My 30-day journey during April and May 2005.

The Mdina gate photo is terrific. (I am a complete fool for lions...)

osso, Mdina is an Arab name, but not Arab in origin. It was the first capital of Malta. I think it also has something to do with the Knights of St John.

Like Osso, I love lions. The entrance gate to Mdina is irresitible--I would have to enter just to satisfy my curiosity. I also love the narrow, winding street. Bob was also admiring your photos and said that the winding street reminded him of Lisbon, except there would be flower boxes on all the houses.

The Knights of Malta are an interesting group. Another thread on the Knights would make for interesting reading, but I'm not the one to start. Here are some more links:

http://www.knightsofmalta.com/history/history.html


Paul Marcinkus God's Banker
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issues/2003-02-13/news/nelson.html


General Catholic church information, espcially new, right-wing policies in Latin America.
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=863


Lots of connections in Knights of Malta:
http://www.mosquitonet.com/~prewett/caqsmom25.2.html

Oh, I am definitely looking at the pictures, c.i.! Keep 'em coming! They're wonderful!

Diane, The "history" article is long, but very interesting. It provides some information I already had and new ones that expanded on what I learned during the past couple of months. It also corrected some of my misconceptions about the Order. Good article. I'll read the others at a later time. Thanks for sharing them.

Great doors, arches, and narrow(!) streets. I wonder what the inscription above the main gate says? Do you remember the gist of it, c.i.?

Believe me, I'll read those links from Diane!
I suppose Walter or I should start a separate thread. I am in a rest phase at the moment. But, over the weekend...

And thanks, Walter, for clueing me into the fact that there are levels (with different descriptive words) to describe such organizations.

The third segment of this journey:

Amsterdam: The city of canals

Thank you, Trainhopper, I enjoyed that...

c.i.,
I read all your photos....... and your written histories too........

All too very interesting.

Thanks for the ones with people. And is that the back of your head in the "poster" pic?

That "head" belongs to one of the fellows in our tour group. Glad you're finding this forum interesting.

Tak, I really don't think we could possibly keep up with you! You really are amazing.

Dys and I got to see a demonstration of the etching process at the Renbrandt House. I hadn't realized how complicated the process is or how thick the "ink' is. Do you know if he had any helpers? What a long and involved process--and he was painting as well.

I do not have pm access to reply. sorry

Rembrandt's studio. There are more pictures from Rembrandt's Museum, but will only post two unless more are requested.

This is a special painting by Rembrandt. Try to figure out the "mystery."

Four pictures from Keukenhof Garden/Park.

a.

b.

c.

d.