My travel in Europe:
island of Malta

One week by walk, bus, boat and car at island of Malta, 2018

• Day 1: Sliema
• Day 2: Valletta
• Day 3: Mdina
• Day 4: Western Coast
• Day 5: Gozo
• Day 6: Three Cities
• Day 7: Saint Julian's
• Day 8: Manoel island

Walk in Valletta old center, day 2:

Sliema:

One reason to choose this hotel was that it had a terrace, after we have eaten the breakfast we took the elevator to the 8th floor and then one more floor with stairs. What a terrific view we had from here!

The other reason to take this hotel was that it was very close to the ferry that took us to Valletta old city.

The ferry goes every 30 minutes, one way ticket just 1.50 Euro. It takes about 15 minutes to cross the bay.

Along the harbor are there many new tall houses, most hotels. Just twenty years ago it was mostly low two floor houses here. You just have to walk a block behind this big houses to find the old low ones.

There a lot of boats anchored in the bay.

Manoel island:

On the way to Valletta we pass the island Manoel. The house we see here has been decided to be rebuilt to flats.

The whole island seems to have been a big fortress in earlier time. We visited this island the last day and then I give you more information about it.

Valletta:

Now we are at the harbor of Valletta where the ferry terminal is. A big wall from the fortress stands up in front of us. It looks like it had been taken from an old pirate movie.

• More to read about Valletta:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Valletta (Valletta, Wiki)

The weather is fine today, already in the morning more then 15 degrees. We didn't bring very much clothes with us either so we where happy about that.

Valletta is built on a top of a hill, very steep roads we have to walk along to reach the center of town. Very beautiful, more than we expected.

After a while we have come to the top of the walls. This is the opening in the wall that the canon fire its canon balls from.

To the right we have the Manoel island and behind Sliema where we live.

Panorama view to the north, this is my first displaying of a panorama view. Pretty nice I will say, and with more practice it will be better with time.

A monument to a pope, he was rather anonymous, no sign of who he was. The park is the Hastings Garden.

• After reading this, it's of course Lord Hasting the monument is built too:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Hastings Gardens (Hasting Gardens, Wiki)

I know also remember that it was here the famous astronomer William Lassell had his observatory with a 24" telescope:

• http://www.klima-luft.de/ steinicke/ ngcic/ persons/ lassell.htm
  (William Lassell photos)

A watch tower along the defense wall, there where many of them along the walls.

Valletta was an important city in old days and rich. Lots of pirates and other countries want to take part of this. It needs many and big canons to protect the city.

We was looking for the central bus terminal and found it here behind the big fountain, the Triton Fountain.

• More to read about the Triton Fountain:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Triton Fountain (Malta) (Triton Fountain, Wiki)

The main street Triq Lr-Repubblika of Valletta, goes in east to western direction, to the right a new building, one of few. It doesn't disturb much, good work!

After this we walk down to the center of Valletta. Follow the big walls.

Here are all the restaurants, the archaeological museum and more that we want to visit or see.

Malta Law Courts.

The Grand Master's Palace, built by Gerolamo in late 16th century.

Residues from the British era, a red payphone and a red letter box and of course they drive on the left side.

Saint George's Square

The Grand Master's Palace entrance.

It was to fine weather for us to spend time on all museums we found, just a look into the entrance.

• More to read about Grandmasters Palace:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Grandmasters Palace (Valletta) (Grandmasters Palace, Wiki)

These strange things took long time for us to understand the purpose of. Later on the bus there was a woman speaking to her friend and we heard she told her about these. They are openings to the magazines below where they store the harvest in old days, today the openings are blocked.

National war museum. At the most East part of Valletta there is a heavy defense of the port, on both sides.

• More to read about National War Museum:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ National War Museum (Malta) (National War Museum, Wiki)

Along the defense walls you could see a lot of stones on the sea floor, maybe part of older walls that had been falling down.

Panorama view of south harbor of Valletta.

Fort Sant lermu where the war museum is.

• More to read about Fort Saint Elmo:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Fort Saint Elmo (Fort Saint Elmo, Wiki)

On the south side the Fort Rikasoli.

• More to read about Fort Ricasoli:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Fort Ricasoli (Fort Ricasoli, Wiki)

A view of the Three Cities, we will visit them later this week.

A fundament to a canon, here you read the angle the canon is directed to.

Villa Bighi or naval hospital.

• More to read about RNH Bighi:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ RNH Bighi (RNH Bighi, Wiki)

Now we walk towards the center area of Valletta again, a nice restaurant show up, but too early for us to eat yet.

Forti Sant' Anglu.

• More to read about Fort St. Angelo:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Fort St. Angelo (Fort St. Angelo, Wiki)

A former pack house or customs house?

Lower Barrakka Gardens.

• More to read about the Lower Barrakka Gardens:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Lower Barrakka Gardens (Lower Barrakka Gardens, Wiki)

Now after a long day walk we where tired and have to go back to the ferry. We need some rest at the hotel before dinner. There are many steep streets down to the ferry.

Along the streets down to ferry terminal. The style of these balconies looks much alike that the ones we saw in old cities of Turkey.

Not so lot of steps left down to the ferry.

Bye Valletta, we will be here soon again!

Back to the harbor of Sliema where we live.

Evening, after we had rested at the hotel we took a night walk and a dinner.

Back at the hotel, one more reason to choose this hotel was because of the balcony and the sea view.