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A Glimpse of Malta
Recently I’ve been collecting short clips from each country and creating vignettes to share my first hand experiences. They have been fun to put together and although I’m no Spielberg I’m hoping to make these more polished with each country see! I like the idea that the visual adds to the stories I’ve shared giving everyone a fuller picture of my time away. It’s a work in progress so be patient with me but I hope you enjoy it!
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Going Gaga for Gozo: How I was Captured by Calypso’s Island
“Her lady Calypso clung to him in her sea-hollowed caves, a nymph immortal and most beautiful, craved him for her own.” Think back to high school English class, pimpled faced at your desk rolling your eyes over having to read Homer’s The Odyssey, an epically long poem about an epic journey. You can thank Zeus himself for the tome because if it wasn’t for his persuasiveness, Odysseus would have probably hung out with Calypso for another seven years and the book would have never been written. Gozo the second smallest of the three Maltese islands is fabled to be Ogygia, the beautiful island Homer describes in the Odyssey, and like…
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Snapshot Sunday: Gone fishing, the salt pans of Gozo
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My Favorite Moments of 2014
2014, what a whirlwind! I had several one of a kind experiences this year and I think I spent a lot of time pinching myself making sure I wasn’t dreaming, exploring new places, meeting new friends and enjoying life has a way of seeming unreal. It has been a treat to go through TONS of photos of the past year and I’ve collected a few to share some of the stand outs. My day as a Maltese falconer By far and away one of my more favorite memories of this year. While in Malta I decided to take the Maltese Falcon story to the next level and go to the…
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BirguFest: Vittoriosa by Candlelight
For one weekend each year one of the oldest cities in Malta shuts off all of its lights and holds a festival that showcases the beauty of the medieval city in a wonderful glow of candlelight. Thousands of candles line the streets, rest on balconies and window sills as they guide your way through the town where vendors sell crafts, Maltese food is served and in the center square musicians and performers entertain the crowds into the evening. By the warmth of all the flickering candles it’s one of the more interesting ways I’ve explored a new city; mostly in darkness. Candles are placed on ledges, along the streets,…
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50 Shades of Blue: The love story of Malta and the Sea
“Ha, it’s like 50 shades of blue, get it?” he snorted laughing to himself he pointed to me as he snapped my picture and handed back my camera. I looked down to realize I have a blue shirt and blue shorts on in front of the clear blue sea and this poor guy is trying to make a joke. “Yep” I answered with a forced chuckled then a few minutes later while peering into the water I thought, “Damn it, he’s right, there’s blue everywhere you look.” The island is small so for a lover of the sea it is a perfect place to spend the late summer months, you…
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Ggantija: The UNESCO Site and My Colossal Rainstorm
I had arrived in Gozo the day before and was excited to have a week dedicated to relaxing and writing. The little island is a third of the size of small Malta and with it’s scenic ocean views, tiny villages and laid back attitude I was content to have a quiet days with some peace at the beach. I decided to spend the morning exploring Ggantija Temples, a UNESCO site and then rewarding my educational efforts with some beach time later in the day not realizing I would be needing my bathing suit while being soaked by rain water NOT by the refreshing waves of the Mediterranean.  Ggantija As…
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Snapshot Sunday: Sunday Stroll in Rabat, Malta
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My Maltese Falcon: A Day of Falconry
History of the Maltese Falcon Even though the book may have garnered more fame, the Maltese Falcon has a major place in the country’s history. In the early 1500’s the King of Spain gave the island to the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and because of that a yearly non monetary tax would be due to the King. The Knights then each year sent along a Peregrine Falcon, or a Maltese Falcon. The tradition of falconry itself goes even further with evidence dating back to 2,000 BC in Mesopotamia the use of hunting birds evolved into a sport for the wealthy nobles during Medieval Times. The…
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Sunday Fish Market in Marsaxlokk: Produce and Panties
To Market To Market Sundays in Malta, when tourists and locals alike come in droves from the bus stop on the hill, marching like ants down into the sleepy fishing village. Marsaxlokk is a small harbor town in the southeast of the island that becomes a busy destination when stalls pop up for fish, fruit and vegetable vendors to sell. Luzzu, traditional Maltese fishing boats float in the background a sea of bright blues, reds and yellows with the protective eyes of Osiris staring back at you. I bobbed through the foot traffic to get a glimpse at the different local fishes, fresh vegetables and quirky souvenirs that are available…