Day 5 of 28 Malta - Wednesday Oct 23, 2013

E is for energy.  The Maltese people show it in much they do.  Whether preparing goods for market or excavating part of the soft rock that makes up the island for use in construction projects.

The morning field trip is to the city of Valetta.  We see the Grand Harbor and sights: St. James Cavalier, Upper Barrakka Gardens and the Grand Master of the Knight of St. John the Baptist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_James_Cavalier

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Barrakka_Gardens

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g190328-Activities-Valletta_Island_of_Malta.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_Hospitaller

Here is a group photo we took today.

https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013RSMaltaAlbum112113#5959092830270383314

Lunch was on our own.  We selected a nearby place, Caffe Cordina, that has been there for over 175 years. Yummy food.  Great atmosphere.

http://www.caffecordina.com/EN.About_Caffe_Cordina.aspx

Afternoons visits were to St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Archeology Museum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John's_Co-Cathedral

St. John’s has two Caravaggio paintings that have an interesting story.  We get to see more Caravaggio paintings in two weeks when we visit Italy on our next tour.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beheading_of_Saint_John_the_Baptist_(Caravaggio)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Archaeology,_Malta

http://www.visitmalta.com/en/archaeological-sites

I know – TMI – Too Much Info.

Not really though, since we were prepared that we would have much to visit and learn about.  Even with all the walking we had to do, most were able to do so knowing these were – a trip of a lifetime (-:

We finish the day back at the hotel for a lecture: Maltese Music and Musical Instruments.

http://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/2571-2/

While at this website – give a glance at this link on Maltese surnames.




http://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/vassallo/the-origin-of-the-maltese-surnames/

These few photos shows some of the energy of the Maltese people.

Photo 1.  Getting ready for today’s local market.

Photo 2.  Shows excavating stone blocks in an area near the Grand Harbor.  The blocks are used in many building projects as they have for over a thousand years.

Photo 3.  That is about a 150 foot drop that was excavated.  The blocks were used to rebuild fortress walls that were damaged during the bombings of WWII.

Click below for today's online photo album.

https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay5of28