OSC Joel Wifler

Day 106: Enjoyed walking throughout Burgas yesterday. Two words, “Ice Cream”. It’s everywhere. Stand after stand, soft-serve, hard, exotic, impressive, you name it, it was here. The Bulgarians love their ice cream. Played a few slot machines, won about $400 and managed to keep it by buying “dollars” back from a currency exchange shortly after pay out. Walked along the beach, bought a souvenir, ate a nice inexpENSve dinner and wound up closing the evening at a piano bar, complete with a lounge singer in accompaniment. Didn’t take my camera out, so I’ll rely on others’ photos. This is becoming my norm as my camera doesn’t really take very good pictures…I guess you get what you pay for. And now the duty watchman will wait out another day, laden with arm and shield, ready.

Day 107: Took advantage of a few hands of blackjack at the Hotel Bulgaria this evening, and while I left ahead, it was quite the roller coaster ride. I believe some fellow crew members need to re-learn “basic strategy” and stick to it; otherwise, they’ll continue to make trip after trip to the machine that always pays. Finished the evening with a few Tuborgs at Café Nataly as I tried to liquidate the rest of my local currency.

Day 108: Underway again…spent the day drawing up a work list for this in-port period. The days are dwindling downward. Our cutter’s odometer reads close to 18,000 miles and I believe we’re feeling every bit of it.

Day 109: Transiting south through the Turkish Straits this morning on our way out of the Black Sea. We’re essentially mirroring the same watches held on our transit north, which means I’m posted as the underway “watchman”. This time however, seems to be moving along quicker than before.

Day 110: Welcome to Izmir, Turkey. We arrived on the 7th anniversary of September 11th and all I can say is that security is “tight” around the port, making us feel safer. Some of the crew is headed off for a tour of Ephesus. Prior to departing on that, I’m told that James was able to purchase some Spenda (see Day 80 entry). Tony, Brad, Chawon, and I decided to hit the USAF exchange and then walked through parts of the city, including the old bazaar. At the entrance of one street I thought I saw a book mobile, which turned out to be a blood mobile…interesting location, but I suppose the need for blood is world wide. Even though we were profusely offered numerous items (jeans, leather jackets, carpets) the only one of us who did buy anything was Brad (nice belt). Chawon was able to maintain her composure when called a “soul sister” by an English speaking Turkish proprietor and I believe we were all surprised that she was able to resist temptation in purchasing a “leather” fanny pack. All that walking did us in and we settled on a couple of leather couches in The North Shield pub and enjoyed a 9 lira pint. Upon returning to the pier, Chawon damn near threw a tantrum about not getting shaved meat, so we got off the bus and walked about four blocks to the nearest eatery for shaved lamb and chicken. Although I think Tony and I convinced her that she was eating dog. I received email notification of my enrollment in session 156 of the CPO’s Academy, or as my father calls it “Super Chief’s School”.

Day 111: Underway for some exercises with the Turkish Coast Guard. SAR and LE, along with what appears to be some formation steaming. My day is bogged down with completing semi-annual evaluations for my 3rd classes.

Day 112: Commenced Field Day cleaning this morning, seems like it’s been a while due to all of the ports of call we’ve been to the last few month’s. Enjoyed a sunny afternoon off reading and relaxing. Was invited into the 1st class lounge this evening for a Texas Hold’em game, I didn’t want to win; it just ended up like that. Too bad my winnings only constitute bragging rights for the next few days. All in good fun though. From there, we night owls were able to cut a few spades shortly before our time change.

Photos

PO1 Troy Matthews describes boarding and inspection procedures to a group of Bulgarian Border Policemen.

Left to right) ENS Casey Gillikin and LTJG Tudorel Caliga, paint a retention wall at the Saint Ekaterina Orphanage. Twenty-two of the Dallas crew painted the wall at the entrance to the orphanage, cleaned the grounds around one of the play areas, and played games with the children during their visit.

A child at the Saint Ekaterina Orphanage helps PO1 Jason Parrish fold a Coast Guard flag.

BLACK SEA - Two Bulgarian Border Police boats and the Cutter Dallas transit through the Black Sea in formation. The Dallas was moored in Burgas, Bulgaria, for three days, during which the crew participated in damage control and law enforcement training with the Bulgarian Border Police as part of the U.S. Navy's theater security cooperation mission. The Dallas is currently deployed under the command of the Navy's Sixth Fleet in support of the mission.

(Right to left) ENS Adelaide Perr, removes a care package from a delivery truck as PO3 Michelle Soskin checks the name on another one and the truck driver moves a third package to the back of the truck.

LT Francisco Montalvo shows Turkish coast guardsmen equipment on the bridge during the cutter's stop in Turkey.

SA Bradley Boling helps lower the Dallas' small boat during a joint law enforcement exercise with the Turkish coast guard.

(Left to right) PO3 Peter Strimple and CPO James Moerls prepare to recover a boarding team from a Turkish coast guard patrol boat.

(Left to right) LTJG Paul Windt, ENS Ryan Gomez and SN Benjamin Montanez navigate the Dallas through the Aegean Sea.

(Left to right) LTJG Paul Windt describes U.S. Coast Guard vessel boarding procedures to members of a Turkish coast guard.

PO2 Chris Moore tickles Didi, a child at the Saint Ekaterina Orphanage.

SN Kati Doucette controls the capstan as it moors in Izmir.

SN Timothy Ford, yells in excitement after his new shoes arrive with other care packages.

(Right to left) ENS Katie Smith demonstrates search techniques on ENS Hermie Mendoza to a group of Turkish coast guardsmen.

CPO Barry Insley, pours a cup of paint to paint a retention wall at the Saint Ekaterina Orphanage.