Tag: Medelhavet

Let’s Have a Drink

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 Cisk Lager Beer has been brewed in Malta with all natural ingredients since 1928 Cisk Lager was awarded top prize in the International Lager Category at the 1995 Australian Beer Awards. I rarely drink beer myself.

Cocktails of different kinds are common in summer, with or without alcohol. When it’s Happy hour you get two for one. Mojito, my favorite at the top consists of club soda, rum, syrup, lime juice, mint and lots of ice. Very refreshing!!Italian wine is very good and these bottles are from Sicily.Malta may not be renowned like its larger Mediterranean neighbours for wine production, but northern European markets are just beginning to discover the secret of Maltese wines.  Grapes grown in Malta’s hot and humid climate ripen much quicker than their counterparts further north. I prefer to buy the local wine.Water……the most common and healthiest drink during the day!!

Splash!!

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Come with me and take a dip in the sea, said the bigger dog when we were at Manoel Island last weekend.
It’s nice and cool, 22 degrees!! Come on Fanny!!!I don’t know if I dare I’ve never swam before but it looks fun. Fair enough, I’ll try!! Splash!!!! This may not be the best way to get up from the water but I’m a brave, strong and very stubborn Basenji who never gives up. I will certainly try again but may need some assistance from my leader.

Hopefully Fanny and I will soon swim together in the Mediterranean where it’s now 22 degrees. Some dogs may have the physical capacity to swim, but a mortal fear of the water. We’ll have to start on shallow waters and I’ll try to make her feel safe and encourage her to enjoy it. If that doesn’t work I’ll will never force her.…💖Who knows, within a week or two, she may be a real water lovers.💖

Follow me to Valletta…

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It’s not often that I visit Malta´s capital but last week I a took the ferry and spent some hours in the city. Valletta is designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2018.Some tourists and one of the public art installations depicting Maltese proverbs.To the left you see the new Parliament Building in Valletta.The architecture of Valletta’s streets and piazzas ranges from mid-16th century Baroque to Mondernism.And the entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980.

Here are some more of the public art installations. You must click on an image to enlarge. It is an exciting city worth exploring. But after a couple of hours walking in the heat it’s time for an ice cream.Republic Street is the main street of Valletta. It is about 1 km long and extends from the City Gate towards the granaries at Fort St. Elmo. It is mostly dedicated to pedestrians, with highly limited vehicle use.Beyond the old Opera house, it’s often crowded with people due to large selection of small shops and cafes. Daphne Caruana Galizia, the journalist who was killed in a car bomb on 16th October 2017. The memorial located at the foot of the Great Siege Monument has been wiped out more than once. But as activist Pia Zammit said: “They can remove the flowers and candles but the truth remains.”Unlike the main street, most of the streets in the city are narrow, the houses are old in a typical Maltese style.Time to take the ferry back home to Sliema. It only takes a couple of minutes and I think I´ll return quite soon.

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge – Liquid

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This week’s photo challenge is about keeping things fluid.

Let the imagination flow…Barefoot in soft sand and crystal clear blue water.Reflections in the sea from the sky and a boat.WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge / Liquid

Floating in the blue…

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How blue can it really be up there in the sky?Can blue be just for fun?

Compare the blue color in the sky with the sea.And you’ll find same blue color but in fifty shades of…
No sense with this post, just to keep my blog floating.

A glimpse of Malta

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I haven’t had time enough lately to create new posts or visit my valuable followers. Time flies and life goes on but I definitely want to keep my blog alive and stay in touch with you out there in this amazing blogosphere.Looking back… Flowers almost everywhere and it’s a wonderful time right now.
Trying to live in the present while the summer is waiting around the corner.This must be a tasteful thistle. If you look closely, you’ll see three small visitors.It’s now 18 degrees in the Mediterranean. As usual, I wait until it’s at least 25 before I take a swim.The water around Malta is crystal clear and there are also a lot of jellyfishes right now.
Hopefully gone when the water gets warmer.I continue to feed our plants on the terrace. Do not ask me why, because soon we have no plants left to feed. That’s life, a part of my life here in Malta and I must learn how to change my way of thoughts…Fanny, my lovely Basenji, always by my side, my inspiration.

Cliffs haven

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When exploring the nature in Malta you often see cliffs, cliffs, I see cliffs everywhere. And a clear blue sky.It makes me dizzy and instead of looking up, I take a look down, to find a busy bee.When I look up again, I see someone sitting on top of one of the high cliffs.Must be a great view up there while I got an amazing view from down here.Finally, for those who wondered if there aren’t any restrictions in Majjistral Nature Park. Here you are…

Walpurgis Night

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Walpurgis Night is the last day of April and a traditional non-religious holiday in Sweden. Especially in the City of Uppsala where there are huge student gatherings to celebrate the arrival of the spring.

Sailboats on the Mediterranean Sea.
From the plateau in Majjistral park
Walking on water.
Some prefer to take a jeep to the edge of the steep cliffs while others prefer to walk.
The Mediterranean around Malta has crystal clear water. It is now 18 degrees. within a couple of months 28 degrees.

Here in Malta April 30th is an ordinary day and my images have no connection with Walpurgis Night, or Valborgsmässoafton, as this evening is called in Swedish.

But I like to wish you all a wonderful evening wherever you are on this planet, no matter if you celebrate or not. Remember, even a small fly is part of our nature. Take care out there and enjoy every moment!!

Majjistral Park Plateau

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I’ve shown some pictures from Majjistral Park but not so many from the plateau that is high above sea level. From here the views are amazing but it’s real steep at the edge of the high cliffs. Do not walk too close!Most of the plants up here are small, you can see the ant. These grow individually……whilst these blooms together and forms like small meadows on the plateau.A symbol of the Navy.A very special flower that I’ve never seen before. To me they look like soft corals.

Finally, Fanny on the run, full of energy 💖 …until we are back home. More to come…
Meanwhile, wish you all a great Sunday 💖

Hiking in Majjistral Nature Park– Part 2

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Last time, we went along the narrow path to the small buildings that you can see in distance at above image. From there we continued our walk in search for the staircase up to the plateau, where we got lost.Here we are still on our way to the buildings by the sea and the path is easy to follow. My dear man carries my pink bag with water, my macro lens and some snacks. Fanny is the leader while I, as usually, walk behind.Surrounded by huge cliffs……and the Mediterranean Sea below.

Always curious about what’s waiting around the corner.
Don’t look up, don’t look down look where you put your feet, it´s quite deep down to the sea..
A steep slope of dry mud. A place I’d not choose to walk on after a rainy day.
I could follow the path for hours. Hear are lots of beautiful and small flowers.
Suddenly we are surrounded by high grass..
This wooden bridge was not entirely safe to walk on.

The scenery varies quite a lot but we just have to follow the narrow path and there’s no risk of getting lost.Finally, by the sea to rest for a while. I dip my feet in the water before continuing our walk around the corner.

Water and some chicken for Fanny…

…while I take a look at some of the pictures I have in my camera that I’ve taken along the way. Now I realize that even this post will be too long so I finish as last time with a picture of my beloved and brave Basenji Fanny. Part 3 will come later but to give you a clue, there were no easy paths around the corner…

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge – Prolific

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This week, Krista asks us what “Prolific” makes us think about. The most prolific must be the earth itself as home of all known life. Water, microorganisms, oxygen, mammals, dinosaurs, flowers, insects, humans…
A never ending process, of which these images are just a tiny fraction from my little corner of the earth.The nature, not always easy for humans to explore, but we are attracted and we are curious about it. …and we are part of an amazing landscape and scenery. In search for life and color.We all know that behind the clouds the sky is always blue but rarely think of the valuable air we breathe. And when the sun sets, another day is gone and life on earth continues in an eternal circle, constantly prolific. With or without homo sapiens…

All images are from Majjistral National Park here in Malta April 2018.

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge / Prolific

Soft Sunday…

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Instead of Silent Sunday. But the pictures may speak for themselves anyway.
Today we spent another day at Majjistral National Park in search for the way around, more to come…

Hiking in Majjistral Nature Park– Part 1

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In my last post, I mentioned that we went hiking in Majjistral Nature Park last Saturday. We walked for about three hours and we got lost. These are just a very few of all the pictures I took, just to give an impression of how it looks in the park. You can choose between walking at the flat plateau which we did the first time… …for more adventure you can choose to walk along the slopes on narrow winding paths, and that’s what we did this time. Me, my husband and our brave Basenji Fanny. Here at the beginning the walkway is quite wide.Our first stop will be at the small buildings by the water. When we were here last time we thought this was a dead end but on our way back we meet a couple who said that you can continue around the corner and further up there are a stairway where you can get up to the plateau. No need to go back and just a few hours walk.

This trip can easily be a very long trip since I stop all the time to take pictures. Here´s the second butterfly I seen so far this year. Sadly, my macro lens was in my bag, but I managed to take some close ups anyway.Now the paths have become more narrow and the slopes down towards the sea are steeper.We will soon arrive at the small buildings where we will rest before moving on to see what’s waiting around the corner. It became quite exciting, but I’ll leave that until part two. Before I finish, I have to mention my beloved four-legged friend. She’s soon nine months old, still a puppy but very clever and so brave. She proved that on several occasions during the next part of our adventure.💖💖

I think this post may fit well with the theme of breathe with its breathtaking views, the breathtaking adventures, and our deep breaths when we were exhausted after climbing and when we realized we were lost. If that’s not enough then it’s obvious above how Fanny breathes.

Photo Challenge by Frank / Dutch Goes the Photo’s / Theme: Breathe

 

Future

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This week, Frank invites us to share one or more photos that makes us think about the future.Yesterday, we were hiking for three hours in the Majjistral National Park where nature is stunning. The sea, the huge rocks in different shapes, all wild flowers and the swirling footpaths gives a feeling of being truly in the middle of nature. That we totally went lost is another story…Nature is both delicate and strong. As long as we let nature take care of itself, it will also survive…

One of many threats to the future of our nature is plastic. In the deep oceans, as well as on land.What every generation teaches to the next……will be the result of our future. And I strongly believe in the future.Photo Challenge by Frank / Dutch Goes the Photo’s / Theme: Future

Beautiful view

Majjistral Nature Park – Malta

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Yesterday we went to Majjistral Nature/History Park, the only natural park in Malta that includes coastal cliffs and a rich ecological and rural heritage. Thanks to Fanny, we discover new amazing places here on the island.Mimosa blossoms.It was a lovely day with blue sky and a temperature of 20 degrees. My dear husband and my lovely dog, always by my side, waiting patiently while I’m constantly taking new pictures.

Maltese Pyramical Orchid
Maltese Pyramical Orchid.

There are around 430 different species of plants in the park and during spring, the best time to visit the park. I saw hundreds of flower and different plants. These, I believe, are Maltese Pyramical Orchids. Guess if I was a bit sad that my macro lens is broken. But not too bad, now I have a reason to buy a new one!!

Spring Flowers

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Just a few scenes from last weekend. All from Ta Qali National Park here in Malta, except the last one.Some trees are blooming now……while most are still bare.

This flower is a bit special, I’ve shown it before but have no idea what it’s called..This yellow one is very common in spring, often seen blooming all over the meadows like a carpet of flowers.Another small and colorful flower and that’s all for today. Now I’ll go for a walk with Fanny… …and today we will walk along this path.

CYW – 18-24 February

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21. Outrageous Orange.
I love this one painted by my husband. Colorful in thoughtful simplicity.18. Forest Green.
Some greenery from Ta Qali park here in Malta19. Pacific Blue.
Fisherman at the clear Mediterranean waters of the Mediterranean Sea.These are the week’s colors in Jennifer’s Color Your World Challenge.

Color Your World 2018 / 2

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Piggy Pink.Bitter sweet.Razzle Dazzle Rose.ColorYourWorld!
…and for those who might wonder from where the colorful mannequins in my last post came from. Surprise!! A window display at Capo Crudo’s restaurant at Triq Il-Lanċa in Valletta, close to the ferry to/from Sliema.

Nature’s diversity

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Above is part of where I walk with Fanny every morning. The rocks along the Mediterranean stretch from Sliema Pitch to Balluta Bay. It takes more or less an hour and a half back and forth if we walk pretty fast, including stops when we meet other dogs..I love the scenery and Fanny jumps with joy along the rocks.

In the weekends we take the car to Ta Qali National Park where nature is completely different. This is a large recreation area with walkways and a wide range of plants and trees as well as animal species.

We are not far from the rocks near home but we are in a completely different scenery.

Here we find lots of greenery and beautiful plants, many of which I’ve never seen. This is part of nature’s diversity on this small island in the Mediterranean Sea.

WPC – Weathered

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This week is about the effect of time and the elements. Above you see Malta’s typical honey yellow limestone. The terrain of Malta is characterized by limestone plateaus that change constantly in shape due to climate and time. The limestone is still common as building materials and the effect of that is clearly visible below.

A weathered old forgotten store surrounded by walls made of limestone.

Influenced by time, sun, wind, rain and salty water from the Mediterranean Sea.A weathered old sign-board.

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge  / Weathered Theme by Krista

Sunday pics from Italy!

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I love Italy and from Malta to Sicily it only takes 90 minutes by ferry. You can take a day trip or stay over the weekend. We went to Taormina, a city with a lovely Italian atmosphere, wonderful food and so nice people. And the best part is that you can take your little puppy with you…

 Click on an image to enlarge.

I wouldn’t mind living in this old house in St Julians.
Street name in Maltese.

Malta pics

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Yesterday, when I went for my daily walk, I thought, why don´t take some pictures of my daily surrounding. This is just a very small part of all the impressions I encounter and probably it will be a part two.There are many churches along the way. Powerful, big and beautiful from the outside but I rarely visit them.A typical Maltese balcony from an odd angle and the typical blue sky.It´s getting dark around five. This is “Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Church”, Balluta, Saint Julian’s.Now I´m only minutes from home. The sculpture “White Shadows” is an intriguing play of light and shadows. Made by Richard England and situated along Sliema promenade.

Historical buildings are seen almost everywhere on this island.
Almost dried out but with some greenery kept on top and around..
Lovely color!
Not alive but still nice as nature’s own decoration.
Greenary, November is not a bad month :-)
Fanny exploring the environment.
Like sunshine, there is always a little sun in my heart. Tralala … !!
Looks soft but are they..?
Beautiful autumn flowers!

Why Malta – This is my Malta part 2

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Yesterday we went to Saint Agatha’s Tower in Mellieħa, also known as the Red Tower, located half an hour’s drive from home. Not because of the tower itself but for the surroundings, the nature and the view.Fanny really enjoys to explore new areas and there’s a lot left for her to discover on this island.On  Saturday when we visited a park close to Floriana nearby Valletta. Fanny is kept on a lead all the time while I try to teach her to walk without pulling all the time, not as easy as it sounds. A stone is a stone, but some stones can even smile. Or did we meet a magical being 😉

Click on an image in the gallery to enlarge. To each image there is a short text.

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WPC – Temporary

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Ain’t everything temporary? Like the flames of a fire…  … or reflections in the Sea. Like moments of joy and fellowship.
Nothing lasts forever. It’s about catching the golden grains in our daily lives. To see, to feel and enjoy…

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge / Temporary, by Ben Huberman

Temporary

Sunday pics from Malta…

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Yesterday we took the car out to the countryside here in Malta…

…in search for signs of the autumn and this is what we found.
Click on an images to enlarge.We went to Blue Grotto located on the southern coast of Malta. A popular spot for tourists during high season. In November, a popular spot for locals to relax by the Mediterranean Sea.Fanny really enjoy to be in the nature. And for the first time she`s close to the Mediterranean Sea.

Around five it’s getting dark and time to go home. To the left you see the small desert island of Filfla. To the right some youths after a dip in the 22 degrees water, same temperature as in the air. We really had a great day!!

WPC – Glow

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This week, we share something that glows. Sunsets always glow, but everyone is new.Glow from the sun gives glitter on the sea that shines on the little boy, summer is over.

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge / Glow by Jen.H

In the Blue

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Today…

my pictures…Today, my pictures speak for themselves.This little sweetie grows fast. Fanny is now nine weeks old and I really hope she will fit into the cage during the flight between Sweden-Malta when she’s fifteen weeks! Of course she will.

Kort och blandat

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Lite tyngda av mitt vattnande men vatten är vad som behövs. Det har inte regnat på flera månader här på ön.
Tror jag var lite darrig på handen här 🙂
Solguld, en tacksam blomma.
Vackra men för mig, namnlösa. De här växer inte på vår terrass men i Independence Gardens här i Sliema.

Som så ofta några blombilder och en insekt. Klicka för att förstora, till varje bild finns en kort text.Fann den här bilden i arkivet från Sandhamn i Stockholms skärgård. Vilken idyll! Sverige när det är som bäst!Med huvudstaden Valletta i bakgrunden, en idyll i sig med värmen och medelhavet så tätt inpå. Mer än så blev det inte idag. Har badat, det är fortfarande 30+ på dagarna och livet går sin gilla gång här på Malta..Avslutningsvis, Lek i tvättstugan. Nej, jag har inte sysselsättningsproblem eller brist på motiv, det är värmen.. 😉

Everyday life in Malta

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Turister och försäljare på The Strand i Sliema.
Att ha hund är väldigt vanlig och snart är det min tur 🙂
Motionärer som springer mitt på dagen trots över 30 grader!

Några bilder från vardagen här på Malta. Klicka gärna på en bild för att förstora.
Utmed den breda havspromenaden vid Tower Road finns det många sätt att ta sig fram. Nere vid The Strand i Sliema är turisterna många liksom de som vill sälja utfärder.Tower Road sträcker sig flera kilometer från Spinola Bay i San Giljan till Tigne och Qui si sana i Sliema. Perfekt för den som vill promenera, motionera eller bara flanera. 🙂

Monday’s mix from Malta

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Watercolor in the Mediterranean Sea.A diligent visitor among our flowers.This flower doesn’t grow on our terrace and I don’t know what it’s called.

If everything goes as planned, we will go to Sweden in September to pick up our little puppy. Here you see our new family member born 13th July. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this will be reality, I´m so happy.

All pictures are taken by me except those on the puppy, taken by Marianne Gustavsson.