Boom

 

The last of the Malta photos I'll show you before I go back to showing pics from Copenhagen, is this one. You've already seen the one taken a third of a second before where the canon at the saluting battery at Upper Barakka Gardens showed a red fireball. This cloud of gunsmoke was almost as impressive when captured. I do like the Nikon D800 even though the frame rate per second is not quite as good as my Nikon D300, but it was good enough for this sequence.

 

Still a harbour

 

For thousands of years the two big natural harbours of Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour has made Malta one of the most important pieces of land in the Mediterranean, and more so it's strategic placement in the narrow strait between North Africa and Sicily. Even today it's still an important stop for many merchant ships and cruise lines. Sometimes the ships has to berth a little too close for comfort, like this tanker anchored right next to a block of apartments.

 

Lots of cats

One thing many visitors to Malta notice is the amount of free-roaming cats everywhere. Most of them seem to be stray cats even though they seem domesticated and in god health. This one was enjoying the sunshine at the Grand Harbour.

Siege Bell

The Siege Bell, also called the Freedom Bell, in Valletta sits in its temple-like round structure and is heard every day at twelve o'clock. It was erected in 1992 to honour those that died in the German siege of Malta during World War II. The ten ton bell was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II and offers one of the best views over the Grand Harbour.

See it from the seaside

When visiting Malta try a sightseeing trip in one of the many boats and see the two big natural harbours Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour with all its small creeks. To see Valletta and the Three Cities from the seaside is amazing and then you'll really appreciate the work that the Knights of St John put into defending their stronghold.

Steep street

 

When visiting Valletta, Malta be prepared to climb steep streets like this one. Being only half a square kilometer, it's packed with narrow streets and sandstone houses as it sits on a ridge between the two natural harbours of Grand Harbour and Marsamxett Harbour.

 

It's all about timing

 

Yesterday's photo from the saluting battery at Upper Baracka Gardens in Valletta, Malta preceded this one of the actual saluting. To get this just put your camera on high speed, wait for the fire command and start firing yourself. One of the five or six shots are bound to be right. And here I even got eight tries to get it just right.

 

A break to Malta

 

This post, and the next few as well, will not be about Copenhagen but Malta, as I've just been there for a short break from winter coldness. It wasn't exactly summer but spring was definitely coming. The photo here is a view towards the entrance to the Grand Harbour of Valletta with the saluting battery of Upper Baracka Gardens in the foreground. As it was the day of the feast of St Paul's Shipwreck the noon salute was not just a single shot, but the whole eight-gun salute.