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KONINKLIJK INSTITUUT |
K I M[Ben Oostdam's |
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Our visit to Valencia was a historic event, since ours was the first
official Naval port call to Spain after the 12 year blockade imposed on
the country after Generalissimo Franco had come to power. The entire population of this historic city had converged on the quays to see the "Doorman" moor - which she did by pulling sideways using the full prop-power of all our planes parked sideways (and well-anchored)on the flight deck. We enjoyed four solid days and nights of festivities, and especially we, the "adelborsten", were as popular as bull-fighters with our high red collars, white gloves and "ponjaards". (one junior officer actually borrowed a naval cadet's uniform!) The crew was excited about what all favors the senoritas extended in exchange for a simple roll of King peppermint - which was readily sold out from the ship's store. |
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After Valencia (Dec.8-12, 1950), things were anti-climactic. We sailed along the ancient Moorish coast back to the Strait of Gibraltar, the exit of "Mare Nostrum". Another remnant of colonialism, Gibraltar (left), offered us Dutch saylors the pleasant memory of long-past historic victories in this case, the Battle of Gibraltar in 1607 (right) |
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