Emma's blogg » maltese attractions

Gordan Lighthouse

Emma — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:34:15 +0000

View from Gordan Lighthouse. The citadel is in the middle.

Gordan Lighthouse

Gizmo

Terrace-cultivation are used everywhere in Malta and Gozo

The way down from the lighthouse

Cool waves at Dwejra Bay

Emma — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:10:41 +0000

Cool waves!

Azure window

Pelle, Kalle and Gizmo looking at the waves

Small waves in inland sea

Jan-Olof

Pelle

Fungus Rock

Dwejra Bay

Dingli Cliffs

Emma — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:27:20 +0000

Low clouds at Dingli cliffs

Last stop for the day was Dingli cliffs. Unfortunately it was raining when we got there and the clouds were really low, so there wasn’t much of a view either.

Blue Grotto

Emma — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:10:23 +0000

Blue Grotto

Jan-Olof is enjoying the view

Sunday market in Marsaxlokk

Emma — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:28:08 +0000

Today we went to Marsaxlokk for the Sunday market. Here are some examples of things to buy:

Embroidered tablecloths

Locally grown vegetables

Spices and herbs

It was a lot of people here this sunday, more than usual. I guess it had something to do with the Christmas parade and entertainment! The kids were really good at dancing and the younger kids were so cute!

Entertainment

Christmas parade

Day trip to Valletta

Emma — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 10:40:51 +0000

Kalle is working today, so I took the Anderssons to Valletta by bus. The plan was to check out the christmas sale, but we didn’t buy anything.

Old Malta buses

In Valletta they have a real Christmas tree

Andersson's at Upper Barracca Gardens

Let's check out the sale

We went to Grand Master's palace in the afternoon

Buskett Gardens

Emma — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:37:45 +0000

Buskett Gardens

Situated next to Verdala Palace in a valley just inland from Dingli Cliffs, Buskett Gardens was planted by the Knights as a hunting ground.

Heavily wooded with native, hardy species such as Mediterranean pines, Buskett Gardens was created by Grand Master Lascaris. The gardens also hold vineyards, orangeries, olive and lemon groves. There are pathways lined with ivy-clad stone walls and wilder woodland that allows for nature walks and exploration.

From autumn to spring the gardens are full of wild flowers, natural springs and woodland creatures. The wood leads up hill to the more formal gardens of Verdala Palace. A good picnic spot for tourists and locals, the garden is the venue for a lively summer tradition – the feast of L’Imnarja, a folk festival and harvest thanksgiving.

This sure is a popular place...

Verdala palace

View over Laferla cross from Buskett Gardens

Sa Maison Gardens

Emma — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:10:30 +0000

Sa Maison Gardens

On our way to Black Pearl we found a “secret” garden. It’s not really a secret garden of course, but there were no sign at the entrance and I’ve never heard of it. It was really cool, with a lot of trees and flowers and the garden was in several levels. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to explore the whole garden, but we saw most of it anyway.

This is the information I’ve found about the garden at visitmalta.com:

The Sa Maison Garden is a small, pretty garden mostly known for its military heritage. The garden is also known as ‘il-Gnien tal-Milorda’ (Her Ladyship’s Garden) in memory of Lady Julia Lockwood, who resided there between 1842 and 1856. Her house was later demolished and the garden taken over by the military, which were responsible for its maintenance until 1903, when it was taken over by the civil government.

Apart from the several regimental crests, which are engraved in the bastion wall inside the garden, there’s also a small model of a castle carved in Maltese stone dedicated to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment.

The garden itself is on several levels and there is a Knight’s Gardjola (watch tower), which is easily accessible and provides spectacular views of the Ta’ Xbiex Yacht Marina and fortifications.

Steps on the wall side leading to nowhere?

Remains from the canons

View over Ta’ Xbiex marina

Checking the view from Il-Fawwara, near Dingli cliffs

Emma — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:12:44 +0000

Dingli cliffs was the next viewpoint on our sightseeing tour with Aida and Frippe. Just on the side of Dingli cliffs is Il-Fawwara, a place a like a lot. It’s peace and quiet there and amazing views over cliffs and the sea. This is a good spot to watch the sunset from.

Today I noticed something I haven’t seen on my previous visits to Il-Fawwara: the word NAZAE written in stones in a short piece of stone wall. I’ve googled it, but can not find any explanations.

The word NAZAE written with stones

Another thing I noticed for the first time today is that you can see the white tent protecting the megalithic temple Ħaġar Qim from here.

Ħaġar Qim is protected with a big tent

View over Il-Fawwara and Filfla island

Sunset at Il-Fawwara

Aida and Frippe watching the sunset at Il-Fawwara

Filfla island in the evening

Sunset at Il-Fawwara

There are still some aqueducts in good shape on Malta

Emma — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 15:40:27 +0000

Aqueduct

Blue Grotto

Emma — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:37:47 +0000

Blue Grotto

In the afternoon we took 2 of our collegues from Sweden (Aida and Frippe) for a sightseeing tour to the south side of the island. First we went to Blue Grotto and took some photos from the viewpoint just opposite the cave. Between Blue Grotto and Filfla island they are drilling for oil.

Oil rig between Blue Grotto and Filfla island

Heldag vid Blue Lagoon på Comino

Emma — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:41:13 +0000

Idag tog mamma, Lasse och jag en tur till ön Comino som ligger mellan Malta och Gozo.

Vi tog bussen til Cirkewwa och därifrån båt ut till ön. Men vi fick vänta i över en timme på bussen. En efter en åkte de förbi – fullastade!

Det var mycket småfisk i vattnet trots alla som badade. Jättemysigt att snorkla!

På väg hem…

På hemvägen fick vi åka förbi några grottor.

091009 10:59 Nisse
Ser trevligt ut Är det tillåtet att ta sig in i grottorna?

Båttur till Blue Grotto

Emma — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:42:26 +0000

Visst var det fint, men båtturen vi gjorde på Gozo vid Azure window var både bättre och billigare!

Dessutom blåste det ganska mycket, så vi trodde nog hela högen att vi skulle trilla i plurret…

Gordan Lighthouse

Emma — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:58:13 +0000

Fyrens historia…

Den 21 meter höga fyren började byggas i Juni 1852. Hela projektet invigdes officiellt av Sir William Reid den 11 oktober 1857.

Fyren har spelat en stor roll för försvaret av de maltesiska öarna, särskilt under andra världskriget. De installerade radar i fyren för att förutse fiendens attacker, vilket gav gott om tid för sirenerna att varna människor att ta skydd.

1962 installerades elektrisk belysning. Höjden på ljusstrålen var cirka 180 meter och den sträckte sig ca 54 kilometer ut. Detta system invigdes officiellt av ministern för industriell utveckling och turism, den 7 mars 1963.

Mot slutet av juni 1994, installerades ett annat system. Detta system är fortfarande i drift. Systemet är automatiskt och kräver mindre underhåll och övervakning.
Sjöfartsverket ansvarar för Gordan Lighthouse.

Den 7 december 1996, startade ett nytt projekt som drivs gemensamt av Maltas universitet och universitetet i Köln genom ett avtal med den maltesiska och den tyska regeringen. En internationell studie om luftföroreningar och effekten av kolmonoxid på ozonskiktet pågår. Instrument som mäter halten av kolmonoxid i atmosfären, har installerats för detta ändamål.

Utsikt från fyren. Man ser större delen av Gozo samt Malta i bakgrunden.

Azure window, Inland sea och Fungus rock

Emma — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 15:12:55 +0000

Azure window.

Från Inland sea kan man åka båt genom tunneln i klippan.

Vattnet var helt otroligt blått!

Azure window från baksidan.

Fungus Rock