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"There's always a plan, but unexpected things happen and we just go with the flow. Though I do believe that fate and destiny often play their part"
sailing blog
We've had more culture in the past few days than you could shake a stick at!! This time we headed off to see the spectacular Baroque architecture featured in "The Silent City"……or Mdina as it's actually called. The silent bit comes from the fact that the narrow alleyways and roads don't allow for any cars, although I suspect if I read up on the history there'll be a more authentic reason. In the 16th century this fortified extravaganza of big posh houses/palaces was the location of choice for the great and the good of Malta'a high society. Perched up on a hill top, surrounded on all sides by monumental bastions, Mdina offered secure protection for the rich dignitaries who didn't want those nasty Turkish invaders knocking on their doors in the middle of the night demanding lord knows what. Today, it's still home to people whose families have held property there for centuries on end, plus wealthy types who want to live in what is essentially an open air museum. It's alright if you like a never ending parade of tour parties yomping around your front yard, following a guide holding up an umbrella or, for the Americans who've stepped off their cruise liners for the day, a Micky Mouse set of ears on a stick. I kid you not. Anyway, when all's said and done, the buildings are well worth the trip, despite the incessant chattering of hundreds of French, German, Dutch, school kids blocking every avenue without a care in the world. And don't get me started on the Japanese….. I'm sorry but there's just no other way to say it……everywhere you look…... you see lovely knockers! For a little light relief from all the architectural splendour, you can visit the torture museum, where all manner of atrocities from down the ages are displayed in gruesome reality with fake blood and real sound effects. For the sake of people's nervous dispositions, I've only shown pictures of the more light hearted ways in which humans have inflicted pain and suffering on each other. Poor James came out saying that he was now deeply disturbed and needed a chilled beer to calm his nerves. Any excuse!!! I think I should end on a more positive note. Here's a picture of the only normal houses I could find in Mdina. And even these could rightfully be described as Des Res!!!
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A FEW PICS OF COMINOClick a photo to enlarge and use side arrows to scroll through.
COMINO IS CURRENTLY HEREDID SOMEONE SAY SEAFOODOn our journey from Portugal to Greece we enjoyed amazing seafood almost everywhere we stopped. Finding the local fish market was always a priority because seafood was so plentiful and so reasonably priced. And, the displays were a feast for your eyes.
Locating a market sometimes meant pounding the pavements in searing heat, but if you kept your eyes peeled, you often came across a little clue. The pic below was a rather less than subtle advert for a fish market - it was eight feet tall.
Freshly cooked onboard, a plateful of giant prawns, baked in wine and garlic, washed down with a few glasses of local vino, was like heaven. Watching the sunset on the boat eating a meal like that was the epitome of "living the dream".
Now we're in Greece we've another favourite to savour. I'm talking about fried Calamari. It's usually good, but every now and then it's off-the-scale fantastic. At Natalie's Taverna on Kontokali Beach in Corfu, it was nothing short of epic.
We're based in Lefkas now and It's been a bit of a mission to find somewhere just as good. And we have. Rakias is a mere ten minute walk from the marina and this little fish market, with its very own taverna attached, is quite sensational.
Oh...and it's also worth mentioning that, on occasions, a bit of barbequed Octopus is on the menu at some of the tavernas we frequent. Can I resist....no. SUNSETS AND DRAMATIC SKIESNo filters, or any other monkey business, have been used to enhance these images.
OUR ADVENTURES FROM THE BEGINNINGCATEGORIES
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