Jack and the Beanstalk... the GIANT of all performances!

Tonight I had the pleasure of watching the Masquerade production of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Manoel Theatre in Valletta with my friend Steph and her family.

We sat in a box with a perfect view of the stage and (given the intimacy of the theatre) other members of the audience!

The quality of the show was superb: the costumes were stunning and plentiful, the songs were current and well known (so we could sing along if we wanted), the actors were professional and there was a sufficient amount of audience participation.

The cultural references were interesting to see and I learnt a couple of new Maltese words...

I can't wait for their production of Aladdin next year!

Mosta Dome

Mosta Dome, also known as the Mosta Rotunda or St Marija Assunta is the 3rd largest unsupported dome in the world. On 9th April 1942 during WW2 a bomb pierced the roof whist the people were inside celebrating mass but the bomb did not explode.

Il-Milied Ħieni/Merry Christmas!

Ħal-Saflieni Hypogeum

We managed to book tickets to go to the Hypogeum near Paola.

The Hypogeum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the only prehistoric underground temple in the world. It was discovered in 1902 when workers cutting cisterns for a new housing development cut though its roof.

Only 80 people are allowed in each day (10 on each tour) to preserve the temple and to avoid CO2 damage it is therefore best to book a month in advance to ensure a place.

Dingli Cliffs

Slightly windswept... 

We braved the strong winds and went on a hike in the south along Dingli cliffs.

This really shows the sheer variety Malta has in such a small place - in 30 minutes you can go from the capital to what feels the middle of nowhere. 

Another thing that struck me was just how vast the sea is, there were only a handful of vessels seen on the horizon in any direction. 

My first visitor

Bristol! 

One of my friends who I met at Uni in Bristol came to visit last week. Luckily the weather was dry and bright and he managed to see a lot of what Malta and Gozo have to offer.

Rotaract 2110 Sicily e Malta Distrettuale - Domenica

President of Rotaract Palermo Cefalu and the Pane con la Milza chef from Ninu U Ballarinu's

After getting back to the hotel in the early hours of the morning we dragged ourselves down to breakfast before going for the district meeting.

Thankfully Rtr. Etienne Fenech - President of Rotaract Malta La Valette and new Sicilian Rotaractor friends Emanuele and Alessandro volunteered to interpret the proceedings into English so that I could follow the meeting.

It was quite an insight to be on the receiving end of the interpreting process for a change.

There were some interesting presentations including a project coordinated by Rotaract Palermo Cefalù called TERRARIUM PROJECT, an international project with two parts:

1. Clubs pay a fee to be involved in the project - this money goes towards a project with Amnesty International defending human rights.
   
   
2. A symbol of international cooperation and working together is created in the form of an aquarium filled with earth from around the world, this will then be exhibited in different locations. More information can be found here.

Another international project called BBT - 'Building Bridges Together' was launched but I will write more about that soon...

After the meeting we were taken for a traditional Palermo lunch - a hot spleen sandwich served with hard cheese and lemon juice and which tasted a million times better than it sounds. The chef is a bit of a local celebrity and gave us all calendars. As a result the President of Rotaract Palermo Cefalu gave the eatery a banner. More info about the local delicacy can be found here.

Pane con la Milza

Then our hosts took us to the most popular bakery for a famous 7 layer chocolate cake before we were driven back to Pozzallo for the catamaran. 

My apologies Fontanella but I think you have just lost the chocolate cake crown!

*Although you could say that this was more of a mousse than a cake...

Seven Layer Chocolate Cake

NEWS: Interpreter shortage is not only for Sign Languages!

Maltese is an official language of the EU although there is still a shortage of Maltese interpreters.

So much so that recently a Maltese MP was forced to give his speech to a meeting in English. Ironically the meeting was about language use in member states. 

Article can be read here.

Rotaract 2110 Sicily e Malta Distrettuale - Sabato

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending the 3rd Rotaract district meeting of the year which was held in Palermo Sicily. It was my first time to Sicily and my first district event - I can't wait for the next one!

We left Valletta on the catamaran at 5am. It was the first time I have travelled by catamaran and the journey felt much smoother than the ferries I have been on. I tried to sleep during the trip but the excitement of a new form of travel and a desperate attempt to learn some basic Italian from a Lonely planet phrasebook kept me awake.

We arrived in Pozzallo at around 7.30am (the crossing takes a little longer in winter due to the sea being a bit choppier) and were met by a Rotarian from Modica called Filippo who kindly took us for breakfast (a deliciously frothy cappucino and a sweet ricotta-filled croissant - a 'cornetto') and then drove us the length of Sicily to Palermo (see map above).

On arrival in Palermo we went to the city's beach resort called Mondello for a delicious lunch in a seafront restaurant: fresh fruita di mare antipasta, a first plate of pasta with sea urchins followed by a second plate of pasta and part of a lobster who we had seen swimming around a tank an hour or so before!

After eating significantly more than my stomach is used to, I crawled back to the car. We were then taken to our hotel in central Palermo where the district assembly was being held.

In the evening everyone got 'suited and booted' for a delicious Gala Dinner in the city hall across the road from the hotel. It is customary for diners to wander around between courses and toast at each table.

'Cin cin!'

After the dinner there was a disco after which a group of us went for a walk around the city to see 'Palermo by Night' before heading to a bar.

STRIKE! - Rotaract Bowling Social

Last Thursday we had a Rotaract Christmas social at the Eden Superbowl in St Julian's. There was a great mix of members, friends and international guests including Rotaractors from Sicily and Spain. 

Rotaract National Project 2008-9

Every year the members of Rotaract Malta La Vallette channel their energy and efforts into both a National and an International project.

I am delighted to report that this year the members have decided to work with the Deaf People's Association (Malta) (Għaqda Persuni Neqsin mis-Smigħ) as their National project.
The association is based in Lascaris Wharf, Floriana and hosts a social club every Friday where members can meet friends and converse in their preferred language - Maltese Sign Language (also known as LSM - Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija).
The association is a member of the European Union of the Deaf (their mini site on the EUD website can be found here) and of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD).

The aims of the project are to:

a) Raise funds to purchase

• A stairlift to make the Deaf Club accessible to those with mobility difficulties
• Air conditioning units to cool the premises during the hot summer months
• A photocopier to ease the association's administration costs

b) To raise awareness of the club, the needs of their members and Maltese Sign Language across the Maltese Islands.