MDINA (Day 11)

We took the bus to Ta'Qali, the touristy craft market. Half the shops were closed but some things were open. We got to watch the artisans throw pottery, blow glass and make silver jewelry. The results were quite impressive.

We then walked through country fields along busy streets up to the nearby fort of Mdina again. We explored new streets and churches.

We stopped at the ruins of a Roman villa. It mostly just looked like a pile of rubble but some distinguishable columns could be seen.

We caught the bus back to Valletta and visited St. Paul's Shipwreck church. It was very dark and it took a while for our eyes to adjust to the glowing red light from the candles, but the church was absolutely stunning. Very detailed carvings covered the walls and again the floor was tiled with large gravestone slabs. The church's claim to fame, however, is an actual piece of the column on which Paul was beheaded as well as some bones from his wrist.

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