Ghar Lapsi

We started our time together with a trip to Malta's south coast and ended it in the same spot... Ghar Lapsi. Click here for photos. 

The kids head back to Oregon tomorrow. We are really sad to seem them go, but work, university, and life must go on as the new year approaches. 

Victoria Lines

We've done some great holiday hikes this week. Click here for photos. 

• The first half of the album includes photos from our walk between the Maltese fishing villages of Marsascala and Marsaxlokk, which passes by some beautiful cliffs and a popular swimming hole, St. Peter's Pool.  
• The second half of the album is focused on our hike along a section of the Victoria Lines, pictured above. The lines span Malta from east to west. They were built by the British in the late 19th century to protect against northern invasions. 
• There are also some miscellaneous photos from Sliema, where we can watch the sunset over Valletta. 

Surf, Solstice, and Scenic Views

We celebrated the Winter Solstice with some surfing and hiking at Golden Bay, then finished off the day in Valletata with a ride on Rudolph's Big Wheel and dinner at our new favorite pizza place, San Paolo Naufrego. Click here for photos. 

This album also includes some Christmas Eve and Christmas Day photos, which featured a polar plunge, fondue, pantomime, and the discovery that our 1,000 piece puzzle masterpiece was actually a scene from the Sliema waterfront, very close of our apartment. 

Gozo Saltpans

Today we explored Gozo's salt pans along the island's northern Xwejni Bay then hiked around southern Gozo's Hondoq Bay, where the boys braved the cold for a brief swim. Click here for photos.

More about Gozo salt: Gozitan salt pans date back to Phoenician times. When the Maltese islands were under the Order of St. John, the Knights held a monopoly on salt production. The pans we visited today are among to oldest still in use. A local family has been harvesting them for 50 years. 

Big Waves - Beautiful Cliffs

It was another blustery day along Malta's south coast, where we hiked along the Dingli Cliffs and watched the waves crash near the Blue Grotto. 

The cove pictured above is a spot where we were able to swim and snorkel back in September. Today, we had to dodge spray to even get close to the water's edge. 

We also made a stop at the Hager Qim neolithic temple complex and saw a lot of sheep near the 17th century St. Mary Magdalene Chapel. Click here for photos.

Mediterranean Christmas

The kids arrived in Malta on December 14 to celebrate the holiday season with us.  Click here and click here for photos from our adventures so far.  We have visited ancient ruins, including the Hypogeum and Tarxien Temples; hiked Malta's coasts, including Golden Bay and the Marfu Peninsula; explored historic Valletta, Rabat, and Mdina all dressed-up for Christmas; and today, we got up close and personal with some lovely owls, eagles, and peregrines at the Malta Falconry Center.   

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was a beautiful weekend for exploring. Click here for photos from our hikes around Malta and Gozo. The photo above was taken along our route from the Dingli Cliffs to Ghar Lapsi on Malta's southern coast. Along the way we discovered a winery where wine is buried and aged in qvevris - egg shaped earthenware vessels - instead of barrels. 

We also stopped by Hagar Qim, a very well preserved megalithic temple complex and UNESCO World Heritage site. The remains date back to 3200 BC. 

The photo below was taken in Gozo as we awaited the ferry back to Malta. In Gozo, we hiked along part of the Xlendi trail which passes through saltpans and alongside Gozo's southern cliffs, with views of Comino Island.

It was an interesting week in Malta politics.  A series of new developments related to the 2017 assassination of journalist Daphne Galizia led to several high profile arrests and resignations. Click here to read more. 

And finally, in honor of Thanksgiving, click here for a few throw-back photos from Thanksgivings past (2008-2010). We missed being with the kids for the holiday but are grateful they were well fed and loved by friends in Portland. 

Happy holidays all.