The expression "molto bene" means "very good" in Italian, and that is exactly how we would describe our weekend on the island of Malta, located south of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea. Welcome visitors to the island have been taken with the inhabitants' hospitality for millennia. The Apostle Paul, when shipwrecked on the island, found "the native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all" (Acts 28:2). Malta was also the home of Calypso, another famed hostess that kept Odysseus luxuriously fed and sheltered in Homer's Odyssey. Unwelcome visitors have been faced with strong walls of defense from successive ruling powerhouses from the ancient Romans to the medieval Knights of St. John to the British from whom they gained their independence in 1964.
The colorful history of Malta gave us plenty to explore during our visit, but we also made some time to relax, have some fun and sample the famous Maltese food and hospitality. In the next couple of days, I will be highlighting our favorite experiences. For now, I hope you enjoy some pictures of our weekend. Have a great Labor Day!
At a Valletta cafe, Christopher and Matt toast to a successful ferry ride and start to our vacation in Malta. Christopher's highlights include his first time at the beach, drinking a milkshake in a medieval Carmelite priory and regaling the dinner waitstaff with tale of his windy ride on the top of a double decker Malta bus.
The view of St. Julian's Bay from our balcony at the InterContinental Malta.
St. Paul's Bay is named because according to tradition, this is where Paul was shipwrecked on his way to Rome. He preached on Malta for a time in the city of Melita (now Rabat) and is honored with several churches and a cathedral on the island.
During World War II, a German bomb pierced the Rotunda of Mosta during evening mass. Miraculously, the bomb did not explode, saving the lives of almost 300 parishoners. Malta has the unfortunate distinction of being the most bombed country during the war.
1 comment:
So wonderful to catch a glimpse of your lives so far far away! Nicholas wanted to pray for "Chriffifer and Shanna" the other night. Can't wait to visit you all and Malta as well!!
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