The ferry trip is less than 10 minutes. Once it arrives at Valletta, it's a short walk to a panoramic lift that takes you the 58 metres to street level at the Upper Barrakka Gardens...you can walk up, but it's a series of stone steps and street climbs, and sometimes you just have to close your eyes and trust in the lift!
Today was Independence Day for Malta, a public holiday marked by street decorations and parades. Like Melbourne, some shops in the city centre were closed, but it was definitely not quiet.
We used eCabs, the Maltese equivalent of Uber, to travel to two record stores Brent had on his list...a couple of purchases but no real treasure.
Caught a bus back to Valletta, to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. The gardens sit high above the Grand Harbour and were created in the late 16th century as a place of relaxation for the Knights of St John. There are fabulous views across the harbour from the stone walkway around the gardens.
We visited Lascaris War Rooms, an underground tunnel complex 40 metres below the Gardens. This complex housed operations for the British-Malta defence, and offensive, against Italy during World War II. It was really interesting to see how the radio and telephone messages were interpreted and manually plotted on room-sized maps. There were some wonderful photographic records, some great stories about the radio operators and their boat trips to work while under fire, and recognition of heroics on both sides...if heroics is the right word.
58 metres down by lift...and the ferry home.
1 comment:
What an interesting day you had, and it looks as though the spaniels are checking out the action and decorations - lovely 'photo.
Lils
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