Malta...

This was scheduled to be a blog on Libya, [Tripoli]. However the USA and Libya have ongoing diplomatic issues. The end result is that because of the fact that 80% of the souls on this ship are American, Holland America will not go in there. Canadians and other nationalities can, but not Americans. So, justifiably, Holland America will not succumb to these prejudicial regulations. Libya is a very sought after country to visit by those people that attach importance to such things. Ports of call are booked well in advance by cruise lines, sometimes as much as a year ahead, sometimes more. The political situation could be resolved with the stroke of a pen, so Libya is scheduled, in anticipation of a resolution. The Roman ruins are apparently magnificient there, and many people want to be amongst the first to visit. Such is human nature.

As you may know we could not get into Split, Croatia because of a gale blowing. So, we just sailed off south and people got on with their life, although we all had thoughts on what would happen regarding the extra day, maybe we would just putt along slowly to Malta or go somewhere else, who knew? I know that it is not always possible to just suddenly pop into some port with a few hours notice. There is also not too many convenient places to stop off at between Split and Malta. [Actually there are many places but we cannot get into them.]

Our fate was dictated by other concerns. First there was a lady that had a kidney issue. Normally the ship likes to get seriously ill passengers ashore as soon as is safely possible, but apparently her issue resolved itself. However another lady had a heart attack, and attempts to get permission to set her ashore were not met with a positive response by Italian or Sicilian authorities. So our captain put the pedal to the metal and gum boots it for Malta! We arrived here a full 14 hours ahead of schedule. It was a lovely sail in but the sun was in the wrong position to fully capture the soft colours of the sandstone on the many forts and fortifications that are part of this Island's glorious past. [The business about the ill passengers is true to the best of my knowledge but rumours and scuttlebutt run amuck at times like this.]






As an aside, it must be a very interesting job to be a ship's physician on a cruise like this. We have had several deaths and many people sent home or left because of illness. The doctor has a very well equipped medical facility and several well qualified assistants. His wife is also on board and they eat up in the restaurant just like ordinary folks. But, what a job, waiting for the phone to ring or the PA to announce an emergency for him, and then make a diagnosis that can be literally life or death. And, there is nobody to really confer with!

What can I say about Malta, except that is beautiful and seems to have a perpetual blue sky over it? It is located in a rather strategic place in the Mediterranean Sea and has been invaded, occupied, been surrounded by, bombed and blockaded by just about every country in the past millennium, and more. It is about 70 miles south of Sicily and during WW II it was a very desirable piece of property that the Germans and Italians wanted. They never got it, even though it suffered terribly by air raids. They held out so heroically that King George VI bestowed the George Cross upon the country. An image of the Cross was incorporated into their flag that flies proudly to this day.


Malta obtained independence from Britain some years ago and is now part of the EU, adapting the Euro as it's currency very recently.

The photos are not particularly noteworthy as the sun was in the wrong position and they were all taken from the ship. Maybe better tomorrow?