Malta Part 1
Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Sat 14 Nov 2009 02:30
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With winter starting to loom, we left Siracusa in Sicily and made an
overnight passage to Malta.
When we arrived in Malta, we discoved that the marina space was at a
premium and safe anchorages
non-existent. Fortunately we were able to find space for a few days
at the marina in Dockyard Creek, an
inlet of Grand Harbour.
Looking across Grand Harbour from Valetta at Dockyard Creek and the
marina
 This would be have to be one of the most spectacular locations for any
marina, with Malta's
long history all around us.
 A Maltese boat, with striking similarities to Venetian gondolas
 Opposite our marina berth is the bastion topped with a crane (with a
flag on top). This crane was
used by the Knights of St. John to raise and lower cannon, masts and
supplies in and out of
their galleys in the sixteenth century.
 Church overlooking the marina
   Across the harbour is the capital, Valetta, surrounded on all sides by
massive walls and bastions.
 Below is the memorial to the first English governor of Malta, Captain
Alexander Ball R.N.
  Preparing to fire the noonday gun. The gun crew are in late
nineteenth, early twentieth century
British army uniforms
  Apartment houses in Valetta
  Parliament House
  Lifting out at Manoel Island yacht. We just fitted in the Travel
Lift.
 On the way to our winter berth.
 Near the Yacht yard is Duck's Village...built we think by a local who has a
passion for
ducks!
  Don't know how welcome this hopeful visitor is....
 ...being politely shown off the premises.
 St. Johns Cathedral, the most lavishly decorated church we have ever
see
   The entire floor of the nave consists of the marbel burial crypts of
the
Knights of St. John
 Each grave has the knights coat of arms and motto.
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