Day Eleven: September 7th----On Our Own
Making Up My Own Itinerary
For the next five days to follow, it was left up to me to select my own itinerary. I was given a car and driver by the Malta Tourism Authority leaving the places to visit to be made up by me. The selection I made proved to be a boon to our filming and will certainly reflect well on Malta.
This time around Greg and I went to film, San Anton Gardens, The Mosta Rotunda, Golden Bay Beaches, Malta Stone Heritage, Delimara and The Big Cannon----all attractive tourist sites and of historic value to those so interested.
San Anton Gardens
The palace where the gardens are situated in Attard, Malta was built in the 17th Century by the Knights of St.John. The gardens around the palace was laid out in the late 19th Century and contain a variety of trees, plants, flowers and birds including Swans, ducks and other water birds in Ornamental ponds.Among the trees we saw a Rubber Tree which must have been over 300 years old. There is a practice where the Head Of State of a visiting country plants a tree in the honour of Malta. Presently, the palace is the official residence of the President of Malta.
Mosta
Next on our agenda was to visit the Rotunda of Malta. This church has the third largest unsupported dome in the world. This church was built in 1833 and took 27 years to complete. Dedicated to the the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this church survived what many think was a miracle during the 2nd World War. An Axis bomb pierced the top of the church and skidded down the main isle while the congregation was still celebrating Mass. The bomb failed to detonate and landed outside in the main street. The bomb was destroyed but a replica now stands in its place to the Miracle of Mosta in 1942.
The church looked absolute beautiful inside and is among the most decorated in the world.
Golden Bay Beaches
From Mosta we went to the Golden Bay Beaches of Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha. These are lovely beaches where thousands gather to enjoy the sand, sun shine and warm water. Most feel that they are the most favourite of the entire island and the crowds that were there proved it. Ironically, John Camilleri of the wine company was there and approached us to say hi!
Malta Limestone Heritage and Gardens
We dropped in on the Malta Stone Heritage Park and Gardens where we were given a tour of the establishment. It showed how the various limestone blocks was cut and readied for construction purposes. It also had a petting zoo of sorts and a little garden. Greg made some figurines out of the stone and then we were shown the truly amazing discovery they found while digging. It was a Punic tomb circa 200 BC complete with body beds etc. Very interesting.
The store also have a gift shop where the stone figurines and models are sold.
Delimara
Delimara not too far from Zejtun in Malta was a place that I personally liked to go strictly to swim and jump off the high cliffs. The day we went was terribly turbulent and wavy so swimming was out of the question. The water was also terribly dirty----much more so than I can ever remember. I think that there should be a severe restriction placed on all plastic water bottles etc. This menace which was very apparent in Delimara is becoming responsible for the deaths of many a marine life and should be stamped out!
Big Cannon
Greg and I also got to see the Big Cannon, a huge cannon that was built to guard the Island against aggressors. The single gun could fire cannon balls as far as eight miles. Quite large for something built circa 1900. I guess it worked for quite awhile.
Movie Studios
Finally, we got to see the large water vats where movies such as Troy, Gladiator, Guns of Naverone etc. were filmed. These large water containers were even with the sea level view so that when a ship built purposely for the movie was placed in it, it seemed to be in the same boundary as the sea. The sets are quite large and it was an amazement to both Greg and I that this was not made into a tourist site!
End Of Day Twelve
For the next five days to follow, it was left up to me to select my own itinerary. I was given a car and driver by the Malta Tourism Authority leaving the places to visit to be made up by me. The selection I made proved to be a boon to our filming and will certainly reflect well on Malta.
This time around Greg and I went to film, San Anton Gardens, The Mosta Rotunda, Golden Bay Beaches, Malta Stone Heritage, Delimara and The Big Cannon----all attractive tourist sites and of historic value to those so interested.
San Anton Gardens
The palace where the gardens are situated in Attard, Malta was built in the 17th Century by the Knights of St.John. The gardens around the palace was laid out in the late 19th Century and contain a variety of trees, plants, flowers and birds including Swans, ducks and other water birds in Ornamental ponds.Among the trees we saw a Rubber Tree which must have been over 300 years old. There is a practice where the Head Of State of a visiting country plants a tree in the honour of Malta. Presently, the palace is the official residence of the President of Malta.
Mosta
Next on our agenda was to visit the Rotunda of Malta. This church has the third largest unsupported dome in the world. This church was built in 1833 and took 27 years to complete. Dedicated to the the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this church survived what many think was a miracle during the 2nd World War. An Axis bomb pierced the top of the church and skidded down the main isle while the congregation was still celebrating Mass. The bomb failed to detonate and landed outside in the main street. The bomb was destroyed but a replica now stands in its place to the Miracle of Mosta in 1942.
The church looked absolute beautiful inside and is among the most decorated in the world.
Golden Bay Beaches
From Mosta we went to the Golden Bay Beaches of Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha. These are lovely beaches where thousands gather to enjoy the sand, sun shine and warm water. Most feel that they are the most favourite of the entire island and the crowds that were there proved it. Ironically, John Camilleri of the wine company was there and approached us to say hi!
Malta Limestone Heritage and Gardens
We dropped in on the Malta Stone Heritage Park and Gardens where we were given a tour of the establishment. It showed how the various limestone blocks was cut and readied for construction purposes. It also had a petting zoo of sorts and a little garden. Greg made some figurines out of the stone and then we were shown the truly amazing discovery they found while digging. It was a Punic tomb circa 200 BC complete with body beds etc. Very interesting.
The store also have a gift shop where the stone figurines and models are sold.
Delimara
Delimara not too far from Zejtun in Malta was a place that I personally liked to go strictly to swim and jump off the high cliffs. The day we went was terribly turbulent and wavy so swimming was out of the question. The water was also terribly dirty----much more so than I can ever remember. I think that there should be a severe restriction placed on all plastic water bottles etc. This menace which was very apparent in Delimara is becoming responsible for the deaths of many a marine life and should be stamped out!
Big Cannon
Greg and I also got to see the Big Cannon, a huge cannon that was built to guard the Island against aggressors. The single gun could fire cannon balls as far as eight miles. Quite large for something built circa 1900. I guess it worked for quite awhile.
Movie Studios
Finally, we got to see the large water vats where movies such as Troy, Gladiator, Guns of Naverone etc. were filmed. These large water containers were even with the sea level view so that when a ship built purposely for the movie was placed in it, it seemed to be in the same boundary as the sea. The sets are quite large and it was an amazement to both Greg and I that this was not made into a tourist site!
End Of Day Twelve
posted by Chuck Byers - Wine Consultant | 9:55 AM
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