Harry Potter legos in the Milan airport
Dad posing with Lego Harry Potter in Milan
Bedroom of Island Residence Club, Malta
Guest bed in living room, Island Residence Club
Bathroom vanity, Island Residence Club
Kitchen, Island Residence Club
The edible contents (and the Caldecott Winner) of Mom's suitcase
View from the room - Start of Tuesday, March 5
View from the room
Ocean view from the resort
There's a tower in the distance over Golden Bay
Here's a closer view of Golden Bay and the tower
Allen and Dad waiting for the shuttle
Dad, laughing at my stupid antics with the camera
Cafe in front of St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valetta
Scene in front of St. John's Co-Cathedral
Front of St. John's Co-Cathedral
Looking left from the front of St. John's Co-Cathedral
In front of St. John's
More Valetta scenes in front of St. John's
Old buildings, colorful porches, and old shop signs
Clock tower of St. John's Co-Cathedral
Close-up of clocks at St. John's Co-Cathedral
“Toilet preparations”
Floor booth outside of St. John's
Holdovers from the British
Carving over the entrance of Saint John's
Colored marble inlay on tombs of the Knights of St. John in the Co-Cathedral
Marble tomb
Silver lamp hanging in Co-Cathedral
Alter at St. John's Co-Cathedral
Chapel of one of the branches of Knights of St. John's
Chapel
Chapels
Chapels in St. John's
View of chapel and ceiling decoration
Silver lamp hanging in front of the Chapel of the Langue of Provence
Angle of death with an hourglass
This angel on the monument to a Grand Master couldn't quite fit her trumpet
Statue of Justice on monument to one of the Grand Masters
Seal of a Grand Master
Seal of a Grand Master with pears
Helmet and shield symbolizing that a Grand Master is still a knight or warrior.
Cherub holding flying hourglass on marble tomb
Helmet on marble tomb
Skull on marble tomb
Angel of victory on monument to a Grand Master
Statues on monument of a Grand Master
From the window of the Co-Cathedral out onto Valetta
Statue in the courtyard of the Co-Cathedral - see the scull under the cross
Horse and carriage in Valetta
“Taxi stand”
Entrance to Grand Masters' Palace
Entrance to Neptune's courtyard at Grand Masters' Palace
Street sign on Grand Masters' Palace
Close-up of street sign in Maltese and English on Grand Masters' Palace
Two birds hanging outside a shop. The owner said, “They are not for sale. But I will give them to you!”
Building in Valetta
Another building in Valetta
I liked the muted colors of this sign.
“Stick no bills”
I liked the sign, but apparently this is a popular place to find Maltese silver filigree.
This little shop displayed its vegetables on the back of a car...
And on the front of the car too!
Laundry in the window
A freckled horse!
Lantern in Valetta
On the water's edge outside Valetta's walls
Looking out over the bay
A view of Vittoriosa and fort
Dad, Mom, and Allen descending towards the water
Vitorriosa across the bay
The beautiful Mediterranean water
Clear enough to see the rocks below
Dad and Mom on their way down
The calm bay
The far edge of Valetta
Waves and rock
Allen demonstrating use of the hand rail
Valetta and the bay
Allen and Lauren in Valetta
Straight down into the water
Sunlight on the water
Dad passing the fishing boats and huts
Fishing boats and huts in Valetta
Ships painted on the wall
Close up of a painted ship
Fishing hut with ladder
Fishing boats in Valetta
Fat Maltese cat
Fishing boats near the bay in Valetta
Lower Barrakka Gardens
Close up of temple in Lower Barrakka Gardens
“Somebody's watching you,” Allen said.
A very focused Maltese cat
Dad, pretending not to have been watching the cat right back
“Stop it!” Mom said.
Maltese cat and palm tree
Laundry in Valetta
Mirrors on the ceiling of Ambrosia
Wine bar at Ambrosia
Clock tower at Grand Masters' Palace
Close-up of clock in Grand Masters' Palace
Clock at Grand Masters' Palace
Seal of Malta in colored marble at Grand Masters' Palace
Grandfather clock in Grand Masters' Palace
Angelic harp in colored marble family seal at Grand Masters' Palace
Coat of arms of a Grand Master
Close-up of pears in coat of arms
Bird of paradise flower in Floriana
Bird of paradise in Floriana
Close-up of bird of paradise flower in Floriana
Close up of flowers in Floriana
Close up of flowers in Floriana garden
Old bus in Floriana
New and old buses in Malta
Bus in Floriana
Cactus in Botanical Gardens in Floriana
Botanical gardens in Floriana
Cactus tree in Botanical Gardens in Floriana
Pots of flowers from above
Malta public bus
Close-up of public bus in Malta
There are so many outdoor cats in Malta
Root structure in Botanical Gardens in Floriana
Two more outdoor cats in Botanical Gardens in Floriana - we counted over 15.
Setting out on a hike on Thursday - view of the hotel
Dirt road during hike, near hotel and Golden Bay
Traditional Maltese limestone wall and rusted trash can
Cactus growing over the wall
Wildflowers growing through the wall
Abandoned building on hike
Abandoned building and wildflowers
Abandoned shack and cacti
Limestone walls and structures
Looking down over farmland
Our hike was full of character
Looking down over Golden Bay
Cliffline above Golden Bay
Mom, Allen, and Dad contemplating the view
“Are you taking pictures so we will know how to get back to the hotel?” Mom said.
View from Ras il-Wahx (Horror Point) of Gozo
View from Ras il-Wahx (Horror Point)
Gozo, across the waves
Horror Point!
Flowers and blue waves at Horror Point
Dad, Allen, and Mom, standing safely back from the edge of Horror Point
Rocks of Horror Point, Gozo in the distance
Lichen-covered rocks on hike
Close-up of the lichen
Gozo and the far edge of Malta
Walled-in track leading towards Ghain Snuber Tower
View back of Horror Point
Looking back towards Horror Point
Tiny red flowers
Popeye Village
The 1980 set of Popeye, in Anchor Bay, Malta
The strange purple gingerbread house does look a little out of place
Close-up of Popeye Village buildings
View of Popeye Village and Anchor Bay
DUH-NUH......DUH-NUH.......DUH-NUH...DUH-NUH...DUH-NUH, DUH-NUH, DUH-NUH!
Oh, it's just a FAKE shark in the flowers
Rain barrel
We may have been lost at this point, but the farms were something to look at!
The Red Tower up above the farms
A farmer's garden
Use what you've got. Rusted out bathtubs next to a field.
Wooden gate to fields
Windmill
Windmill and shadow
Fields below our hiking trail
Mellieha Bay - we're almost to Ghadira!
View of Mellieha in the distance
Little did we know we'd decide to walk there.
Windmill and Mellieha Bay
Woah!
Pinecones
Allen, looking determined
This pen had - I kid you not - 15 cats inside and one sunning on top.
Ascending the hill into Mellieha
Dad and I had jogged part of the way up to Mellieha
I like how the doors actually do get shorter as it goes up the hill. This is not perspective in action.
Reddish church of Mellieha (thank you, guidebook)
An hour later, we're almost out of Mellieha
More fields
Fields and irrigation
Rusted things attract my camera
We had decided to walk from Ghadira (up) into Mellieha, then back to the hotel
It wasn't a short walk.
I made it longer by stopping for a lot of pictures. But look at the clouds!
The fields below - we walked next to the roads and feared for our lives
But the view was amazing, and the walk was easy.
Wildflowers next to the road
Closer view of wildflowers next to the road from Mellieha
Valley leading to Manikata, with aqueduct
Perfectly planned farms
The sun descending over the fields
It was blindingly bright
In the valley between Mellieha and Manikata
Red soil
Allen and Mom on the trail
Aqueduct in the valley
Aqueduct
Close-up of aqueduct in the valley between Mellieha and Manikata
Sun on the soil
Plough rows
Wildflowers growing over the limestone wall
Exotic flowers in Manikata
Back through the abandoned stone buildings
Lauren and Allyson on the trail
Does anyone have their room card?
Friday's day tour of Malta started at the glassblower
That only looks like a frightening flame in the left
Smoking and molding glass at the same time
Be happy, take away!
Palazzo Vilhena, Mdina
Slave carved into the wall of the Mdina cathedral's museum
Front of cathedral museum, Mdina
St. Paul's Cathedral bell tower, Mdina
Red accents in Mdina
Hourglass with bat wings, St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Angel in colored marble on the floor of St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Death stalking his prey
Dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Ceiling of St. Paul's Cathedral
Bored angel on tomb
This tomb had a completely different sketch-like style.
Saints and angel in marble
Close-up of entwined snakes on marble tomb
Close-up of dove and olive branch on marble tomb
St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Passage in Mdina
By the time we got to Mdina, it was clear it wasn't going to rain on Friday.
Saint on side of building, Mdina
Narrow road of Mdina
Look out from the walls of Mdina
Moving across the panorama of farms
View from the walls of Mdina
Buildings of Mdina
Protection of Mdina
Vine-covered wall, Mdina
Blue-shuttered house, Mdina
Bastion Square, Mdina
Very Mediterranean
Bastion Square street sign
Pottery shop on Bastion Square, Mdina
Building on Bastion Square, Mdina
The saints are apparently protected from the vines.
Looking down Triq Villegaignon, Mdina
Narrow alley in Mdina
Closer view of red doors down alley in Mdina
Bell tower
Bell tower in Mdina
Streets of Mdina
Saint Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
Saint Paul's Church, Rabat
Gold leaf in Saint Paul's Church, Rabat
Dome of Saint Paul's Church, Rabat
Machine cuts in limestone quarry wall
Waterfall in limestone quarry
Waterfall down limestone quarry wall
Machine cuts in limestone quarry
Close-up of limestone quarry wall
Replica of old Maltese dwelling
Can you guess what this is? It's a limestone CAT DOOR.
Peahens at Limestone Heritage Museum
This peahen was loose for some reason!
I followed the peahen at a distance, remembering a traumatic moment from when I was three.
Close up of penned peahen - I was still a little nervous though.
Pheasant
Bunch of delicious-looking lemons at Limestone Heritage Museum
So when I was three, we went to Busch Gardens.
A peacock wanted my box of Cheerios.
Goat, scratching his ear
That old peacock at Busch Gardens scared the bejeezus out of me with an unearthly scream.
Rooster at Limestone Heritage Museum
Two roosters, Limestone Heritage Museum
Despite my childhood trauma, I couldn't help but try to get closer to this magnificent peacock.
Peacock under the lemon trees
Why this peacock was also loose I do not know.
Peacock in the lemon grove
Close-up of peacock
Peacock and his fancy tail
Close-up of peacock's tail feathers
Peacock from behind
That tail went on and on.
Blue Grotto, Dingli Cliffs
Blue Grotto
The sea was rough, so boats weren't running.
Cacti and Blue Grotto
Blue Grotto and the open sea
Choppy sea near the Blue Grotto
Mediterranean near Blue Grotto
The guide went on at length about how that rock formation looks like an elephant's foot.
Elephant's foot?
Dingli cliffs
Reeds near Blue Grotto
Waves crashing at Blue Grotto
Allen near the Blue Grotto
Cactus and the Med
Church of Our Lady of Pompeii, Marsaxlokk
Maltese pastries at Marsaxlokk
The beginning of a long series of boat pictures at Marsaxlokk
This was the last stop on Friday's Malta tour.
I liked this squid panting on the boat.
Lauren and Allen at Marsaxlokk
Old building on harbor at Marsaxlokk
Phew, back to the boats
This eye protects the boats
Rowboats at Marsaxlokk
Dad and Allen lamenting the super cheap lunch menu (we'd already eaten)
Our Lady of Pompeii across Marsaxlokk Harbor
Maltese fishing boat at Marsaxlokk
Our Lady of Pompeii
Mdina from below
We did make this last stop on Friday to take pictures of Mdina from below.
Mdina silhouetted against the sky
The perfect ending to a day of touring
On the cover of every guidebook is Marsaxlokk!
The Golden Sands Resort in Malta, Saturday morning
Golden Sands, Malta
Flowers in front of the hotel
Mom and Dad on the bus
The bus towards Mosta
Out the back of the bus to Mosta (looking over Golden Bay)
The front of the bus
Front of the bus, complete with protective pictures of saints
Very modern technology
Suit of armor at Palazzo Paradisio
Suit of armor, Palazzo Paradisio
Marble floor at Palazzo Paradisio
Church in Naxxar
Window detail at Palazzo Paradisio
Ballroom, Palazzo Paradisio
Reflection of chandeliers, Ballroom, Palazzo Paradisio
Paneled ceiling, Red Room, Palazzo Paradisio
Red Room, Palazzo Paradisio
Dining room, Palazzo Paradisio
Child's room, Palazzo Paradisio
Bedroom, Palazzo Paradisio
Close-up of Maltese lace bedspread, Palazzo Paradisio
Detail of mosaic floor, Bedroom, Palazzo Paradisio
Stucco fringe in study, Palazzo Paradisio
Detail of floor mosaic, Ladies' Music Room, Palazzo Paradisio
Painted ceiling in Game Room, Palazzo Paradisio
Gardens at Palazzo Paradisio, from terrace
Details at Palazzo Paradisio
Entrance Hall ceiling, Palazzo Paradisio
Greenhouse, Palazzo Paradisio gardens
Statue in Greenhouse, Palazzo Paradisio
Orange trees in gardens of Palazzo Paradisio
Orange tree in gardens of Palazzo Paradisio
Gardens, Palazzo Paradisio
Looking back towards Palazzo Paradisio
Gardens of Palazzo Paradisio
Garden wall, Palazzo Paradisio
Another Maltese cat, hidden in a tree, Palazzo Paradisio gardens
Mosta Dome
Saint at Mosta Dome
Front of Mosta Dome
Inside Mosta Dome
Ceiling of Mosta Dome
Allyson with Flat Stanley, firing a cannon, Mosta, Malta
Beer and saints? Mosta, Malta
Saint on the corner, Mosta, Malta
Looking out over Mosta
Overcast sky in Mdina
One last look over Golden Bay
Uh oh! Not back in Paris yet, but in a hotel in Milan
This cracked me up...the hotel did this.
We started our Malta pictures with Harry, and we'll end with Hagrid.
I wish I had made Hagrid out of Legos.
