Admiral's Journal: May 25, 2010
Dear Faculty, Staff and Parents,
It is GREAT to be back aboard the Empire State! I flew to Malaga, Spain on Friday, May 21, and was greeted by beautiful, clear blue skies and a light breeze. While the weather was wonderful, what I found on the Empire State was even better-- over 500 smiling, happy and proud faces!
For many it was their first time away from the states, not to mention crossing the Atlantic. I heard lots of stories (all proudly told) about the beautiful sunrises and sunsets at sea, the watches they had stood and the weather they experienced (some not so smooth) and how they found their ‘sea legs.” Most of all, it was wonderful to hear from Captain Smith and Chief Tom Dowd how impressed they were with the cadets’ performance. Whether on the bridge, in the engine room, on deck, or in the classroom, the cadets have been professional and really eager to learn. What a joy it is to be back with these wonderful cadets and our officers, staff and faculty!
Malaga is a beautiful city just to the East of Gibraltar along the southern coast of Spain. The center of the city is prominent for its marble covered, pedestrian streets and alley ways with tiny shops and hundreds of quaint tapas restaurants. The Captain arranged for several tours to local areas of interest that were very popular. There was trip to Toledo, Spain to visit the famous Alhambra which was greatly enjoyed by all who took the trip as was a tour of the Moorish castle in Malaga, There was also a cavern tour and an opportunity to see a bull fight. All-in-all, Malaga was a very enjoyable and welcome respite after the Atlantic crossing.
We are now back at sea for a leisurely transit to Andros Island in the Aegean Sea for a day, then on to Piraeus, the port of Athens, Greece. En route we’ll circle around the Island of Palma De Majorca off the East coast of Spain and then transit the Straights of Bonifacio between the Islands of Corsica and Sardinia. From there, we’ll transit the Straights of Messina, a very narrow body of water between Sicily and Italy, then on to the Greek Isles! This route, while not the most direct route, will provide lots of tremendous navigational training for the deck cadets, as well as interesting coastal sights for all to see.
Sincerely,
John Craine
John W. Craine
