MALTA...MY OH MY

Ladies from North Carolina; entering the catacombs

blown glass shops; historical churches

going into the catacombs; our ship, the NORWEGIAN GEM...

Last night our dog, Lillie, cut her leg so badly...blood everywhere. Obviously a vein damaged and you could just see the bone...to say the least, it's been a harrowing night and morning; but I am thankful to find the vet to help her and she will now be getting shots for 7 more days. She was crying at my bedroom door trying to get in...

Okay...I'll spare you all the details and go on with Malta, but I wanted you to know there has been so much drama going on...I'll just intersperse it between shore excursions.

We were a day at sea before arriving to the island of Malta. I had read cruise ship forums which stated..just do the tour yourself and save $$$ do this, that and the other. I had no idea what Malta held in store for us, nor did I realize just how much this was to become a spiritual journey.

Leaving Barcelona, and seeing the remnants of the Roman Empire was quite memoralized in my mind...buildings where the original walls still stood, just rebuilt upon and used as the foundation of other buildings that were erected over the same spot...anyway, while watching the tv on the ship, they show what all awaits you in Malta. Then, they showed pictures of the cave where Paul was held prisoner after his shipwreck episode. It was here while gathering wood a snake bit Paul and they all waited for him to die, and he didn't...I just about fell out of my bed. I didn't realize I would be coming here...I didn't realize the impact that this struck me with. Well, I couldn't get John and the kids to go with me on this trek, they did their own thing. So, let me tell you about my excursion of Malta.

It kicked off first visiting elaborate churches, with unbelievable domes, gold, detail...On the front of this one church they had all of the apostles that were huge outside. I tried to zero in 0n a picture of St. Thomas since he was killed in Chennai. There were huge portraits of Paul, the snake scene within the church. A bomb during WWII had blew threw the dome, but was repaired...Then we went on to shops where they had the most beautiful glass art. I got a blue swirled lovebird duo. Malta is known for their blown glass. We ultimately ended up heading for the catacombs that were connected to the crypt where Paul had lived during his stay to be transported to Rome. Going into these catacombs really leaves you with a strange feeling...walking through these narrow hilly streets gazing into the windows...people were very friendly. I got the best peanut brittle with tons of different spices in it, so different than what we have back home...

There were so many stories I can't remember them all, stories of the Maltese Cross (8 pointed cross) and the order of St. John...

Anyway we were thoroughly enjoying our cruise. Met some fascinating, fun loving Obama loving ladies who flagged us down...they were all college graduates who reunited every year and took trips together. They were out of North Carolina, and this was so similar to Tyler Perry's movie with Janet Jackson..."Why did I get Married"...if you haven't seen this movie, you have got to. I'll try to put their picture up as well, but we had such camera problems for a couple of days, that we didn't even get Colosseum pictures on our camera...had to use Ashley's.

But I just feel so blessed. Blessed, that God allowed me to physically go and cast my eyes upon these places that seem so much just like a "story" which you've read all your life, heard preachers give sermons about, and looking at the Bible as a living, breathing, book...just waiting to be ultimately fulfilled...you won't believe the physical sickness wave that overwhelms your soul just stepping toward the colusseum...but I'll get to those stories later.

Oh well...the journey continues.