{"id":12864,"date":"2018-08-11T11:38:00","date_gmt":"2018-08-11T11:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=12864"},"modified":"2019-05-28T06:26:45","modified_gmt":"2019-05-27T20:26:45","slug":"hagar-qim-malta-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=12864","title":{"rendered":"\u0126a\u0121ar Qim, Malta 2018 \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date:  10th August  2018<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled:  Only by scooter, the Hymer is on ramps and hooked up to electricity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited: <\/strong>\u0126a\u0121ar<\/strong> Qim and Mnajdra Temples, Blue Grotto and Ghar Lapsi.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed:  Camping Malta, L-Armier, \u20ac21.50 pd, all the usual services.  N35.99484, E14,36686<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget: 68 days @ \u20ac100 per day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We enjoyed a drink and dinner last night with Tera and Dan.  They have lived and worked in some amazing places and we chatted on for ages.  They are leaving today to return to work in Andorra.  We have outlasted some friends, whilst staying at Camping Malta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our plan for today is to visit some sites on the far south coast of Malta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our original plan which was no real plan, just a thought, was to spend 5-6 night in Camping Malta on the north shore then move to another site in the south.  The later proved to be a scout campsite.  However it is well inland, so no beach access for a quick swim and we get to spend some time with 100 scouts.  So we stayed put in Camping Malta.  It\u2019s a little like your first girlfriend, maybe this is as good as it gets, maybe not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a long scooter ride, but Pam is up to the challenge of hanging on with one hand, Iphone X in the other.  Shouting left or right as she scans Google Maps along with the odd scream to \u2018lookout\u2019 or \u2018slow down\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It takes the best part of an hour to find the archeological site of the \u0126a\u0121ar<\/span> Qim and Mnajdra Temples.  There is little in the way of road signs and the villages small, the phone signal and Google Maps is a little slow.  Did I mention the road-works, but there is little traffic and we buzz along quite safely.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The visitor centre is a hum of activity. We watch a very interesting 3D movie on the history of the temples, which date back to a remarkable 3,600 BC. Pam looks good in the 3D glasses !  She sent me out for some pop-corn and a choc-top, but I failed.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The temple of \u0126a\u0121ar Qim is the first temple we explore. The entire temple is covered by a huge marque (thanks to the EU).  It was originally identified as a series of standing stones.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The site was first excavated by a British team back in 1839.  There has been restoration here and there, but its astonishing to think people organised themselves to go to this much trouble some 5,000 years ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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From the photo you can see the hole cut through the stone. The dawn sun on the equinox, shines through on to a particular rock.  All sounds a bit Indiana Jones, but someone went to a lot of trouble.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Mind you I was particularly impressed with the flush fit doors.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Random photo but it is worth noting the panoramic views from both sites. Note the view of the island of Filfla through the gap.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Another view of Filfla as we walk down to the second site, Mnajdra Temple.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Michael and Pam's Photo Sphere (Hagar Qim Temples Pano)<\/a>
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It\u2019s another 600 metres on to Mnajdra Temple. An easy downhill walk taking in the view, a bit harder coming back.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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More of the same at Mnajdra. Why they felt the need to build a second temple just down the hill is lost in time. So I won\u2019t bore you with more photos other than this one.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Back on the scooter after retrieving our helmets from the security guard, we continue the 2 kilometres onto the tiny port of Wied iz-\u0179urrieq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Set in a narrow inlet, the boats depart from here for a 30 minute passage to the Blue Grotto for the princely some of \u20ac8pp.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Pam love travelling in an open boat as sea.  Especially a small one, only 9 persons states the warning tag and Pam counts them out.  Once Pam dones the second life jackets she beomes remarkably calm.  Disguised as a Mexican but knowing I can swim a mile unhindered by a wife wearing two life-jackets, I remain calm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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They are relatively small boats.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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As we travel along, we pass numerous sea caves. The weaker limestone giving way to the sea.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Finally at the Blue Grotto we pass through and slow, to look at its various features.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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It\u2019s very eerie in the cave, but spectacular viewing as well.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The water is so clear, in places it appears luminescent.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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