After a rather late night, and the weather looking mixed with thunderstorms and brighter patches, we left around 10ish in search of the ‘hole in the ground’ where an entire town used to be….
Tal-Maqluba, it is legended, was a town in the 1300’s which housed a community who had turned their back on God. Except for one woman, who was told to advise her villagers to change their ways! Ignoring this advice, the angels were sent to rip this village out by its roots and deposit it out to sea off the coast from the blue grotto! (Where a circular island stands today)
What remains is an enormous circular hole, with only a church perched on its edge.
St Matthews church, Tal-Maqluba on the edge of the hole near the town of Qrendi.
We began the descent into the hole!
Definitely a path less travelled.
Down and down until the views opened up (or rather down)
The cliff faces into the hole (we could not see the bottom)
We imagined below sea level!
Russ and Russell taking a breather before the climb out.
On the track up with the bell tower of the church in sight.
The almost sheer cliff faces of the circular hole.
We affectionately named this site the ‘Maltese Grand Canyon’ – certainly a path less travelled and not for the faint hearted or vertigo sensitive ( I seem to be improving in this trait)
So the question is ‘do you believe the legend?’ Or the more recent scientific explanation of a massive sink hole? Either way it is a unique formation and within its cylindrical depression houses its own (very green) eco system!
Our visitors wanted to take another trip to Valletta and, as the rain was now getting heavier, I drove. Only to get caught in traffic jams and torrential rain! A drive around the outside sufficed and we then headed back to Birgu for lunch.
The band club inside and warm! Seemed a good day to settle in for the afternoon!
Fantastic meals, we all chose seafood (mine the calamari version)
Mid afternoon drive (last tour for our visitors) included:
Kalkara, Fort Rinella, Malta film studios and Smart City and its evirons!
Malta film Studios – Universal studios cannot hold a torch to this seaside location!
And with Russ (number one) now dozing in the front seat, Malta is not complete without a visit to the Garjola gardens on Sengleas point.
And for me, from here, one last view of the Giraffe Crane, still lording it over the dockside port!
The Malta adventure is coming to an end for the visitors and the Kiwi-Maltese.
All who wander are not Lost girls 