The first part of the morning field trip is to visit Marsaxlokk Fishing & Craft Village. We could see the boats in the bay, but fishermen were scarce. After reading the first article below, found that they fish late at night, then transfer the catch to local markets in Valetta before the restaurants open. Nice place for photos of which there are many on the second link.
http://www.101malta.com/en/home/articles/195/marsaxlokk-fish-market.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g190323-d546185-r125715465-Marsaxlokk_Bay-Marsaxlokk_Island_of_Malta.html
The morning is with staggered departure times for visits to the Hypogeum. Since our tour group has 39 people, we go as 4 separate groups of 10. I am with the first part of our group. Only 80 visitors a day are allowed to prevent issues with carbon dioxide and foot traffic from deteriorating what remains of the 5,000+ year old structure. For me, a highlight I that I looked forward to for many years. I had heard a recording made in the acoustic chambers some 20+ years ago, by Jennifer Berezan. The sound was eerily haunting.
http://creation-designs.com/gracemillennium/winter00/html/berezan.htm
Linda, the head of the OSF group that coordinates the tour for Road Scholar was along make prep for a future seminar involving an acoustical investigation symposium. “Sounds” interesting – no pun intended.
http://www.otsf.org/conference.htm
After 10 years of conservation initiatives in cooperation with UNESCO, the underground Hal-Saflieni Hypogeum reopened to the public in late 2000. Entrance to this eighth world wonder of the Maltese Temple Period is restricted to ten persons per hour and must be pre-arranged. In small groups, Road Scholar participants will transfer by mini-van to visit this prehistoric site, guided by a museum curator, and return to hotel. Walkway with railing provided. Steps required to enter and exit underground chambers. I imagine a bit claustrophobic to some. There were many restrictions to enter. No photo equipment. I was lucky enough to come across website of a doctor from US that was able to provide some support during the improvements for visitor use.
From the outside, looks like a business building in a residential neighborhood. Once inside, you walk down a stairway and the thrill begins. Here is a link with some photos made during the period prior to reopening to visitors.
http://www.jimdiamondmd.com/MaltaTemples.htm
Il Gabbana bistro bar café. This place got to be one of our favoraites because of both food and location to the water. The “beach” has no sand, only the sndstone surface that makes walking on seem odd. Maybe because so many have decided to capture elements of their “true love” with names and initials in the easily carved surface.
http://www.maltacovered.com/place/il-gabbana/?doing_wp_cron=1386122793.8076729774475097656250
We return after lunch for Lecture: The Maltese Economy: Its Strengths and Vulnerability - The interaction of geographical and economic conditions, production, spatial distribution and wealth consumption of Malta as a small state in the central Mediterranean, will be viewed particularly in relation to its strengths and vulnerability as an island.
We have a snack break, then another lecture: The Three Monotheistic Religions of the Mediterranean - An overview of the socio-religious context of the Middle East and Mediterranean region with regard to the great faiths of the people of the book: Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Return by coach to the city of Valletta and visit the Grand Master's Palace. On-site Lecture: The Hospitaller Order of St. John and the Siege of 1565 - The advent of the Order in Malta led to a radical transformation in the role of the island from an ill-defended barren island to the impregnable headquarters of the crusading order. Their initial establishment was in the port of Birgu in the "Three Cities" area, headquarters of the Siege of 1565, after which the city was named Vittoriosa (The victorious.)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/globalconnections/mideast/themes/religion/
Do you know the way to...?
Photo 1. Just follow the signs I hear.
Photo 2. Maybe the next round-about should get me in the right direction.
Photo 3. Finally, we arrive @ Marsaxlokk Fishing Village (-:
Click below for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay6of28
