… to Valletta, on the island of Malta…

… in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The Knights of Saint John moved to Malta when they were expelled from Rhodes in 1530, and fortified its deep natural harbor so it could be defended against pirates and other invading ships. They brought a golden age of prosperity and security to Malta that lasted for 268 years, until the city surrendered to Napoleon. What’s left today is a charming stone city built on the hills, a popular vacation spot for Europeans.

Valletta was another new port for us, so we took an excursion which went first to the fishing village of Marsaxlokk, then for a glass blowing demonstration, and finally a wine tasting.  We were lucky; the weekly market in Marsaxlokk was in full swing when we arrived, selling candy, fruit, veggies, clothing, cell phones, and souvenirs. Our guide said the people of Malta are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, and the many stands of local pastries and candies provided a clue to the cause.

  

The fishing boats in Marsaxlokk all have tiny protective eyes painted on their prows.

    

On the way to the Mdina Glass Factory, we passed Mosta Church, with one of the largest domes in Europe; this dome was pierced by a bomb in WWII, but miraculously, the bomb didn’t explode. Nearby was the ancient walled medieval city of Mdina.

 

 

Meridiana Vineyards were planted on the old runways of a World War II airstrip. The owners preserved the old sundial from the airstrip. The wines were just OK, but the local pepper-crusted cheese served with them was a stand-out!

  

Back in Valletta, we took the Barrakka Lift, an elevator on the side of the mountain, to ascend to the level of the old city. On the way up you can see the alternative meandering route to the top.  

   

The view of the harbor and its fortifications from above was outstanding!

 

A timely message in a shop window provided a backdrop for a creative selfie … Arches were everywhere.

   

There wasn’t nearly enough time to explore the island; we would have loved to walk around in Mdina, and to see some of the ancient temples built by the Temple Culture and reputed to be the oldest free-standing monuments in the world. Next time!

 

… to see the windmills of Mykonos, Greece …

… yet another beautiful Greek city with a storied past. Mykonos is like the photogenic friend who never takes a bad picture. Every street, every house, every shop, every church – picture perfect! We started right out on the beach, looking for (and finding!) beach glass and pottery. From there, we walked the island, poking our heads in shops and bakeries, walking the cobblestone streets, watching the residents getting ready for the tourist season, which is due to start in a week or two. Painters were everywhere; even the sidewalk cracks need to be painted to maintain the squeaky white look that is Mykonos. Even the sand is white! The brilliant blue sky was a spectacular backdrop to the white domes, arches, and roofs.

 

 

   

One of our favorite stops was a tiny church; parishioners were preparing for Easter week, decorating with flowers and candles. And huge loaves of bread …

   

 

Mykonos is famous for its windmills, reached by climbing a small hill. It was a good site for a windmill; the brisk wind blew hats off and would have spun the mill shafts if the sails remained. 

 

Greek cotton sweaters hung appealingly on a rack, while a real-life Cat’s Meow building sat nearby.

   

A gregarious shopkeeper invited us in to take a picture of the iconic windmills from his back window. Six in a row!

 

It was a very good day!

… to Heraklion, Crete …

… part of Greece. We walked around the streets for a little while before taking the hop on bus to navigate this fortified Greek city, strategically located on the island of Crete. The harbor was initially constructed by the Venetians, and much of the original structure remains. In the sketch, the old original harbor is pictured on top, with the current harbor on the bottom.

 

We came across a young man playing the accordion, which reminded Frank of his own accordion lessons as a boy. Fresh fruit and vegetables were for sale everywhere, and fragrant flowering trees lined the streets.

   

   

   

Reflecting current issues, the following timely message appeared in different forms on various walls. A courtyard was filled with books, apparently part of a “book bazaar.” Loved seeing this here, like the books for free in Mumbai.

 

From the bus, a view of the lovely harbor and the Venetian Castle Koules, a well-loved landmark.

 

The highlight of the bus ride was the trip to the site of Knossos, through the countryside, past a lovely Greek Orthodox chapel, outside the city proper. Knossos was the mythical location of the maze in which the minotaur (half man, half bull) of ancient legend was imprisoned. According to the legend, the city of Athens provided several young men each year as a sacrifice to the minotaur, and one of these youths finally slayed the minotaur and escaped from the maze. It’s easy to see the giant mazes on the hillsides at Knossos!

 

It was another blue-sky day in a beautiful Greek city, with delicious food and sweet-smelling breezes. Mmmm, Greece – can’t wait to visit again!