Photo 1 - Valletta, the current capital of Malta from Sliema, on the other side of the gulf. Nice to get to Valletta by ferry. Nice and cheap way.
June 2017: travel to Malta, we choose a Ryanair flight+hotel package and I must say that it went just fine.
Photo 2 - Palermo view from the sky
Photo 3 - The swimming pool in the roof of our hotel
Unlike usual, we did not rent a car, perhaps for fear of left-hand traffic, still unknown to me. The hotel is really comfortable. It’s situated in Sliema the new part of Malta. Some manifestation because in week end there are the political elections. Many bar and restaurant are sicilian but the most part of restaurant are in english style. We prefered sicilian cook, obviously! Even if we don’t drink alcool, we been surprised that the beer the most famous is a sicilian beer not knows in Italy. Its name is not really political correct and its made us crazy with laughter: “Che MINCHIA bevi?” I don’t translate Google would be ban me! 
Photo 4 - The rental bike was not very good, but we are intrepid!
Even though it is June and it is very hot, I want to take a bike ride, so I also practice with the drive left, which makes me so afraid. The destination is Mdina, the old capital of Malta, on the highest point of the island.
Photo 5 - The hotel terrace
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 6 - Mdina Gate, the most importa access to old town
Photo 7 - View fron Mdina walls to Valletta
Mdina has always been inhabited since the 4th millennium BC, due to its strategic position from where 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 8 - Saint Paul’s Cathedral
Photo 9 - Saint Paul’s square
Photo 10 - Stately building in Mdina, a bank now.
Photo 11 - Mesquita square. Here was filmed some scenes of Game of Thrones
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 12 - Vilhena Palace. The National Museum of Natural History in french baroque style
Photo 13 - The most important buildings have imposing doors with decorations on the pediments like this one in Piazza San Paolo
I leave Mdina and with great pleasure I find the parked bicycle, there is always a bit of fear to leave the bicycles unattended! As a second destination I also want to reach the coast opposite Sliema where we are staying. And in fact I arrive at Dingli Cliff. Extraordinary! Looking into the distance, I see the Atlas Mountains in Africa! I check on the phone, the position, any sites where this fantastic vision is mentioned. Yes, they also say it on the internet: it is a vision, indeed a mirage !!! They are just 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 14 - Dingli cliff
Photo 15 - View from Dingli Cliff and the mirage of Atlas mountains in Africa
- @Stphn *
