Malta – Anne Visits Malta

A tragedy in Gozo

photo by Anne Pflug — The Azure Window, Gozo

It was indeed sad news. The famous and beautiful Azure Window, in Gozo, Malta, has succumbed to a wild storm that tore it and plunged it into the sea on March 8, 2017. This very famous tourist attraction had been eroding for some time and met its end when Malta was hit by rough seas and stormy weather. The Prime Minister of Malta said that it was indeed a sad day when this happened. The Azure Window had been featured in the “Game of Thrones” premiere. It must have been an awesome sight when this 92 foot high limestone arch simply dropped into the sea.

I am so glad I was able to see it before tragedy struck.

A man stands atop the cliffs where the natural structure known as the Azure Window collapsed, at Dwejra on the island of Gozo, Malta, March 8, 2017. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

This blog annevisitsmalta.com enhances my book Return to Malta by visiting most of the places mentioned in the book with color photos. The book is available through Amazon and other book stores.

Be sure to visit my other blog: annepflugcom.wordpress.com

Finally, my book!

I would like to announce the recent publication of my book, Return to Melita, a travelogue and a memoir.

This book is a compilation of several trips I have made to Malta, the land of my birth. I usually went there with friends and/or relatives and visited many tourist attractions and places of interest. I tried to include comments made by new visitors as well as my recollections from the past, when I lived there.

Return to Melita is available in the Kindle version as well as hard book copy and can be purchased at most book stores as well as at Amazon.com.

You will note that I changed the title to Return to Malta. I did this to make access to the book easier on Amazon. Melita was the original name of the islands, given by the Romans, many years ago.

This blog, annevisitsmalta.com enhances the book by visiting most of the places mentioned in the book with color photos.

Hope you enjoy both!

Time flies; Not much changes

around 1947, my sister, Mary, my nana and I on our roof

These two photos are taken 69 years apart. Both were taken on the roof of my house, when I lived in Malta. The first has myself, my sister and my nana and was taken in 1947; the other, is of myself and was taken in 2016. About the only change is me, quite a bit older. Houses in Malta seem to go on forever. Not much changes!

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my published book: Return to Malta which can be purchased from Amazon.com

Memories of a WW II Shelter

Across the street from our home (see previous blog) is a patched up area enclosing a World war II shelter. This was the entrance to a catacomb-like construction, underground, with hollowed out rooms for the families to live in, during bombing. My sister chose to be born on one of these occasions. It was eerie to come back, so many years later and still see the remnants of the shelter.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my published book: Return to Malta which can be purchased from Amazon.com

My house in Malta

photo by Liza Burney — My sister and I standing in front of our house

While visiting in Tarxien, we had to go back to our home. We visited the lady of the house, whose mom purchased this beautiful house from our mom. The windows in back of us are of the living room. On the other side of the door was our bedroom. As a child, I sat on the stoop many times while my nana taught me to crochet and knit.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my published book: Return to Malta which can be purchased from Amazon.com

The Temples in Tarxien

This temple, dating from around c.4,000 to 2,500 BC is located close to the place where I lived in Tarxien. In fact, my friends and I used to play among the now protected and untouchable rocks when we were young children. This was before they became tourist attractions. I still remember seeing blood stains, from sacrifices on the altar rocks.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my published book: Return to Malta which can be purchased from Amazon.com

A Maltese Balcony

Wherever you look in Malta, you will see a variety of balconies. Some are made of wood and usually enclosed (see the various street scenes) while others are created by combining designs made out of metal. The Maltese love to spend part of their day sitting in their balconies. They enjoy the fresh air and seeing the activities outside their home. And, there is usually a cat or a dog enjoying the outside with them.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com

Carozzin

When I was a child, we traveled everywhere by carozzin as cars were not generally available yet, in Malta. Now, tourists use the carozzins as a relaxing way to travel short distances. They are available at all of the tourists attractions.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com

View from Mdina

Mdina, the first capital of Malta, was built on a hill overlooking the countryside in the center of the island. The bastions, which surround the city, are perfect for protection in those times when invaders were trying to conquer Malta. The solid high walls and locked gates were the major protection in Medieval times and the bastions enhanced this security. It is obvious that anyone on ‘guard duty’ on these bastions would be alerted to an oncoming attack. This peaceful countryside may have been witness to many battles long ago.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com

Lunch in Mdina

This is just about my most favorite lunch. Pastizzi are a Maltese specialty. I have tried to make them at home, from a variety of recipes but have never been successful. They are made with phyllo dough, filled with a ricotta and peas mixture. Although they are served all over Malta, they are especially delicious at The Fontanella, in Mdina, while enjoying the view from the restaurant on one of the bastions surrounding The Silent City.

If you enjoyed this, much more information is available in my book: Return to Malta available from Amazon.com