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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 22, 2013 - 10:19pm PT
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Anyone here been to Malta and have any thoughts on the matter?
Not as a climbing destination... just as a place to go.
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Risk
Mountain climber
Olympia, WA
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May 22, 2013 - 11:48pm PT
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Only what I have heard and imagine. Like it's colorful history as probably miscommunicated in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo:
[Click to View YouTube Video]
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Mr Roy
climber
Seattle
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May 22, 2013 - 11:58pm PT
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I would love to visit Malta and check out the ruins..
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/arqueologia/esp_malta02.htm
The HYPOGEUM ...is now closed for conservation since 1992 - and is still closed.
Could it have something to do with the following story...?
Just beneath the southern tip of Italy, in the extreme western part of the Mediterranean sea, lies the island of Malta.
In the past Malta has been the possession of many nationalities, and has been considered to be one of the most strategic areas on earth, being a port and an intersecting point between Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, etc.
This 9-mile-long island was an ancient center of civilization at the time when the Phoenicians from Carthage invaded and began to rule it.
When a group of ancient priests who worshipped the "god" Moloch (another name for Baal, Osiris, or Nimrod - considered by the ancients to be the "sun god") visited the island in Old Testament times, the islanders readily accepted their teachings, including that of offering up human sacrifices to appease their "god" Moloch, for the ancient Maltese themselves practiced human blood sacrifice to the "gods" of the underworld which were believed to exist beneath the island and elsewhere, so-called deities which were often identified with "serpents".
When the Apostle Paul visited the island as recorded in the book of ACTS chapter 28, he learned of their superstitious beliefs concerning serpents after he had been bitten by one of the beasts on the island (at the time called Melita) and survived by the power of the risen Jesus - a god which the Maltese knew nothing about until Paul’s fateful visit.
Since the time of the Carthagians, Malta has had many rulers - Romans, Arabs, Normans, Argonese, Castillians, the Hospitalers or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, later known as the Knights of Rhodes, and still later as the Knights of Malta, who remain there to this day, having duel headquarters in Rome. A few miles south of the town of Valletta, Malta, is the small village of Casal Paula.
In the year 1902, workmen who were digging a well literally fell into the earth.
What they discovered (or rather re-discovered) was a series of ancient caves, mostly excavated out of solid rock, which descended into the earth and into three lower levels below. These multi-leveled catacombs became known as the "Hypogeum of Hal Saflienti", named after the street beneath which they were discovered.
A hypogeum is the Latin name for an underground structure.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2013 - 12:27am PT
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I am reading the Count of Monte Cristo as we speak... all 1,150+ pages of it. A fabulous tale written by one of the world's best.
Mr. Roy... I will read your full post tis evening. Thanks to both of you for your answers.
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Alan Rubin
climber
Amherst,MA.
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May 23, 2013 - 11:51am PT
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My non-climbing daughter spent a summer on Gozo--the smaller and less populated of the 2 main islands--doing anthropological research a few years ago. She loved the place and her pictures of it are beautiful. She really enjoyed her time there and hopes to return someday.She said that everything and everyone there seemed very laid-back. I remember one of her stories about going with a friend to visit a "tourist cave" that was advertised on the island. They followed the directions for the cave and ended up at someone's house. Assuming that they were in the wrong place, they knocked on the door to get directions to the correct location. The woman who answered told them that they had indeed found the right place and brought them down to her basement, where what looked like a closet door opened into the entrance of a beautiful cavern. While she didn't climb, she did some scuba and found it a fascinating place to dive.
I know that there is actually quite extensive climbing on the islands, which was first developed by British troops stationed there before, during and after World War 2. As a result, unusually for European limestone, many of the routes use natural protection, though a good number of sport routes have appeared more recently as well. Everstrong British hardman Steve Haston is originally from Malta and has been developing numerous routes there in recent years, many of quite impressive difficulty. I know that his wife (Laurence Gouault--posts as Laurence GH)has posted a number of times both on here and UKclimbing with information and very tempting photos of Malta climbing.
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Ihateplastic
Trad climber
It ain't El Cap, Oregon
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Topic Author's Reply - May 23, 2013 - 01:48pm PT
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Thanks all! This is exactly what I expected to hear. Seems like summer would be crowded and way hot. Any thoughts on when to go?
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Chief
climber
The NW edge of The Hudson Bay
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May 23, 2013 - 01:52pm PT
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Spent six weeks there back in the mid nineties working on Cutthroat Island (an even worse picture than Troy!).
It was Feb/March and remarkably cold, windy and wet.
Malta struck me as fascinating crossroads between Western European Christendom and North African Islamic culture.
At the time Malta was an important bridge to Libya and other North African countries under Western "no fly" sanctions.
The history of the Turkish seige of Malta and Valetta's frontline defence (he was in his seventies at the time) is the stuff of legends and a must read.
It was very cool to spend time in the city of Valetta and marvel at the still standing stone walls and fortifications.
Malta is a dark, mysterious and intriguing little island with a huge place in history.
Not sure I'd ever go back on my dime though.
PB
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