You are probably reading this because sometime in your life you learned to read by using phonics. Before that though, learned about the Alphabet. You know, that A-B-C stuff early in your life. So what does this have to do with this adventure? A lot. It all started thousands of years ago, by some folks known as Phoenicians.
Where did they come from? The Levant area, where Lebanon and Syria are these days.
The Phoenicians were known as great sailors. To be a good sailor, you need great boats. At some time in the past, they were the best. Sailing to many places others had never be able to do, except maybe by land after a long overland trek.
Those Phoenicians, crafty folks. Great business folks of their time. Of course, I am getting ahead of our adventure. Actually, two adventures. First, two weeks in Malta. Then a short break until starting another two week tour of Italy to cities known for their art classics; Rome, Florence (Firenze), and Venice (Venezia).
If interested in more information about the Phoenicians, check this link out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenician_alphabet
The “story” goes, as I heard it, the Phoenicians wanted to control the waterways from the Mediterranean through the Adriatic Seas. Malta, a small island happens to be strategically located between Europe and Africa which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. But, that’s another story.
My intent is to try to use the “Alphabet” the best I can to guide each day of the tours.
Today, we start at the beginning, with the letter; A. Seems like best I can remember, we associated the letter A with word and object – apple. Since we have gone way beyond that and more appropriately, am thinking; architecture and archeology. More so – A for anticipation. What will we see? Do? Eat? Meet?
Or... A for Art? How about Artemisia Gentileschi (July 8, 1593 – c. 1656) was an Italian Baroque painter, today considered one of the most accomplished painters in the generation after Caravaggio. In an era when female painters were not easily accepted by the artistic community or patrons, she was the first female painter to become a member of the Accademia di Arte del Disegno in Florence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemisia_Gentileschi
To help out, I’ll paraphrase some of the material provided by Road Scholar.
“The tale of 7,000 years of human history is told in the honey-colored limestone of Malta, fashioned into architecture dating from prehistory through the Bronze Age and into Roman, medieval, Norman, Baroque and British colonial times. Examine World Heritage monuments, the world's oldest free-standing buildings, palaces of noblemen and knights, and modern war rooms on a journey from incredible past to vibrant present. Lingering echoes of the days of British occupation keep this delightful destination comfortably foreign but easy to navigate, with signs and newspapers in English. The abundant use of Malta as a location for the filming of major motion pictures also make many parts of it seem somehow familiar. Myths and legends of the distant past rise from the pavements to enhance a full course of lectures by various experts in their fields.”
“Lectures address the Maltese language, the cultures of Malta’s prehistory and the sophisticated temples they constructed in almost complete isolation. Learn about the painter Caravaggio and his captivity in Malta, the island’s strategic role in World War II, its religious landscape and the Maltese economy. Historians put the British colonization of Malta into perspective with that of other colonies and you visit the capital city of Valletta to learn the history of this baroque jewel, including the Hospitalier Order of St. John that transformed Malta into its impregnable headquarters, the siege of 1565 and the lifestyles of ordinary folk during the time of the knights. Ferry to the island of Gozo to visit the oldest freestanding buildings on earth and the walled hilltop citadel. A curator takes you into the underground Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum, a world wonder reopened to the public after a decade of preservation initiatives.”
Photo 1. I look at my watch. The taxi to take us to the airport is 2 minutes late. Maybe I need to check...? Worry? Worry? Worry?
Photo 2. A minute later, the cab shows up – all is OK? Maybe?
Photo 3. Our driver is from Africa. He has friends who have migrated to the area of Malta and Italy. He prefers the US though having found a job a bit faster to support his family. (-:
Click below for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay1of28
An alternate web link to simplify your journey with us, use this one for mobile devices:
http://2013-c2c-adventure.blogspot.com/?m=1
