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.
Home and Heart 
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