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Valletta, Malta
for 2 warm winter months, from
January 11 to March 7, 2005
Read a description of my wanderings
in my Malta Travelogue.
 
From the rooftop terrace
of my three story townhouse (built in 1650), I can sip coffee or wine while
enjoying the view of Fort Sant' Angelo across the Great Harbor.
And from Fort Sant' Angelo, you can see my
rooftop.
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Watching Feste San Pawl Parade
as it passes under my balcony.
St. Paul (San Pawl, in
the Malti language) was shipwrecked on Malta in 60 AD when he was being
transported back to Rome for trial. He stayed on Malta long enough to
convert everyone to Christianity and became the patron saint of Malta.
Today, the population is 98% Catholic and religious festivals are very
important. On February 10, Feste San Pawl is celebrated with a parade,
starting (and ending) at San Pawl Shipwrecked,
the old church across the street from me. Religious relics, two marching
brass bands (over 100 players in each loud band) and a few thousand people march through the streets of Valletta as
confetti rains on the parade. I have three balconies facing the street,
allowing me a variety of viewing perspectives and allowing the blaring music of
the brass bands continuous access to my ears.
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| The highlight of the parade is the huge wooden statue of San Pawl, carved in
1651. |
An important part of the parade is a sacred silver arm that encases the
wrist bones of San Pawl. |
As the parade passes, people cheer and toss so much confetti that an
umbrella seems practical. |
The old
and the new?
The Maltese Army parades
with its weapons to demonstrate its readiness to defend Fort St. Elmo.
In the 1960s, Britain
gave Malta several hundred old buses that could not pass road inspection in
England. They are still running well in Malta.
Karnival Ta' Malta is an impressive event
with people coming from all over Europe to enjoy the festivities.
There are five days of
parades, dance competitions, athletic events and, of course, costumed merriment.
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| Costumed dancers accompany the intricate and elaborate floats. |
Since the 1400s, the week before Lent has been week of
parades and parties in Malta. |
Twenty local groups compete for best costumed dance. The theme chosen
by this group is "Paris." |
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| Over 25 floats parade each day. On narrow streets, floats fold up but
open at each piaza. |
Medusa spreads her arms with a silver costumed girl suspended from each arm
and snake head. |
Then the top lifts and a book opens to reveal a Trojan Horse and more
costumed dancers. |
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| Then a huge stein of beer lifts from the rear, sporting still more dancers
on top. |
Marvelously, the entire float the folds back tightly to pass through the
narrow City Gate. |
Outside the City Gate, the floats cross the bridge over the moat by the
massive fort walls of Valletta. |
The fishing village of
Marsaxlokk (mar sa schlock)
still uses the
Phoenician style boats of early settlers on Malta.
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