the largest in the world, is St. Peter's in the Vatican City. These churches shelter many of the masterpieces of two of the world's most cele- brated artists, Michelangelo and Raphael. For these reasons and many others approximately a third of the TARAWA's 2700- man crew visited Italy's capital some time during one of the ship's seven stops in Italian ports. The high point of each tour was the trip to the Vatican City where the TARAWVANS bought postcards and mailed them with Vatican stamps through that city's independent postal system. And of course many assortments of Vatican stamps were sent home to be added to younger brothers' collections. There was the Basilica of St. Peteris, product of Michelangelo's architectural genius, with its walls and overhead covered with some of the world's finest art specimens. For Catholics and non-Catholics alike the most unforgettable event of the tours were the audiences with the Pope. These began with the Navy personnel following an old Navy tradition by giving three cheers for the Pope as he entered the room. This was followed with a short talk by the Pope, in perfect English, on world affairs. Then the photographers took pictures of the Pope with the Navy groups for their Mediterranean cruise scrapbooks. Rome is a city founded on legend, but from the city have come many of the things on which our western civilization was founded.