COSTA DIADEMA 1st November 2014, Part 7

Part 7

Wednesday 5th November 2014
We arrived at 8 a.m. in Valletta, Malta G.C., under a glorious blue sky with warm sunshine, so I disembarked quickly and enjoyed walking along the quayside in both directions enjoying the views of this bay and city skyline.

Costa Diadema in Valletta

Ocean Princess nearby

Another interesting sight

Three bows and one little stern

Stern view

Nautical Tide was in


Again, we are only in port for a few hours so I was happy to get back on board and sit under the open roof of the Magrodome Lido area up on Deck 10 and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The open Magrodome and Lido seen from the depths of an extremely comfortable sofa


At 11 a.m. it was Quiz time in the Card room and we felt there should be English representation! We three probably made up a quarter of the competitors for the event but one of my companions managed to win the Geography Quiz prize – hooray. We have become so used to being shouted at by the female Cruise Director at shows to “APPLAUD” that we looked around to check if she was there. She wasn’t of course but everyone present clapped and congratulated the winner as he was handed his prize.

After an early lunch it was time to watch departure from Valletta and the Grand Harbour. I always enjoy seeing the upper Gardens and of course the huge Bell Tower and the Operation Pedestal Memorial for the 1940-43 siege of Malta commemorating the relief of the island (see my blog piece ‘Horizon Part 5, July 2012’, for more details).

Ocean Princess, Santa Maria (bunker) and a local gondola

Karol Wojtyla and the man painting the top of the pole

Bell Tower

Goodbye Valletta


The afternoon was spent on our favourite aft Deck 5 seating, enjoying the temperature and the light, and the newly established Bar Service.

Dinner was good and then it was time for this evening’s show of ‘Kings and Queens of Pop’. It was spectacular and so loud that the sound engineer must have been a very happy man. I think the Freddie Mercury number ‘We are the Champions’ was the hit of the evening as we all sang along and loved it. I did wonder why they didn’t make that the closing number and end on a high. The applause for that number and all of the show was tremendous and well-deserved, but still the female Cruise Director shouted at us all to applaud as she returned to the stage at the end. Can’t she hear us?

Ships seen: Ocean Princess, Costa Diadema, Santa Maria (bunkering), Karol Wojtyla, Grand Celebration


To be continued...

COSTA CLASSICA 14th April 2013 MALTA

Sunday 14th April 2013
Another early start today, as we approached the George Cross island of Malta, the island situated between the North African coast and Sicily. I really want to visit the commemorative Bell and Memorial high on the cliffs of the Grand Harbour so that is one plan for today.

Malta

I particularly liked the last two lines

The Pilot arrived and we went in, turned and berthed alongside the Cruise Terminal quays. This area has turned into 'restaurant row' and I'm glad for the locals as it must bring in a lot of business, especially when cruise ships are in. KRISTINA KATERINA is also here, and looks like a ferry although she is a cruise ship of Kristina Cruises.

She arrived before us

A view

The Bell I want to see

Bell and belfry

Kristina Katerina

Dry dock and crane

We set off after breakfast and walked first along the quay to the KRISTINA KATARINA. I walked up the gangway and again asked if it was possible to have a couple of postcards please, as we had heard of the ship and admired it. I came off the ship with two postcards in my hand.

Next we went to catch a Hop on Hop off red double-decker bus, on the blue route, stopping first at the Malta Aviation Museum.

Malta Aviation Museum

There were very few of us there, but the big hangars were filled with all sorts of fascinating aircraft and remains. The first aeroplane I ever travelled on was a DC3, and there was the shell of one there, plus all sorts of other crashed bits that someone somewhere had saved. There was a 'Flying Flea' on display, showing a picture of it at Shoreham Airport in Sussex, England.

Douglas DC3 Dakota

Aircraft Radio & Instrument Training Company

Goodness me!

More Museum pieces

This caught my eye

That looks fun

In one vast hangar the air was violently disturbed by someone sounding the extremely loud air-raid siren – it wasn’t me but I did see who did it….

We waited by the roadside and caught another bus, this time to the hilltop city of Mdina. Under a clear blue sky the hot sunlight made it look really appealing, especially from the open top bus, although the heavy traffic made progress difficult, especially with all the parked cars lining the last few miles of the route up to the city. We hopped off, and joined the crowds trying to enter the city through the main gate. All was hot, loud and fascinating.

Up to the hilltop city of Mdina

Today is a special celebration day and everyone was out enjoying it. Flags were fluttering, or being tossed high in the air, banners were hanging around the ancient walls, local people were dressed in old-style re-enactment costumes, and it took some time to get around; we met a couple with a small boy having a wonderful time with his new bike without pedals and stabilisers, his Maltese parents happy to talk and explain what was happening, and finally we could reach the ramparts and enjoy the views over so much of the island as far as the distant sea.

Cathedral Museum

Another corner

Part of the pageant

We took another bus back to the city, and walked past one of the City gates being renovated, under the architect Renzo Piano.

Valletta City Gate project

For lunch we ignored McDonald’s and cafes offering horse meat, and found a little establishment offering local food and wine.

After this we could go and see the Operation Pedestal Memorial for the 1940-43 siege of Malta and I was so pleased and moved to see this beautiful Memorial, and of course it reminded me of the Union-Castle Line ship ROCHESTER CASTLE which was the lead Merchant Navy ship for the relief of the island. (see my blog piece Horizon Part 5, July 2012 for more details)

The Memorial Bell

The Memorial Bell plaque

Memorial Bell Dedication

From the Memorial I watched KRISTINA KATERINA leave the Grand Harbour, and then it was time to return to the ship before our departure.

Victoria Gate

Once again we lined the rails to watch, and once again there was one couple who had not returned and the ship was slightly delayed in leaving.

Another evening on COSTA CLASSICA was enjoyed at sea, with Italian Prosecco and dinner with new friends.

Ships seen: Kristina Katerina, Sacro Cuor-1, something unknown in dry dock, Princess Ariel the cross harbour ferry, and various small vessels

Monday 15th April 2013
Another lovely day at sea, sailing back from Malta to Marseilles in France. I went to the early Pool exercise class and again enjoyed breakfast afterwards. Today’s choice of entertainment included Flip Flop throwing, quizzes, dance lessons, arts and crafts handicrafts, and super bingo, plus this evening’s Election of the Ideal Couple, in the aft Puccini Lounge. Gala Dinner was held at night, with the usual two sittings.

Tuesday 16th April 2013

Napoleon Bonaparte

Princess Danae in Marseille

Ships seen in Marseille: Napoleon Bonaparte, Princess Danae, Sadan Bayraktar

We are due back in Marseille at 8 a.m. after an interesting and enjoyable ten days on the COSTA CLASSICA. I like and admire the Costa product and itineraries, sailing with friends and in good company and this has again been an interesting trip.

View of Costa Classica

Funnels and flags and fun

HORIZON Part 5 (the final one)

Horizon Part 5 (the final one)
Friday 1st June 2012
This is another port day, this time in Valletta, Malta, where HORIZON is registered.

First view in the Grand Harbour

Map of Malta

We arrived early, in high heat and sunlight, to find three cruise ships already berthed at the cruise terminal in the Grand Harbour: COSTA MAGICA, CORINTHIAN II, and MEIN SCHIFF 1.

Corinthian II

Mein Schiff 1

Mein tug

Costa Magica

Entrance to the Grand Harbour

Costa Magica/Corinthian II/Mein Schiff 1

After disembarking we found we had to walk the length of the terminal, past the restaurants and few shops, to the port entrance and the bus stop for the local bus up to the local terminal. We knew that all the very old local yellow buses had been replaced by the homogenised vehicles that were new to the island, but old in UK terms. It was a good job that each had a big route number on the front, because we could see no other distinguishing feature or Saint’s picture anywhere on the vehicles. One of our group showed great enthusiasm for the buses but then we all prefer various forms of transport… Those of us who remember travelling on the old yellow buses from a previous visit were a little disappointed, but did enjoy the spasmodic air-conditioning on the bumpy journey to the next harbour of Sliema.

Captain Morgan Cruises at Sliema Harbour was ready to offer harbour tours, so several of us boarded the motor vessel SEABELOW, sister to SEAHAWK.

We had time to look around and notice how much new building was in progress, with several cranes to be seen around the area. Two years ago on the OLS cruise on BLEU DE FRANCE I had spoken with a lady working for Captain Morgan Cruises here in Sliema Harbour and we discovered that she had lived in the locality where I now live, and her son had gone to the local school. Standing on the quayside this year before our harbour tour I saw and spoke to the same lady so we had a quick chat. She is still happy living in Malta, and I am happy where I live.

The boat trip took us all around Sliema Harbour, and then into the Grand Harbour,

Seahawk

Valletta view

Valletta view

Valletta old and new

and the views of the old and new buildings were fascinating, including of course the wonderful Memorial Bell tower.

Memorial Bell Tower

I would like to record some of the history of this, as it relates to a shipping line that is dear to my heart – Union-Castle Line.

During the Second World War, in August 1942, the Union-Castle ship ROCHESTER CASTLE (built in 1937 as a refrigerated cargo vessel) took a distinguished part in the relief of the island of Malta. This was a strategic place for Great Britain and her Allies and had been heavily bombed by the Germans. During 1941 the sea convoys carrying food and fuel had been getting through, with difficulty, and the bravery of the people of the island was then recognised by King George VI awarding the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta in April 1942.

However, by August 1942 little food remained for the inhabitants and little petrol for the Spitfires, and the convoys faced perilous journeys from Britain and from Egypt. On 2nd August 1942 a convoy of 14 merchant vessels, plus a large number of naval vessels, left Great Britain but nine were lost en route to Malta, and the rest arrived on 13th August in a stricken condition. At the head of this famous convoy into Valletta Harbour was the battered ROCHESTER CASTLE. She was barely buoyant, having a hole in her hull of 20 feet by 18 feet, plus about 200 holes from bomb splinters. The sight of about 70,000 people on the cliffs welcoming the ships and their cargo must have been an incredible and emotional sight, but Malta was relieved. This particular convoy was known as Operation Pedestal.

The ROCHESTER CASTLE had temporary repairs, despite daily air raids, and at the end of the year was able to leave for permanent repairs in New York, before returning to the UK in June 1943 with a full cargo load of food.

To this day the flag of Malta GC incorporates the award of the George Cross, and I was so pleased to see the Siege Bell in the Tower that was erected near the harbour entrance and opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the then President of Malta, Dr. Censu Tabone, in 1992. This commemorates the award and the relief of the island, as well as a memorial to the 7,000 people who lost their lives in the siege.

Each day at noon a gun is fired from a point near the Bell Tower and we were lucky enough to hear and see this from our little harbour cruise boat today.

Padre Pio III

Hoegh Autoliners 'Hoegh Trident'

Spiro F

A1411 Berlin

Horizon

X still visible

Jean de la Valette

Paradise Bay and Salina Bay

Hoegh Trident's bow

Ta'Pinu

San Gwann, Maria Dolores & San Marco

Seabelow

We returned to the bus terminal, and decided to explore part of the city. Original city walls were being exposed as part of the new developments, and I noticed that one of the hoardings around some excavations told me that Renzo Piano was the Architect for the City Gate projects for the Regeneration of Valletta.

Renzo Piano

I think I first came across his name in May 2008, in connection with something other than ships, when I went to see an exhibition at the London Design Centre. Outside the building, beside the River Thames, was a display ‘tank’ and inside was a model of The Shard, the tall glass building that was proposed for a site in Southwark beside London Bridge Station. It was designed by Renzo Piano and it looked extraordinary – it was to be the tallest building in Europe. In fact it was built by the London-based Mace construction company, to Renzo Piano’s design, the dream of property developer Irvine Sellar and to be finished in June 2012. I have stood beside the base of The Shard on several occasions and it is an incredible sight, so if Mr Piano is involved in the Valletta redevelopment project, then I imagine it will prove of great interest.

We saw brightly coloured banners in some streets of the town as we walked around, and near the redevelopment work I found I was being forced towards the entrance of a local branch of Burger King. My companions confessed to teasing me because we all really wanted lunch with local cooking. After that, lunch at the South Street restaurant was fun, followed by more strolling around in the heat.

Back on the ship, we prepared for sailing at 5 p.m. and Gala Night. Tomorrow (Saturday) we are at sea and have an invitation to visit the Bridge.

Night scene on deck

Ships seen: Mein Schiff 1, Costa Magica, Corinthian II, Seabelow, Seahawk, Horizon, Ta’Panu, Hoegh Trident, Iskatel 2 (heavy lift vessel built 1986), CGM Tiger, Maria Dolores, San Gwann, San Marco,

Saturday 2nd June 2012
We have a day at sea today, and the ocean is like a millpond, to enjoy as we choose. This is the beginning of the Diamond Jubilee Weekend in the UK so I am excited about this HORIZON cruise and the prospect of enjoying the festivities at home too.

'This England' magazine

Social events continued until our OLS group presented ourselves for our Bridge visit at 2 p.m. It was such a pleasure to step in there and see the wonder of the blue sea ahead of the ship, the tidy deck down below, the neatness of the instruments and, one of my private pleasures, a full flag cupboard. As in life, words are not always necessary and flags and other signals can say a lot at sea. It was interesting to note that on this ship the Deck Officers use paper charts as well as the usual satellite and digital equipment, so we could see our passage through the Straits of Bonifacio later that afternoon. We could also see a plan of the ship used at the Meyer Werft ship yard. We were really grateful for being invited to the Bridge on such a calm sea day.

On the Bridge

Chart for the Straits of Bonifacio

The flag cupboard

View from the Bridge

Ships seen: Club Med 2, a Moby ship far away, Napoleon Bonaparte in the distance

Sunday 3rd June 2012
We arrived back in Marseille after a very enjoyable week and several of us were lucky enough to disembark and get to the airport in good time for an early flight to the UK. The River Thames Jubilee Pageant was to be held in London and needed to be viewed, and that became another part of my Jubilee celebrations.

Horizon in 2003

Horizon in 2012

I enjoyed my time on the OLS cruise from Marseille and felt I had indeed been broadening my Horizons….