TARXIEN (Day 4)

We took a bus down to Birzebbuga, getting off at Pretty Bay. Fishermen lined the edge of the walkway. The harbor was filled with colorful boats with small eyes (the eyes of Osiris) painted on the bow to scare off evil spirits.

We first walked to Borg-in-Nadur to view some bronze age ruins. Unfortunately it was very hard to tell what was what.

We then tromped along a very busy street to Ghar Dalam, also known as the Dark Grotto. The cave is essentially just a long crevice in the side of a hill with a few stalactites and stalagmites but is famous for its multitude of fossil finds. The connecting museum was packed with bones from various animals from before the last Ice Age.

We walked to relatively nearby city of Marsaxlokk, a fishing town with even more 'eyed' boats. People were again fishing from the docks as well as repairing boats, sorting gear and untangling nets. At a local market, lace in all shapes and forms was on display.

The local church was also wonderfully decorated for the holiday season.

We caught a bus to the Tarxien temples, a complex of three temples built between 2200 and 1800 BC. The monolithic five-chambered temples contained several altars, carved decorative stones, and the thick feet and legs of an enormous fertility statue.

Getting a bus back proved to be a bit difficult in that bus stops were few and far between.

return • continue