Malta en route to Synod: 24th-31st January

We have regularly taken a week’s leave before the Diocesan Synod and using Larnaca Airport as a springboard to visit new places, so we flew with Emirates to travel on to Malta. Emirates were not having the best of fortnights( or perhaps this is a pattern). The plane was delayed leaving Bahrain, we missed the connection in Dubai and there was no alternative for another 24 hours. Exactly the same happened to our Synod delegation a week later en route to the Synod and, when we all returned from Larnaca to Bahrain, we missed the connection in Dubai again and spent from 2am to 9am in Dubai Airport.

But once we arrived, Malta was fascinating and full of history: prehistoric remains, a well preserved Roman house, and amazing buildings which survived the great Siege of Malta. Both Valetta and Medina, the ancient capital, have a rich history. Tourism is clearly a very important part of the Maltese economy and while we were there a huge Italian cruise liner was in port, dominating the harbor. We were told too that the King of Bahrain’s yacht was moored in the harbour.

We hired a car for four days and found our way around and visited Gozo, the smaller of the two main islands which has some magnificent cliff scenery. We were also able to catch up with Clare Lightfoot (ex-Bahrain and St Christopher’s) – though sadly Michael only on skype, while we were at their flat. Clare cooked us a delicious dinner in their lovely apartment overlooking the sea. And we met up with Kaissa, wife of Arthur who comes across to worship at the cathedral from Saudi Arabia. We had a lovely evening with her.