Valletta - Malta

On Sunday we left the north-east and Newcastle behind and ventured south by train to London. I wasn’t prepared for the excitement of being back in this great city again, albeit briefly! We travelled on familiar roads such as Euston and Marlybone, passed Harley Street and the Great Portland Road, and on north to our hotel close to Heathrow. It was rather sobering passing the Grenville Tower quite close, still standing in its burnt-out state.

We had the next day to fill in before travelling to Malta and we spent this by getting a local bus to Windsor. As we arrived people were lining the streets and Police were out in force. It turned out that we were just in time for the daily march of the Coldstream Guards from their barracks through the town and up to Windsor Castle. A spectacular sight!

Changing Guards at Windsor Palace - Coldstream Guards that is

We visited Eton, just over the bridge but a separate town, and saw the boys in their coat tails between lessons.

Eton Boys

As if we haven’t done a lot of walking, we then went into Windsor Great Park and walked “The Long Walk” (well partly!)

The Long Walk looking towards Windsor Castle

And so to Malta –

Barbara

So……you have this small island in the middle of nowhere, or so it seems, until you realise just how strategically it is placed in the Mediterranean, that has been invaded on numerous occasions, its people religiously converted, unconverted as the occupiers changed, it’s land improved agriculturally only to be unimproved/changed by the next invaders.  The people become resilient, they build fortifications, they embellish their tall homes with beautiful balconies.  Built tall they say to provide long shadows to protect the pedestrians from the heat of the day. The buildings and churches get bombed, they re-build and restore them.  Valletta is to be the 2018 European City of Culture so there is a lot of work going on in the central part of the city.  The streets are narrow, steep, cobbled, stepped, hung with huge gorgeous pendants, there is a church or chapel on every block at least, there is vibrant and animated chatter in the streets and in the shops.  The harbours now boast marinas with multi-million dollar boats, ferries that take you quickly from one ancient wonderful world to another, cruise liners cosying up to traditional dghajsa (pronounced di-sa) water taxis.  This is Malta!.  It is historical and beautiful, and we have only seen the city of Valletta.  The ancient city of Mdina is inland, the island of Gozo further north. We would have loved to have seen more, but happy that we trod these ancient streets and soaked up (in more ways than one) some of the atmosphere. Yes,,thunderstorms all day (both days) have proved that you never go anywhere without your trusty jacket. It has made walking a little more challenging as the cobbles and steep streets become slippery.  However it has not stopped us from doing everything we wanted to, and the sun did come out later in the day yesterday.  Not cold though, muggy.  We have stayed in the centre of the old town in a boutique hotel with a plunge pool where an old well used to be in the basement area.  Our balcony overlooks a small narrow busy street that brings the local world into our room.

Hotel in Valletta - our room just above the sign - French Embassy police box on street

We are also next door to the French Embassy which may be why there is even more animated conversation out there!. The Maltese people are friendly, they know they are a tiny island, the population is a potpourri of so many other cultures. We join our cruise from here today, but return at the end and look forward to reacquainting ourselves with this enchanting place.

Pam

Colourful banners adorn the streets

Altar at St John's Co-Cathedral

Ceiling at St John's Co-Cathedral. We also saw two paintings by Caravaggio in this church - magnificent!

Looking towards the 3 Cities from Valletta - we took a ferry over there for lunch

The Maltese Cross in the form of banners. We took a tour of the old hospital dating back to the 1700s. This area is now used as a function centre

Old and new

Bow detail of a dghajsa

Barbara hates this photo! but needs must, from the upper Barraca Gardens

Barbara and balconies