A little more about Malta

Malta has three major types of tourist attractions - prehistoric sites, 16th century buildings and fortifications, and World War II.

Above is a picture of Hagar Qim, one of the largest monuments. It's on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean - a perfect lookout spot.

A good tour will take you to most of the major sites, but you can easily visit on your own, using the island's extensive bus system (or taxis, for some more remote places.)

Through the gate behind the kitties is a very long staircase leading to the Lascaris War Rooms, located deep in the thick 16th century walls of the Grand Harbor. During the WWII these rooms were the nerve center for British and Maltese resistance to Axis bombing. If you go, be prepared for steps - many steps.

After the war the island and its people were presented the George Cross, for collective bravery and sheer grit in the face of famine and bombs.

More about Malta here.

Malta

Since this blog started as a place to talk about travel, I should follow up on that first post, from last year. I did indeed go on a tour to Malta, and Sicily, and Italy.

I came to Malta a few days early (when you live on the west coast of North America, a trip to Europe brings on major jet lag.)

It's a fascinating small country, consisting of two large islands - Malta and Gozo - and five smaller ones. Located more or less in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta has been explored, invaded or colonized by almost everyone - Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, the Knights of St. John, the Ottomans and the British. After 150 years of British rule, the islands became independent in the 1960's. English is still one of two official languages. The other, Maltese, sounds a bit like Arabic mixed with Italian and English, and features an amazing number of words spelled with "x" or "xx."

The picture is a closeup of a Maltese fishing boat, painted in traditional colors. The eye design, painted or carved on each side of the bow of these boats, is a good-luck symbol.