This is the third and final post of three, covering a fantastic holiday in Europe which took us in the Rhine River Valley-Germany, firstly, then on to Malta for three weeks, with a five day tour around Sicily in the second week of our Malta stay.
You can view our Germany post HERE
You can view our Sicily post HERE
You can view our Germany post HERE
You can view our Sicily post HERE
Our visit to Malta was a huge eye opener for me personally, as I learned so much about my parents' birth place and heritage. Malta's history spans back as far as 4000 BC, when a group of late stone aged, Sicilian farmers arrived, bringing with them, farming skills, tools and animals to help them establish themselves in their new home, thus becoming the first Maltese people.
They built several temples and tombs over time and many of them are well preserved, which we were lucky enough to visit and experience which was simply awesome. Malta has been occupied by several different migrants, some of which were hostile and enslaved the original occupiers thus making today's Maltese people a mixture of early Sicilians, Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Turks , French (led by Nepoleon) and finally the British who aided the Maltese people to finally reach independence. Why so many different nations sought to occupy this tiny little island, is mind boggling until you realise it's perfect location smack bang in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is just 27 km long from north west to south east and just 14 km wide from west to east.
As you will see by the places we visited, Malta's history is extremely thick and valuable and has been recognised by the European Union, voting Malta's capital of Valletta Europe's city of culture for 2018.
This photo was taken, the last time we were in Malta. I was just 9 years old. A young George on the left, Me in the centre and Lina to the right. My, how we've changed!
This is the two bedroom flat we rented for over three weeks at $25 Euro per night in my Dad's home town of Mgarr. It's been recently renovated and fully equipped so we were able to wash our clothes and came back home to Australia with suitcases of clean clothes, so we needed to do was put them away - Winner.
The unit was just a very short stroll away from the village square and the church.
After a rather late sleep in, we went out to explore the village and get our bearings. Also to see where we could get breakfast. This alley of older homes catching our eye.
Straight up, you can see the similarities between Malta's older homes and that of Sicily, with their limestone walls and narrow alleys.
The Maltese are well known for their love of rabbit, and I don't mean as pets. I'm no exception and neither is Cath for that matter. This is one of the restaurants in Mgarr that specialize in rabbit dishes, however all the restaurants do offer it.
This is the Pit Stop bakery. We visited this little gem every morning for breakfast and loved the pastries the lovely couple baked themselves. They would also make anything you liked, to order along with fresh bread rolls filled with whatever you desired. By the way the rolls are over a foot long.
The view from the bakery - downtown Mgarr.
One of many religious statues about the village.
Mgarr is a town known for farming. This pic looking out toward the farming area.
This morning we set out to walk from my father's village of Mgarr to my mother's busier village of Rabat. Harder than we thought it would be, with over six kilometres of up and down hills in rather warm weather.
Here we look back to Mgarr and it's church. I grew fond of the church because unlike most others in Malta, it hasn't been built out and instead stands proudly at the edge of town. Besides that, my father was one of the first alter boys there.
Then this curious sight.
Hundreds of field snails all over the shrubs. Snails are also on the menu in Malta and most of Europe in fact.
This is what the fruit looks like. In Sicily we saw large farms of these all over.
Further on, we look back from the first large hill, showing Mgarr and the adjoining farmland in all it's glory.
This small chapel in Bingemma. One of 365 churches and chapels in Malta and Gozo. So you can go to a differant mass every day and it would take a year to get through them all.
We eventually reach Rabat, mum's home town. Again, so many similarities to Sicily.
Try driving through here in a Landcruiser.
These days the horse and carriage are used for tourists but certainly adds to the experience. The drivers are experienced and knowledgeable in and around Rabat and the old walled city of Mdina.
Well as luck would have it, you can buy Sicilian gelato in Malta too!
Another statue in memory of the people of Malta who suffered in the second world War.
Walking through Rabat, it became apparent the town was preparing to celebrate a feast.
The local church of St Paul in the background.
The Maltese put a lot of effort in preparing for these feasts in competition with other towns around the island. Remembering the small size of Malta, fireworks can be seen from all over on many nights through the year.
St Paul's Church in all it's glory.
It's bell tower up close. Later on we are lucky enough to climb to the roof via the tower with Mum's cousin George who we both grew fond of during our stay.
That afternoon we were to meet friends Zaren and Christine in Valletta, so we caught the bus and took a walk around Malta's capital until then. This huge fountain at the city gate.
Unfortunately not functioning at the moment.
Front entry to the city.
Like so many other older cities in Europe, it is walled and they didn't muck around when they built this wall.
Here, showing another lower entry.
Amazing architecture that makes me so proud of my heritage.
These days it's main street is full of tourists but still houses many businesses.
Some of it's narrow streets are quite steep.
Many cafes and bars are found all over the city.
There goes my girl charging ahead as usual.
A steeple belonging to one of several churches in Valletta.
This gentleman has been handcrafting leather body armour in authentic ancient Greek and Roman style for the last 30 years. His work has been used in movies including Gladiator and Troy, yet there he is in his very unassuming workshop doing his thing..
A view across Grand Harbour. More of that to come later on a cruise we take around Malta.
Pigeons love those old buildings.
Notice how shallow these steps are? I learnt later that their purpose was to make it easier for the knights to climb them whilst wearing armour.And I thought they were for lazy people!
Guards stand outside the palace.
This garden inside.
We could take a tour around but didn't have much time. Shame because this building housed many original armour worn by the knights hundreds of years ago.
Art or architecture?
These flats had the same unusual balconies hanging off their outer wall. An Italian influence here I thought.
Our friends pick us up from the city and invite us back to their home. The last time I was here was thirty eight years ago when I last visited Malta with my parents.
No street number but a name that stuck in my mind since I was nine years old.
After a visit to their home, we were taken for a drive to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk.
And it's many colourful and traditional fishing boats called the Luzzu. My father had one when he was younger with some mates in his village.
All hand crafted, although there are many fibreglass boats beginning to appear as well.
The traditional Luzzu have the "Eyes of Iris" planted at the front to ward off evil and bad luck. This tradition is said to date back to the Phoenicians.
It's amazing how a pile of rope and nets makes for a nice pic.
This one was being towed out of the water on the skids, by a four wheel drive, for maintenance.
That evening, our hosts took us back to their home for a great Maltese meal of baked pasta and chicken soup (nothing makes you feel more welcome than a lovely home cooked meal) before Zaren and Christine kindly took us back to the flat for the night. We vowed we wouldn't eat too much on this holiday, but when a great meal gets served up to you, that plan flys out the window.
The next morning we picked up the rental from the airport and drove back to Rabat to meet with my Mum's cousin George. A wonderful man about the same age as ourselves. We last saw eachother when we were young boys and it was very special to meet up again.
He showed us his gorgeous traditional home in the heart of Rabat, from memory over 200 years old.
His entry to the left.
The two bedroom home was in rough shape when he first bought it but he's done a perfect job renovating while truly keeping it's identity. Cath and I fell in love with it.
George is very proud of his home town of Rabat and knows alot about it. He spent a few hours showing us around.
He took us to see the statues used in the festas. As you can see, they are works of art in their own right.
My how we've changed in 38 years!
Then it was across to the old city of Mdina. Rabat and Mdina were once one, but after the Turkish invasion, a wall was built, separating Mdina from Rabat.
The main entry into the small citadel.
George told us so much about the place but it's so hard to remember everything.
This pic really shows off Mdina's real historic character. Simple but perfect.
Yet another beautiful church within it's walls.
As you can see, although the people of Malta are not so wealthy, no expense is spared in their churches.
Even the domes are not forgotten.
On the outer wall of the city, George points out various villages in the distance. A good way to get an idea of where you are in Malta is to follow way points due to it's small size.
Loving our visit. Note the thickness of the city wall.
Ok, time for a coffee but not before another few pics of this beautiful place and it's narrow lanes.
Within Mdina, George takes us to a cafe with excellent views. That's our happy man.
The view over farmland from our table.
Malta is a member of the European Union. The flag at right is the union flag, while Malta's is on the left.
I've never seen so many cannons as we saw in Malta. They certainly hang on to and are proud of their heritage.
George takes us through another exit of the city with differant views of it's great walls.
This lower, less known entry looks so much more original.
The view from the other side.
Looking out.
Remember the statue of the two lovers in the garden I mentioned earlier? Well this is one of the sculptor who created it, erected in his memory. Note his faithful dogs who laid by his side while he worked.
Then, this unexpected treat. George is proactive in the committee that prepares for the village festas and so has access to the roof of the Church of St Paul.
We were so lucky to have been given this personal tour. Those are the ropes to chime the bells. No I didn't yank them but I was soooo tempted.
Climbing the church tower, the odd small window to let light in the stair well.
You couldn't wipe the smile from our faces experiencing this exceptional opportunity.
We didn't give it much thought at the time, but these old babys went off just after we got back down to the street. I reckon they would have been mind blowing standing next to them while they were going off.
Unforgettable view over Rabat.
Making our way back down, George points out the wheels to adjust the church's huge clock.
The stairwell looks well lit with the camera flash going off but in fact it was quite dark in there.
Until a window lights it up a little.
Beneath the church, we are shown an area where families pay for the privilege of having the remains of their loved ones kept.
George shows us where his father's remains lay.
These solemn figures decorate the entrance.
That evening we met up with Lina (George's sister), her husband Frans, George and his partner for dinner at a sports club that made a good pizza. It was the first time I had seen Lina also since we were children. It's amazing how quickly life gets away and we all had our own experiences to share.
The following Sunday we were invited to a lunch on Frans and Lina's farm plot where they grow their own fruit and vegetables. Most Sundays, they invite friends and family for lunch and fire up the oven for some great meals and chatter, perhaps even share a bottle of wine or three. We were lucky enough to experience their famous wood fired oven lunches.
Here, Frans checks the fire is up and running before letting it reduce to coals, ready for cooking.
Then it's time for a tour around the garden. Note the prickly pear, a must in any good Maltese garden.
A climb up to a vantage point looking over the farms.
Meanwhile, the oven is good to go.
Some people just never seem to grow up. Just the way I like my girl. George had a good go at the swing too.
First to go in were the potatoes and chicken. The fresh seafood was next as it cooks a little quicker.
Here's Lina slicing the bread. So serious.
Soon, the seafood of mussels and bream, cooked in tomato salsa, is ready.
The aroma was sooo good.
The sauce on the bottom of the plate didn't go to waste with a couple of slices of bread to dip in it.
This lovely couple are Paulo and Lucy, who were kind enough to also take us on a day trip to Gozo for the day.
Our first stop was Popeye Village, the movie set used for "Popeye".
The set was left as a gift and now a tourist attraction.
Also used for functions such as birthdays and weddings.
Eventually we arrive at the Gozo ferry. The nose cone of the boat rises and ramps lower to let all the vehicles on. The trip to Gozo is free however you pay for the return trip to Malta.
Parking inside the ferry.
Cathy took a liking to Paulo, calling him her Teddy Bear. Just as well I have no feelings. They were both very kind to us and we had a fantastic day out with them and hope to repay the favour if they come to Australia to visit.
Leaving the port on the Malta side.
Passing the tiny island of Comino.
The watch tower in Comino. There are 18 watch towers around the coast lines of Malta, Gozo and Comino, built to warn of invasions, and they came from every which direction.
This is the ferry coming back from Gozo. There are usually two boats operating between the islands.
Approaching Mgarr Harbour, Gozo.
Ok, time to get off. Bikes first, as is the case in Australia.
It seemed more peaceful to walk the streets too. Not that Malta was noisy.
The church of St George in Rabat, Gozo was open, so we ducked in for a peek.
Imagine our surprise when met with it's awesome interior.
So much pride in their churches. Each village funds their church through donations and collections, so work and improvements are always taking place.
Time for morning tea in the plaza. such a great atmosphere in the old town.
We overdosed on pastizzi on our trip, but geeze they were good.
After morning tea, Paulo and Lucy take us to see the old Citadel of Gozo.
Here we reach it's ancient walls and a door to a war time cemetery.
The Citadel itself dates back to 1500BC. To our astonishment, these workers were originally commissioned to do some repair and maintenance on the outer part of the city but found even more buried relics just a week before we were there. This is very common throughout the Maltese islands. People would buy properties to make their home, but when they began to demolish the old homes, quite often remains would be found within the ground and works would have to stop. As I have mentioned earlier, Maltese historical wealth is so thick and abundant, it's simply unbelievable unless you see it with your own eyes.
So within this area, the workers unearthed these, what seemed to be, baths carved in the bedrock.
Yet another church. This one in the citadel.
Climbing the steps to the top of the walls.
Another great view.
These stone walls, are all that remains of several ancient houses.
Moving right along.
Another view of the citadel's wall.
This is the entry to the city's huge grain silos.
Very dark and narrow.
Looking up to the filler chute of the silo.
Inside the silo. Stand still Cath ....... good girl.
War shelters in the old city. They are all over Malta and Gozo.
Very basic inside, but they saved thousands of lives.
Yes more cannons.
No doubt these are original.
Back in town, these lovely old terraces.
Full of charm.
Then we visit the picture perfect Xlendi Bay.
A former fishing village but now more of a tourist attraction.
Looking back toward the apartments.
Ok ok so I enjoy photographing boats too. Check out the colour of the water.
And the odd lamp post too.
Note that these boats don't have eyes on their bow? Maybe the people aren't as superstitious. The colourful doors behind, are boat sheds.
Then a drive to a more rural area in Gozo. Check out this old farm house. It kind of adds new meaning to the term "built like a brick shit house".
Ok maybe not.
Most of Malta's homes and buildings are built from limestone blocks. This is a quarry.
Some blocks close up.
The score marks left on the sides of the quarry.
This is the Azure Window, naturally formed by the ocean.
What a lovely young couple. (well, youngish)
Close up.
Nearby, this happy sole plays his accordion for some loose change.
Close by, is a peculiar body of water known as the inland sea.
Another pretty spot popular with divers.
We choose a restaurant over looking the inland sea for lunch.
This is the famous Ta Pinu Church.
People who have had their prayers answered for help in illness or injury, have memoirs of various forms, hanging within the church.
Even casts from injuries resulting from accidents are accepted.
The church itself is stunning and amongst the best in Malta.
This statue represents the woman who has said to have heard the voice of the virgin Mary in the church back in 1883.
Next a visit to the salt pans.
Water is stored in the larger pools then used to fill the smaller ones, where the water evaporates, leaving behind pure sea salt.
Here you can see the salt left behind after evaporation.
Finally a visit to a lookout over Ramla Bay.
Known for its reddish coloured sand.
Finally, it was time to return to Malta, after an unforgettable day with a lovely warm couple. The ferry approaches.
A ferry leaves every 40 minutes or so.
And quite strict with their timetable.
Back in Mgarr, we sought out the Hagrat Temple, located within the village.
It turns out that the home that Dad grew up in, sits next door to the temple.
This is it again. Dad tells me that when he was a child, he used to play in the temple grounds. Back then, the temple wasn't treated with the respect that it deserved as it was treated as another old building. Obviously that attitude has changed these days and sites such as this are protected.
For a small donation, you can enter the site and look around. The story goes that the temple was discovered when a farmer was working the field and struck rock.
These steps aren't old, they're ancient, dated around 3000BC
How they raised huge boulders such as these is beyond me.
From the inside.
Peekaboo Cath!
A room to the rear of the structure.
This "low maintenance" garden does well here.
The temple is small in comparison with others around Malta, however it's just as interesting.
A few of Mgarr's shops with the church in the background.
Today we revisit Bingemma in more detail, with a walk in to the valley for a closer look at the tombs. This is the little Hyundai we rented in Malta.
The hillside tombs are so much like the ones we saw in Sicily.
Some were crudely cut openings.
Others cut more square.
While most were single rooms, others like this one, had other rooms branching off. For extended families perhaps?
Then this area with a large number of tombs together.
We were the only people there and it was intriguing to say the least.
Following the trail up the other side of the valley, this view of Mgarr.
There's Mgarr church again, standing proudly at the edge of town. The dome of this church is egg shaped. I'm told that the majority of funding came from egg farmers so the design was in recognition of their devotion to the church. .
Twenty minutes walk from Mgarr is this beautiful little bay. Gnejna Bay holds great memories for me when I would snorkel for sea urchins while mum would wait for me to bring them up then cut them open and we'd love eating them with a little lemon juice. Sometimes it's the simple things in life that make the difference.
Cathy and I choose this quiet area to cool off and enjoy the clear water.
A light lunch at the kiosk.
Along the side of the bay, are all these boat houses.
I've no idea which one , but Dad and his friends carved one of these out as young men.
We loved this bay for its clear water.
These days, not only do the boat houses act as storage for the boat, but once the boat is out, there is room for beds and a kitchenette. People often use these as weekenders. What a top idea and low maintenance too.
Not great for surfers but nice to relax by.
Here's another watch tower.
This one over Gnejna Bay.
Another day was set aside to visit the famous Blue Grotto.
The little fishing village of Zurrieq is where you catch the boats that take you to the popular tourist attraction. These days the fisherman have turned to tourism for their livelihood.
The ramp down to the water.
Our tickets with the boats in the background.
Another clear day in paradise.
Cathy goes exploring while we wait for our boat.
Ok, our turn.
I remember visiting the Grotto as a boy and not having to wear life jackets. It's all about safety these days I suppose. I don't think canary yellow is my colour.
We approach a series of smaller caves first.
The rock formations get a little peculiar near the grotto.
Eventually we enter the actual Grotto, a larger cave where the water is the bluest you'll see.
People assume that because you can see bottom, that the water is rather shallow, but it's quite deep and crystal clear.
If you put your hand in the water, it appears blue .
Heading back out.
Passing another boat heading in.
Approaching the bay, another watch tower above the cliff.
I asked the boat driver about this curious shelter.
It turned out to be an observation shelter, used in the war.
Here we revisit Marsaxlokk for a seafood lunch on the water, and see this fisherman mending his nets. I love this lifestyle.
Nets spread out to dry.
There are several good seafood restaurants all along the bay here and prices that won't break the bank.
Another day saw us visiting the city of Valletta. Large cruise ships frequently visit, bringing with them thousands of tourists and their valuable tourist dollar.
At 12:00 midday, one of these canons are fired. A tradition that used to take place at dawn, midday and sunset each day, as well as saluting dignitaries.
This archway behind the battery.
And this fountain.
We then visit perhaps the grandest cathedral in Malta, St Paul's Shipwreck Church..
The art work in this place has to be seen to be believed.
This place is huge, with four adjoining chapels on both sides, dedicated to the eight nationalities of the knights of the order of St John. The Maltese Cross has eight points to it, representing the same.
The flooring also includes many of these fascinating tomb stones in memory of the various knights.
No two are identical.
This pic gives you an idea of the church's size. Note the chapels on either side.
A huge solid silver chandelier hangs from the ceiling in line with the main alter.
More ornate carvings in the walls around the city.
Outside, views of Grand Harbour from the city walls.
These two celebrities caught our eye and kindly posed for a photo.
On another of our days, we revisited Rabat for a look through St Catald and St Paul's Catacombs. First the smaller St Catald Catacombs.
Cathy leads the way once again.
This place is full of mystery.
An alter among the tombs.
Along with many of these open crypts.
More crypts lined up.
Then it was on to the famous St Paul's Grotto and catacombs. These are situated beneath St Pauls church in Rabat and extend out beneath the town like a rabbit warren.
Along with many war shelters.
More art, even underground.
So this is the grotto where St Paul was reported to have been held captive while the ship was being repaired. He then went on to Rome where he was beheaded, found guilty for practicing Christianity.
An example of what the conditions were like underground.
So dark and gloomy.
Each family had a room, shown lined up on either side.
And numbered for identification, much like house numbers above ground.
The tickets also include entry in to the adjoining museum.
It's so good to see this large terracotta urn so well preserved.
A well still in it's original place.
A huge collection of original paintings.
And my personal favourite, handmade ceramics and terracotta.
The treasurer's room was on display.
The city's wealth was held in this large chest up high in the wall with his bathroom next door. This way the chest was never out of his sight.
The first ensuite perhaps?
Back out on the street, we find this fish monger selling from the rear of his van. These are quite common in villages around Malta.
Many Maltese men love their pet birds. This is a mule canary, a mix between canary and goldfinch. The males are brilliant whistlers and can be heard through the villages.
The afternoon before our tour of Sicily, our friend Myuki flies in from Japan. She is no stranger to Malta as she has been four times. Cathy, Christina and Myuki enjoying each others company at a lookout over the Blue Grotto.
It doesn't take her long to start clicking away.
Myuki is also good friends with Zaren and Christine from her previous visits.
In an email, Myuki requested a visit to the famous temples of Hagar Qim and Minajdra. As they were close to the airport, we took her there soon after she landed.
Below are models of the temples.
Lead by Christine, who has a good knowledge of her local history and a pleasure to be with.
These days the temples are covered to protect them from the elements.
They are dated between 3600-3200 BC. The tiny island of Malta astounds me with it's rich history. Something that I've come to be very proud of.
Interesting formations at every corner.
Including various alters and the like.
Then a short walk to Minajdra Temple.
These things are awesome to see.
Again, the mystery of how those huge boulders were moved and stacked.
The hundreds of holes carved in the soft stone are said to have significance with studying the seasons by the ancient people who built them.
On our return to Malta we waste no time in booking a boat trip that circumnavigates Malta with a three hour break in Comino. Myuki had only four days left to spend in Malta and didn't want to waste any time before her return to Japan.
You can find other companies offering various differant cruises in and around Malta.
The cruise gives us great experience of Malta from a differant perspective.
Here we pass a large fish farm.
There's those celebrities again!
Yet another watch tower, making our way up to Comino.
Other smaller boats can be privately chartered.
Cruising around Comino, we also catch sight of Mgarr, Gozo.
The ferry staff begin to prepare the boat to dock.
Then the crystal blue waters of Comino Bay come in to view with it's own watch tower in the background.
We personally haven't seen water like this ever.
Quite popular among bathers and snorkelers.
After a little effort, we finally dock and head off for a walk around the island before jumping in that very inviting water.
A quiet little cove off to the side and away from the crowds.
Actually this little island is bigger than we thought and takes over an hour to walk around it.
This little flowering ground cover is native to Malta.
We quickly find that we can explore the tower.
This peculiar little village almost a ghost town.
This is a great example of the watch towers dotted all around Malta, built in 1618. Oh it's only a baby at 400 years of age.
This water well within it's solid walls.
Although it's had work done to it to bring it back to it's former glory, the tower most certainly maintains it's original character.
The stairs to the roof top.
Wow, what a view.
The poor fish don't have much of a chance to hide in water like this.
Bloody celebrities hogging the camera again.
This deserted building, believed to be an old hospital.
Continuing our walk, we look back toward the tower.
Eventually returning to the bay for a swim.
There was no way we were leaving without first having a swim.
Picture perfect.
The cruise then leaves Comino and continues around the west coast of Malta as Myuki daydreams
We eventually sail past Gnejna Bay and I catch a glimpse of Mgarr and her beautiful church.
These are known as Dingli Cliffs.
The character changes as we sail past.
Then the temples of Hagar Qim. Easy to recognize with their huge coverings.
This is the village where we caught the boat ride to see the Blue Grotto.
And it's tower.
This is Ghar Hasan's Cave. The story goes that Hasan used to steal young women and sell them to passing pirates, lowering them from the cave down the cliff face to the ships.
Nearing the end of the cruise, we enter Grand Harbour.
Yes, even the harbour is fortified.
This small lighthouse on the southern end entering the harbour.
This is the Siege Bell, erected in memory of over 7000 people who lost their lives in world war II.
Another lighthouse on the northern end.
Another highlight of our stay in Malta, was a full day visiting the Three Cities.
The three cities are built huddled together and once again Christina did a top job as our guide.
Entrance to the first city.
As I've mentioned, Malta is so full of history and it was good to see lots of conservation work being done on many of the sites.
The cities were first built to house the Knights of St John so once again, note the shallow stairs, making it easier for those in their metal armour, to climb.
Even more cannons. This poor little island spent a lot of time defending itself from marauders.
These cities were surprisingly quiet and no tourists to be seen.
Another church, this one within the cities.
The Maltese Cross hangs on its walls.
More examples of lovely European Architecture.
Those are bullet holes in the wall from the war. This area of the city was particularly interesting as it had a great museum and maritime area to look through.
The thing with this museum was that the building itself is just as historical as the items it houses, because it was the palace of the inquisitor appointed by Rome.
Perfectly preserved urns. Fantastic to see and touch.
An early cooking stove.
This kitchen area stands as it did hundreds of years ago with it's wood fired oven and stove.
A water well sits unassumingly in the corner.
A prison adjoined the complex.
The Warden's room with authentic furniture.
The small court room.
A torture chamber.
And finally, the cells.
Just outside, was the prison yard with a well at center and the toilet on the wall at rear.
Looking down to the pit from the cell. Crude but effective.
The prison cell with toilet to the right.
Making our way to the maritime museum, we pass through the French quarter.
Another reminder of how heavily fortified these cities were with their huge walls.
The maritime museum was alot more extensive than we expected.
A taste of what was to come lay outside. More bloody cannons!
The building used to be a large bakery before being taken over by the British navy, due to it's close proximity to the harbour. Those are huge steam engines on display.
A large display of various styles of anchors.
Displays dating back to the Phoenicians.
This crude stone anchor an excellent example.
Detailed models of ships that visited Malta through history.
Pre gun powder weaponry.
And the artifacts just kept coming.
Beautifully preserved diving helmets with their air pump.
Numerous brass ship's bells.
Just for something differant, another cannon. This one displayed as it would have been, within a ship's hull.
This huge hull ornament off the HMS Hibernia.
Disarmed torpedoes from WWII.
Also on display were various tools, used for building timber boats and ships.
And navigational equipment.
Outside in the harbour marina, we find several millionaire's yachts from all over Europe.
Well cars have spare tyres don't they???
Then this monster. It must be nice to have money.
I wish I had a plan B like this guy.
Looking across to Valletta.
A caper plant growing out of a stone wall. We pay good money for capers at home!
Then these very flexible water taxis.
Using traditional boats no less.
This statue commemorates Freedom Day, when the defence treaty with Britain came to an end on 31 March 1979 and Malta became a republic.
Time for a refreshing drink and sugar fix from a corner store.
Toward the end of our visit to the three cities, Christine takes us to this interesting watch tower.
From here you get an uninterrupted view of the harbour.
She explains that the eye and ear carvings are a reminder of vigilance to the people who once manned the tower.
Looking across to the barracks in Valletta where the midday gun is fired.
Here's one of those water taxis, leisurely delivering it's passengers.
This garden adjacent to the tower.
Leaving the cities, a reminder of those magnificent walls with another tower like the one we visited.
These were the former docklands, no longer in use.
Time for lunch in a restaurant nearby.
Christine wasn't finished with us yet. Here we visit a Chinese garden, a gift to Malta from the Chinese government.
Decorated by various statues.
A nice "green" change to Malta's dry climate.
Hundreds of carp fingerlings in it's large pond.
And some huge ones too.
Our final stop was a visit to this place. The word "maqluba" means turned upside down.
A short walk down a path.
Reveals a large sink hole.
Legend has it that a small village was swallowed up by the crater as God's punishment for their sins however science says otherwise.
This small chapel stands at the edge of the sink hole.
Christine spent the entire day with us and her time was greatly appreciated. You just don't get that sort of personal attention in tour groups, or flexibility for that matter.
That evening we had a dinner with Mum's cousins and their partners. We're all roughly the same age group so we always had fun getting together with them. It was also Myuki's last night with us before returning home.
Today was Myuki's last day in Malta, sadly, and her wish was to visit Rabat to have a feed of their pastizzi, reportedly among the best in Malta. Cousin George will tell you that everything is much better in Rabat!
This plaza had a great atmosphere with St Paul's church as a backdrop.
George and i stand in front of the building where Mums home once stood. Sadly I didn't get to see the home where she grew up.
One last mini tour around Rabat.
These little shrines outside people's homes began to grow on us.
Finally we return to Mdina, and take Myuki to the cafe that George took us too earlier in our stay.
We never grew tired of perfect scenes like this.
We manage to locate the cafe high on the walls of Mdina.
And Myuki enjoys it as she hadn't been there before.
Cathy and I still had a few days left in Malta and we didn't want to waste what time we had left. Today we returned to Gozo on the ferry as we enjoyed it so much with Paulo and Lucy.
Here we check out this coastline along the way.
His another one of those shooter's hides.
It doesn't look like it's been used for some time.
These odd looking machines were around quite a bit, but are being replaced by larger more modern machinery.
Farmers use them to travel slowly to their plots and carry various tools etc. We saw one in action but didn't get the opportunity to take a pic, so this one parked up will have to suffice.
Here we are near Xwejni Bay.
We decide to check out the battery we spot on the point.
Again, very inviting water of the Mediterranean.
We took a dip here after our walk actually, and it's as good as it looks.
This battery housed some serious fire power but was later used as a night club.
It's now deserted unfortunately but still has it's character.
These salt pans just beneath the battery. That's a dog sitting on the right, who'd just taken herself for a swim in the rock pool.
Just taking in the atmosphere.
Notice the steep drop off beyond the rocks.
Another great cafe to sit and let the day go by.
In Malta we kept seeing these signs. Don't squash me please????
They're to protect these cute little hedgehogs. When we saw one, I stopped the car and just had to get a pic of it. It was so cute and cowered like a little pup when I approached it.
We also visited St Paul's Bay.
We walked all along its shores adoring the clear water and scenery.
Well it floats I suppose.
Yet another great place for a swim.
And St Paul's Bay also has its own watch tower. As I've mentioned, eighteen in total around Malta.
That's St Paul's Island in the distance, where it is said, that his shipwreck occurred.
Close up.
This little man made harbour, a little further on.
How's this for a home made security system?
If there's been an attempted break in, simply follow the trail of blood to the culprit. I don't think we could get away with this in Australia.
By this time we'd walked for almost an hour and were making our way back to the car. We did a hell of alot of walking right through our holiday.
Quick quick give me cannoli!
Before heading out to the farm, George picked up some freshly baked bread for the dinner.
This bakery in his home town still uses wood fired ovens and said to be the best! Well that's what Georgey Boy will tell you.
Look at his cheesey grin. Enough bread? These were wood fired and the crust was perfect while the inside remained soft and fluffy, perfect.
On the way back to the car, George takes us past his local grocer.
A small store but service with a huge smile.
Back at the farm, I try to capture the place in photos as I very well knew it would be our final visit for some time.
Peekaboo Lina. Actually she was madly preparing for dinner.
Here I decided to climb up the top of the farm shed, for a couple of pics.
A bed on the first level
Then on the roof.
Looking down to the drive.
Looking out to the town of Siggiewi.
The palace in Buskett. This mini forest was planted by a nobleman who enjoyed hunting and so the trees were planted so that he could go shooting.
Frans' brother was working in the field nearby. Here he was pulling the onions from the ground, ready to hang dry.
Frans knew I had a fascination with these small rotary hoes, so he called me down to watch one in action. What a fantastic man. Cath and I grew quite fond of him and his family.
I don't think his brother minded him hoeing the ground free of charge either.
Action shot.
You wouldn't want to get any part of your body caught up in that baby.
Frans then digs a few potatoes.
There's something very satisfying about growing your own produce as these guys do. Mind you, it isn't their living as they have full time jobs.
You can often find small reservoirs like this, used to water the garden.
Using water pumps like this old girl.
This is the farm shed in the adjoining plot.
Complete with chooks for eggs and rabbits.
In another plot next door is Frans' cousin.
This guy has the large Rolls Royce model.
It doesn't get much better than this. Some nice chatter over a glass of wine. Cath and I really cherish the times we had at the farm with these guys. It added another dimension to our holiday.
This windmill not unlike those in country Australia.
These mile stones are all over Malta and used to indicate the distance to Valletta in miles.
During the war, the distance was erased so that the enemy had difficulty knowing where they were.
Our final day sees us visit the famous Mosta church.
Check out the lacework on the roof.
Famous for the bomb that fell through it's huge dome, without exploding, on 9th April 1942.
The interior of this church is quite special.
It's dome is amongst the largest in the world.
A close up of the dome, reveals the area which was repaired after the bomb dropped in for a unwelcome visit.
A painting depicting the beheading of St Paul within the church.
A life size replica of the bomb is kept in a room open to visitors.
Also with its own solid silver chandelier.
Not far from the church, this cafe. I took this pic to show how reasonable prices are in Malta, away from tourist hot spots. Also bare in mind that they actually do look like the picture, about a foot long.
These mobile green grocers often frequent the streets, but mainly in the bigger towns.
So after you order your meal, some complimentary appetisers arrive on your table along with your wine or whatever you choose to drink.
Then you're served by either this lovely young lady or her equally lovely mother. Salmon steak for Cathy.
And the tastiest grilled octopus we've ever eaten anywhere, including Sicily. The chef is the father of the family and the son also waits and serves behind the bar.
Being our last evening, after dinner, Cath and I head down to nearby Gnejna Bay for some sunset shots. The results were better than I ever imagined and showcases the unspoilt beauty of the Bay.
Ok, gelato time!
Here's something you don't see back home.
Simply pull up on the side of the road and fill up. This fuel stop is run by my father's friend Micheal in Mgarr.
Today we were to return home but not until the afternoon, which meant we still had time to burn. The day began for one last walk through the fields of Mgarr. We learnt that pillars bearing markings such as this, were erected by noblemen in the past to signify their land holding.
Vineyards like this are becoming quite common in Malta.
Then we come across this farm ute bearing my father's family nick name. The farmers working in the background.
After a brief chat we discovered that we were related.
Dad told us to look for this cemetery just out of town. Unfortunately the gates were locked.
Dad tells me that several relatives rest here dating way back.
That magnificent Mgarr church standing proudly in the background.
Later in the morning, we jump in the car and visit Buskett.
One of the few places that has a creek running through it, although it was dry, being summer.
Some more interesting farm equipment used by the caretakers.
Here's one of those little farm truck thingys again.
On our way out we noticed this group of ladies.
Would you believe they were playing bingo? Outside in lovely surroundings like this. How good's that?
That's the caller in the foreground.
Finally, we squeeze in a visit to San Anton Garden.
These gardens are very well maintained and well worth a stroll through them.
This gutter running along the wall makes up part of the original watering system which is no longer in use. Water would run along this gutter and they would simply block any section off and redirect the flow wherever it was needed.
This wall just outside the presidential palace.
These swans living the life of luxury in their own pond.
Actually they were sharing with these turtles.
Another smaller pond with a heap of the same turtles.
Too many to count.
The garden was like a small piece of paradise in an otherwise quite dry island.
This garden clock was actually showing the correct time and I remember it from my visit to Malta as a child.
We returned to Rabat for our final lunch in beautiful Malta and Cathy just has to grab one last cannoli for the road.
Our visit to Malta was an eye opener and taught a whole new respect for its people, culture and history. Cathy and I would like to personally thank all the wonderful, warm people who showed us around and took us under their wing on our visit.
We can't wait to get back but until then "sahha u jiehdu hsieb", goodbye and take care.
Wooow Great Job Charlie
ReplyDelete