Up to a few decades ago, in Malta, vines used to grow wild, creeping along the dry stone walls that separate fields.   Owing to a growing Wine industry, however, cultivated vineyards such as the one in this picture have become common.

A chronicler from the 16th century had dismissed the Maltese grape (of the time) as being good to eat, but not suited for wine-making, despite our excellent Mediterranean weather.

Whilst taking photographs in the narrow country lanes of Gudja, I stopped to ask directions to a farmer, who first turned to face the same direction as I, then gestured with his right hand and said "Go straight, then take this side..."

I thanked him and, as I started to walk away, he called me back and handed me this fresh (warm!) melon he had just harvesed. I was dumbfolded by his generosity!

With the advent of ready-made garments, the tailor's trade diminished and few are left in Malta and Gozo at this point in time. With this, there also came the fading away of shops selling suiting material.

Above: Jose' Attard of Costantino Tailoring, Gzira.

Hugely contrasting other religious processions held in Malta, that held on Easter Sunday culminates into a rowdy celebration, where the statue of the Risen Christ is raced towards the church in its last stage.   It is then swirled around jubilantly a few times before a cheering crowd, prior to re-entering the church.

Valletta is flanked by two magnificent ports; Grand Harbour and Marsamxetto. The latter is more suited for pleasurecraft and offers both historic and touristic interest.

This picture was taken from Valletta, specifically the part known as the 'French Curtain' — outside Fort Saint Elmo and overlooking Sliema Creek.

Follow this link to a larger format picture, which in turn leads you to our comprehensive chapter on the island of Comino, the smallest amongst the main Islands in the Maltese archipelago.

A carpet of red poppies may sometimes be seen in the Maltese countryside, intertwined between fields of green and yellow, on the flat or terraced patches of reddish soil.

Before issuing its green leaves, the Almond tree blooms with white or pink flowers that adorn the countryside for a short period.

Foreigners will not have realized that this was not a general election but a Referendum campaigne prior to EU membership.

Intricately mecchanised apparatus is used to give a traditional, yet varied fireworks display; ġigġifogu (pron. jig-jee-fogh-ooh — from Ital. guoco di fuoco).

In this quiet village on the island of Gozo, the Blue Anchor bar is my favourite place to get some good, local wine.   Karmena, the charming hostess, is loved by one and all.   The Edwardian Coronation scene and photographs of British battleships hung at this local drinking hole reminisce of yesteryear.

Although looking much like our Neolithic Temples, Borg in-Nadur is not one of them. It is a fortified village dating to prehistoric times, whose proximity to the sea (at Birzebbugia) may have warranted additional protection for its inhabitants.

Malta's Grand Harbour is a deep, natural haven which has provided shelter to many ships since man first sailed the Mediterranean Sea.

During British rule, this port was at its busiest, with merchantmen and battleships lining its quays and berthed at its midst, even. The building of the breakwater was an important stage in the history of Malta's Grand Harbour and it proved to be vital during World War Two, when enemy craft would stealthily attempt to sink allied vessels (especially British convoys) that had just made port.

Etnika is a traditional music group with a big difference.   Its performances combine our true musical tradition, with that of neighbouring cultures (flamenco), modern musical arrangement in an experimental form and plenty of fun.

Maltese instruments, such as the whining zaqq (similar to the bagpipes), the zafzafa, and the tanbur (seen in the photo) as well as Maltese folk song, known as Ghana (aa-nah), mix with band marches and other pieces of local folklore.

Wied Qlejgha, or Chadwick Lakes as the valley is better known, is dry for most of the year. This photograph was taken at the beginning of March, right after the rains in February, because as one saying goes Frar ifawwar il-bjar [February overflows wells, since it is a renowned rainy month in Malta].

There are no rivers in Malta. Chadwick Lakes are filled by water gathering from nearby fields owing to the fact that a small dam had been erected in the valley.

A wasp hive — found stuck to a dry stone wall at Ghammar, in the limits of Ħal Far.

We came across this during a (G.A.M.) cultural outing.   Whatever extra discoveries one makes during such outings, this kind is best left untouched.

I met this friendly young lady when I was taking photographs of an old chapel at Gudja (Our Lady of Loreto). It was around 6 PM and she was returning home with her mom and their mistress, who was also a gentle lady, living in a farmhouse nearby.

Although this goat had its head almost as high as my chest and was in dire need of milking, I couldn't help the feeling that it resembled an oversized puppy, curious at the stranger with the camera in his hand.

Mistakenly and disparagingly dubbed 'rubble walls', Maltese dry stone walls were first introduced by the islands' (medieval) Arab rulers. Their prime purposes are to prevent the soil from being lost from heavy rains, to protect and demark property.

Dry Stone walls exist in many different shapes and forms, sometimes built high, with flat slabs, or up to waist-level and with rounded, larger stones. In certain areas, mostly on Gozo, water access (in the form of small outlets/archways) may be found within these walls so as to prevent them from being destroyed by torrents.

Ah, the serenity of the Balluta Promenade, the waterfront that's a delight both in summer and winter; whether the sun is shining or the sea beating the shore ...

It is the border between Sliema and Saint Julians, a quiet place for the passiġġata [stroll], devoid of people only during the hours of sleep.

Salvu Pulis was his name, Ta' Sawwarni his family's nickname and that by which most knew him. Salvu was a farmer in his eighties, widower, once head of a large family, still walking firmly when we met and, yes, still smoking.

Imbierek Alla! — God bless him!