Valleta, Malta

This was an incredible stop. Malta is a grouping of islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It is often associated with the Knights of Malta, or the Knights Hospitaller which were charged with the defense of the Holy Land. The fortifications on the isle are from the 1500's. Coming into this port was like stepping back into time. Just look at this view taken as we were pulling into port.



We jumped on a Maltese bus. Dean was in love with the old versions of the bus and was disappointed that the bus we took was a newer model.



We rode to a tiny village called Mdina, the Silent City. The only cars allowed in the city are those of residents. It was amazing. Tiny little streets like this. (And look at how clean they are!)



Here is another shot in front of a cathedral in Mdina.



The countryside was beautiful. They recently had brought in the harvests. The fields were separated into plots, each surrounded by a low wall of stones.



Back in Valleta, we visited the Barrakka Gardens. The Knights used to practice their maneuvers here. And then we visited another cathedral, St. John's Co-Cathedral. This cathedral was one of the main cathedrals used by the Knights and the floor was covered with tombstones like this.



Towards the end of our time in Valleta, we got hit with a rain storm. It poured rain! We had an umbrella but it didn't do us much good. Valleta is on a hill so the water runs down the street to the ocean which meant as we walked back to the street that the water ran down hill with us. It was like a waterfall coming down some of the stairs. But it was all part of the adventure. Here is a view of a street in Valleta taken from the Gardens. This was before the rain but seeing the slope of the streets may help you envision walking down these streets in a downpour.



I really need to read up on more of the history of this country. It has been a player in many different wars. And I was very impressed with the people here. They were very gracious and everyone spoke English. English and Maltese are both taught here. And I was most impressed with the fact that there was no graffiti and the streets were so clean. That says a lot for the people I think. Dean and I would both like to visit here again and stay for longer than a day.