Hiking the Cliffs of Marfa Ridge and Golden Bay

We explored the northeastern-most portion of Malta today by hiking the Marfa Ridge, then crossed over to the northwestern side of the island for more hiking along Golden Bay. Click here for photos. The weather was windy but mild and the views stunning. 

Along the way, we met a couple who races homing pigeons as a hobby. They had their birds out for some heavy-wind practice. 

We also stopped by the Red Tower, built in 1649 to guard the straits between Malta and Gozo, the island you see in the distance in many of the photos we took. The tower played a role in both world wars and is currently undergoing some restoration.

San Anton Gardens by Day - Valletta by Night

Yesterday we took a stroll through the gardens of San Anton Palace in Attard. The palace is the official residence of the president of Malta and was built in the early 17th century. 

The adjacent gardens are open to the public and include some lovely fountains, century-old trees, cobblestone walkways, and wildlife. Click here for photos.

And click here to see photos from Valletta, which has decorated itself for the holidays with some lovely light displays.

Since everyone else in Malta is busy preparing for Christmas... here is a sneak peek at our 2019 holiday card:  

Holiday Wishes

Medieval Mdina

Pictured above is the medieval Maltese city of Mdina. Mdina's history dates back more than 4,000 years. In recent years, it has served as a filming location for Game of Thrones. It's also a former capital city. Click here for photos from our walk to and through Mdina and it's many narrow, maze-like streets. People still live within the city's walls. 

We also celebrated the birthday of the U.S. Marine Corp this weekend by attending the Marine Ball, an annual November event that takes place at every U.S. Embassy around the world. It was a nice way to get to know members of our new community. 

A few things we have learned about Malta so far: 

• Stray cats are everywhere around the island and are well cared for by locals who put food, water and even small cat houses in public areas for their use.
• You can walk from one side of the island to the other in just a few hours - it's about 19 miles. 
• It occasionally gets as cold as 50 degrees during the winter months, but 70 degree weather is more the norm.
• There are structures on Malta that predate the pyramids and even Stonehenge.
• Malta is one of just four European countries where people drive on the left. 
• It ranks as the 8th most densely populated country in the world, so traffic problems are very real.
• Malta was a British colony until 1964 and joined the EU in 2004. 
• For a relatively tiny island, there is an unusual abundance of churches - 365 in all and almost all of the Catholic variety. 

New Views

Pat and I are getting settled at a new post, on the Mediterranean island of Malta.  The Embassy is in the city of Attard, but he'll also have an office at the University of Malta in Valletta.  Click here for some photos taken in and around both cities. 

The weather here is cool compared to Sri Lanka - mid-to-high 60s during the Fall.  The landscape is more beige than green, but it's beautiful.  Locals are already preparing for Christmas, which we understand is a big deal here.  


We'll be moving into an apartment in Sliema later this month, where our door will be open for visitors, starting with the kids who will be coming for a December visit. 



Speaking of the kids... click here for some photos from my recent trip to Oregon to see Drew, Jake and Emily. The fall colors were lovely, as was spending time with them.