41:13.02N 13:34.37E

9 July 2011

Pat was up early and said let’s get going.  Not a morning person but the rolling all night was too much to get any sleep for her.  So we weighed anchor and started northeast to the mainland.  We sailed (motored) past Isola Ischia to look at the view and the made a course change toward Geata.  Like the trip to Procida it is a short hop of 30+ miles.

On our trip last year down the coast we passed by Gaeta so I thought why not stop and see something different.  Gaeta is the home to the USA Sixth Fleet.  Of course today that “fleet” is just one ship, USS Mount Whitney.  This ship is the command vessel for the Sixth Fleet and manned by a Vice Admiral.  All other USA Navy ships that enter the Med are then assigned to the Sixth Fleet temporarily.  So for events like the recent support of the Libyan rebels the Sixth Fleet was in control.

We entered the marina without a reservation and seems like we go the last place.  Of course it was on the newer floating pontoon on the north side and exposed to all the powerboat and ferry wakes.  These quieted down at night so it was not that bad.  The marina is a family run place and they have done a lot to make it nice for locals and visitors.  Price is not bad either, but all prices in Italy are high.

The town is interesting with an old section at the point which was affectively abandoned after intensive WWII bombings.  A new section of town was built and the street one block in from the waterfront has the most interest.  Small shops, produce stands, butchers, delis, clothing, etc.  Not really tourist oriented but more the items the locals need but available in small family run shops versus a mall.  As with many Italian towns the people are very nice and like to talk a little with foreigners.

The old abandoned town has some restorations ongoing along with a few B&Bs.  Touring requires a hike up the hill and along streets named like Terrace one, Terrace Two, etc.  The castle/fort at the top is large but not open to the public, still being a military establishment.  We asked if we could walk around and the Corporal was polite but refused.

Of course we had lunch in a nice restaurant with us as the only customer.  They were all over us to be helpful and had a interesting dining room that was a former wine cellar but above ground.

At the marina we did get a chance to practice or better watch the morning raising and evening lowering of the US flag on the USS Mount Whitney.  Color Guard and music to match.  The Italian National Anthem is also played during the flag raising at 08:00 after the US anthem.  Loudspeakers on the ship make it clear to those in the marina what is going on board the ship.  Seems strange to have such items loudly announced.  But anyway we were able to raise and lower our flag at the proper time.  Of interest is the fact that at the bow the original style Navy Jack is flown.  This is the flag that is red and white stripes with a snake and the words “Don’t Tread on Me”.  Originally designed during the Revolutionary War it has now been flow on Navy ships since 2002 to demarcate the war on terrorism.

Ran across a wooden sailboat regatta in town.  Nice boats but the winds were light so they had a tough time sailing with any speed.  No shoes onboard a seen by the pile of sandals at the bollard.

Just a pretty picture while we were walking in the old section of town.

View of the coastline.

Cathedral in the restoration process in the old town.

USS Mount Whitney at its permanent berth.  Surrounded by a protective float (remember the USS Cole attack).  The USA flag on the stern is large since it is Sunday.  Smaller flags are flown the rest of the week.  On the starboard halyard is a blue flag with three white stars.  This means the Vice Admiral is not on board, he is normally stationed in Naples in an office handling joint command.  There are also pennants for awards flown.  We were berthed just to the left of the picture.

The old town waterfront on the west side of the harbor.