Rick Rockhill

Rick Rockhill 'stared in amazement and wonder' as he approached Malta's grand harbour:

I awaken yesterday quite early. It was the wee hours-still before dawn and our ship was sailing in dark waters that were smooth as glass and strangely quiet. It was hard to tell what speed we were sailing, but I sensed it was very slow. As the morning light emerged, a silhouette of a land mass appeared. It was entirely different from other places we had seen on this journey, but I couldn't see why, I just sensed it. I wondered what the day would bring.

Suddenly, there was just enough light to reveal enough of the dramatic and imposing coastline emerging in the distance. I imagined the sound of a hundred trumpets blaring, announcing the place where we reached, the main island of Malta. I stepped out onto our balcony staring in amazement and wonder. Having never been to Malta I did not know what to expect- certainly not such beauty before we had even reached land.

Malta’s Grand Harbour is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world; it was certainly living up to that reputation. As we sailed further into Grand Harbour, the first visual impression was that everything on the island seemed to be the same color- a soft, light sandstone tan. I reconciled these colors with the imposing stone structures along the coast, which appeared to look like a fortress...