December 6, 2024

After a year of travel, it was bound to happen. It was inevitable. I got sick. Someone suggested that some travelers had eaten the nice-looking cucumbers and tomatoes that hadn’t been washed in Egypt and brought the bug back to the ship. Whatever it was I caught it! With a temperature of 102.4 I wasn’t prepared to visit our next port of Malta. My brother Brian suggested that maybe I should become a professional blogger and photojournalist (I appreciate my brother’s sentiments especially from someone who builds iconic buildings while I still draw with stick figures) but this blog will put that suggestion to the test. This entire blog, with the exception of one photo, was captured from our room while I, as a dutifully writer, and supposedly future photojournalist, purposely got up to take photos upon arrival, while in port, and upon departure.

Who am I kidding? I was getting up to run to the bathroom anyway and took these photos enroute. Hope you enjoy the result.

We left Alexandria, Egypt, and sailed north to the port of Valletta, Malta. Next ports will be Tunis, Tunisia and the island of Sardinia, Italy. (Shown on the map above) Finally, another reason I am not pleased with Egypt is that I found out the real motive behind the many carpet schools that lined the roadways. They were called “schools” to get around the child labor laws, because children’s hands were smaller and faster and therefore better for making carpets.

The arrival into the port of Valletta, Malta is beautiful reminiscent of the Grand Canal of Venice, Italy. A close up of the entry photo will show many of the luxury yachts that line the waterfront, supposedly owned by Russian Oligarchs. Sailing is a prominent leisure activity for residents.

Sailing into the port, one sees many grottos, similar to those found along the Amalfi Coast of Italy. The nice thing about Valletta is that when you arrive, you are immediately in the midst of activity. You will note that there are two levels to the city, and for 1 euro (about 90 cents) you take a convenient 30 second elevator to the top level; no climbing required. As I didn’t get off the ship the stock photo shows how convenient it is to get around by readily available electric rental vehicles.

There are beautiful cathedrals throughout the city, including this closeup of a church steeple from our cabin. On departure, l saw the island where the Apostle Paul is said to have shipwrecked in 60 AD on his way to Rome. Today a large statue on the uninhabited island commemorates the occasion.

Upon departure from Malta, you pass a beautiful lighthouse. A closeup of the lighthouse shows you how beautiful it is. It is as if the lighthouse was beckoning me to return again.

Malta, I think I will take you up on that invitation.

Thanks for travelling with us.