Malta is coming into its own in the food and wine scene. Although pasta is a mainstay, there are plenty of original Maltese foods that play a big role in the culture. Pastizzi is a flaky pastry stuffed with ricotta cheese or mushy peas. Imqaret is a date filled pastry fried to a crispy bronze. Timpana is baked macaroni in a flaky pastry. Bigilla is a tic bean paste. Maltese bread is a rustic, crusty loaf. Gozo is known for…
Malta is 98% Roman Catholic and these are serious Catholics. There are over 360 churches on the islands, one for every 1,000 residents. Every village has a patron saint and they celebrate their saints with festivals that rival one another with processions, fireworks, the lot. Most residences will not have a numerical address, but will use the name of a saint to identify it. Uniquely Maltese are the prolific religious icons displayed on street corners and along the walls of…
Despite the fact that Malta is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, there is still rural countryside. The west coast takes a beating from wind and surf and is predominately rocky cliffs, while the east side has a more gentle coastline and beaches. The Blue Grotto is famous among scuba divers and visitors who wish to experience its azure waters up close. This tiny country boasts 7 UNESCO world heritage sites including the City of Valletta,…
Mdina was once the capital of Malta with its commanding views from a hilltop in the center of the island. It is surrounded by well-preserved stone walls and its former moat is now a strip of green parkland. The winding narrow streets were designed to keep an arrow shot from going very far. Today vehicular traffic is limited to residents only and so it is known as the Silent City. Mdina is also famed for is glass-making and lace weaving. Probably…
Gozo is the country cousin to Malta. The island is only 4 by 8 miles and has a more rural feel to it. A 25 minute car ferry is the only way to access the island. We overheard a tour guide say “If Malta is 98% Catholic, Gozo is 200% Catholic.” It has 46 churches to its population of 31,000. One of the churches can hold 3,000 people, the entire population of its town. We visited Gozo on two occasions. …
Birgu, Bormla and Isla are located on peninsulas jutting into Grand Harbour. They were targeted during WWII because the shipyards are located here. A well-protected finger harbour between Birgu and Isla is home to many graceful yachts today.
This collection of photos depicts places near Valletta.
Given my feeling that Malta is fantastically photogenic (alright, so I have some bias in this regard), I am splitting my photos into a lot of categories. At least this way there is not so much to bite off and chew at any one time. Plus it allows the viewer to stick to subjects of interest. Three small but significant gardens are found atop the walls of Valletta. These “barrakkas” offer stellar views and a respite from busy city life. …
The Alps are a region that offers the best of so many good things Switzerland has to offer.
With France virtually surrounding Geneva it’s hard to avoid. Not far is Burgundy’s wine country and as well as two exceptional towns, Annecy and Yvoire.