Thursday April 10, 2014
The small red ferry took us from the harbour of Vittorioso across to the bottom of Valletta, the main part of the city named after the first Grand Master in charge of the city. It is actually newer than the town of Birgu where we are staying. During the Great Seige of 1565 the Ottomans under Sulliman the Magnificent attacked with 168 ships and 30,000 troops. The defenders had 500 Knights and about 3000 locals which were eventually defeated at the fort on the tip of Valletta. However, the city of Birgu did not fall after the Sicillians eventually came to the rescue and it was decided to build and re-fortify Valletta and over time a great walled city came to be. Looking up from the bottom we were relieved to see an elevator and pleased that the cost was included with our ferry ticket. We arrived just above the 8 cannon Saluting Battery just in time for the noon gun. We wandered through the beautifully restored buildings of the Knights of St. John and spent a long while in the Cathedral of St. Paul which was richly ornate in the baroque style and full of magnificent oils from the 16th century. There were also hand copied music books with pages two feet high by one and a half wide.
After walking around the pedestrian streets we chose an outdoor café for lunch and Brian sampled Bragiola, a beef rouladen type while Jim enjoyed the lasagna. After lunch we split up to wander on our own, taking n Fort St. Elmo on the tip of Valletta and enjoying the views of the harbour from the high vantage points on the wall. Finally working our way back to the ferry landing we arrived just in time to watch Jim & Jackie sail off as we waited for the next ferry. Back on Necessity, we enjoyed the warm sunshine until the sun set over the city above us.
Going for a walk at dusk we admired the 200’+ yachts moored in the marina and looked at the new condos as we rounded the end of the island. The fort St Angelo on our point is under restoration and was not open. Returning to the main square through the town we chose another restaurant where all but Brian enjoyed a pizza. His choice was octopus cooked in wine and garlic and was declared the best ever. Back aboard there was no one up for Euchre.
Brian on board Necessity
Grand Harbour, Vittorioso, Malta