Home and Heart

Two drifters off to see the world…

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  • Rome and Sicily May 19-24, 2026

    We decided to celebrate our 20th anniversary as a couple with an impromptu trip to Rome and Sicily. We flew to Rome and after a few days, we took a train that was eventually loaded onto a ferry to Sicily, After two days in Cantania, Sicily, we traveled by bus to another Sicilian port for a 2 hour ride on an enormous ferry back to Malta (no train on THAT boat!)

    Our photos of Rome progress from the Trevi Fountain, to the Spanish Steps, Fort St. Angelo, the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and the Forum.

    We hired our own guide for a three hour tour of the Vatican. The crowds are so dense that you really need guidance. This first photo is of St Peter’s square.

    We are now in the Vatican Museum. Our guide explained to us that it is the art collection amassed by many of the Popes over the centuries.

    This is one of the galleries on the way to the Sistine Chapel. Photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

    Here is the alter inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

    This is the public facing side of St Peter’s where the faithful gather to see and here the Pope.

    It is wonderful to wander around Rome. Here a few shots from our favorite stroll.

    When you get tired of antiquity there are a couple of excellent museums of modern art.

    Arrivederci, Roma! We’re ready to take the overnight train to Sicily. The video below shows the tracks on the ship that carries the train over the Straits of Messina. It takes only 15 minutes for the crossing. Chris stayed in the train during the crossing but Dick went up on deck for the view.

    We got off the train in Catania so we could go to nearby Mt Etna, the largest active volcano in Europe.

    The flag of Sicily has three legs because Sicily has a triangular shape.

    These beautiful Jacaranda trees are in Piazza Bellini in Catania, a short walk from our Air BnB.

    We took a 5 hour tour of Mount Etna with a group of 6 people. And there it is…

    If you look carefully at this video, you can see the smoke coming out of the volcano.

    In the photograph below, notice the snow beside the black stone resulting from lava floes in the twentieth century in 1910, 1911, 1918, 1923, 1928,1942, 1947, 1949, 1950-51, and 1971.

    The next two photos are the remains of a two story house that was in the path of a lava floe.

    Dick hiked up to one of the rock formations from the lava floes.

    Most caves you are familiar with are formed from water erosion but here the caves are formed by “bubbles” of air trapped inside the lava floes.

    Welcome back to Catania. We head home the next day.

    As our ferry came into Valletta Harbor we passed the largest cruise sailboat in the world.

    We’re back in Sliema for only 4 days. Watch out! We will be back in the USA to visit friends and family for the next month – not sure when we will post another blog.

  • Fun in the Sun…part two

    Continuing on in Valletta. Welcome to the Barrakka Gardens at the top of the Lift

    Last month we went on an idyllic stroll along the Old Victoria Line in Gnien I-Gharusa heading towards Mosta. It is a defunct railway now a walking path. It dates back to the British colonial period. It fell out of use when automobiles became common and affordable on the island.

    The trees below are called Dragon Trees.

    There are 30+ species of snails on the islands. They are an agricultural nuisance but are fun for us to look at.

    Signing off with a Maltese Fertility Goddess from the Neolithic era. Next week – Rome!

  • Fun in the sun…part one

    In this “odds and ends” posting we’ll start with some neighborhood sights. We wanted to share two photos (a plain stall and a fancy marble stall) for a peek at some of the MANY freshly squeezed orange juice stands. The other photos of Sliema were irresistible “one-offs”.

    Valletta – One of the ferries lets you off in our capital Valletta, at an astonishing lift (elevator). The Barrakka Lift is 58 meters and leads directly into the Barrakka Gardens.

    See Part II of the Fun in the Sun posting

  • Harbors and Vessels – May 11, 2026

    Dick is an “old salt” having served in the Navy for 5 years. Chris, on the other hand, has spent very little time on the water until moving to Malta. Our transportation on water taxis and ferries happens several times a week. Here is a fun sequence starting with our small neighborhood harbors and small craft and ending with an enormous cruise ship in the Grand Harbor of Valletta.

    There is special sailboat – the Optimist Class – used to teach youngsters under 140 pounds how to sail.

    The next video is of a Dghajsa tal-Pas. These are boats that have been around for 400 years – used as water taxis here in Malta. They are also used in the annual competitions in the Grand Harbor among the rowing clubs.

    Here is a vintage photo of the Grand Harbor in 1890

    The modern-day water taxis are still attractive but powered by outboard motors.

    We couldn’t resis showing you a current day party boat. It is off Manoel Island – we were not invited to the party.

    It is time to go to the ancient fishing village of Marsaxlokk. The Phoenecians and then the Carthaginians settled the area around 500 BC. For more information about current fishing practices, please consider watching the documentary “Hidden Malta” with Peter Greenberg. The blue, red, and yellow fishing boats are called luzzu. They have eyes painted on the bow to help find the fish.

    Typical boat repair activity seen in the harbor…

    The still photos that follow are a sampling of boats that Chris has never seen before…not even the gigantic white yacht which is for sale for a cool $200,000,000. It needs a crew of 28 and has accomodations for 18. It was originally built for a Russian oligarch back in 2016 but now is owned by “a family from California”

    And last but not least – returning to the Grand Harbor in present time for an 8 cannon salute as a cruise ship heads out to sea.

    Next week – Fun in the sun – a Malta sampler.

  • Weekend in Gozo and and the Blue Lagoon of Camino

    Gozo and Camino are the northern islands in the Malta archipeligo. Gozo is smaller than Malta’s main island and more rural – only about 30,000 people live there. Camino is even smaller and is uninhabited. Both are accessible only by ferry. We spent a weekend at an AirBnB in San Lawrenz at the western end of Gozo.

    Let’s hop on the ferry to Gozo!

    First stop is an artisan village in San Lawrenz. The photos and videos are a few of the many shops and studios. The first is glasswork which Malta is known for.

    There is a shop selling hand made lace but we were not allowed to photograph inside the shop except for the pile of sweaters in the yarn room.

    Here’s a peek at the biggest, fanciest resort in all of Malta. It is called the Kempinski and it is here in Gozo.

    That evening we went into the city of Victoria to see a production the opera “Il Trovatore” best known for the Anvil Chorus!

    To see the theater click on the video below.

    There is a beautiful garden near the Opera House – the Villa Rundle Gardens.

    Also in Victoria is the World Heritage Site, the Citadel. This is the fortified old city from the 17th century elevated on a hill with stunning views of the countryside. Click on the photo to activate the video.

    Off to the Blue Lagoon in Camino!

    We finished up our wonderful weekend with hiking in the cliffs of San Lawrenz and down the road past the stone quarries to a beautiful sunset in San Lawrenz. Due west of San Lawrenz (Gozo) about 125 miles over the Mediterranean is Tunisia.

    Next week – harbors and boats.

  • Everyday Life April 27, 2026

    Our previous photos of our home didn’t show the whole place because of cars parked in front. Here it is with windowboxes we installed.

    Grocery shopping varies from street sidewalk stands to modern grocery stores. The big grocery stores are multi-level with as many as 4 floors. but not as big as US stores with their one level sprawl.

    Coffee and Pastry and Candy. OH MY!

    And when you eat too much you go to one of the MANY tiny pharmacies. Each of the pharmacies has a GP who works there to see walk-in patients.

    Signs and services seen on our travels.

    This is a public water fountain – very easy to get dehydrated in this climate!

    These last 3 are our local post office and the small truck the postman uses for delivery.

    Next blog post will be weekend in Camino and Gozo!

  • On the Promenade – Sliema to St. Julian’s

    Let’s begin by walking in the direction of St Julian’s. The photos that follow include an enormous cat sculpture, street food, and the end of the promenade with a zoom in on Chris’s swim club.

    Next up – walking in the other direction towards the Sliema ferry. Along the way you’ll see one of many playgrounds, sculptures, and the ancient Roman baths carved into the limestone beach.

    Next week will be a peek at everyday life for us here in Malta.

  • Blue Grotto and The Malta Philharmonic

    The Blue Grotto is in Southeastern Malta where there are fishing villages as well as farming.

    We’re doing a lot of sightseeing such of this in the first few months before the serious tourist season begins.

    Having been to the Milan Ballet a week ago at the Mediterranean Conference Center, we decided to enjoy this venue again for the Foundation Day concert of the Malta Philharmonic.

    Goodbye until next week!

  • Week IV – Mdina

    Mdina is a 4000 year old medieval fortification and now pedestrianized village. It was the capital of Malta in ancient times until the Knights of St. John relocated the capital to Valletta in 1566.

    Mdina is called “the silent city” because of its strictly restricted vehicle access and noise regulations. It has only about 300 residents – although many many more tourists during the day.

    Before entering the main gate, we enjoyed Howard Garden, named in honor of Joseph Howard, the first Maltese prime minister.

    Now we are going through the Main Gate…

    The first courtyard as you come through the main gate…

    Inner Courtyard…

    and then…

    Lunch was at Scala – a Michelin star restaurant just outside the city walls with a fabulous view of the surrounding countryside

    Next time – the Blue Grotto!

  • The birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees…and a neolithic temple built by “giants”

    Under the shade of the banyan trees, we visited a bird park in northern Malta . We had heard about the 2000 year old apiaries and visited one. The next day we took a ferry to Gozo to see a neolithic temple built around 3000 BCE.

    After that nice greeting from the cockatoo we were guided along the way by a chicken… You will recognize a peacock, an owl, a stork, budgies, and flamingos as we go along the way.

    Next stop was an apiary more than 2000 years old . The ancient apiaries are not used by the bees any longer but the bees are still here on Malta – making honey… The name of the country, Malta, is in fact derived from the Greek for “honey”.

    The beekeepers walked in through the small doors and collected the honey from inside.

    A forager working on a crown daisy. The meadows are covered in these yellow blossoms in the spring.

    Wild snapdragons…

    Sweet Alyssum…

    Arabian pea..

    Cup of Gold Vine…

    And king of the hill is this 1000 year old carob tree just up the hill from the apiary.

    Saturday March 28 we took a ferry to the Maltese Island of Gozo which is famous for its cliffs and sandy beaches. It has one city, Victoria, and the rest of the island is open countryside.

    The photos that follow are of a Neolithic archeological site called Ggantija Temples.

    Yesterday, Sunday March 29, we met our friends Mike and Theresa in Valletta at the Mediterranean Conference Center for the Milan Ballet’s production of Carmen. The venue is amazing and the ballet was wonderful.