A place where no cars go

Trip Start May 01, 2007
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21
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Trip End Ongoing


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Saturday, June 2, 2007

On this Saturday we decided to visit Mdina, right in the centre of Malta. Mdina is the old capital of Malta, and the first of the fortified cities. I found Mdina like some place out of myth - a fortified city on a hill with a surrounding ditch, a large gate, and extremely narrow streets. The spectacular St Paul's Cathedral is the centrepiece. The saying is in Mdina that one can only see as far as one can shoot an arrow. We had a nice stroll around the quiet narrow streets of Mdina, identifying places, buildings, and monuments as we went. The view from the east wall of Mdina back over Malta is stunning, and I got a good feel for the actual size Malta. As small as it is!

I had a look inside St Paul's Cathedral, and was stunned. St Paul's has a much nicer, less morbid feel to it than St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, particurlarly due to the blue in the painted dome ceilings 01 - Inside St Agatha's Chapel
01 - Inside St Agatha's Chapel
 . I also learnt a bit about St Agatha whilst in Mdina, and took a peek inside her chapel. Inside contained a disturbing painting of her.

It was a good little day trip to Mdina and I really enjoyed exploring the streets of an entirely pedestrianised, fortified city. The views were ace also!

That afternoon we headed back to Valletta for a bit more of a wander around. We headed 'up' to Upper Barakka Gardens to take in what has become one of my favorite sites ever over Grand Harbour and Fort St Angelo. It is just a stunning a view. Afterwards we headed for a restaurant, more specifically ravioli. We found a place which had in the menu 'Nanna's Home Made Ravioli'. Bingo! That was exactly what I was hoping for, and it was the best plate of ravioli ever!! My mouth water just thinking about it!

Later on, I was dying to have a rum and coke at 'The Pub'. This is the pub in Valletta, just behind The Grandmaster Palace, where Oliver Reed fell into cardiac arrest after consuming 24 rum and cokes and 4 pints of beer. He later died. He was there during the filming of Gladiator. 'The Pub' is tiny, and has a grotto to Olly on the wall. The bartender was nice, and was a cross between Vinnie Jones and Russell Crowe I decided. We happened to meet a couple of other Aussies there, and some other regular patrons there, much older ex-Royal Navy servicement, married to Maltese women. One of them was a Scottish historian who loved Tasmania. He proved fascinating to talk to, about Maltese history, Scotland, and Tasmania. It was a golden encounter which I shall never forget. He tought me how to say "It's a right load a shite!". So after not twenty four but four rum and cokes and a few beers, we had had a superb night and met some interesting characters. Another great day all over. I was loving Malta.
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