Tag: Valletta

A Day trip to Valletta

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It’s not often that I visit Valletta but a few days ago I took the ferry to Malta’s capital. Here, most of the side streets are narrow and some also very steep. The best way to get around is on foot, which I did.The entire city of Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 and selected as the European Capital of Culture year 2018. The city became the capital on 18 March 1571.Valletta has many titles, all recalling its rich historical past. It’s the “modern” city built by the Knights of St John, a masterpiece of the Baroque. It’s also one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.

More to come….

On the Stage

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Sunday night we spent at the Mediterranean Conference Center in Valletta, to listen to……Ben Portsmouth, “The World’s Number One Elvis Tribute Artist” who for the first time visited Malta. Above, some images from the intro of the show. Below, the artist himself.I usually never shoot under these lighting conditions, thus the quality is not the best.

But most important, it was a great night, taking a walk down memory lane. Good old tunes and also a bit challenging to try to take pictures of the artist and his band on the stage. Click on an images to enlarge.
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In August 2012, Ben Portsmouth made history when he won the Elvis Presley Enterprises ‘Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest’ which took place in Memphis, crowning Ben as the ‘Worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist’, the only artist from outside the USA to ever win this prestigious title.
There was only one Elvis but Ben is the closest you will ever get in terms of Elvis’s looks, his singing voice and on stage charisma. Hope you enjoyed!

Delicata’s Art Exhibition – 10 artists, 10 barrels…

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Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit an exciting art exhibition in Valletta. The exhibition was organized by the Delicata winery which is the most awarded winery of Malta with over 100 international awards. Ten artists were collectively exhibiting their so called ‘bettija’rt’, which is an artwork made from a decommissioned wine barrel or ‘bettija’ as they are called in Maltese.

Some of the works explore unconventional techniques such as multi-patterned paintings with shape and line being driving forces. For the majority of artists, the use of color is important and often explosive. In some cases, color has been stripped away, leaving the barrel bare but covered with ingenuity and hard graft. Each finished piece reflects “the joys of wine, art and good living in Malta today and through the ages”. The following artists participated:
Surrealist Joseph Barbara.
Talented painter and model Claire Attard Vella.
Multi-media artist David Xuereb.
Globetrotting artist Caroline Said Lawrence.
Expressionist Carmel Bonello.
Palette-knife virtuoso Francis Galea.
Up-and-coming artist Priscilla Gatt.
Ceramist and painter Donald Camilleri.
Multi-talented artist Sara Pace.
Creative illustrator Zack Ritchie.

Hope you enjoyed this exhibition as much as I did. Cheers!!

Balance & Harmony

Published on by Anita17 Comments

You may not feel or see any balance between these two images,
but I tried to put some harmony in both of them, then I found a balance.

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony”
– Thomas Merton –

Today’s Architecture

Published on by Anita14 Comments

When comparing this type of architecture with my header showing the view of Valletta, it’s hard to imagine that when I took that picture I had these high-rise blocks just behind me.

Valletta is today one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world.
It doesn’t seem likely that today’s buildings will have such a long history in the future.

 

Which way…

Published on by Anita33 Comments

A  breakwater outside Malta’s majestic Grand Harbour which is one of the most spectacular ports in the world.It is possible to take a walk along the Mediterranean Sea when you are in Malta’s capital Valletta.
But some parts could be a bit difficult to access… …and so it was when we hiked in Majjistral park. My brave Basenji Fanny and my dear stubborn husband try to find the way to the stairs leading up to the plateau. Which we never found because there was no staircase.Another breakwater outside Malta’s Grand Harbour in Valletta. St Elmo Breakwater Footbridge.

Which way would you choose.

Posted for Son of a Beach’s Which Way Photo Challenge.

Maltese Architecture

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When I moved to Malta in 2000, there was no such modern architecture on the island.

The old houses are often well-preserved with a genuine Maltese architecture. Today, modern structures at Tigné Point strongly contrast with the buildings in Valletta as well as with most of the towns on the island. The only building that had a modern style when I moved here was the Portomaso Business Tower which opened in 2001. With its 97 meters it is still the tallest building in Malta.

The construction industry is currently booming here in Malta and new high-rise houses are being built almost everywhere. Hopefully they are also thinking of preserving as much as possible of the old houses, otherwise Malta will lose a lot of its charm.

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.

WPC – Tour Guide

Published on by Anita40 Comments

This week, Krista asks us to share images of where we live. What do we love about where we live?
Malta is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located south of Italy. It´s one of the smallest countries in the world with an estimated population of 422,000. It´s a popular tourist destination with its warm climate and architectural and historical monuments. Malta has some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world and the capital Valletta is designated as the Capital of Culture 2018!
Love the wonderful nature, especially in spring with all wildflowers and a stunning greenery all over the island. Not to be found during the hot summer months.Who doesn’t love the typical Maltese balconies, painted in different colors…

… and where in Europe can you buy fresh sweet strawberries even in winter.
The local wine is very tasteful as well as many other local produces.Then we have the colorful fishing boats known as Maltese luzzu. There are much much more I would like to share, but I think I have to stop here and consider a part two…

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge  / Tour Guide

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.

Why Malta – This is my Malta part 3

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When I moved to Malta in 2000, the buses looked like this. Bus drivers were often ruthless, they smoked while they were driving, there were only men and everyone owned their own bus. As well as providing public transport across the country, the traditional Malta bus served as a popular tourist attraction, until 2011. Much has happened and much has changed during the 17 years I’ve lived here.
This is parts of the The Parliament House in Valletta that was officially inaugurated in 2015. The ultramodern design that contrasts with the rest of Valletta has gone as far as the UNESCO questioning the city’s title as a World Heritage Site. Valletta will be hosting the title of European Capital of Culture in 2018!Then we have these colorful boats known as Maltese luzzu. But what symbolizes the eye?The eyes’ origins are steeped in mystery. They are often referred to as the Eye of Horus, as a symbol of protection and good health, and are believed to protect the fishermen from any harm while they are out at sea.

More to come in part 4…

 

Malta Pride 2017 Valletta

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So much color and so much joy!Lots of people gathered at Republic Street in Valletta yesterday to celebrate Love, Life and Diversity.Joy, always so much better when you are together.Nice guys!

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.. 😉

I samspel och harmoni

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IMG_2568-2Djur och människa i harmoni. Att vovven blundar beror säkert på en känsla av trygghet där i famnen.
Det lilla vecket i pannan och de vaksamma öronen kan säkert vilken hundkännare som helst tyda.

IMG_2347 I samspel med kameran riktad mot Valletta. Lägg märke till tatueringen på armen, gilla eller ej.
Betydelsen av alla hänglås som trängs på broräcket känner nog de flesta till. Symbolen för evig kärlek.

Torsdagtema / i Like

Kan säga att det var väldigt svårt att få ihop ett inlägg idag. Inte för att regnet öser ner, termometern visar 13 grader och det blåser som fan sjutton. Saknar inspiration och harmoni i både kropp och själ just nu. Att en enda människa, som jag dessutom inte känner, utan att säga eller skriva ett ord, bara genom antydan, kan beröra så starkt känns ofattbart.

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….och livet går självklart vidare 😉