Photo Courtesy of Flickr
Our Valetta tour day. We rented our car for the following morning and took the local bus to Valetta. The buses in Malta are hysterical. They were old British Leyland buses from the 1950’s. The drivers have decorated them and most of them have a Virgin Mary – photo or small statue- placed close by the driver.
The city was built by the Knights of St John in the 16th and 17th Centuries. The founder, Grand Master Jean Pariosot de la Valette, decreed that is should be “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”
We started our tour with “The Malta Experience” – a multimedia overview of Maltese history. The history of the island was amazing. It has been occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the Knights of St John, the French and the British. They only gained their independence in 1964.
In perusing the crowds, we decided that the entire island is filled with Senior Europeans – or “Sen-Euros”. They must come to Malta for the sun, cheap food- hotels and local transportation.
We walked on to the National War Museum, which would more aptly be called the National War machines museum. They did have what remains of the famous biplane, Faith. It was one of three biplanes (Faith, Hope and Charity) involved in WWII.
We strolled by Fort St Elmo, named for the patron saint of mariners. This fort bore the brunt of the Turkish arms during the Great Siege of 1552 (and was also the site of filming for the movie, Midnight Express).
The city was built by the Knights of St John in the 16th and 17th Centuries. The founder, Grand Master Jean Pariosot de la Valette, decreed that is should be “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”
We started our tour with “The Malta Experience” – a multimedia overview of Maltese history. The history of the island was amazing. It has been occupied successively by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, the Knights of St John, the French and the British. They only gained their independence in 1964.
In perusing the crowds, we decided that the entire island is filled with Senior Europeans – or “Sen-Euros”. They must come to Malta for the sun, cheap food- hotels and local transportation.
We walked on to the National War Museum, which would more aptly be called the National War machines museum. They did have what remains of the famous biplane, Faith. It was one of three biplanes (Faith, Hope and Charity) involved in WWII.
We strolled by Fort St Elmo, named for the patron saint of mariners. This fort bore the brunt of the Turkish arms during the Great Siege of 1552 (and was also the site of filming for the movie, Midnight Express).
Photo courtesy of Flickr
We found an air-conditioned restaurant for lunch. We had spicy spags and cooled off before our afternoon walk.
We found the Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck and saw St Paul’s wristbone and part of the block on which he was said to have been beheaded (including a replica of his severed head sitting on the block).
We found the Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck and saw St Paul’s wristbone and part of the block on which he was said to have been beheaded (including a replica of his severed head sitting on the block).
St Paul had a major impact on Malta- bringing Christianity to the island. In approximately 60AD, a ship carrying Paul and Luke shipwrecked on the island. They found the “barbarous” people hospitable and stayed for 3months. Malta became one of the first Roman colonies to become Christian.
At the British Hotel, we found a great view of the harbor and stopped for a beer.
At the British Hotel, we found a great view of the harbor and stopped for a beer.
As we enjoyed the view, we saw Madonna’s entourage pass by. She was in Malta filming her next movie and traveled around the island on an old passenger ship, surrounded by her armed guards (4 zodiac boats and a harbor patrol boat equipped with artillery.
We took the ferry back to Sliema and had dinner at Ta’Kolina, serving traditional Maltese food. We had Ravioli (Maltese style- stuffed with ricotta, parmesan and parsley), Timpana (macaroni layered with meat, eggs and cheese), Lampuki (white fish cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, and olives) and Bragoli (rolled beef stuffed with eggs and bacon and simmered in red wine). We passed on Malta’s favorite food, rabbit.
We took the ferry back to Sliema and had dinner at Ta’Kolina, serving traditional Maltese food. We had Ravioli (Maltese style- stuffed with ricotta, parmesan and parsley), Timpana (macaroni layered with meat, eggs and cheese), Lampuki (white fish cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, and olives) and Bragoli (rolled beef stuffed with eggs and bacon and simmered in red wine). We passed on Malta’s favorite food, rabbit.
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