Months on Malta

We spent the summer of 2015 idiocy dropping anchor in one beautiful bay after another. The three islands of Malta are so small we could easily sail around the whole country in a single day. So for most of the summer we would only unfurl our jib to take us to the next secluded bay or we would arrive too quickly. We definitely had our favorite anchorages. Certainly the Grand Harbor is one of the most amazing natural harbors anywhere in the world. And slicing through the center of this Grand Harbor is the peninsula that makes up the capital city of Valetta. The summer there is full of culture, art, performances and festivals. And the church of St John is not to be missed. From the outside it looks like a simple fortress-like church with little adornment. But step through the vestibule and you are transformed into an international display of grander and wealth. Each of the niches that surround the main alter was gilded to the maximum by the 7 countries that made up the Knights of St John. The niches became a source of national pride as each country tried to outdo the other in showing off wealth and artistic devotion to Christ.