Another travel day, this time a very early getup for our flight from Catania to Malta. We had to get to the airport early so that we could return the rental car. The flight was a short one - only 40 minutes!
Richard’s friend from waaaay back, Rickard, and his partner Tasha, picked us up and drove us - two separate rental cars, mind you - back to their apartment where we will be staying for the next three nights. They have moved into a nearby hotel in order for us to stay at their place. Talk about accommodating!! They have a lovely two bedroom apartment here. Tasha is a patent lawyer who works out of Malta, while Rick is a director for the Church of Sweden and works all over the world.They also have a flat in London and a house in Malmo, Sweden, where Rick is from. Tasha is originally from Wales.
After we got settled in, they took us down to a cafe on the harbour where we could have a bite of breakfast, since we didn’t have time for anything before catching our flight. After that, Tanya left to do some work and Rick took us on a ferry ride across the harbour and then for a bit of a tour around an older area of town. We had to get up to the upper part using the Barracka Lift, an elevator that extends several stories upward. We had a great view of the harbour from up above, then wandered through a lovely garden area, and then into the streets of Valetta It was very hot (32) and quite humid, so after walking for a time we stopped at a cafe on the main walkway for something to quench our thirsts. The cafe was right beside St.John’s Co-cathedral, built between 1573 and 1578 by the Knights of St. John as a place where they could worship. It has a very plain façade, which belies the over-the-top ornateness you find inside. Merrilee and I decided to pay it a visit, while Richard and Rick headed off to visit the War Museum, and Irv headed back for some non-walking time in the park near the Barraka Lift.
The Co-cathedral is certainly a sight to behold inside, with its ornately carved walls and altars and ceilings, many of which are covered in gold leaf. There is one main section with a huge altar area, as well as many equally amazing side areas. It is almost overwhelming in its grandiosity. One of the main attractions in the cathedral is Caravaggio’s work The Beheading of St.John the Baptist, his largest work, and the only one known to have been signed.
After that we headed back to the lift to rendezvous with the boys and headed back to the ferry which would take us back to where we had parked the car and where Tasha met us. We returned to the apartment for a little down time, which was sorely needed after our early get-up this morning.
Mer and I took a short walk around the area to suss out the coffee shops and see a little of the neighbourhood. The apartment overlooks a harbour and there are lots of cafes and restaurants. After nap time Rick and Tasha came back and we headed out to that same area for a bite to eat and then a stop at a gelateria for a tasty treat. Just can’t get enough of that! And sooo many good flavours to choose from!