Hello from the Western Mediterranean!
This will be my last installment from the Med because next week we begin heading South and starting the third phase of our deployment: Africa Ops!! We'll be circumnavigating the entire continent (12,500 miles!) before heading home. Of course, if all goes according to plan, I will only make the first half of that odyssey and will be flying home mid-September!
Anyway, after leaving Crete, we spent a couple of days at sea running drills and cleaning the ship. Pulling into port so much makes it really hard to get into a routine, so our days at sea are busy in order to get the ship looking pristine and ready for our next stop. We also want to run plenty of drills to keep training up since we have lots of certifications coming up in the fall. Added to that is the fact that a lot of people (Officers and Sailors alike) are turning over between now and the end of deployment, so we're busy training new people to take over the vacant jobs.
On Sunday, the ship celebrated Half-Way Day. Marking the mid-point of deployment, we celebrated with lots of contests (chess, jalapeno eating, pie in the face, skeet shooting, weight lifting, etc). The NORMANDY Band also played out on the flight deck, and we had a "Steel Beach Picnic" and talent show out on the flight deck as well. Lucky me, however, I had watch during all the festivities, so I didn't get to participate, but I could hear all the noise and it sounded like everyone had a good time. We've been underway now for 90 days, and it's good to see that we're on the downward swing. Still lots to do, so we can't lose focus, but good to see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! Later that evening, I also received wonderful news! There was a Space Available Military flight leaving from Norfolk and coming to Rota, Spain. The way it works is that military members can sign up to get on these free flights, and if, after all the people who are on the flight due to a duty station transfer, temporary duty, or other official reason for being on the flight get seats, they open the remaining seats to other military members who might be on leave. Patrick drove from Columbus, OH to Norfolk at 3 in the morning and was able to get one of the seats on the plane! So he arrived in Norfolk on Monday morning and was waiting on the pier waiting for me when I got to Rota on Wednesday!
On Wednesday morning, Pat was waiting on the pier when the ship pulled in. He came aboard as soon as the brow went across and helped me with my bags. We grabbed lunch (at that point it was about noon) and then rented a car (Pat had been borrowing his buddy's for the first few days he was in town). After collecting a "Smart Car" (this thing is a two seater with no trunk...the whole car is about 5 feet long and 3 feet wide!) we went to the beach for a few hours before heading into downtown Rota for dinner. We met up with some people from the ship that Pat knew from when he was stationed onboard and had a few drinks with them.
Thursday, after making a trip to the base gym, we got some road maps and drove about an hour and a half to Sevilla, which is the third largest city (I think) in Spain. We took a bus tour of the city and saw the cathedral where Columbus is buried, the Sevilla Bull Ring, the Spanish Square, and the Moorish Palace where all the kings of Spain lived (still in use). We were actually able to tour the inside of the palace (absolutely breathtaking gardens!!) and had some gelatto (ice cream) for a quick snack before heading back to Rota, where we had a yummy dinner at a bodega (wine house) near Pat's buddy's house.
Friday, we went to the beach in the morning, and then back to base to pick up a couple of people from the ship for dinner at Bert's house (the friend of Pat's we were staying with in Puerto de Santa Maria). The house is actually a mansion, built in the 1700s, with all marble floors, decorative ceilings, a pool, and more ornate rooms than you can imagine! In fact, after the beach, I went upstairs to take a shower and nap, and Bert's roommate (Pete) came home and never even knew I was in the house! In addition to having Pat and me there, Bert and Pete were hosting ANOTHER friend of Pat's, Jason. Pat, Bert, and Jason met at Supply school in Athens, GA when they first joined the Navy...and Pat and Jason lived together in Norfolk during their last duty stations. Anyway, Jason is stationed in England now and was in Spain for a conference, so he stayed in the mansion-turned-frat house! So, after grilling up a yummy dinner of steaks, pork chops, shrimps, and grilled veggies, we went to a couple of bars and then to a bull fight at the local bull ring! What an experience. They actually have three matadors fighting two fights each at these things. Because it's so hot outside, they don't begin until 11 at night, which makes for a late evening, but it's really interesting to see...and the fights we saw were on horseback, which is apparently more rare!
Saturday, after sleeping in because of our late night, we pretty much lounged around the house and rented a few movies. Pat drove me over to the commissary on base to buy some things I'd need while we're at sea for the next month, so I dropped those off at the ship as well, then went back to Santa Maria to watch the movies we rented. After the movies, Bert, Pete (and his girlfriend who was visiting for the weekend...she lives in Sevilla), Pat and I went out for wine and tapas for dinner. Dinner in Spain doesn't begin until midnight, so after eating, Pat and I got some ice cream and went back to the house while the others went bar hopping. We planned a day trip to see some other castles for Sunday, so we needed a good night's sleep before that!!
On Sunday, we woke up early and headed to the nearby town of Jerez, about 20 minutes from Bert's house. We wandered around the town and tried to visit the cathedral there, but it was closed for renovations. Also wanted to visit the archeological museum and castle there, but couldn't ever find them. Sooo...instead we sat down at a little cafe and had lunch. The menu was all in Spanish and the owner didn't speak English, so it was an adventure ordering, but the food was wonderful and we didn't get anything too strange! :-) After lunch, we went back to the base to run a few errands and pick up something to cook for dinner for Bert and Pete since they let us stay with them...but it ended up being just a couple of frozen pizzas (I figure two single guys would really like that though....and cooking was a little difficult without American appliances and things). It was an early evening after that since I was getting underway on Monday and would have to wake up early to be back at the ship.
Monday morning, we woke up bright and early and Bert led Pat and me to the base (a more direct route than the one we'd been using all week) on his way to work. Pat dropped me off at the ship and helped me get my bags back to my stateroom. Then he and Bert were going to return our rental car, because Pat was lucky enough to find out about another Space Available flight that was due to leave Rota a few hours later. Actually, as I am typing this, Pat is probably finding out if he got on the flight. Hopefully he makes it and can get back to Norfolk between today and tomorrow, depending on how many stops the plane makes. Then he'll pick up his car and start the drive back to Columbus and get back to work sometime later this week.
All in all, it was a great port visit and so nice to see Pat and have a change of scenery. It was great for me to be able to get away from the ship and see some people from the "outside world"!! And when I got back this morning, I found out that the modification to my orders which was necessary for my ship to confirm payment for my flight in September went through. That was the last hurdle I needed to cross to get home in a month and a half. Now they should be receiving the funds to pay for my flight and I will be coming home in 45 days....can't wait! As soon as the flight is confirmed (shouldn't be long now) I'll let you know!
Adios Amigos!
Kate
