Whatchawearing
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Europeanvaction1979/day8
My father was in the USAF. We spent nearly nine years in Europe. We lived in Greece, Italy and England. Every few years my Grandparents would come to visit. When they did, we were off for a five week journey across Europe. My grandmother kept a journal of our travels. Recently while cleaning out a closet, my Mother came across the journals. The memories came flying back! I decided to share these journels with you. Each day I will post a chapter as she has written them. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I did.
The first Journal was in 1979. We lived in Hellenikon Greece.
Ferry Cabins
Ships Pool
page 16
Day 8-Saturday April 2 1979
Shortly after dawn I awoke with a sense of well being and that glad-to-be alive feeling. The steady hum of the engines suddenly slowed and I looked out the window in time to see our first port-of-call at Igounenitsa.
Coming up on deck, after a quick breakfast in our cabins, the islands of Greece were in sight; bare, lonely hills set in a calm, glittering sea. In the age of congested roads, transistor music, jet speed, fumes and telephones, one feels a timeless exaltation on the deck of a boat chugging through blue water and brushed by the wind.
When Corfu swept into sight it seemed toe opening white welcoming arms as we came into the harbor. This is the largest and most noteworthy of the Ionian Islands, its northeastern headline being just two miles from the Albanian shores which we could see from the opposite side of the deck. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for us to explore the island's beauty.
Al took the boys for a swim in the ship's pool while Jan and I amused ourselves with a game of scrabble. George and Craig were busily engaged watching the shore of Albania and the swells which has arisen in the open Adriatic Sea. Suddenly, we heard George exclaim, "Look at the dead cow." There floating past our window was indeed a cow. It remains a mystery to us, even now, as to why, when, where or how the dead cow got in the middle of the sea.
We anchored in Brindisi, Italy shortly after five in the afternoon. There was no problem getting off he ship and following directions, we found our way to San Vito AS which had no camping facilities, but Al received permission for us to camp in Columbus Park, a small recreation area for base personnel. We had to use the rest room in the coin laundry situated a few blocks away, but outside of that, we had a lovely spot under a shade tree where we set up the tent having the entire park facility to ourselves.
Our plans called for an overnight stay then on to Naples the following day, so the inconvenience of not having showers didn't bother us. After supper in the base cafeteria, we washed clothes and got to sleep early.
Coming up on deck, after a quick breakfast in our cabins, the islands of Greece were in sight; bare, lonely hills set in a calm, glittering sea. In the age of congested roads, transistor music, jet speed, fumes and telephones, one feels a timeless exaltation on the deck of a boat chugging through blue water and brushed by the wind.
When Corfu swept into sight it seemed toe opening white welcoming arms as we came into the harbor. This is the largest and most noteworthy of the Ionian Islands, its northeastern headline being just two miles from the Albanian shores which we could see from the opposite side of the deck. Unfortunately, there was not enough time for us to explore the island's beauty.
Al took the boys for a swim in the ship's pool while Jan and I amused ourselves with a game of scrabble. George and Craig were busily engaged watching the shore of Albania and the swells which has arisen in the open Adriatic Sea. Suddenly, we heard George exclaim, "Look at the dead cow." There floating past our window was indeed a cow. It remains a mystery to us, even now, as to why, when, where or how the dead cow got in the middle of the sea.
We anchored in Brindisi, Italy shortly after five in the afternoon. There was no problem getting off he ship and following directions, we found our way to San Vito AS which had no camping facilities, but Al received permission for us to camp in Columbus Park, a small recreation area for base personnel. We had to use the rest room in the coin laundry situated a few blocks away, but outside of that, we had a lovely spot under a shade tree where we set up the tent having the entire park facility to ourselves.
Our plans called for an overnight stay then on to Naples the following day, so the inconvenience of not having showers didn't bother us. After supper in the base cafeteria, we washed clothes and got to sleep early.
