After enlisting in the United States Navy in Sept. of 1997, I was subsequently trained as a Yeoman
(an admin clerk). My first assignment: Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (VQ-2), forward
deployed on board Naval Station Rota, Spain.
I had wanted to go to sea and had begged for a ship; everyone else in my class begged for shore
duty (I figured I was in the Navy, so I ought to get it over with). Everyone in that class but me
went to sea; I was given shore duty in Spain at a squadron (Spain was a second choice of mine if I
got overseas orders, resulting in me being the only Seaman in my class to get anything they asked
for).
(an admin clerk). My first assignment: Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron TWO (VQ-2), forward
deployed on board Naval Station Rota, Spain.
I had wanted to go to sea and had begged for a ship; everyone else in my class begged for shore
duty (I figured I was in the Navy, so I ought to get it over with). Everyone in that class but me
went to sea; I was given shore duty in Spain at a squadron (Spain was a second choice of mine if I
got overseas orders, resulting in me being the only Seaman in my class to get anything they asked
for).
I arrived in the Old World on 21 April 1998, a Tuesday. That Saturday
I grabbed my camera and walked out the front gate of the base. For the
next two years I did not stop exploring and photographing everything I
could.
One result of this was that LT Terrence Dudley, VQ-2's Public Affairs
Officer, requested I take over as the Public Affairs Yeoman. The
second outcome was that, with LT Dudley's help, and the
encouragement and strong recommendation of our Commanding
Officer, Commander John C. Scorby, Jr., I was approved for a change
of rate (job). In May of 2000, I was transferred to the Defense
Information School for formal training as a Photographer's Mate.
Most images in this album are clickable links to high-res versions.
Take this virtual tour and get a window into one of the most beautiful
places on Earth: Andalucia, Spain's southern province.
I grabbed my camera and walked out the front gate of the base. For the
next two years I did not stop exploring and photographing everything I
could.
One result of this was that LT Terrence Dudley, VQ-2's Public Affairs
Officer, requested I take over as the Public Affairs Yeoman. The
second outcome was that, with LT Dudley's help, and the
encouragement and strong recommendation of our Commanding
Officer, Commander John C. Scorby, Jr., I was approved for a change
of rate (job). In May of 2000, I was transferred to the Defense
Information School for formal training as a Photographer's Mate.
Most images in this album are clickable links to high-res versions.
Take this virtual tour and get a window into one of the most beautiful
places on Earth: Andalucia, Spain's southern province.
Spain boasts a very strong Roman Catholic tradition. The cathedral
(upper left) is the Parish de Nuestra Senora de la O, the center of Catholic
life in Rota. The building is two hundred years older than the United
States! Christopher Columbus prayed here before embarking on his
journeys into the unknown.
The Roman Catholic influence on the culture can be seen in such items as
this statue of the Madonna and Child (left). This statue stands on the end
of the breakwater into Rota's marina. It's the last thing the local mariners
see of Rota as they sail, and it welcomes them home at night.
Rota has a long, rough-hewn boulder jetty jutting into the Atlantic from its
beach. The end of this jetty sports a fountain that shoots a jet of water in a
high arc that lands in the sea. Under-lit by powerful floodlights, the
fountain becomes a stream of molten metal as these Spanish children play
on a summer night.
Spanish law does not allow billboards. Osborne and Tio Peppe, two
bordegas (wineries), get around this by putting up their icons (the Osborne
Bull and Tio Peppe man) without any text on the signs. These two images,
seen on many hilltops throughout the country, have become famous
national icons in their own right.
(upper left) is the Parish de Nuestra Senora de la O, the center of Catholic
life in Rota. The building is two hundred years older than the United
States! Christopher Columbus prayed here before embarking on his
journeys into the unknown.
The Roman Catholic influence on the culture can be seen in such items as
this statue of the Madonna and Child (left). This statue stands on the end
of the breakwater into Rota's marina. It's the last thing the local mariners
see of Rota as they sail, and it welcomes them home at night.
Rota has a long, rough-hewn boulder jetty jutting into the Atlantic from its
beach. The end of this jetty sports a fountain that shoots a jet of water in a
high arc that lands in the sea. Under-lit by powerful floodlights, the
fountain becomes a stream of molten metal as these Spanish children play
on a summer night.
Spanish law does not allow billboards. Osborne and Tio Peppe, two
bordegas (wineries), get around this by putting up their icons (the Osborne
Bull and Tio Peppe man) without any text on the signs. These two images,
seen on many hilltops throughout the country, have become famous
national icons in their own right.
Toledo (pronounced "toe-LAY-doe") is one of
those small towns that is rife with old Spanish
culture...until you come across the McDonald's in
the Plaza de Mayor (town square). On this trip, the
group I was with began referring to the
ever-present McDonald's restaurants we saw as the
"American Embassies".
Toledo is one of the centers of Spanish
sword-making, a process which, even for the
tourist pieces, is still done by hand. Toledo also
boasts incredible inlaid gold and enamel pieces
known as "Damascene". The centuries-old
cathedral dominates the horizon.
those small towns that is rife with old Spanish
culture...until you come across the McDonald's in
the Plaza de Mayor (town square). On this trip, the
group I was with began referring to the
ever-present McDonald's restaurants we saw as the
"American Embassies".
Toledo is one of the centers of Spanish
sword-making, a process which, even for the
tourist pieces, is still done by hand. Toledo also
boasts incredible inlaid gold and enamel pieces
known as "Damascene". The centuries-old
cathedral dominates the horizon.
Segovia, a town about an hour north of Madrid by coach (bus), is home to
the Segovia Cathedral (left). This cathedral took over 700 years to build,
from the laying of the first stone to the final painting of its gilded interior.
Like all these ancient holy sites, this cathedral was at once both an honest job
for workers long dead, and a work of faith for those same laborers. The
Segovia Cathedral is considered the "Lady of Cathedrals" in all of Spain.
Segovia, as do most major towns, has its own alcazar (lower left). A
Spanish alcarzar is a combination of palace, fortress, and royal residence (not
all ancient nobility actually lived in the palace they officially ruled from).
Segovia's alcazar is home to Spain's military academy...and is rumored to have
been Walt Disney's model for Cinderella's castle in Disneyland, CA.
Segovia was originally a Roman outpost, and the 2000 year-old Roman
aqueduct still stands (below right). This aqueduct supplied Segovia's water
until the mid-20th Century.
the Segovia Cathedral (left). This cathedral took over 700 years to build,
from the laying of the first stone to the final painting of its gilded interior.
Like all these ancient holy sites, this cathedral was at once both an honest job
for workers long dead, and a work of faith for those same laborers. The
Segovia Cathedral is considered the "Lady of Cathedrals" in all of Spain.
Segovia, as do most major towns, has its own alcazar (lower left). A
Spanish alcarzar is a combination of palace, fortress, and royal residence (not
all ancient nobility actually lived in the palace they officially ruled from).
Segovia's alcazar is home to Spain's military academy...and is rumored to have
been Walt Disney's model for Cinderella's castle in Disneyland, CA.
Segovia was originally a Roman outpost, and the 2000 year-old Roman
aqueduct still stands (below right). This aqueduct supplied Segovia's water
until the mid-20th Century.
Madrid, the capital of Spain. This city sits on the exact
geographical center of the country (the spot is marked at the
Plaza del Sol). Like many European palaces, the Palacio Real
(Royal Palace) is built in a French and Italian style (left). It is
open for touring, and is an incredibly magnifient building to
visit (far lower left).
Directly across from the Palacio Real is the Madrid Cathedral
(below). This cathedral is, like Westminster Abbey in England,
the central spiritual focus for the Spanish monarchy, and plays a
major role in the coronation of the king and/or queen.
Of course, Madrid is a modern city. This includes skate
boarders and a Hard Rock Cafe (below right).
geographical center of the country (the spot is marked at the
Plaza del Sol). Like many European palaces, the Palacio Real
(Royal Palace) is built in a French and Italian style (left). It is
open for touring, and is an incredibly magnifient building to
visit (far lower left).
Directly across from the Palacio Real is the Madrid Cathedral
(below). This cathedral is, like Westminster Abbey in England,
the central spiritual focus for the Spanish monarchy, and plays a
major role in the coronation of the king and/or queen.
Of course, Madrid is a modern city. This includes skate
boarders and a Hard Rock Cafe (below right).
| Yeoman 3rd Class Nathanael T. Miller Rota, Spain - 1999 |
