Did I pass the traveling gene onto my children? Did my childhood dreams of seeing the world wake up in them? Or do they love to travel as much as I do because my husband and I have taken them with us 99 percent of the time? Realistically, it is probably a bit of both. Whatever gave them the pleasure of traveling, one thing is certain, I happy that we travel well together. It wouldn't be the same if we traveled at different speeds, or with different goals. We are a laid back bunch, a go out and "feel" a new place rather than "do" it. To be honest I must say I have to "taste" a place too. They do not object to that either.
With that said sometimes you cannot feel or do or taste one place enough. Malta is one of those kind of places.
Fortunately, we live by a port town where many a cruise ship pass through. That is also to say that if we have the time, and if the price of the fare is within our range we can hop on. This Chirstmas the fare was more than reasonable, and being French, holidays are a given within schools and work. We decided Christmas on a cruise would be our Christmas gift to one another.
It was the first time that we ventured anywhere without our laptops attached to our hip. I know this is going to sound odd, especially someone like me who loves old things… but we felt we were leaving a part of ourselves behind. As Chelsea said, "It feels we are leaving family behind." And that is coming from someone reasonable, who rarely exaggerates, and not from dramatic me.
(Photo of a square in The Three Cities in Malta)
A cruise offers several different tours at each of the ports it stops. Since we had been to most of the places the cruise was docking at we decided to wing it. In Naples we walked to the city's center feasting our five senses full. In Malta we wanted to venture farther than our feet could carry us.
In Malta we found a wonderful taxi driver, 155 Henri, to take us around. If ever you are in Malta call for a taxi and ask for Henri 155 to meet you. He made me laugh because he would stop the taxi whenever I said, "Photo-op", even if it was in the middle of the street. It is a wonder… really it is… given the beautiful squares, streets, architecture, views that are two inches apart… and we stopped every two inches… that we made it to the Mdina at all. I loved that Henri spoke English, knew everyone and took us around carefree, without racing time.
Sacha standing at a lookout point over Malta in the "Silent City" , or known as the Mdina.
The history of Mdina is more than 4000 years. It is said that in 60 AD Apostle St. Paul lived near the Mdina after being shipwrecked on the Maltese Islands.
I beleve Saint Paul was truly heading for Malta and said his ship wrecked there just for the heck of it. I can only imagine how beautiful it must have been.
Walking along the narrow streets I could not help traces my hands, or I should say "hold hands" with those stones.
The walls did talk, even if they call it the Silent City.
How could they not?
The wooden peg had turned to stone though not silent.
Living history like this speaks in ways that hearing it cannot… feeling is believing.
Mdina is atmospheric, especially at night when the streets are lamp lit. Also the narrow streets do not allow cars, hence Henri dropped us off at the main "door". We walked admiring the medieval and baroque architecture.
"The Mdina is home to many descendants of the Norman, Sicilian and Spanish overlords who made Mdina their home from the 12th century onwards." Visit Malta.
Chelsea strikes a pose.
Horse drawn carts toll around the narrow streets.
I so wanted to put that facade crown in my pocket. Have you ever wonder why it cannot be so? What I mean is I often wonder why my house doesn't have a facade like that. Most likely the people who live behind that facade probably don't notice that crown anymore. And I on the other hand would kiss it everyday. I suppose that is the unfairness of life… wanting a crown or a beautiful stone castle for a house, and those needing food and shelter… well God is probably shaking his/her head at me as I write. I have a lot to learn.
More about our time in Malta tomorrow… because we just arrived home and you know how that is. Plus Chelsea leaves in a few days time for Mexico City… Maybe I should have stayed home and prayed that my travel gene stayed with me.
God is shaking a finger at me, "Your prayers honestly… are they for real.. or are you just chatting again?"
P.S.
Did you see the Maltese Falcon?
Whose head did the Maltese falcon land on: Sacha's or French Husband's?
Leave a Reply