As a tradition, at the end of each Academic Year, the students of the first and second courses of the Military Naval School Francesco Morosini participate in a training campaign aboard the ships of the Navy. So, on June 11, also for our course aither, has begun the new experience, anxiously awaited, of the training campaign on the Palinuro.
The student Giada Ciurlo tells the experience lived on board of Nave Palinuro ...
Immediately after the embarkation, occurred in the port of Ancona, they showed us our local life. We submerged it with our bags and the space, already reduced, has shrunk further. Immediately before us the first examination: mount the hammocks. Of course, none of us had ever seen a real hammock and, honestly, had it not been for the invaluable help of our suborders and crew we would probably have slept on the floor. A simple knot spoke to mount the hammock already seemed an insurmountable rock.
The next morning we woke up a bit 'confused but at the same time excited for everything we would have expected. Only after having managed to disassemble all the hammocks we were able to have our breakfast, because the tables and the benches were arranged in the same room. We used the gamut for the first time, then washed by ourselves at each end of the meal until almost consumed.
Towards midday we received a visit from the admiral commander of the Navy schools, admiral of the division, Alberto Bianchi. In his speech, full of pride and food for thought, he invited us, even "ordered" to live this experience with enthusiasm, curiosity, humility and a great desire to learn.
But the real adventure begins only with the "stern spring" scream. The first real day on board, the first guards, the first time we choked cables, opened and closed sails, listened to lectures. The first day at sea that already promised charm and sacrifice. It was the first night under a sky far from everything that did not hide any of its wonders.
Vasto, our first stop, a tour of the city, a visit to the Roman baths and photos of the characteristic landscape. From the promontory, vast expanses of Mediterranean scrubland run to embrace the sea.
After leaving the city of Abruzzo, we undertake the longest section of the countryside: Vasto-Augusta. There seemed to be no more difference between day and night, between the guard team and the free team. All on the keep ready to change the set of sails used for the entire transfer lasted six days.
Finally we land in Sicily, in Augusta, a land rich in history, myths, legends, architectural works dating back to the ancient Greeks and above all from the unique culinary tradition in the world.
To reach Trapani, due to a perturbation, we had to pass from the north rather than from the south, furrowing then the waters of the Strait of Messina, illuminated on both sides by the lights of two different regions divided only by a tongue of the sea.
Arrived in Trapani, another beautiful Sicilian city, we were greeted by the warmth of the local population, thanks to the favorable position of the quay compared to the city center.
The day after our arrival we had the honor of visiting the Council Chamber of the City of Erice, a city that rises above Trapani and overlooking the Egadi Islands, welcomed by the mayor, Dr. Daniela Toscano, proud as we of this that we represent for Italy. We also had the opportunity to wander through the streets of the ancient village of over two thousand years, which at a height of almost eight hundred meters above the sea and with the clouds that covered almost the whole landscape seemed surrounded by an almost magical atmosphere.
So we leave for Gaeta. In addition to the commitment for the guards and maintenance, during the voyage, an exam was added to which our commander submitted us to the course to verify what we learned on board. Obviously all passed with flying colors ... or almost.
The last days were different from the others, on one side we were finally going back home, but on the other we would have to leave the ship and the crew. Happy but sad, filled with this wonderful experience but also disappointed by the speed with which everything had been accomplished.
On the last day, the last guards. Time seemed to have flown away and it almost seemed impossible not to be fully content to be able to return home.
We can only greet each other with a goodbye dear ship Palinuro. Favorable winds and calm seas!
