Monday 7th September - Valletta We went on a Cruise supported trip today to Mdina, Mosta and to a handcraft village. We started off in the bus and Olivia was our guide and ended up as a very knowledgable young lady. Malta is over 3000 years old as far as written language goes but dates back to 2000BC when it was first settled. It seems that it has been settled and then conquered by almost everyone except the Germans during the 2nd World War. Malta has a very co...

Monday 7th September - Back at the Ship We had lunch and then headed for the town of Valletta right above the port. There is a lift that takes you up 260 feet but we didn't get to experience it as the taxi driver who tried to sell us a tour of the island told us that the town was closed from 12.00 till 4.00pm and that nothing was open. Back we went and stopped and whilst the ladies had coffee the boys had a local beer. Nothing for it but to head back to o...

Monday 7th September - Craft Village We went off to have a look at a craft village that has been set up in the Quonset huts left over by the British after the Second World War On the way we learnt that Malta has 420,000 people and the island is 290 square kms. The Phoenicians have had the biggest influence on the peoples of the island and the Maltese language is largely developed from the Phoenician language. Even today Maltese can understand the Syrian p...

Monday 7th September - Mdina We were taken for a walking tour of the old town of Mdina. The streets were only 3 abreast in places and others wide enough to take a bread van. The Cathedral was built on the remains of a Norman in the 13th century and was destroyed in a huge earthquake in 1693. It was rebuilt and finished and consecrated in 1703. The Cathedrals ceiling is covered with frescos and with a painting depicting the life of St. Paul, who is the pat...