Our ship arrived in Valletta, Malta early yesterday morning. Papa and I set off on a self guided walking tour of Valletta, shortly after docking. The City of Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, mostly intact since 1570, under the rule of the Knights Hospitaller. Valletta was built with large natural harbors on two sides. It is mostly Baroque, built from stone quarried nearby. It is a regal city, well planned with a fort at the entrance to the harbor and beautiful palazzos and cathedrals. It is the capital city, with active residents, fishing, shopping, and children playing soccer.
After lunch, we rode on a HopOnHopOff bus, around the southern part of the island. We made stops in a colorful fishing village, on a cliff above the sea, and at the entrance to some of the most ancient temples found on earth. We passed miles of rock walls with terraced gardens. Atop a church, we saw a carved stone Madonna standing in a boat, holding baby Jesus. Really sweet.
