We relaxed and recharged our batteries during our ten day stay in Malta, the small archipelago nation in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. We encountered torrential rainfall in the first few days of our visit, but that didn't stop us from exploring the islands of Gozo and Malta and making many unique discoveries along the way. Joined later by our friends Rochelle and Scott from Seattle, we enjoyed better weather, experienced the warmth of Maltese hospitality, and made new friends at a special presentation of the Companion Flag at a primary school. Malta may be a relatively small country, but it certainly didn't lack for things to keep us busy and interested!

The night lights of the restaurants and cafes at Spinola Bay in St. Julian's.	This is the interior of the dome at the Citadel Cathedral in Gozo, where they ran out of money before it could be completed. What's different about it? It's not a real dome: it's a painting on a flat ceiling.	Taking a self-portrait near the salt pans of Marsalforn at sunset with the surf of the Mediterranean behind us.	The photogenic Ta'Pinu Basilica near Gharb on Gozo Island. For this shot, I piled up a few rocks on a ledge wall to put the camera on, in lieu of what normal people use, i.e. a tripod.	Not as famous as Stonehenge but just as fascinating, the Ggantija Temples are said to have been built around 3600 B.C. Incidentally, just four minutes before this picture was taken, the sky was dark grey and buckets of rain were pouring down.
We apparently experienced the first time Malta ever had torrential rainfall in September in recent memory. Many local people commented that more funds were needed for flood prevention and road improvement.	Our stay on Gozo was very relaxing (except for the mosquitoes) even though there was a lot of rain. The spacious Ta' Sbehja maisonettes that we stayed at definitely added to the relaxed atmosphere!	Walking to the entry point of the dive at the Blue Hole in Gozo, next to the Azure Window.	About to descend with Divemaster Dan and a fellow diver; at 40 feet down, we passed through a hole in the rock on the right that led to open sea and the Azure Window. Under the ledge on the left is a cave that we explored at the end of the dive.	Another angle of the same area: two divers prepare themselves in the Blue Hole with the arch of the Azure Window behind them. Apparently in rough weather, the waves reach high enough to touch the top of the arch!

The stunning coastline of Djerba, with Fungus Rock on the left, Blue Hole in the middle, and the Azure Window on the right

One of the underground caves in Gozo. This one was called Ninu's Caves, and to get there, you have to go through a fellow's private house into his backyard. Entrance fee was by donation.	One of the fortified bastions at the end of Vittoriosa in the middle of the famous Grand Harbour. This is the view we woke up to from our room at the Grand Harbour Hotel in Valletta.	Buildings in Malta and espectially Valletta all seemed to have balconies on each floor that faced the streetfront. Valletta was a very pleasant and easy city to walk through despite having a few steps and slopes.	Many houses had a ceramic figure of Our Lady of the Assumption outside their front doors. Most of the architecture in Malta was made out of limestone, and was seldom coloured.	This Gloster Gladiator flighter plane from WWI is in the War Museum next to Fort St. Elmo. Named"Faith," this was one of four planes that comprised the Maltese airforce. Here you can see the Browning machine guns that fire through the propeller.
A caftsman shapes a glass container at the Crafts Village at Ta'Qali. Although somewhat of a tourist trap, this collection of craft stores did have beautiful pieces of artwork, most impressively the glass and lace pieces.	Scott, Rochelle, and Jen in front of the Siege Bell in Valletta, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea where cruise ships come in to dock in the Grand Harbour.	Standing under the Maltese flag at Fort St. Elmo, Valletta.	One of the most memorable cultural events we've witnessed, the Festa of St. Leonard in the village of Kirkop was a fascinating celebration of the village's patron saint.	A statue of St. Leonard is paraded through the packed streets to the church in the center of the town. The buildings were decorated with lights and colourful banners, and it seemed that the entire village was present, enjoying the festivities.
Scott, Jen, and Rochelle join in the festivities by joining the procession of people walking behind the statue to the sound of band music, fireworks, and constantly ringing chuch bells.	The brilliantly lit church with the statue of St. Leonard about to be brought inside. Hundreds of people crowded into the town square, eating holiday nougat and watching the procession slowly make its way into the church.	The masterpiece "Beheading of St. John the Baptist" by Caravaggio can be seen in the museum of St. John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta. Caravaggio was known for his use of light in his paintings.	One of Malta's instantly recognizable trademarks, the network of bright yellow busses are attractions themselves. Many of them relics from the 1950's, they provide cheap transportation all over the island, but some say their timing is a bit erratic.	The colourful interior of the cathedral in the fortified town of Mdina. Even more interesting was the fascinating Cathedral Museum next door, in which were collections of ancient coins, engravings by masters, intricate tapestries, and unique woodwork.
Mdina (coming from the Arabic term for 'walled city' like the medinas we saw in Morocco and Tunisia), is appropriately nicknamed The Silent City. Its streets were pleasantly quiet and strangely devoid of busloads of tourists, at least when we were there.	Rochelle and Scott enjoy a quiet moment standing between the limestone walls of Mdina.	Some of the architectural details of the Cathedral of Mdina. Due to its location on a rocky outcrop, Mdina has been a fortified city for over 3000 years, and was once the capital of Malta.	We took in a fantastic sunset while checking out the megalithic ruins of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra.	Built between 3600 and 3000 BC, these structures have been partially restored so we can see what they once might have looked like. They were closed by the time we reached there at sunset, but we still had a good look at these ancient structures.
Scott introduces the Companion Flag to the children at George Schiner Primary School in Luqa. We were warmly received by Head of School Karmen Tedesco and her staff; it was a wonderful visit and we definitely hope to keep in touch.	The Companion Flag now flies in Malta, thanks to the staff and students of George Schiner Primary School in Luqa. Here under the flags, Scott, Rochelle, and Jen pose with several students with Ms. Tedesco and her staff.	The brightly coloured fishing boats in Marsaxlokk, where we enjoyed some fresh seafood.	The Eye of Luzza was painted on the bows of many of the fishing boats.	Short but sweet; Rochelle and Scott joined us for a brief two days in Malta, but it sure was a lot of fun. While they left to return home to Seattle, we prepared to leave Malta for our visit to Turkey.

For more pictures and description of our Companion Flag experience, click here.