David's Diary: Wednesday, October 9, 2002

In Malta

Our passage to Malta was uneventful. We left Siracusa around 2:00 AM to insure that we arrived in Malta in daylight and in time to clear through customs. There was no wind so it was a boring passage under power. After twelve hours the buildings of Valletta loomed in the distance and we passed under Fort Elmo on our way to Msida Creek where the large yacht marina is located.

While tiny, Malta has been an important strategic location for thousands of years. It's central location between the Western and Eastern Mediterranean Seas means that it has been fought over for centuries. Today it is a peaceful island with links to both Europe and North Africa.

Cathedral, Msida

We have been doing a lot of school and exploring a little bit of Malta. Msida Creek is really a narrow and long indentation from the sea. Dominating the head of the harbour is the Cathedral of St. Paul. The Maltese are a catholic nation and despite its small size and population of 400,000 people, there are churches in almost every town.

We have been enjoying Malta. While the native Maltese language is Semitic (Arabic and Hebrew are also Semitic), everyone we have met also speaks English. Malta was a British colony for 150 years from 1814 to 1964. A large British naval base lasted until 1979 and the legacy of the British relationship lasts today. Billboards are in English, beer is served in pints, and you can order "English Breakfast" with sausages and ham. It is the first time in almost eighteen months that we have been in a country where English is widely spoken. We had forgotten what it was like to be able to ask someone for directions and to be able to understand the answer. The Maltese are really friendly and go out of their way to help us out.