WELCOME

This blog is dedicated to Malta - my island home. My aim is not to bore you with history but to share my thoughts and a few facts together with a photo or two. For a more in -depth background of the island please go here. The purpose of this blog is not to point out the short-comings of the island. There are plenty that do that already. My wish is to show you the beauty of an island at the cross roads of the Mediterranean, a melting pot of history; a place where fact and fiction are sometimes fused to create unique myths and legends; a country that has been conquered so many times that our culture is a mish mesh of the lands that surround us and of lands far away. I confess that my greatest desire is to make you fall in love with this tiny enchanting island.

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Monday 22 April 2013

Snapshots of …Ta’ Bettina Tower (Bettina’s Tower)

Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (94)

On the way to an area of Delimara known as Xrobb l-Ghagin (best pronounced as shrobb lajin), an unpaved country lane forks off to the left. From the road, you can make out the top of Ta’ Bettina Tower. This tower was built in around 1740 by the Dorell family. Located on the grounds that belong to the tower is a chapel dedicated to St Paul’s Shipwreck. Both Ta’ Bettina tower and the chapel are privately owned and are inaccessible to the public.

Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (96)Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (97)

Can anybody say Rapunzel?

Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (98)

I was half expecting an evil old witch to walk out of the tiny, worn door.

Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (100)

But nobody appeared. Perhaps the handsome prince had already carried Rapunzel off.

Salib tal-Gholja, Delimara, Marsaxlokk (99)

Location: Ta’ Bettina Tower, Xrobb l-Ghagin, Delimara

P.S. If you climb up the pine tree situated to the right of this door, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the chapel. Unfortunately, both of my hands were occupied with grasping branches so I could not take a photo of it.

Tuesday 2 April 2013

Event Of The Month: Vanity, Profanity and Worship–Jewellery From the Maltese Islands

This exhibition, orgaanised by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, brings together over 500 pieces of jewellery loaned from private and church collections. Most of these pieces have rarely been seen in public. The exhibition will highlight the beliefs, customs and fashion of the people of these islands. Lectures and workshops around this theme will run throughout the exhibition.

In my opinion, a jewellery exhibition is one event which should not be missed.

Vanity, Profanity & Worship

Casino Maltese

Valletta

Open daily up to May 26, 2013

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am to 6pm

Friday until 9pm

For events at the St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity go here.

To see What’s On in Malta in April go here.

The Azure Window: the end of an icon

The Azure Window was a natural limestone arch that rose majestically out of the blue Mediterranean sea to a height of 28 metres (92 fee...