Field trip to the Ta’ Qali glass blowing factories. This is a chance to compare glass products here and what we will see on next tour of Italy. The Veneto (Venice) area glass is mainly on the island of Murano. The glass of Mdina is probably unknown to most. What we see is beautiful. Am sure we wonder why didn’t we buy here? The Italian glass is also beautiful, but also more expensive.
http://www.islandstudies.ca/sites/vre2.upei.ca.islandstudies.ca/files/u2/MANUAL-MdinaGlass-Final.pdf
https://www.mdinaglass.com.mt/
We continue by bus to the ancient capital of Mdina. Sometimes known as the "silent city" for its unique hushed quality of quiet dignity, Mdina is a living museum with families still occupying its ancestral homes (mansions). There are only about 400 people who have homes yet within the fortress walls. The walking presentation in this medieval walled city includes visits to the bastions, city gates and the cathedral. Motor vehicle traffic is limited to residents. We have a chance though to ride in a horse-drawn carriage on the main streets.
Lunch is on our own, so we will sample one of the charming restaurants in Mdina. Carol & I walk a short distance down a “side street” and try Ciappetti’s. A small courtyard with big flavor in the food. A nice place to “get away” for a bit of time.
http://ciappetti.com/
There are many other nice restaurants within the few blocks of the Mdina Fortress, which resides within the confines of the city of Rabat.
http://www.maltarestaurants.com/restaurants_by_locality/mdina.htm
We spend the afternoon exploring Mdina on our own for a short time. Then we join our guide for a walk outside the city gates into nearby Rabat to visit 4th century Christian catacombs. Next, to the Grotto of St. Paul, where the apostle is believed to have lived for three months after his shipwreck on Malta.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mdina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Paul%27s_Cathedral,_Mdina
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Malta/Rabat-453864/Things_To_Do-Rabat-TG-C-1.html
Very nice “virtual reality" view of the catacombs using computer mouse and arrow keys.
http://heritagemalta.org/index.php/museums-sites/st-pauls-catacombs/
Photo 1. The Mdina Fortress is magnificent in the distance.
Photo 2. Our glass factory visit shows the skills of the local glass craftspeople.
Photo 3. This part of the catacombs was identified as where St. Paul spent some time. (-:
Click below for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/2013C2CDay8of28
