Saturday, March 20 Fort St. Angelo, Hagar Qim, Valletta

Dear kids & grands,

Hello from Malta on our last day! Ellen, it was so nice to talk with you today--I hope we didn't wake you up when we called! And on Sunday night we will come give you kisses in your bed when we get home!

How was Lucas' trip to St. Louis? Did Cathy have fun at all of her birthday parties? How are Alice's dance practices going? Do we still have big kids? We have only heard from Cathy, and have talked with Ellen--wouldn't any of the big kids help Ellen write an e-mail? Several people have accessed our Web page and sent us messages that they have enjoyed reading/seeing pics about our trip this week! Cindy and Don K_ accessed the sight and sent us a note!

Today we met Rosette T_, whom Daddy had contacted about our internet account while we are here. She came with her two daughters, Stephanie and Rachel, who are 8 and 6; she has a boy, Matthew, who is 9 (just like L,A,C!). We went over to Birgu to see Fort San Angelo--it was open today! They had men dressed up in the old 16th century knights regalia, and they told us all about the plans to renovate/restore the fort. The Knights of Malta are owners again, and they have begun to put it back the way it was in the 1500's--in a year or so, it will be done.

We went from Birgu to Hagar Qim, the oldest buildings in the world (they are the oldest of the megalithic ruins here). We wandered among the huge stones and took pictures, then had lunch at the hilltop restaurant above the ruins. Rosette took us on a drive around her area of the country--we took the little girls home and met her son and husband David. They were all so nice! Rosette brought us back to Valletta, where we decided to wander the city one more time. The sun was shining today, so it was so pretty again!

Daddy and I had a snack in a lovely little cafe on the square, then went down the stepped streets to the church of St. Paul-Shipwreck. It was very pretty, and had two (certified) relics--the block on which St. Paul was be-headed, and a piece of St. Paul's armbone. Both were surrounded by gold & silver, in glass cases and dimly lit. The block was up behind the main altar, which was roped off--but we could see it.

We also visited the huge domed Carmelite church which was nearly destroyed in WWII, and has been rebuilt. After we left this church, we were walking up the alley and noticed a door open--it was the back door to the Manoel Theater, the Malta National Theater, which has been fully restored to its 16th century baroque glory, but was never open the other times we tried to see it.

I slipped in the back door and asked a young woman if we could see the theater. She said sure, come in! It was stunningly beautiful. There was a large set on the stage, so I asked what show was playing. She said that tonight they were performing Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," and that we could check the ticket office for tickets. They had some left, so we got upper balcony seats for only $7 each, and got to see the musical tonight! It was so good--very professional. I wasn't sure what to expect, since Malta is so small, but it was just as good as any professional show in a big city in America. The dancing was quite good, the singing--especially the lead-- was excellent, and the costumes were some of the best I have ever seen!

Afterwards, when we left, we saw a sign out front that said the theater is open for tours only a couple of times a week, and it costs $5 to go in! So we were very lucky to just wander in the back door!

We are all packed now and have a 5:45 am wake up call, so I will say good-bye! and tomorrow, good-bye to Malta and hello to family! (do Grandma and Pa-Pa need a vacation now?)

love, Mommy/Mama/Faye

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