Almost within the shadow of Mosta’s massive dome lies a smaller place of worship –  Knisja Ta’ l-Isperanza (Our Lady of Good Hope church), which comes with its own legend involving a Maltese maiden, marauding Turkish corsairs, a cave, cobwebs and divine intervention (for the full story, I recommend A Hundred Wayside Chapels by Kilin – ISBN 99909-93-06-8). Located on one slope of Wied il-Ghasel (Valley of Honey – that’s as tempting a location as any) and standing sentry to the stone bridge which spans it, this was the meeting point for our small group of trekkers.  The leader was Stanley Borg of Trekking Malta.
Thanks to Stanley Borg for these photos
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The circular route was mostly along quiet country roads or tracks and is quite manageable for walkers of any ability; the most challenging part being the hill rising up from Fiddien Valley to Dwejra, although it always seems so much harder when I’m doing it with my bicycle. The 10.5km circuit can be done comfortably in 2¼ hours.
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Should you like to download the route to your GPS, contact me for the relevant GPX file.
I feel I should share these beautiful lyrics of a Fado (a music genre originating from Portugal in the 1820s) which were sent to me last Sunday. Thank you M.
Ask the night
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Ask the night to tell you
How often it has seen me
In search of your shadow
In the streets of the city.
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Ask the night to tell you
How often it has heard me
Calling quietly for you
In a murmur of yearning.
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Ask the night to tell you
How many tears I have shed
As the breeze whispered
Your name in my ear.
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Ask the night to show you the paths
That I invented
In a dream as I imagined
Our two bodies united.
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Tell the night your secrets;
Only it can keep them.
Tell it whether a place exists in your heart,
To which I can flee.
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Keep your fears from the night
So that you can reveal
That you like me just as much
In the quiet of this night.
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Ask the moon not to come
And eavesdrop on our desire,
So that the sound of the plaintive night
Veils us in soft caresses,
So that the darkness remains
To unite us in a kiss;
And a radiant and hot sun
Shall shine this night.