A late report on an August dawn cruise.

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There is a link between our last port in Sicily and Malta. The artist Caravaggio. He was born in milan but had to leave after several brawls and wounding a policeman. He moved to Rome where his career took off. However he continued brawling and finally in a duel killed a man. He was sentenced to death by beheading but he escaped. Anyone who recognised him however was allowed to carry out the sentence.
He then fled to Naples and on to Malta where he was welcomed and even made a knight of the order of St. John. However he continued brawling,was thrown in jail but escaped to Syracuse,Sicily. he was Thrown out of the Knights as a"foul and rotten member".

In the Cathedral is his painting of the beheading of John the Baptist.

 

Another painting of note by Caravaggio -St.Jerome writing but it is famous for a different reason.

 

It was tracked down and recovered after a sting operation by a monk who was director of Museums in Malta. Badly damaged though.

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The last of the Cathedral.

 

And a different door handle on exiting.

 

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The front of the cathedral with it's different clock. So I can tell you we exited the cathedral just before 11am on wednesday 25th September.

 

I wonder how well this organisation is doing.

 

This street leads us to our next stop.

 

So at the end of the street you go through a passageway.

 

And come out at the main square where Queen Victoria is looking at a dinosaur.

 

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The dinosaur is there because this year's Jurassic World movie was in Malta for some of the scenes.

 

Lovely villa with a passage into the courtyard.

 

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A bit of history.

 

And now off to our next stop.

 

An interesting feature.

 

Then our next stop.

 

A nice courtyard where we had a snack and tea or coffee.

 

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And a macaw which of course I talked to.

 

Then a tour of the house. same family has lived here for ~ 200 years.

 

 

Edited November 14, 2022 by drron29

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A picture of an altar.

 

And this is it.

 

It opens up as the altar. Below is another altar.

 

The views from the Balcony.

 

A large library.

 

 

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Somebody liked chess.

 

And a clock collection.

 

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Then outside and down to the bomb shelter.

 

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We now continue our journey down to the waterfront.

 

And at the waterfront.

 

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Now back to the ship.Once again we were dropped some distance from our ship and went through a duty free shop to get to the wharf.

 

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And our suite is the third deck down from the top and second cabin along from the white band towards the left.

 

Our neighbour.

 

Views from the ship once back on board.

 

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So to dinner in La Terraza. First the wines.

 

Rojaan started off with the carpaccio and i had an octopus dish. Not sure what it was with.

 

For mains Rojaan had a mushroom pasta dish and I had veal liver which was yummy.

 

Mrsdrron had dessert.

 

Now our waiter had worked for Silversea for 5 weeks. obviously a very quick learner. Because I had the cheeses plate. I did remark to our waiter how I loved Gorganzola so was presented with a plate of gorganzola and a second plate with the other cheeses. How good is that.

 

I do love the crew on Silversea.

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I really liked our time in Malta. But it was a long day and I slept like a log. It was lucky that the next day was a sea day so a sleep in as well. Fortunately on next years cruise we will call at Malta twice. On one stop for 2 days.

So as on most other days we went to trivia. our team didn't do too badly winning once and usually second or third. Though after the first 2 or 3 days the team did change as we had 2 English couples that moved to an other team. Maybe because we called them Poms? replaced by US and Canadians.
I always tried to get to the putting competition. won one day with an absolute fluke of a shot bouncing of walls to go around the stairs for a hole in one. Possibly because the ships roll straightened it up. Went from 4th to winner with one shot. Then the day I had 2 holes in one and a 2 shot hole but still finished second.

Of course the other thing you do is eat. lunch at Kaiseki.

 

And dinner at the main restaurant. Slightly different menu to the first leg.

 

We both started with the caviar which was on the every day menu.

 

They replaced my tomato soup with a mushroom one. It was even better!

 

 

I had a steak again and once more not sure what Rojaan had.

 

 

 

 

 

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Early next morning we were cruising into Kotor. It was cold but I was out on the top deck at the bow with new friend John who was an Australian politician and Speaker of the House in NSW. Again in the small world category there was also a banker who worked with our daughter in law's father for many years.
The scenery was really nice.

 

Evidence of summer fires.

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Even got to see sunrise.

 

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I didn't want to miss anything.

 

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Even some beaches.

 

 

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The end is in sight.

 

The dock.

 

 

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Finally docked. The busses are ready.

 

We went out after the ships excursions as we elected to take the Virtuoso excursion rather than the ships tours and the $150 OBC as this basically was 3 of the ship's excursions rolled into one. We were pleased with the selection. It was escorted by Virtuoso agents, a Canadian couple who were very good. Much better than the Canadian sisters who represented Virtuoso on the first sector who were useless. Thankful we took the OBC for that one.
So off we go.

 

 

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We were berthed virtually at the gate of the Old town.

 

[QueSeraSera]

these are just fantastic drron

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Not a place I wanted to visit.

 

Restaurant prices seemed very reasonable.

 

A shop for our geologist friends.

 

The mountains dominate the scene.

 

And now the Cathedral.

 

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Back outside and to the local museum which had a nautical theme.