Saturday, May 1, 2010

Valletta Malta and days at sea...trying to savor the moment

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 – At Sea
Up and worked, took a nap in the sun, played croquet and chipped golf to win some dollars, lunch with friends, working most of the day, hosting the cocktail party with the Captain, Hotel Manager, Beverage Manager, Hostess, Future Cruise Consultant…we were there over four hours!!! So we ate at 8:00PM/late dining at a table for 2 (which was very nice). We were seated near a couple from Oregon who have a llama ranch – oh, the things I now know about llama ranching. I would love to go to a show to see them graded (just like a dog show). Did you know their fur is called fiber and not wool, as the sheep farmers objected to them claiming it was “wool”?

“Every generalization is dangerous, especially this one.” – Mark Twain

Thursday, April 29, 2010 – VALLETTA, Malta – Brass Band send off and 8-cannon salute!
Incredible day with memories from our past trip – great weather!

Up early for a 7:00 sail in – one of the most beautiful and surreal arrivals you will ever experience. The sunlight was reflecting off of the old city walls – magical! Medieval walls surround the ship as you sail between two forts and the high city walls.

Malta is in the Mediterranean, only 60 miles west of Sicily and offers much variety for its size. We toured the old city and took the hop on-hop off bus around the northern part of the island. One round trip is three hours, if that gives you an idea of the size. Mdina, St. Paul’s Bay, Golden Bay, Rabat, Mosta, Sliema,, Floriana, Hagar Qim, Marsaxlokk Bay, Marsa, Tarxien and Dragonara were some of the sites we re-lived from the top deck of the double-decker bus. It was perfect weather for the open-air bus – breezy, sunny and I felt like we were in one of those advertisements showing the perfect weather for touring: “Come Join Us”!

Valletta is the capital city of Malta and a World Heritage site. It is nothing short of an open-air museum and a living experience of Baroque architecture, a monument donated by the Knights of St John nearly five centuries ago. Started in 1566, Valletta was completed, with its impressive bastions, forts and cathedral, in the astonishingly short time of 15 years. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta and has a population of 6,300.

The Maltese Cross is the symbol of the Knights Hospitaller. The cross is eight-pointed, having the form of the four “V” shared arms joined together at their tips, so that each arm has two points. Its design is based on crosses used since the First Crusade. The points of the cross are said to symbolize: loyalty, piety, frankness, bravery, glory and honor, contempt of death, helpfulness towards the poor and sick and respect for the church.

Malta is thought to have been inhabited since 5700 BC and was colonized by the Phoenicians in 1000 BC. Then the islands went in turn to the Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans and the Spanish, who handed them over to the Knights of the Order of St. John in a "perpetual lease" in 1533. This lasted until Napoleon seized control in 1798. The Maltese did not like the French, rebelled and received aid from Great Britain and became a British protectorate in 1900. Then became a part of the British Empire in 1814, then rebelled against the British in 1964 and was granted independence. In 1974 it become a republic under the British Commonwealth.

The Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (to give their full name) formed long before their reign on Malta. The Order was originally established in 1085 as a community of monks responsible for looking after the sick at the Hospital of St. John in Jerusalem. They later became a military order, defending crusader territory in the Holy Lands and safeguarding the perilous route taken by medieval pilgrims. They were members of noble families; they came to Malta in 1530. They stayed here for 268 years transforming what they called “merely a rock of soft sandstone” into a flourishing island with mighty defenses. The Order of Malta has ambassadors or diplomatic representatives in more than 80 nations and enjoys Permanent Observer status at the UN General Assembly.

Onboard, the Paul Curmi Folkore Dancers presented “Ghonnella and the Peasant Show” but we were busy working on the internet in the departure hall. UNTIL THEY TURNED OFF THE COMPUTER IN THE SHOP – when all internet connections were disconnected but we found the Hard Rock Bar with WIFI near the ship.

For our 4:30 all aboard time, we had a Brass Band send off! And then as we passed the Upper Barracca Gardens, soldiers form-up under the arches of the battery for inspection and march to the cannons. They loaded the guns according to their traditional drill ceremony that dates back to the late 19th century and fired an eight- cannon salute in five second intervals as we sailed past!! Oh wow! In the afternoon sun, we sailed out between the old city walls -- very special moment.

For dinner, the La Fontaine restaurant was decorated with medieval brick wallpaper, the waiters and staff were in full costume as knights (I am constantly amazed at the time the crew spend in decorating and wearing period costumes for our evenings!). The menu had a nice selection of Maltese entrees also.

“All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.” - Plutarch

Friday, April 30, 2010 – In the Mediterranean Sea
Queen’s Day – Celebrating the official birthday of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Wear orange! The translation of the royal family is House of Orange.

Attended several “dollar” events – bean bag toss, croquet, golf, football toss…hard to describe these events but suffice it to say they are silly and fun and a great way to meet others and win money for a Holland America t-shirt or sweatshirt. I can only imagine the activities and games played on the trans-Atlantic voyages in the past.

Lunch with friends, Dutch formal tea at 3:00 – wonderful way to try their specialties and enjoy a few moments with friends, nap in the sun on the top deck… I have to admit that only in the last few days have I taken time to look out to sea and enjoy the moment. The cruise has been busy and fun and you think it will last forever…then you realize you will be home in two weeks making dinner!

Formal attire for dinner and then Katzenjammer played – 4 Hands/1 Piano. We saw them last year and enjoyed them so much I bought their DVD this year.
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” - Samuel Johnson

“Having fun is not a diversion from a successful life; it is the pathway to it.” - Martha Beck

Saturday, May 1, 2010 – At Sea on the way to Spain
Our first breakfast in the dining room (think we prefer room service), lunch with friends, bocce ball, bean bag toss, and making a paper airplane to see who can throw it the farthest and attended a Culinary Arts presentation of crepes suzette with Andrew Shoots.

Options for the day:
“God Squad”: We have a Priest, Chaplain and Rabbi onboard and there was an interfaith dialog.
Speaker: Phoenicians: Merchant Explorers
Guest Chef: Andrew Shoots –who will be starring on the TLC Series “Chocolate Wars” on May 12; he re-opened the Russian Tea Room in NY as the Executive Pastry Chef created the E. Guittard brand of chocolates.

Jaz Danion, a French entertainer was a juggler and comedian.

“Pick the day. Enjoy it – to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come…The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present – and I don’t want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future.” - Audrey Hepburn