Malta Visit May 2009
So here
we are again in Malta. I reckon this is my 29th year and about my 40th visit
and it is THE relaxing place to be. In the past it has taken me quite a few
days to chill properly and reach that optimum state of 'chilled-ness' but
having had a few months of practice I reached it on the first afternoon just
simply standing on the top floor balcony of Myriam
and Charlie's house where we are staying for the next week or so. Not
even a delayed flight which got us to Malta by 1.30am could spoil it. Mind you
we did enjoy the relative luxury of Air Malta this time. So much more civilized
than EJ or RA, and cheaper too!
We arrive
on the weekend of the local feast which means that St Monica street
is closed to traffic and the locals turn out in their best to listen to the
band and watch the church statue of Mary being paraded around Guardamangia on the shoulders of white robed-parishioners.
The statue is very heavy so progress is quite slow as the procession stops for
a breather every 50 yards or so.
The house
is ideally positioned at the end of the route just at the point where other
volunteers are recruited from the watching crowds to take a turn at carrying.
As places are swapped the white robes make a beeline for ‘Graciepaul’
House with great enthusiasm. I believe it was for some special form of ‘refreshment’
to give that extra bit of energy for the last few yards to the Church and up
the steep steps. Apparently there was a
church meeting some time back concerning the nature of this refreshment i.e.
that it should not be alcoholic. It
seems that the priests were worried about the safety of the statue on it sway
back into the church. There might be
some evidence that some of the carriers were perhaps a little over refreshed -
have a look at this video on YouTube!
(You can
follow this link or type ‘wobbly statue’ into Google – it should be the 3rd
result)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBCCcEjz3IA&feature=channel_page
One can't
help but admire the community pride in the church. Children throw paper from the balconies onto the procession (an activity engaged in
wholeheartedly by the Buhagiar great grandkids) and
the locals applaud the efforts of the carriers. As well as a few street traders
selling various nick-nacks and candy floss there is
the church hall close by offering an impressive menu of treats.
Since Sunday we have been busy eating, drinking,
posing, sleeping, reading, swimming and sun-bathing (in order of importance). Here is the evidence.
Sadly our
meal times have been dominated by Anthony’s constant ‘verbal’ on his new iPodTouch. Some of his best artwork shown above.
He is
also very proud of his plank – see here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWO_xJvTerA
We are proud parents.