We'll come back to this story in a few weeks.
In the meantime here is a video from our visit to Valetta.....
Friday, January 23, 2015
INTERMISSION
I will have to stop here for a while- we are going on another cruise tomorrow( to the Caribbean) and fly to Fort Lauderdale a couple of hours from now. We'll be enjoying some new adventures in the sun. I'll tell you about the trip someday....
We'll come back to this story in a few weeks.
In the meantime here is a video from our visit to Valetta.....
We'll come back to this story in a few weeks.
In the meantime here is a video from our visit to Valetta.....
Thursday, January 22, 2015
M'dina Cathedral
While waiting for the Cathedral to open at 9.30 a.m I took some photos of the surrounding countryside from the city walls
Now it was time to walk back towards the Cathedral
Inside it is what you hope a cathedral to be- cool, quiet and beautiful to look at.
A place to sit and think about the world outside and yourself within.
Even the marble floor is interesting
A large tour group from an MSC Cruise ship came in just as we were preparing to leave. We were lucky to have got there so early and have some quiet time to admire.
Outside of the ancient walls of Mdina is the town of Rabat where the 2nd part of our excursion would take place. We would walk there after everyone had a chance to visit the bathrooms.
The horses were still waiting for customers
We stroll through the streets of Rabat on our way to the catacombs...
Nice little town!
Down a narrow little street we came to the small entrance to the catacombs and one by one made our way down the narrow flight of stairs into the cool and dark caverns where people used to be buried.
As it was dark and cramped down here I didn't take many photos.
The group follows the guide down cramped narrow passageways with little headroom. I chose not to follow as I expected more of the same up ahead-resting places for the dead carved out of stone.
I'm not in the least claustrophobic but I was looking forward to being back in the sun again.
There was absolutely no beer for sale down here....
The train looked like fun but we were returning to our coach. We learned that on the way back to Valetta we would stop for a couple of shopping opportunities which in my translation means "beer".
To be continued.........
Outside of the ancient walls of Mdina is the town of Rabat where the 2nd part of our excursion would take place. We would walk there after everyone had a chance to visit the bathrooms.
The horses were still waiting for customers
We stroll through the streets of Rabat on our way to the catacombs...
Nice little town!
Down a narrow little street we came to the small entrance to the catacombs and one by one made our way down the narrow flight of stairs into the cool and dark caverns where people used to be buried.
As it was dark and cramped down here I didn't take many photos.
The group follows the guide down cramped narrow passageways with little headroom. I chose not to follow as I expected more of the same up ahead-resting places for the dead carved out of stone.
I'm not in the least claustrophobic but I was looking forward to being back in the sun again.
There was absolutely no beer for sale down here....
The train looked like fun but we were returning to our coach. We learned that on the way back to Valetta we would stop for a couple of shopping opportunities which in my translation means "beer".
To be continued.........
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Mdina excursion, Malta
Off the ship and onto another coach for the ride to Mdina, the former capital city of Malta. It's a walled town. The walls were built by the Phoenicians around 700 B.C. so we weren't the first people to visit it, which is a blow to my ego.
The coach made it's way from the port, uphill all the way through the early morning rush hour traffic of people going to work. Malta has some British rule in it's history so they drive on the left. Malta was awarded a medal (the George Cross) for withstanding the heavy bombardment by the Luftwaffe in World War II.
Once high above the port we could see Mdina in the distance as it's on the highest part of the island.
We had a great guide-Antonio- who knew his history and was a very clear speaker (in English which helped as our Maltese is garbage, trust me)
It's only 8.30 a.m and the many horse and carriage riders wait for tourists to show up so they can do some business.
As there was no longer any danger of Phoenicians pouring boiling oil from the ramparts as we entered it was safe to cross the now-dry moat and enter the city....
Detail from the archway
We are in the streets of Mdina. The main focus of our visit here will be to visit the Cathedral
Some of the streets are very narrow
Luckily, some of the streets were wide enough for cars to pass. There were delivery trucks at this time of the morning, bringing in supplies to bars and restaurants. We had to step to the side to let them pass.
We came to an open square and saw the front of the Cathedral
We walked slowly as Anthony had much to say and we would stop at times to focus on the history of what we were seeing.
I continued to take photos as we walked as there was so much beauty in the streets
A cafe in a sunny courtyard. It wasn't open yet but I would have loved to have come back and enjoy a cold beer.
The Cathedral was due to open at 9 a.m but when we went to the door it was still locked. Anthony knocked at the door and spoke to a man who opened it. It would open today at 9.30 instead.
So with some time to kill we sat in the square talking. After a while I wandered away to take some more photos until it was time to enter the Cathedral.
That's what's coming up next....
The coach made it's way from the port, uphill all the way through the early morning rush hour traffic of people going to work. Malta has some British rule in it's history so they drive on the left. Malta was awarded a medal (the George Cross) for withstanding the heavy bombardment by the Luftwaffe in World War II.
Once high above the port we could see Mdina in the distance as it's on the highest part of the island.
We had a great guide-Antonio- who knew his history and was a very clear speaker (in English which helped as our Maltese is garbage, trust me)
Our guide, Antonio
It's only 8.30 a.m and the many horse and carriage riders wait for tourists to show up so they can do some business.
As there was no longer any danger of Phoenicians pouring boiling oil from the ramparts as we entered it was safe to cross the now-dry moat and enter the city....
Detail from the archway
We are in the streets of Mdina. The main focus of our visit here will be to visit the Cathedral
Some of the streets are very narrow
Luckily, some of the streets were wide enough for cars to pass. There were delivery trucks at this time of the morning, bringing in supplies to bars and restaurants. We had to step to the side to let them pass.
We came to an open square and saw the front of the Cathedral
We walked slowly as Anthony had much to say and we would stop at times to focus on the history of what we were seeing.
I continued to take photos as we walked as there was so much beauty in the streets
A cafe in a sunny courtyard. It wasn't open yet but I would have loved to have come back and enjoy a cold beer.
The Cathedral was due to open at 9 a.m but when we went to the door it was still locked. Anthony knocked at the door and spoke to a man who opened it. It would open today at 9.30 instead.
So with some time to kill we sat in the square talking. After a while I wandered away to take some more photos until it was time to enter the Cathedral.
That's what's coming up next....
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