“Live” trip report with pics, Celebrity Constellation, Venice-Barcelona, 8/25-9/03

[cl.klink]

Windows, balconies, and doortops in Taormina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2019 by cl.klink

[cl.klink]

Castelmola, another Norman era hill town facing the sea, in Sicily

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cl.klink]

Awoke today on day #6, this is view from veranda, in Valetta, Malta 

[cl.klink]

Malta is an interesting place. Less splashy than the other ports on this cruise so far. I think I need to stay here a few days to dive in and study it. It is more arid and beaten up and looks more economically challenged. The tremendous shelling it endured in WWII is still much talked about, and in some way I can’t quite explain, feels like it only just ended as I travel about. Valetta has an old walled city, but the rest of the city is a very busy place, with people at work. Lots of culture here, but away from the old city and grand harbor, less strolling the streets type of stuff. To me it had an Middle East feel, in some ways

 

Very old place. People were here in Neolithic times. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, night’s off St. John’s, and many other cultures followed. The result is a mixture of many architectures, some quite grand structures, and a unique cultural blend. The Arabic and African influences present especially give the place a very different feel than Sicily, just up the street.  After brief French rule

the Brits ruled from 1800 on, and though Malta is an independent country now, the British influence remains, with English being the main language, driving on the left, etc. 

 

We ended up doing hop on hop off bus but if I had it to do again would have hired a cab instead. The HOHO was hot and crowded and there was only a little audible brief commentary on a system we could use head phone speakers to listen to but even that did not work in many seats. Though the buses went every 30 min, it was a slow and inefficient way to travel. Also, at $30/person x 4, a hired cab would have been competitive or better. Oh well.

 

Went to Mdina. Very interesting place. It’s in the middle of the island because in the first millennium AD it was a good idea to be away from pirates on coastlands. Because being near the coastline became more important in the last millennium, Mdina was largely left alone. So, much is preserved. Fortified city with many museums, walkways to stroll, some restaurants, etc. 

 

 

Edited August 30, 2019 by cl.klink

[johnoli]

On 8/25/2019 at 9:54 AM, cl.klink said:

Our hotel is literally the drop off point at Piazzale Roma, from airport. Very impressed with this place, right across from the train station, as Grand Canal begins. 

We are 

[johnoli]

On 8/25/2019 at 9:54 AM, cl.klink said:

Our hotel is literally the drop off point at Piazzale Roma, from airport. Very impressed with this place, right across from the train station, as Grand Canal begins. 

We are staying there. We fly on Monday 9th September. Three nights before 

[cl.klink]

1 hour ago, johnoli said:

We are staying there. We fly on Monday 9th September. Three nights before 

 

Thats great. I wish I had been there longer. I was impressed with the place. 

 

- Joel 

[johnoli]

4 minutes ago, cl.klink said:

 

Thats great. I wish I had been there longer. I was impressed with the place. 

 

- Joel 

For some reason the internet seized up before I had finished typing. We sail on Thursday the 12th. Our first port of call is Split then Dubrovnik. We can’t wait. First time on Celebrity although we have cruised a few times with other companies.

 

John

[cl.klink]

Valletta scenes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cl.klink]

On the way from Valletta to Mdina

 

Vineyards apparently tend to be inland and in flat surfaces. The statement was that the islands tends to be too windy to have them in hilly areas. 

 

In the town of Mosta

 

Church in Mosta with one of the largest unsupported domes of any church in Europe.  In WWII a German bomb dropped through, landed near congregants, but did not explode. The “miracle” was much talked about. Years later the German pilot asked, and received, permission to attend the church and ask for forgiveness. There was a big turnout and a happy reception. 

[cl.klink]

Mdina comes from another time and another world, with people here for over 4000 years, a fortified area perched up high in a plateau lookin g out over the middle of the island. Was once the capital of Malta. Has absorbed and preserved architecture and culture and food from the many civilizations that came here. The cafe where we had an excellent lunch had walls from 800 AD. Just a wall sitting there and you can touch it and everything.  

 

Well worth a visit for at least an hour or two, could support a full day. 30 minutes or so drive from Valletta. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[johnoli]

Great reading and pictures Joel.

 

I was born in Malta and was there for a week in May. Their is a hell of a lot of building work going on including upgrading the main road from Valletta going past Mosta and Mdina  towards Melieha Bay.

 

It will be great when it’s all finished. 

 

John

 

 

 

[Atwell]

Thank you for the wonderful photos and the interesting commentary!

[DENIE]

Again....great narration and photos!  Will also be in Malta in November (including Mdina!). 

[cl.klink]

11 hours ago, johnoli said:

Great reading and pictures Joel.

 

I was born in Malta and was there for a week in May. Their is a hell of a lot of building work going on including upgrading the main road from Valletta going past Mosta and Mdina  towards Melieha Bay.

 

It will be great when it’s all finished. 

 

John

 

 

 

 

Thanks, John. I really enjoyed visiting it. I’d like to go back when I can really take the time to dwell and appreciate the places at a deeper level. 

 

- Joel

[cl.klink]

11 hours ago, Atwell said:

Thank you for the wonderful photos and the interesting commentary!

 

Thanks for following!

 

- Joel

[cl.klink]

 

7 hours ago, DENIE said:

Again....great narration and photos!  Will also be in Malta in November (including Mdina!). 

 

Hope you enjoy. As with so many of our stops, I wish I had had more time there. More than any of the other ports so far, I could have done more with more advanced planning. You’ll have a great visit!

 

- Joel

Edited August 31, 2019 by cl.klink

[cl.klink]

18 hours ago, singinalot said:

Taormina really surprised us last year. I knew we would like it, but the colors, the buildings, everything just really captivated us.

 

Agree. A feast for senses. 

- Joel 

[cl.klink]

Day #7, sea day 

 

My anticipated view for the day

 

[cl.klink]

Got some laundry done in the sink twice so far. Easy peasy. My one bag and it’s contents for travel has worked fine in this trip. I am so glad I stumbled on this approach years ago. I have plenty of stuff, it’s all very functional, but I only have to use one carry on as my travel bag needs. 

 

- Joel 

[cruisin lady ca]

Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos and impressions of the ports.  We are on board Constellation in September, going from Venice to Barcelona.  We will spend two nights in Venice pre-cruise and three nights in Barcelona post-cruise.  I am very excited to be visiting Europe again and your trip report is adding to my pre-cruise excitement.  We will be in Dubrovnik and Malta so I especially enjoying your posts on those stops.

 

I look forward to reading additional entries and seeing your photos.

[cl.klink]

Great. Sounds like you’re doing it right. Venice and Barcelona both scream for a few days at least. 

- Joel

[Tommy3putts]

3 hours ago, cl.klink said:

Got some laundry done in the sink twice so far. Easy peasy. My one bag and it’s contents for travel has worked fine in this trip. I am so glad I stumbled on this approach years ago. I have plenty of stuff, it’s all very functional, but I only have to use one carry on as my travel bag needs. 

 

- Joel 

I have been doing the one bag travel for our European land vacations for years.  It is such a great way to travel.  The only exception now is for cruises.  I take a few more clothes since I’m only unpacking once.  

[countess5]

Thank you for posting.

Would you be able to tell me what pier you left out of in Venice? We arrive in Venice on Connie in October. 

 

Thanks

[pully8]

Joel your pictures and cruise report are fabulous.

will follow for more.