Malta: Mdina the old capital

[P_LAVARDA]

Photo 1: View over Valletta with S: John’s Co-Cathedral

We travel to Malta, and we choose a flight hotel package and I must say it was very satisfying.

Photo 2: Palermo (Sicily- Italy) from the sky

Photo 3: The hotel swimming pool by night

Unlike usual, we did not rent a car, perhaps for fear of left-hand traffic, still unknown to me.

Photo 4: the bicycle rented by me

And to practice I use the easiest method: rent a bicycle.

Knowing that happiness for Mariacristina is all contained in a terrace, a full day of sunshine by the pool, I take my bike and set off towards the highest point in Malta, Mdina. I already know that upon returning she will say to me: “Already here?”

Photo 5: The door to the town of Mdina

Photo 6: view from Mdina

Mdina has always been inhabited since the 4th millennium BC, due to its strategic position from which it dominates the whole island and the sea from all 4 sides. The Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Aragonese, the Knights of San Giovanni and the English followed one another. It remained the capital until the 16th century. In the Acts of the Apostles we meet Mdina, where Saint Paul lived for 3 months after his shipwreck on the way to Rome.

Photo 7: St. Paul Cathedral

Photo 8: St. Paul square

Photo 9: St. Paul square

Photo 10: Mesquita square

Despite being inhabited by a few hundred people, Medina retains the soul of a capital. Its stones, its buildings, exude the pride and power of a capital.

Photo 11: Many banks and institutional buildings

Photo 12: Mdina

I also made a point of reaching the coast opposite Sliema where we were staying. And in fact I arrive at Dingli Cliff. Nothing extraordinary except in the fact of having mirages looking into the distance, so much so that you believe you see the Atlas mountains in Africa, but, perhaps they were only white clouds on the horizon that seemed attached to the earth due to the sphericity of the horizon but , to me, they looked like mountains with snow. And it doesn’t take much to travel with the mind …

Photo 13: Dingli Cliff

Photo 14: Mirages from Dingli Cliff

@Giu_DiB , @mca2 , @davidhyno , @ermest

[TsekoV]

Hi @plavarda ,

Thank you for sharing another captivating post of yours.

I wanted to let you know that I noticed the photos you shared in your post do not appear. Can you please try re-uploading them so everyone could better visualize your story and the place you went to. Thank you.

[P_LAVARDA]

Grazie @TsekoV so kind, but how can I know that I have made a mistake in HTML and that others do not see the photos? Is there a method to find the errors by yourself?

I am afraid I have made the same mistake in other posts, unfortunately!

Thank You so much!

Paolo

[P_LAVARDA]

Sorry @TsekoV do you the images and video in this post?

Thanks

Paolo

[AdamGT]

Ah the beautiful fortified ancient city of Mdina. I see that you also had beautiful weather during your visit @plavarda and you stayed in beautiful Sliema, just a stone’s throw from the capital of this beautiful island country! Did I say beautiful?

[P_LAVARDA]

Dear @AdamGT Malta is really beautiful, and plein of History with “H” . Strategic in Mediterranean sea and beautiful! Did I say beautiful?

Ciao e grazie!

Paolo

[AdamGT]

Indeed @plavarda , steeped in history right through to modern times (e.g. WWII) and the people through its history have always been amazingly courageous!

[TsekoV]

Hey @plavarda ,

Thank you for making the change. Your photos appear in your other posts so you shouldn’t worry.

Your photos are really superb and we all appreciate them. I wanted to ask what device are you usually using to capture such stunning photos?

[P_LAVARDA]

Dearest @TsekoV they are photos taken during my travels by bicycle and not, sometimes I carry my reflex with suitable lenses, but the weight is too high if you ride a bicycle, so I tried the photographic solution with the smartphone, or with ActionCam. Now I have equipped myself with a small APS C camera and I must say that I am very happy, the quality satisfies me! I will be able to take it with me on bicycle trips without arriving in the evening with a broken back !! Then sometimes, at home, I use inexpensive photo editing software, especially for cropping photos. I think that the cropping of the photo is a fundamental step to be able to communicate the spirit of the place, the sensations, the emotions I felt in the moment before the shot, that is when I decided that this was a moment that had to be fixed in a photo.

Ciao e grazie!!!

Paolo

[Erna_LaBeau]

Love this post @plavarda I like when you described how our mind works when we are in a different place let the mind wanders and the heart will follow (this is not a saying but my own words ). I experienced this a lot looking at the horizon and thinking to yourself is that mountains? Lake? Or sea? on the other side of the horizon.

I enjoy reading your travel experience I feel like I was also exploring with you and your wife and wishing one day I will be able to visit that beautiful place with hubby.

Keep wandering and take me with you via your post. Hugs to both of you!