Mellieha

This is my second writing for yesterday's adventures. I did some last night but was too tired to finish. Then when I was close to the end today I had copies of pictures I didn't want and when I tried to edit them out I lost everything. I could have cried:(.

We left home about 2:30, sat in the sun looking out over the Bay waiting for a bus. All busses go to Bugibba station so any bus would be fine.

We got off our bus where we wanted to walk to the palace. Our bus driver said there might be a small local bus, #102, going that way but she wasn't sure if it was still running. Our lucky day. It was sitting right there. He had just brought four tourists from that way and told us to get in and he would take us back right now before he continued to Golden Bay with his other passengers.

 

Our destination is Selman Palace just on the outskirts of Mellieha on the other side of St Paul's Bay. We can see it sitting on the top of the hill from our apartment. We have read that it is run as a hotel with restaurant now but it shows no signs of being used anymore. It is run down with no evidence of any maintenance being done inside or out.

 

This local was kind enough to let me take his picture as he trotted along to his house up the street.

Everything is made of stone. These are original farm houses for their area. I asked if they were maintained for tourist purposes but I'm sure I got an answer. We were told they were used for events and there was a Christmas gathering on Dec 27/28 from 11-7 which would include local crafts, produce and children's performances. We will try to go back and do more exploring while we are there.

There is very little arable ground on this rock of Malta so all the fields are small and usually contained within rock walls. I can't imagine the farmers allowing the soil erosion here that we have seen in Arizona. No big water spraying apparatus here. It's all done with black hose like you would use in your vegetable gardens at home.

It was an enjoyable wander around mostly by ourselves again. Not being sure when or if another bus would come back we started to stroll the one kilometre back through the village towards the highway to Mellieha. It was a lovely late afternoon by now and the sun was low providing beautiful shadows and lighting.

 

 

 

 

I had read somewhere that when the ancient Romans built roads they measured distances by erecting these markers at regular intervals. The distance was calculated by a soldier's thousand ( Mille) double paces, hence our word now of milepost. I don't know if this is an original but it does seem like it might be. I like to think it is.

Doing a little renovating. The exterior walls don't come down, just clear out the insides and start over. You don't even disturb your next door neighbours house...except maybe noise and dust. But that just seems to be the way they do it.

 

 

My favourite picture of the day. I am also trying to paint it.

 

 

 

 

Looking back across the bay towards our place. We could pick out our apartment because of the big staircase that goes down to the water. Now we know what's on both sides of the Bay. We are almost back to the main road and along comes our little bus. He pulls over and takes us the rest of the way. As it's still early and almost dark we go into Mellieha to see some Christmas lights. It's not spectacular but it is pretty.,

 

 

 

Malta has its district Pulizija that dress in dark navy pants and sweaters and then they have these guys, the Rapid Intervention Units in more speedy looking little cars. They are outfitted like swat patrols with the berets and pants tucked into their boots. Quite serious looking. They stopped right beside us while the driver went into a store.... maybe doing a little shopping:)....I asked the other fellow what the difference was between the two groups. He said training and that they policed all of Malta. I asked "like Swat", he said "yes we do swat", lol. He was looking at his cel phone so I told him 'no distracted driving'. He said he wasn't driving, we laughed because they drive on the right hand side so he really was the passenger.

It's been a long day, we've seen a lot and it's time to go home. Another bus ride, picked up a quick dinner from Sphinx Pastizzeria and a short walk to our apartment. That's the latest we've been out since our arrival. Tomorrow we will go to Valletta for the light displays.

 

 

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