Update from the ship's librarian, Laurel:
6/12
We’re back at things aboard the ship after a splendid
time in Italy!
The welcoming port city of La Spezia was exciting as our
first European port stop. It was relaxing to sit in the local parks, or just to
walk the streets and sample the local gelato.
To get a further taste of Italy, the largest groups of
cadets headed out of La Spezia to Florence (Firenze). In advance of our
arrival, the ship had arranged for bus tours to the historic city to see its
architectural treasures such as the towering Duomo, the monumental dome at the
center of the city. Many cadets returned from these trips with wonderful things
to say about the city’s museums as well, where they caught glimpses of
masterpieces like Michelangelo’s iconic David sculpture, and toured the Uffizi
Gallery, with its vast collection of Renaissance artworks.
Pisa, with it’s famous leaning tower, was also a popular
day trip for many who enjoyed just wandering around its historic center which is also the birthplace of Galileo Galilei.
To avoid the crowds, many of us also opted to stay closer
to the ship and headed to the five towns of the “Cinque Terre” to the west of
the city. The beautiful rugged coastline has a network of hiking trails
traversing the countryside, dotted with beaches and picturesque harbors. Many
cadets spent at least one day diving from the rocky shore into the blue-green
water, and wandering around the towns exploring the narrow walkways and
pastel-colored houses. All in all, everyone seems to have enjoyed this
much-needed break after so much studying!
The plan for now is to stay in the Mediterranean, where
the weather is a tiny bit rainy but the seas remain calm. Check back soon for
updates on progress back towards Gibraltar!
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