2012 March Malta

Malta Independence Day

Independence Day celebration starts on Friday. Every year it is the same scenario – flowers and a parade to the monument, some events in Valletta.... This year together with the Independence Day, The Malta Jousting tournament was organised in the Fort Rinella. During this event an entrance to the fort cost 5 euro instead of 10 euro. We decided to visit this event and the Fort Rinella together with my friend. From Valletta there is only one bus to Kalkara – no.3 and it is once per hour. To check the schedule visit the arrive website

http://www.arriva.com.mt/home?l=1

The tournament was great. The teller was a British guy and he was perfectly prepared for his role. He knew everything and he told stories without any problems and smoothly.

Firstly, they prepared two knights and he explained everything.

Next, on the small terrain they showed artistry of the knights skills.

There were a lot of people and only one problem we had it was the sun on our faces, if the sun will be behind us, that will be great.

The main attraction happened when the audience was ready and in a good mood. Two knights with lance fought against each other. It was a spectacular event and we really enjoyed our time.

During the break, we had time to visit fort.

http://www.fortrinella.com/

The main attraction of this fort is a coal-fired gun which is able to send a one tone shell up to eight miles every 6 minutes.

There is a shelter open for visitors, a munitions depot and some other rooms. Every day, at 2 pm there is live firing of an original Victorian British Howitzer.

http://www.fortrinella.com/visitor-information.html

As the website shows, there are events every day, but as a museum there is nothing interesting inside – but this is only my opinion. 

2012 April Malta

Easter on Malta

It was my third Easter here and every year I try to find something new or different. 

      

Thursday – Great Thursday.

This year my friends told me about famous stations of the cross in Siggiewi. As I had guests this time we rented a car and decided to go to Siggiewi. They told me that there would be a procession with candles to the Laferla Cross. We was in Siggiewi at 5 pm and we parked our car 5 min walk from the main square. I didn’t expect such a nice and amazing atmosphere. The candles were everywhere, from the church to the main square. There was a kind of a way illuminated by candles.

In the church there was a mass and we were waiting for the moment when the procession would start. After an hour I asked someone who took care of candles when the procession would start and he told me that it is an individual one and we could go to the Laferla Cros now. The way should have been illuminated till midnight. So we were waiting there for nothing. Some of my friends where tired so I drove home and left them at home and came back close to the way to the Laferla Cros. There were a lot of people and the way to the hill was illuminated as the guy said. In the half way from the town there was a small ‘rest place’. There were a ‘shops’ with drinks and foodJ The way up to the hill in some places is narrow and there were holdups and people needed to wait. On the way there were a few places where people could pray but only few did it. Mostly they went up, spent some time with a friends and came back. 

   

Friday - Good Friday,

Friday is a public holiday in Malta so all shops are closed and people should visit at least 7 churches. From 6 pm everywhere starts the Good Friday Procession. Someone told me that in Zejtun will be the best one but I was really disappointed with the procession there.

I knew that a good one is in Mosta so I went there and the procession was good like usually.

Sunday – Easter Sunday,

My friends told me also that on Sunday few towns organise a running procession with the statute of Jesus but maybe next year I can write something about this because I haven’t seen it yet.

2012 April Malta

Malta International Fireworks Festival

Like every year there is here a Fireworks festival, this year the festival was for all week. Every day in different town there were an event. I was only in St. Paul’s Bay, where was the ground fireworks. As every year the fireworks were amazing.