Apologies for the delay in blogginess, but I've been a busy lady. The last week has been a blast and a blur, up and down and round in circles. At 3:50am today I boarded my flight to Greece with a tear in my eye…

The last week, well, what can I say other than same, same but different. Yes, more Churches, more family, more sightseeing. But I had a few really amazing times in the past week. I'll start with the most memorable… St Paul's Church and Grotto. Ok, so long story short, St Paul was shipwrecked on Malta in 60AD on his way to Italy along with the ship full of prisoners. The locals tended to them, built a fire to keep em warm and all that, and St Paul was bitten by a venomous snake. Everyone expected him to drop dead, but he suffered no effects at all. He started healing people, and stayed on the Island for 3 months, converting the locals to Christianity, before continuing his voyage to Italy where he was beheaded. So, during his time in Malta he stayed in a grotto underground that was originally built during Roman times as a prison. The first baptism in Malta was performed in one of the underground rooms in the Grotto, the place where Christianity began in Malta, and I stood on the very spot. There was another cave where he used to pray, and where John Paul II visited and also prayed, and just walking in there was such an overwhelming experience that it had me in tears. I can't really explain why though. But it was magical and powerful just to be there. Yes, that's the short version.

The rest of the week, met the rest of the family, met some amazing cousins, Pia and Martina, and on our last night went to see Martina perform in the biggest show going on in Malta at the moment, the Knights Spectacular (she arranged tickets for us, and a car to come and pick us up and everything!) Got to know Pia, Edgar's daughter, she's ace (Nath, we luff luff luff her!) Edgar took us for a drive all over the island checking out the sights at night. Another night we went to his (awesome) place for a home cooked meal (woohoo!) with his family. Caught up with Martha, Mary-Rose, Aunty Doris and Martina as well.

Lots of dumb things have happened lately too… There was the time I got my thumb jammed in my backpack when I was fiddling with it, and actually had to get help to get it out... Then there was the day that I got my hair and sunglasses caught in an umbrella outside a café, nearly fell on my ass cos it jerked me backwards... Then there was the time when I was sitting drinking beer in a courtyard and a pigeon shat on my head… Oh yeah, one that wasn't me: walking out of the restaurant after dinner the other night Ma smashed her head real hard on the metal bars next to the door, nearly KO'd herself (yes, we'd consumed quite a lot of wine that day, a bottle with lunch and another with dinner!) it was hilarious, she had a massive bump but we couldn't stop laughing about it cos we were a little pissed. And I think that the last one for the week was last night when we were sitting in the audience at my cousins show, and Ma's chair fell back and jammed between the two rows. Stupid mole, what does she do? Grabs me and takes me down with her... The whole place was looking at us cos it looked like our chairs had collapsed. So embarrassing.

Anyway, the last week was a bit emotional, having come so far and discovered family and history that I never knew about, and then having to leave it all behind… it's only been 4 weeks, and yet these little islands have become a part of who I am. And we had been reading my Nannu's travel diary from his last trip back here in 1993. (He and my grandmother both migrated somewhere around 1950, after the war was over and the country was rebuilt.) It was really sad to read my grandfathers words about having to leave knowing that he would never make it back again, and that he would never see his beloved brother Reg ever again. Bless both their souls, It must have been heart wrenching for them. It had us absolutely bawling.

There are so many things that I can't explain in a dumb blog, but here's the last 4 weeks:

I've seen countless Churches (I imagine it's about 50 or so…)

I've seen the temple ruins at 3 different sites.

I've visited a dozen or so museums (and along with the rest of the Maltese population I am now a certified expert on the life and works of Caravaggio, my new favourite artist!)

I've eaten pastizzi, ravioli, olives, capers, and bigilla by the truckload.

I've sampled more local wines than I will ever remember, and have even taken a liking to Cisk, the local beer.

I've visited forts left over from centuries long ago (many of which have been taken over and tackified by chains like TGI's, Ugh!)

I've had tantrums with museums, bus drivers, waiters and shop assistants.

I've learned about 7000 years of Maltese history, the Knights of the Order of St John, St Paul's Shipwreck, the Turkish, Sicilian and German invasions, World War 2, and I even got to see the George Cross.

I can't wait to go back one day.

Edgar drove us to the airport at midnight, and I had a nap in the main area before check in, then I had a nap in the departures lounge before boarding, then I had a nap during the flight and missed breakfast. By the time we arrived in Athens at 6:30 everyone was suffering sleep deprivation and starvation. We found the bus we needed to catch, and rode on it for what seemed like eternity until we eventually found that we had gone way past our stop, so then had to find the train station and go back. Shut up, I was tired! Eventually, after asking millions of people for directions (they understood, but generally responded in Greek…) we found our hostel. It's on a beautiful street lined with trees, junkies and prostitutes, even at 8am. There are police EVERYWHERE, I have yet to figure out whether this is a good thing or a bad thing. One things for sure though, I'm gonna come home with some interesting stories.

So, until next time, Andios,

Seh.

Xox

Well, we're on the move again… Now I'm staying in Valletta, in a lovely little guesthouse called "Coronation". You have to walk about 3 million steps to get to our room (yeah, now imagine doing it with 20 kilos on your back…) I've been here 4 days now, and Ma's been real sick for about a week. She's got a chest infection, so I'm tryin to balance being a loving daughter and tending to her while she's in bed, and keeping enough distance to not breathe in her icky germs. Here I was thinking that I could sleep through anything - try sharing a room with someone who's coughing like they swallowed a grizzly bear and he's trying to escape… I was so grumpy after being awake all night! Other than that, it's been a great week so far.

This city is absolutely amazing, when you first walk through the city gate you just kind of stare in awe. It was built in the 16^th century by the Order of the Knights of St John, and the whole town is world heritage listed… It was the first planned city in Europe, the streets are all in straight lines, kinda like Melbourne's CBD… The whole city is walled in like a massive fortress. There's a whole story behind it from eons ago, but I won't give you all the details. The whole history of the many wars that this country has seen is amazing, they're the most resilient people and have survived so much hardship. Do you know that at one point they were bombed for 157 days straight? That's about 3 times longer than England had to withstand. Anyway, like I said, I won't give you the whole history lesson… This time…

My second cousin Martha came with her husband Leonard and drove us from Bugibba to Valletta, and I spent the day wandering around the town checking out the sights and churches that are around. Most of the town was closed when we arrived for Siesta (it's the best idea ever, when are we going to introduce it in Oz? C'mon Johnny…) Had to put Ma to bed cos she was real pale, so I went out on a mission on a Sunday night here to find some food that I could get take away. Found a restaurant that was open, but they don't do takeaways, so it took all of my girly charm (and cleavage) to convince them. It worked. Took the pasta home to Ma, only to discover that we don't have any cutlery. Ever seen someone eat penne with no fork? Not a pretty sight, don't ask!

We've been going out checking out the town in the mornings, and then in the afternoons I've been going out alone looking at churches and stuff. I walked right around the outside of the city (all the way around!) and then accidentally kept walking to Floriana. Whoops. Got myself a little lost but found my way ok. Today I took a bus out to Paola to the Tarxien Temples. They're ruins that date back to 3300BC, and some of the stones have intricate spirals and pictures carved into them… And the first of the "fat ladies" was found there, As usual, check out the pics!!! There was a couple of beautiful churches out there too, Church of Christ the King, and Santa Tereza. Look at the photo's man, I can't describe them…

Yesterday we spent the day with my Great Aunty, and my second cousins Martha and Mary-Rose. Went to see all of their houses, they were huge! One of them has a massive house that is, like, 4 stories high! We sat around telling life stories and eating lots (I finally had the home cooked meals that I have been craving), and found out a lot of family history from before they all migrated.

I've been eating more Pastizzi than any normal person ever should, having them for lunch every day, they're just so darned good!

Here in Valletta, there are so many churches that all night and day you can hear the church bells ringing. It's really, I don't know what word I'm looking for… Umm, It's very overwhelming and amazing I guess, to be in the midst of all of this culture and history.

Well, I'm off to bed, will write again soon, hopefully now that ma's on medication she'll get better and I'll have some more adventures for you shortly.

Until then, love you all, miss you all.

You'd better be missing me lots!

PS... Do you like my pretty new background?

Sahha,

Seh.

xox

We had to Anchor off of Malta to try to repair the engine.
BTW, the engine is 18 feet tall.

To see review  specify of this place.

Walking by Valletta, we were with this theater, and we decided to do a visit to him. First we took cafes in the bar that there is in the patio, before entering the theater. A very cosy site, surrounded by posters, memories of things of the theater. Much people wanted to visit it. Full completely the room for the explanation of the history of the theater. A pleasing memory.

Ver review especifico de este lugar.

Caminando por Valletta, nos encontramos con este teatro, y decidimos hacerle una visita. Primero tomamos unos cafes en el bar que hay en el patio, antes de entrar al teatro. Un sitio muy acogedor, rodeado de carteles, de recuerdos de cosas del teatro. Mucha gente queria visitarlo. Se lleno completamente la sala para la explicacion de la historia del teatro. Un grato recuerdo.

It has always called me the attention, when thinking, when reading, on a place as it will be, which one gets to imagine, we generally see it like but complicated, with a certain fear. Soon you arrive, you see and nothing it of that. All the opposite, is wonderful, everything is pleasant, as if he could not be of another form. Then, that sensation I had when discovering Valletta. It imagined paved with stones streets to me, different from which one knows. Then nothing of that. Valletta nothing but to get to walk by its streets welcomes to you, gives the welcome you, is pleasant, you feel well, surely, and this is not little merit, all the cities do not relax, many is all the opposite. Here the component occurs to discover many churches, statues of saints and that gives tranquillity. A town that raises these monuments cannot lodge much badly.

 
After to have spent part of Saturday and Sunday complete resting of as much airplane, Monday we left early to visit Valletta. We agreed with the rush hour, but there was no greater problem. This signalized good the highway. We crossed a pair of tunnels and we arrived at Valletta, good, the outskirts, because the city this walled and the vehicles usually do not circulate that way, not those of the tourists. In the outskirts a vigilant young girl I indicate the site to us, a esplanade near the Meridien Hotel, that was still almost empty, of the early thing that was. We raised stairs and we arrived at the seat where this the bus-station. Or a first impact, the buses, that or I indicate in own his review as they are. A very spectacular source in front of the front door to Valletta. To the right the tourism office, in where they give very useful planes us. We followed by the main street, the Republica, and arrived at the cocathedral of San Juan, that had still not opened. We visited it and already we began to be astonished at as much beauty. Soon we saw the museum of the cocathedral, that  ' NO PHOTOS ' and did  visit the Palace of the Great Master, another wonder. Both places I have commented them with own review. Valletta this constructed in a earth arm in the sea, a peninsula. The isthmus that unites with the island this in a hill, reason why when you enter you see the streets downwards, that they are going to give the sea, throughout, to the front, the right and the left. Some of the streets have much slope, reason why to happen from a part to another one of the coast to take to raise the hill and to lower it. All this with streets with many steps, impossible for I deal rolling. The buildings usually are as of 3 plants, with balconies, much tended clothes hanging, streets with much scent, much colorful, sees a city very alive Valletta.

One of the most splendid palaces is the Auberge de Castille, long ago the seat of the languages (divisions of the Order of San Juan) Spanish and Portuguese. At the present time, this palace is the seat of the office of prime minister and he is not open to the public.

A LITTLE HISTORY.
The prehistoric rest that exist in Malta are the megalíticos temples, that date from until the 3800 a.C. constitute the oldest legacy of the archipelago. Concretely they are the excavations of Tarxien, in Paola, the temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, near Qrendi, the complex of Ggantija in Joy and the Hypogeum, also in Paola. Towards the 800 a.C., the Phoenicians colonized the islands and six hundred years remained about. They contributed the language, maltés, official language, and therefore including within the officials of the European Community. It uses Latin characters, but in its phonetics and way to write arabes is assimilated to the languages, of North Africa. I imagine that the Phoenicians would contribute but to things to the present character of the town maltés, that to be open to other cultures, that to live and to let live, is own of intelligent Mediterranean towns and in addition. The 208 a.C., the Romans turned partly to Malta of their empire. There are numerous signs of the Roman presence in Malta, one of but important they are the excavations in Rabat, where has been one ' domus romaná with mosaic precious multicolors. The legend tells that Ulises was in Gozo  (well-known like the Island of Calipso), but the most famous visitor was the apostle San Pablo, whom according to the legend was shipwrecked in Malta in year 60 d.C. and it took advantage of the accident to learn to the islanders, although at the present time, students of the Bible and scientists they think that probably the ship of San Pablo sank in Cefalonia, in Greece. Certain or not it stay of San Pablo, in the islands are numerous references to this stay. In the first place the one exists soon in Rabat that is said was the cave where it lived, also the catacomb. In the north in bay where supposedly it was shipwrecked takes his name, and there It is the source where after of the shipwreck drank water, the church of the bonfire and the church of San Pablo. The following thing which he registers history in year 870, when the Arabs arrived from North Africa. These exerted a powerful influence on the malteses, the Christianity attempt to be abolished, but the malteses did not resign, celebrating their cults in catacombs. The citizens who did not apostatize of the Christianity were considered citizen of second, without right to take arms. Arabs introduced the citruses and the cotton and altered the language. Later invading normandos that arrived from Sicily expelled to the Arabs in 1090, and during the four hundred years which they followed, Malta remained under the siciliano dominion, that if, erasing all track of the Arab period, so that does not conserve Arab mosques nor constructions. During this time it is the greater height of the piracy in the Mediterranean. Malta takes advantage of its situation strategic to be made be worth, are fights by the power between the noble. The important change happens in 1530 when the Hospitable Horsemen of San Juan de Jerusalen arrive at Malta, which after to leave Acra, settled down soon in Cyprus and in Stems, where they were invaded by the Ottoman Turks. The emperor Carlos V rented the island to them from Malta to the horsemen by the price of an annual hawk to pay to the virrey of Sicily. Of this Malta form he entered the glorious period of his history. In 1565 the Great Siege takes place, on the part of the Turks, who are defeated and stop the Ottoman invasion in Malta and Italy. Malta is recognized by the European nations and it is decided to construct a new walled city. This it is the origin of the Valletta. Later, with the centuries, the Order was losing prestige and thus Malta is invaded by Napoleon. Soon it is recovered by the English, that incorporates it to their dominions. Thus until for 40 years, that Malta obtained its independence and the 2004 is the year of comprise of the European Union.

Siempre me ha llamado la atencion, al pensar, al leer, sobre un lugar como será, lo que uno llega a imaginarse, generalmente lo vemos como mas complicado, con un cierto temor. Luego llegas, lo ves  y nada de eso. Todo lo contrario, es maravilloso, todo es agradable, como si no pudiera ser de otra forma. Pues bien, esa sensación tuve al descubrir Valletta. Me imaginaba unas calles empedradas, distintas a lo que uno conoce. Pues nada de eso. Valletta nada mas llegar a caminar por sus calles te acoge, te da la bienvenida, es agradable, te sientes bien, seguro, y esto no es poco mérito, no todas las ciudades relajan, muchas es todo lo contrario. Aqui se da el componente de descubrir innumerables iglesias, estatuas de santos y eso da tranquilidad. Un pueblo que levanta estos monumentos no puede albergar mucho mal.

Despues de haber pasado parte del sabado y el domingo completo descansando de tanto avion, el lunes salimos temprano para visitar Valletta. Coincidimos con la hora punta, pero no hubo mayor problema. Esta bien señalizada la carretera. Se cruzan un par de tuneles y llegamos a Valletta, bueno, las afueras, porque la ciudad esta amurallada y los vehiculos no suelen circular por alli, por lo menos los de los turistas. En las afueras una joven aparcacoches nos indico el sitio, una explanada cerca del Hotel Meridien, que estaba todavia casi vacia, de lo temprano que era. Subimos unas escaleras y llegamos a la plaza de la estacion de autobuses. Ya un primer impacto, los autobuses, que ya indico en su review propio como son.  Una fuente muy espectacular delante de la puerta de entrada a Valletta.  A la derecha la oficina de turismo, en donde nos dan unos planos muy utiles. Seguimos por la calle principal, la Republica, y llegamos a la cocatedral de San Juan, que todavia no habia abierto. La visitamos y ya nos empezamos a quedar maravillados de tanta belleza. Luego vimos el museo, que 'no fotos please' y visitamos el Palacio del Gran Maestre, otra maravilla. Ambos lugares los he comentado con reseña propia.
Valletta esta construida en un brazo de tierra en el mar, una peninsula. El istmo que la une con la isla esta en una colina, por lo que cuando entras ves las calles hacia abajo, que van a dar al mar, por todas partes, al frente, a la derecha y a la izquierda. Algunas de las calles tienen mucha pendiente, por lo que pasar de una parte a otra de la costa llevar subir la colina y bajarla. Todo esto con calles con muchos escalones, imposibles para el trafico rodado. Los edificios suelen ser como de 3 plantas, con balcones, mucha ropa tendida colgando, calles olorosas,mucho colorido,  se ve una ciudad muy viva Valletta.

Uno de los palacios más espléndidos es el Auberge de Castille, antaño la sede de las lenguas (divisiones de la Orden de San Juan) española y portuguesa. En la actualidad, este palacio es la sede de la oficina del primer ministro y no está abierto al público.

UN POCO DE HISTORIA.
Los restos prehistoricos que existen en Malta son los templos megalíticos,  que datan de hasta el 3800 a.C. constituyen el legado más antiguo del archipiélago. Concretamente son las excavaciones de Tarxien, en Paola, los templos de Hagar Qim y Mnajdra, cerca de Qrendi, el complejo de Ggantija en Gozo y el Hypogeum, tambien en Paola.
Hacia el 800 a.C., los fenicios colonizaron las islas y se quedaron unos seiscientos años. Aportaron el lenguaje, el maltés, lengua oficial, y por tanto incluido dentro de las oficiales de la Comunidad Europea. Utiliza caracteres latinos, pero en su fonética y modo de escribir se asimila a las lenguas arabes, del norte de Africa. Yo imagino que los fenicios aportarian mas cosas al caracter actual del pueblo maltés, ese estar abierto a otras culturas, ese vivir y dejar vivir, es propio de pueblos mediterráneos y además inteligentes.  En el 208 a.C., los romanos convirtieron a Malta en parte de su imperio. Hay numerosos signos de la presencia romana en Malta, uno de los mas importantes son las excavaciones en Rabat, donde se ha encontrado una 'domus romana' con unos mosaicos  multicolores preciosos.
La leyenda cuenta que Ulises estuvo en Gozo (conocida como la Isla de Calipso), pero el visitante más famoso fue el apóstol San Pablo, que según la leyenda naufragó en Malta en el año 60 d.C. y aprovechó el accidente para evangelizar a los isleños, aunque en la actualidad, estudiosos de la Biblia y científicos opinan que probablemente la nave de San Pablo se hundió en Cefalonia, en Grecia. Cierto o no la estancia de San Pablo, en las islas hay numerosas referencias a dicha estancia. En primer lugar existe en Rabat la que se dice fue la cueva donde vivió, luego tambien la catacumba. En el norte en la bahia donde supuestamente naufragó lleva su nombre, y alli esta la fuente donde bebió agua despues del naufragio, la iglesia de la hoguera y la iglesia de San Pablo.
    Lo siguiente que registra la historia en el año 870, cuando  llegaron los árabes del norte de África. Éstos ejercieron una poderosa influencia sobre los malteses, el cristianismo intento ser abolido, pero los malteses no renunciaron, celebrando sus cultos en catacumbas. Los ciudadados que no renegaron del cristianismo fueron considerados ciudadanos de segunda, sin derecho a llevar armas. Los arabes  introdujeron los cítricos y el algodón y alteraron el idioma. Posteriormente invasores normandos que arribaron desde Sicilia expulsaron a los árabes en 1090, y durante los cuatrocientos años que siguieron, Malta permaneció bajo el dominio siciliano, eso si, borrando toda huella del periodo árabe, de ahi que no se conserven mezquitas ni construcciones tipicamente árabes.
Durante esta época es la mayor auge de la piratería en el Mediterráneo. Malta aprovecha su situacion estrategica para hacerse valer, hay luchas por el poder entre los nobles. El cambio importante sucede en 1530 cuando llegan a Malta los caballeros Hospitalarios de San Juan de Jerusalen, los cuales despues de abandonar Acra, se establecieron en Chipre y luego en Rodas, donde fueron invadidos por los turcos otomanos. El emperador Carlos V les alquilo la isla de Malta a los caballeros por el precio de un halcón anual a pagar al virrey de Sicilia.
De esta forma Malta entró en el periodo mas glorioso de su historia. En 1565 tiene lugar el gran Asedio, por parte de los turcos, que son derrotados y paran la invasión otomana en Malta y en Italia. Malta es reconocida por las naciones europeas y se decide construir una nueva ciudad amurallada. Este es el origen de La Valletta.
Posteriormente, con los siglos, la Orden fue perdiendo prestigio y asi Malta es invadida por Napoleon. Luego es recuperada por los ingleses, que la incorporan a sus dominios. Asi hasta hace 40 años, que Malta obtuvo su independencia y asi en el 2004 entro a formar parte de la Union Europea.

 From almost any point that is watched, it is easy to see the sea in the Valletta, since to the being an extended peninsula has water by almost all parts, This propitious one that the vision that is had from so many sites is different. The Vista that there is from Barracca Gardens of the bay is impressive, like the extraordinary Triton source. Palaces, museums and auberges, old residences of the Horsemen, sprinkle the city, along with a reflected British touch of the 150 years of influence of the Empire in the island. Tearooms, pubs, old cars and bent windows are a memory of last times.

Desde casi cualquier punto que se mire, es facil ver el mar en La Valletta, ya que al ser una peninsula alargada tiene agua por casi todas partes, y muy cerca. Esto propicia que la vision que se tenga desde tantos sitios sea distinta.

La vista que hay desde Barracca Gardens de la bahía es impresionante, al igual que la descomunal fuente Triton. Palacios, museos y ¿auberges¿, antiguas residencias de los Caballeros, salpican la ciudad, donde no falta tampoco un cierto toque ¿british¿, reflejo del siglo y medio de influencia del Imperio en la isla. Salones de té, pubs, viejos coches y ventanas arqueadas son un recuerdo de tiempos pasados.

Valeta is the city of the palaces, but for the malteses when it is said "the Palazz" always talks about to the one of the Great Masters. Begun to construct by the Great Master Pietro de Monte, his successor Jean of the Cassiere finished it.

He occupies a complete block. And like the cathedral of San Juan, the palace reproduces in stone by its outside the form to be of its architect and designer Gerolamo Cassar, austere and dark. Its interior is another different affluent thing. In this sense continuous here with the Arab tradition, to adorn the interiors and the sober facades but the possible thing. The greatest patio is called patio of Neptune, with its splendid sculpture. The smaller patio called Prince Alfredo, in honor of of the children of queen Victoria, that visited Malta in 1858, nevertheless this patio but is known with the name of Clock Pinto, by the clock of 4 quadrants, precious, that indicates the hour, the day, the month and the phases of the moon. The hours give images them of enslaved bronze Moors who take hammers of blacksmiths. The noble plant, first, of this insigne building this rich adorned of paintings, valuable sculptures, armors, and objects, everything within a climate of good taste and serenity. This is what today we see, but in its day, before the sackings as much of Napoleón as of the English, they tell that but it was rich adorned. Even so it is a delight for the eyes, is a site that inevitably makes you back down in the time. To the time that of the horsemen, of the huge ideals and where the time it seemed that it went but slow. Anyway it is an essential visit in Malta of nowadays.

Valeta es la ciudad de los palacios, pero para los malteses cuando se dice “el Palazz” siempre se refiere al de los Grandes Maestres. Comenzado a construir por el Gran Maestre Pietro del Monte, lo acabo su sucesor Jean de la Cassiere. Ocupa una manzana completa. Y como la catedral de San Juan, el palacio reproduce en piedra por su exterior  la forma de ser de su arquitecto y diseñador  Gerolamo Cassar, austero y oscuro. Su interior es otra cosa bien distinta. En este sentido se continua aqui con la tradicion árabe, de adornar los interiores y las fachadas lo mas sobrias posibles. El patio mas grande se llama patio de Neptuno, con su esplendida escultura. El patio menor llamado Principe Alfredo, en honor de unos de los hijos de la reina Victoria, que visito Malta en 1858, sin embargo este patio es mas conocido con el nombre de Reloj de Pinto, por el magnifico reloj de 4 cuadrantes que señalan la hora, el dia, el mes y las fases de la luna. Las horas las dan imagenes de esclavos moros de bronce que llevan martillos de herreros.
 La planta noble, la primera, de este insigne edificio esta ricamente adornada de pinturas, esculturas, armaduras, y objetos valiosos, todo dentro de un clima de buen gusto y serenidad. Esto es lo que hoy vemos, pero en su dia, antes de los expolios tanto de Napoleon como de los ingleses, cuentan que estuvo mas ricamente adornado. Aun asi es una delicia para la vista, es un sitio que inevitablemente te hace retroceder en el tiempo. A la epoca aquella de los caballeros, de los ideales grandiosos y donde el tiempo parecia que iba mas lento. De cualquier forma es una visita imprescindible en la Malta de hoy dia.

Year 1573, the Great Master Jean of the Cassiere authorized the construction of a church for the order of  San Juan. The architect of Malta Girolano Cassar finished it in 1578. Cassar projected a severe and relatively simple facade, to visit which in principle does not seem that the pain is worth much. Nevertheless, it does not have anything to do with the rich interior. The great Masters embellished the cathedral, which in addition benefitted from the contributions that they had to make the new horsemen in the Order. Of there the wealth that is admired nowadays. Mattia Preti designed a interior in extremely luxurious form. It painted the life of  San Juan Baptist, santo pattern of the Order, directly in the stone of the ceiling. The ground this formed by 400 burial pieces pertaining to the aristocracy of Malta, adorned with military emblems, trophies, religious reasons and suitable symbols to one necrópolis (Numerous references to the death). Many see the cathedral like test of the interest of the Order of Malta by the art. The Cathedral was one of the first constructions in just erected Valletta. The great sculpture of Mazzuoli, that represents the baptism of Christ presides over prebisterio. The altar this made with lapizlázuli and other valuable marbles. The lateral chapels are granted to each one of the languages of the Order, and there the great masters are buried. As much the chapel of the Holy Sacraments as the candelabra of the greater altar are of silver, since this cathedral was the rich church but of Europe, before the sacking of Napoleon year 1798. In cripta two of the great personages of Malta are buried, the Vallette and of the Cassiere. During the month of June a set of flamenco carpets is exposed in the church, that the rest of the year are in the attached museum to the cathedral. Are carpets inspired by pictures of Rubens, Poussin and Preti. In oratorio a great picture of Caravaggio can be seen, the decapitation of San Juan Baptist, considered as the masterpiece of this great painter, and only work that signed. This church was turned Co-cathedral along with the one of Mdina, in 1816 and is without no sort of doubt one of  the beautiful churches that exists. What delays to verify it?.

El año 1573, el Gran Maestre Jean de la Cassiere autorizo la construccion de una iglesia para la orden de San Juan. La terminó en 1578 el arquitecto maltés Girolano Cassar.
    Cassar proyectó una fachada severa y relativamente sencilla, visitar la cual en principio no parece que valga mucho la pena. Sin embargo, no tiene nada que ver con el rico interior. Los grandes Maestres embellecieron la catedral., la cual ademas se beneficio de las aportaciones que tenian que hacer los nuevos caballeros en la Orden. De ahi la riqueza que se admira hoy dia. Mattia Preti diseñó un interior en forma sumamente lujosa. Pintó la vida de San Juan Bautista, santo patron de la Orden, directamente en la piedra del techo. El suelo esta formado por 400 piezas sepulcrales pertenecientes a la aristocracia de Malta, adornadas con emblemas, trofeos militares, motivos religiosos y simbolos adecuados a una necrópolis (Numerosas alusiones a la muerte). Muchos ven la catedral como prueba del interes de la Orden de Malta por el arte. La Catedral fue una de las primeras construcciones en la recien erigida Valletta.
La gran escultura de Mazzuoli, que representa el bautismo de Cristo preside el prebisterio. El altar esta realizado con lapizlázuli y otros marmoles valiosos. Las capillas laterales estan concedidas a cada una de las lenguas de la Orden, y ahi estan enterrados los grandes maestres. Tanto la capilla de los Santos Sacramentos como los candelabros del altar mayor son de plata, ya que esta catedral fue la iglesia mas rica de Europa, antes del saqueo de Napoleon el año 1798. En la cripta estan enterrados dos de los grandes personajes de Malta, La Vallette y de La Cassiere. Durante el mes de junio se expone en la iglesia un esplendido conjunto de tapices flamencos, que el resto del año estan en el museo adjunto a la catedral. Son tapices inspirados en cuadros de Rubens , Poussin y Preti.En el oratorio se puede ver un gran cuadro de Caravaggio, la decapitacion de San Juan Bautista, considerada como la obra maestra de este gran pintor, y unica obra que firmó. Esta iglesia fue convertida en co-catedral junto con la de Mdina, en el año 1816 y es sin ningun genero de dudas unas de la mas hermosas iglesias que existe. ¿Que esperas para comprobarlo?.

I arrived Malta by ship and called the people at the gate to call for a taxi. After waiting 15min a car without a meter showed up and we got inside before we agreed on the price. After 30seconds the taxidriver said that he wanted 45euro for going in to valletta. 15euros each and since we where 3people in the taxi 45euro should be an ok price (he meant). When we said that it was way to expensive he stopped the car in the middle of nowhere and said that if we dont want to pay the price he wanted we had to walk.. Being at least 4-5kilometers from anything we decided that we just had to pay the price this guy was offering. And the trip was about 20min..

So.. if you take a taxi in malta , negotiate on the price before getting in to the taxi. For 45euro you can rent a car for about 3days so this is really a much better way of transportation.

This is a street where the parties never stops. To start the evening you can buy 10shots of vodka for a good price(at least if you are used to prices of western europe)..

Dont really remember so much after that but its if you want to go to clubs and bars this is the place to be if you are in Malta

Una de las características que mas llama la atención al circular por las carreteras y calles de Malta son sus llamativos autobuses. Pintados de colores rojo y naranja no pueden pasar desapercibidos, lo que es muy útil para los usuarios, pero además la diversidad de modelos, sobre todos de hace muchos años, con sus cromados relucientes, con sus banderitas de adorno, son todo un espectáculo.

Independientemente de la curiosidad, el servicio funciona muy bien, hay muchas líneas, mucha frecuencia y no es caro. Los propios conductores son los propietarios de los autobuses, de ahí que se mantengan los mismos vehículos de tantos años, ya que como el amo cerca no hay nada. Es un detalle simpático mas de este pequeño gran país que es Malta.

 Soberana Orden de Malta
La Soberana Orden Militar y Hospitalaria de San Juan de Jerusalén, de Rodas y de Malta

Nace en Jerusalén alrededor del año 1050 (en pleno tiempo de las cruzadas) para proteger a los peregrinos a Tierra Santa. Como tal es una de las más antiguas órdenes religiosas. Se desarrolla como una entidad militar soberana en defensa de la cristiandad. Se establece en la isla de Rodas (Mediterráneo, cerca de Turquía). Es expulsada de Rodas por una invasión musulmana y se muda a la isla de Malta (centro del Mediterráneo) la cual le fue concedida por el emperador español Carlos I. Allí continuó su defensa de la cristiandad. Su hospital era el mejor del mundo, en el se decía :

"Cuando llegue un enfermo, llévenlo a la cama y como si fuese un caballero rico, denle lo mejor que la casa puede ofrecer"
-Estatutos de los caballeros hospitalarios de San Juan de Jerusalén (mas tarde conocidos como Caballeros de Malta)

. Las proezas de la pequeña flota de la Orden son legendarias. Napoleón invadió la isla en 1834 y la orden pierde la isla. Desde entonces la sede central de la Orden se estableció en Roma.

Siempre ha sido reconocida por las naciones como un ente independiente de Derecho Internacional. En la actualidad (2005), de acuerdo con el Derecho Internacional Público, la Orden mantiene relaciones diplomáticas plenas con 93 países a través de sus embajadas. Tiene el estatus de Observador Permanente ante las Naciones Unidas y la Comisión de la Unión Europea, y ante 16 organizaciones internacionales tales como la FAO y la UNESCO.

La misión de la Orden está definida en su lema «Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum», «la defensa de la Fe y el servicio a los pobres».
 

Construido en 1731, y siendo uno de los teatros en actividad más viejos de Europa, ha sido restaurado completamente volviendo a su antiguo esplendor. Por derecho propio, es un marco escénico magnífico. El teatro organiza visitas guiadas del auditorio, de las bambalinas y del museo del teatro.

Se inauguró en 1732 para una temporada de clásicos franceses. Hoy, ofrece un calendario completo que abarca desde la comedia hasta los clásicos, tanto en inglés como en maltés, y tanto por intérpretes y actores locales como internacionales. La Sala Isouard, un palacio contiguo que ahora es parte del teatro, también presenta eventos.

El Palacio del Gran Maestre es hoy sede del Parlamento. Para el público sólo está disponible la impresionante colección de armas. Desde 1604 las armas de la Orden de Malta se encuentran en este palacio. La armería original está ubicada, de todos modos, una planta más arriba, la sala de exposición actual era antiguamente un establo. Como la Orden de Malta estaba compuesta por caballeros de muy diferentes naciones, sus armas provienen también de diversos países . Asimismo se pueden ver armas, que los caballeros de la Orden pudieron quitar a sus enemigos vencidos, éstas provienen sobre todo del Imperio Otomano.

St John's Co-Cathedral is a unique monument of international importance. It owes its rich history and artistic heritage to the fact that for over 200 years it was the conventual church of the Order of the Knights of St. John. The Grand Masters and Knights donated gifts of high artistic value and made enormous contributions to enrich it with only the best works of art by leading artists available for them. As a result it is a most glorius and magnificent artistic expression of the High Baroque era.