News from the ship's librarian, Rich Delbango:
After many trials and tribulations of international diplomacy,
we finally reached a port that welcomed us: Palma, Mallorca. The largest of
Spain's Balearic Islands, Mallorca is a tropical paradise in the
Mediterranean. Having cruised the Mediterranean for what seemed like forever, and viewing islands that we could not dock at, everyone aboard was ready to set
foot on dry land. We entered the Palma harbor Tuesday evening passing a half dozen
of the largest cruise ships afloat already in port. The marinas were also full
with private boats and yachts, one almost the size of the Empire State. The
city is full of tourists from around the world.
The Empire State docked around 18:00 at the furthest dock
in the harbor. When the ship was secured, leave was granted and the some
of the cadets and crew were off to enjoy themselves in this cosmopolitan city.
It is a picturesque town with an ancient history reflected in its
architecture.
Cadets are enjoying the variety of food available at the
hundreds of restaurants and cafes. Shopping is everywhere, from Cartier jewelry
to cheap souvenirs. Pearls are a specialty of Mallorca. It seems
that every other store is a pearl shop.
The College arranged several tours and activities to keep
everyone occupied. The most popular was a tour of the Cuevas del Drach
(Dragon Caves), about 50 miles east of Palma. These caves are chock full
of stalactites and stalagmites formed through millions of years of erosion.
There is also a large underground lake at the bottom and we were treated to a
short classical music concert by musicians sailing on a lighted rowboat in the
darkened cave. It was an amazing experience.
There were also snorkeling
and scuba tours as well as a deep sea fishing expedition. On Friday
evening, the local water park will be opened exclusively for the cadets and
crew who want to have some water fun. The beaches have also been popular.
There is a small, rocky beach that is in walking distance from the ship.
The buses that take us to town also stop at the large town beach just east of
the city. The Mediterranean is the perfect temperature for swimming.
We ship out again on the morning of July 11 and it is
back to work for 10 days or so until our next port.
