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#1
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Places to visit: MALTA
Between Sicicly and the north east coast of Africa are
a group of islands. The largest of which is Malta. One of the constant factors in human occupation of Malta is the scarcity of fresh water. Malta lacks a river, and until recently it obtained its drinking water from storing winter rainfalls in cisterns. Rooftop cisterns are still common on the islands today, although Malta now has a modern desalinization plant. The capital and chief city is Valletta which stand on a penninsula dividing the harbor into two halves. The south side of the harbor is the deepest, and runs two miles into the heart of the island. . http://www.hmml.org/centers/malta/history.html HISTORY -- Cut and pasted! The harbor defenses were impregnable due to the construction efforts ot the Knights of Malta. After the loss of Rhodes in 1522, the Knights of the Order of St. John were left without a home. In 1530, the Order accepted Charles V's offer to create their new base on Malta. The Knights initially did not think Malta was a good location, citing its rocky landscape and lack of fresh water. The Knights quickly discovered the benefits of Malta, such as its fine harbors, which sheltered and protected their ships. The Order of St. John began playing an important role in Mediterranean politics during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The hospital of the Knights in Valletta was one of the best in Europe. After the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, the Knights built the city of Valletta. The Order fortified the islands extensively and eliminated the threat of Muslim raids. The Knights governed Malta until 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte took the island from Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch. The Maltese islanders initially favored Napoleon's takeover of the island in 1798, because the Knights had resisted many reforms favored by the Enlightenment. Napoleon ended the Inquisition, the use of judicial torture, and privilege based on birth. But the French quickly fell out of favor with the Maltese because they stripped the churches of relics, paintings, gold, and silver. Napoleon shipped the riches of Malta to finance his campaigns in Egypt, but they were lost when the ship sank. Furthermore, the French refused to pay the Knights' debts and pensions to the islanders. This increased interest rates, created new taxes, altered leases, and caused the loss of jobs. The Maltese became angry with the new regime's religious insensitivity and economic exploitation. The Maltese rebelled in Mdina on 2 September 1798. Napoleon had left only a small garrison in Malta when he continued on to Egypt, so the rebellion quickly spread throughout the countryside. The French troops retreated behind the walls of Valletta, where the Maltese held them under siege. The arrival of a British fleet to blockade the island completed the defeat of the French in 1800. The British recognized that Malta was essential for the British fleet in the Mediterranean. The work of the Knights had made Valletta's Grand Harbor one of the most extensively fortified ports in Europe. The islands' central location in the Mediterranean made it an essential naval base for both sail and steam ships. The British built a dockyard, warehouses, and a hospital on Malta. Although the Knights attempted to reclaim Malta, the British held the island and in 1814 the Treaty of Paris recognized British sovereignty over the island. The British established a governor on the island, but they permitted Malta to retain its declaration of rights and freedom of religion. It was under the British that English became a dominant language on the island. Malta's service to the British Empire as a naval base is well documented. Malta nobly served during the two World Wars. During World War I, Malta garrisoned British seamen and was the site of the largest military hospital in the Mediterranean. Due to its strategic position during World War II, Malta was the target of German and Italian bombing attacks. The island endured the heaviest conventional bombardment of the entire war. To honor the valor of the Maltese people, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the "Island Fortress of Malta" in 1942. The cross appears today on the Maltese flag. The structure of government in Malta changed periodically during the 150 years of British rule. In 1921, Malta became self-governing while power and responsibility was shared between Britain and Maltese ministers. In 1936, Malta became a colonial regime. Malta earned its independence within the Commonwealth in 1964, became a Republic in 1974, and proclaimed its neutrality in 1979. |
#2
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Places to visit: MALTA
It's a great place. I sailed there. Unfortunately, it was in August...
-- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Bart Senior" .@. wrote in message ... Between Sicicly and the north east coast of Africa are a group of islands. The largest of which is Malta. |
#3
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Places to visit: MALTA
Bart Senior wrote:
Between Sicicly and the north east coast of Africa are a group of islands. The largest of which is Malta. Never been to Malta, it would be a very interesting place to visit. I have been to Sicily and it is beautiful. I'd love to go back and spend more time there. Your history quote mentioned the seige of Malta by the Turks, but did not make the point of what an important event this was. The Knights Hospitaller were a militant order devoted to fighting Muslims, and the Turkish empire was expanding both on land & sea power. There were a series of epic struggles, including the seige of Vienna (land) and the battle of Lepanto (sea) wherein the balance of power could have tipped either way. This article claims that the siege of Valetta, on Malta, was the last important battle won by knights. http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/16cen/malta1565.html DSK |
#4
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Places to visit: MALTA
Malta sounds nice Bart,
But lets head south to Mauritius. In the Indian ocean just of the southern tip of Africa, Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, boasting as much tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still, offering it at a bargain price. Though nestled up alongside Africa, it's actually more influenced by its British and French ties and massive Indian workforce. It is the last place on earth that had Dodo birds. Dodo birds are used as watermarks on the money. Arguably the best time for a Mauritian visit is when the rain eases off from May to December. Maximum temperatures during these months average around 25°C (77°F) compared to only slighly warmer 30-32°C (86-89°F) in January, and you'll stay drier. This is port louis http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldgui.../BN6452_34.jpg Spent 2 weeks here. Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship but no right to patriation in the UK; claims French-administered Tromelin Island. Great waterfalls, volcanos, most people speak Creole. Plenty of local bars and a nice night life. Warm crystal clear waters, lots of coral reefs, great open air markets full of fruits and vegggies... spices.. hash ect... Mauritius is indeed a tropical paradise http://www.unitedtravelgroup.com/mau.../mauritius.jpg The island has many fine secluded places to anchor. A "must see" if in the Indian ocean. Joe |
#5
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Places to visit: Mauritius
This deserves it's own subject.
What did you do there Joe? "Joe" wrote In the Indian ocean just of the southern tip of Africa, Mauritius is the most accessible island in the Indian Ocean, boasting as much tropical paradise as Maui or Martinique and, better still, offering it at a bargain price. Though nestled up alongside Africa, it's actually more influenced by its British and French ties and massive Indian workforce. It is the last place on earth that had Dodo birds. Dodo birds are used as watermarks on the money. Arguably the best time for a Mauritian visit is when the rain eases off from May to December. Maximum temperatures during these months average around 25°C (77°F) compared to only slighly warmer 30-32°C (86-89°F) in January, and you'll stay drier. This is port louis http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldgui.../BN6452_34.jpg Spent 2 weeks here. Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship but no right to patriation in the UK; claims French-administered Tromelin Island. Great waterfalls, volcanos, most people speak Creole. Plenty of local bars and a nice night life. Warm crystal clear waters, lots of coral reefs, great open air markets full of fruits and vegggies... spices.. hash ect... Mauritius is indeed a tropical paradise http://www.unitedtravelgroup.com/mau.../mauritius.jpg The island has many fine secluded places to anchor. A "must see" if in the Indian ocean. Joe |
#6
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Places to visit: MALTA
How hot does it get that time of year? Is it
humid too? "Capt. JG" wrote It's a great place. I sailed there. Unfortunately, it was in August... "Bart Senior" .@. wrote Between Sicicly and the north east coast of Africa are a group of islands. The largest of which is Malta. |
#7
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Places to visit: Mauritius
We mostly partied, sight seeing, bar hopping, shopping, hiking,
snorkeling ect. It was a R&R destination for people spending extended time on Deigo Garcia. Very nice people, near pristine enviroment. It was dirt cheap to get anything you wanted in 1981. I still have some Dodo money. Oh and eating, some of the spicest creole cooking on earth. http://www.kcshop.com/foreigncurrency/images/F2472.jpg You have to hold it up to the light to see the Dodo's. Joe |
#8
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Places to visit: MALTA
In article , Bart Senior .@. wrote:
How hot does it get that time of year? Is it humid too? "Capt. JG" wrote It's a great place. I sailed there. Unfortunately, it was in August... "Bart Senior" .@. wrote Between Sicicly and the north east coast of Africa are a group of islands. The largest of which is Malta. I think the air temp was about 100, but it felt like 130. It was very humid also. Besides that, we were trying to rig a 61 foot boat, which was not a lot of fun in the heat. We finally finished it underway. I don't recommend August. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com |
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