Birgu / Vittoriosa Fest

The world's largest cooking pot was lowered by a crane at Victory Square, Vittoriosa, ahead of Malta's biggest cookery event yesterday evening as part of BirguFest.

The pot, large enough to hold risotto for 5,000 people, has a diameter of 3.30 metres and weighs 520 kilos.

For more information with regards to the birgufest visit this website www.birgu.gov.mt/en/node/299

Photo from our local online newspaper.

Tag!! I'm it......

I've been tagged. I had to post this earlier however it's hard to think of 6 weird things about myself. So here it goes.

1. After two weeks of sun, I can honestly seriously say I've had enough. Seriously for those who know me know how much I do not like the sun!! Weird right?!

2. When I talk to people (not friends, cause most of my friends are weird too :), sorry Laetitia and Isabel) and say that I want more children they think I am crazy as for them one or mostly two are enough!!

3. Oh like Laetitia, I do like the rain and love it when I take the kids for a muddy puddle jump.

4. I do not like to go visit the dead at the cemetery (sorry mum) but when I go I can't leave, now how weird is that?!

5. I'd rather have a messy house and see that my family are happily playing together (including me and hubby). Now I think that this is weird because for Maltese people to have a messy house is close to a sin!!

6. mmmm for the last one........I'm pretty sure people think I am weird in many ways but right now I think that's my list ........


Since all my friends have been tagged with this and I have no idea who to tag I am going to stop here.

Figure of birth

This is the fountain which is found at the entrance of the gardens that represents the figure of birth.

Chinese Garden of Serenity

The Chinese Garden of Serenity (Ġnien is-Serenità) is a public Chinese garden in Santa Luċija, Malta (southern part of the island).

The garden was constructed in the early 1990s. The most striking elements in the Chinese Garden are rocks and water, which feature prominently. They symbolise all that forms part of the basis of nature, the yin and yang. The fountain near the entrance of the garden represents the figure of birth.

There are other elements within the Chinese Garden that symbolise the active life. The winding corridor at the northern end of the garden represents the windings and challenges of life, the bamboo garden represents contemplation and the great hall which represents community.

A number of prominent Chinese leaders have planted flowers at the Chinese Garden of Serenity

more photos will follow.........

Apartments ........ Sliema

These apartments have been recently build and are found in Sliema.

Exhibitions.....

On a recent trip to Valletta my friends and I stumbled into this exhibition. Two of the artists exhibiting here are Mr Charles Bonnici who is a painter and a sculptor and Ms Sue Mifsud who is into ceramics and the majority of her work is made from stoneware and fired in an oxidized atmosphere with her own palette of glazes. Raku and pit firing is also a common feature of her work.

Let's go for a ride ......

These horses with carriages are what in Maltese we call 'il-karrozzin'. It's a different way to tour round the cities of Malta. This particular photo was taken in Valletta,however they are also found in Mdina, the silent city.

Strait Street, Valletta

This Street was known as 'the gut' by former service people as this was the red light, bar area.

House of Representatives

This is a photo showing part of the building which houses the members of parliament. Here is the official website of the parliament www.parliament.gov.mt

German Maltese Circle..

Next door to the Austrian Consulate you will find the German Maltese Circle. Here one can come and learn German, also activities in German are frequently organized like films in German Language with subtitles in English etc... Something else which I have to mention is the cafeteria they have. When I used to work in Valletta (round the corner from here) my friends and I used to come here for lunch and they always had some very delicious meals.

Austrian Consulate in Malta

For all you Austrians out there, this is the consulate office in Malta. It is found in St.Christopher street , Valletta.

St. Dominic's Church, Valletta

This Church is found in Merchant Street, Valletta. Inside this church on can see religious scenes painted on the ceiling by the famous Maltese artist Giuseppe Cali. Almost every church in Malta boasts a work of his. Restoration on these paintings have started in July of this year because they have suffered extensive damage and are peeling off in patches.

Floriana

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I had to go to Valletta for a couple of errands. This photo was taking whilst stuck in traffic in Floriana. At the far left side there is the US Embassy building. Will be posting some more photos of our visit that day.

Summer is coming to an end....

Here on the lovely sunny island of Malta summers are long, way to long really!! Last night we had rain which was much needed. This morning the air is feeling fresh and I can finally breath :) good day to you all.

Red Arrows

Britain's Red Arrows produced a heart-stopping aerobatic display to round off the first day of the Malta Airshow yesterday afternoon.

The famous RAF team lit up the dull sky over St Paul's Bay with the elaborate manoeuvres that have made them famous throughout the world.

The Royal Air Force, celebrating its 90th anniversary, dominated the show, which included the debut in Malta of a Typhoon fighter, which opened the show.

The aircraft, which has just joined RAF fighter squadrons, demonstrated incredible manoeuvrability, turning "on a sixpence" below the grey clouds before roaring up into them, afterburners glowing.

Another well-known favourite in the afternoon was a Canadair CL-415 water bomber which skimmed the water several times, rapidly filling its huge tanks and then water bombing the bay.

Other participants in the show included the amphibian which operates the air service between Malta and Gozo, RAF Hawk and Tucano trainers and an RAF Kingair 200.

A static display at Luqa included RAF Harrier jump jets, a USAF KC135 and a Swedish C130 transport aircraft.

The Red Arrows kick off another flying display over St Paul's Bay today at 2 p.m.



Photo and information from our local online newspaper www.timesofmalta.com

Unique Yacht

One of the most recently built and unusual yachts to grace the Mediterranean, the 'A' arrived in Grand Harbour earlier today.

The $300 million, 120 metre 'A' was built by the German shipyard Blohm and Voss. It was designed by Philippe Stark for 36-year-old Russian billionnaire Andrey Melnichenko. He ordered it for his wife Aleksandra, a former Serbian supermodel, hence the name 'A'.

Contrary to contemporary vessels, the 'A' is a radical design, mostly enclosed and with the bow sloping out at waterline level, rather than curving down from the main deck.

The superstructure is concentrated in the middle of the hull, giving the yacht the appearance of a giant white submarine when seen from a distance. There is a helicopter pad on the bow and a pool at the stern.


Information and picture both from times of Malta. This weekend Malta is hosting the yearly air show, featuring the red arrows and 2 typhoon fighters of the Royal Air Force that will apparently steal the show. I will try and make it to the shows and maybe post a photo or two.

Service of out .......... out of Service

For a couple of days (fingers crossed not 10 like the Internet company told me!!) my Internet connection is going to be out of service. Whilst this is being sorted feel free to check out some photos from my early posting days. Let's see how I am going to survive this disconnection :( see you soon my dear friends ......

Modern Sculpture........

Back in 2006 a modern sculpture was placed to decorate this roundabout which is found on the outskirts of Luqa Village. Artist Mr Paul Vella Critien has exhibited his art pieces internationally and also has street sculptures around the world. This piece of modern art however has received lots and lots and lots of comments!!!!

Now be honest and give me your comments about this piece of 'modern art'.

Marsaxlokk

Marsaxlokk is pronounced 'Mar-sa-shlock'. This fishing village has one of the oldest ports in Malta and is the largest with 250 fishing vessels. It's considered to be the most photographed village in Malta. The church you see there is dedicated to Lady of the Rosary 'The Madonna of Pompeii'.

Tas Silg Church .......

'Tas Silg Church' "silg" means ice and this church is dedicated to our lady (Mary) of the Snow. This is today run by the Discalced Carmelite Fathers. Documents dated 1661 at the National Library in Valletta state that a church called 'Our lady of the Snow' was founded some years earlier by Signor Giuseppe Francesco Gauci. This church must have been a private chapel as it was not included in subsequent documents related to pastoral visits conducted by Church authorities. On April 22, 1933 this church together with adjacent land was donated to the Discalced Carmelites by the Marquis Lorenzo Testaferrata and his sister Carmel Testaferrata Bonici.

This area is located at the end of Marsaxlokk village on top of a hill, between Delimara and Marsascala.