Carnival in Valletta, Malta

On our anniversary trip to Malta, we had a most pleasant surprise - it was Carnival.  Malta has a very strong Roman Catholic presence and the country was celebrating Carnival before Lent started.  We were in the town of Valletta when we came across the "Bands and Dancers Parade."  We have never attended a carnival before but it was fun to see.  Here are some of the pictures - I'm not going to comment on all of them because they pretty much speak for themselves.  We also got to watch the dance competition and saw the floats.  

 I was amazed at how ornate the costumes were.

 The hard part about watching this parade was the parents -

they followed their children down the street

(which I don't blame them - I would too)

but it made it kind of hard to see the kids!

 Cute little guy!  Some of the participants were so young, perhaps 3 years old.

 We tried to get a good picture of this guy in the middle of the photo -

he was on springs/stilts and would jump really high in the air.

We weren't quick enough to get the picture.

 This was at the dance competition.

I felt sorry for this group because they were so small and

also their costumes were plain compared to the other competitors.

 But this little girl made it all worthwhile.

She was having the time of her life.

 This little girl was not interested in the loud music 

and colorful costumes.

She was picking up confetti!

 These were little kids, probably 3 or 4 years old.

 This poor girl looks like she has had a long day.

 Here are some of the floats for the parade.

We didn't wait around for the parade to start -

it had been a long day!

 They are so colorful and ornate.

 This was the cutest thing we saw all day.  We were leaving and coming towards us

was Spiderman and Superman, holding hands.  We had already put our camera up,

but I still think these are cute photos.

Here are a few things we noticed about the Maltese people.  They seemed to be very family oriented.  This was a carnival made up of families.  Nothing like what I think it is like in New Orleans.  Of course we didn't stay for the night life but the entire crowd was made up of families.  The children were so well behaved.  It had to be a long day for them, because it was for us and we didn't have to wear costumes and march and dance.  Having said that, we hardly saw a child throwing a fit or crying.  We were amazed, and impressed.  We mentioned this to our taxi driver on our way to the airport to fly home.  He kinda snorted and said, "They're used to it.  We celebrate everything."  Still impressive!  The Maltese are a very friendly, happy people!

30th Wedding Anniversary!

Bud and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary last week!

We went to Malta! We'll post about that later.  

 30 years . . .

You start to realize what a rare thing it is to be married for 30 years,

after you have hit the 30 year mark!

I feel so blessed to have found this remarkable man.

 I joke about how he drives me crazy, and its true.

He reminds me that men never really grow up, 

that they're kids at heart.

He makes me laugh, everyday!  

Seriously, he is one of the funniest people I know.

Bud, though, is a very, very moral person.

He is honest, faithful and devoted.

He tells me that I am beautiful,

which with almost 50 years of living on my face

and hanging around my middle, I appreciate it.

Bud is wise, smart and has oodles of common sense.

He has nursed me through a couple of serious illnesses.

Cooked, cleaned, held me when I struggled,

and told me to buck up when I needed it.

When I am tacky, naughty or just plain thoughtless,

he lets me know, just like any good spouse would.

He wants me to be the person that he sees me as.

Bud works extremely hard at everything he does,

and he has passed that on to our kids.

Speaking of kids, ours could not ask for a better father.

He would play with them, work with them,

teach them how to be good people.

Every night before bed, he either told them a story

about when he was growing up

(their favorite) or read them stories.  

Clear up until they were in their teens.  They love this about him.

Bud taught our kids to love God, their country and freedom.

How to make good choices and to recognize

how blessed their lives are.

Now they are teaching their children these important truths!

I look at this picture, and smile.

Look at the hope and excitement!

Is marriage this easy?

NO!

At times, it is one of the hardest, trying and soul stretching things you will ever do.

Yet it is also the most easy, natural, right experience a person can have.

But you have to fight for this experience.

You stick it out when it gets hard,

you celebrate it when its great,

and you work at it when its mundane.
You bite your tongue when unkind thoughts come to mind.
It is hard to take back hurt feelings!
You let go of the negative. Just like that. Don't hang on to it!

You realize that boring, unexciting and routine

is when marriage is at its best. Its real!

You are comfortable with the day to day and

are glad that there isn't any drama.

Steady, strong and healthy.

We married for time and all eternity!

I look forward to the future!

The Hague (Den Haag)

Last Saturday, we went for a walk in The Hague.  In Dutch, The Hague is called Den Haag.  Many years ago, it was also called 's-Gravenhage.  The Hague was founded around the year 1230.  It is the third largest city in the Netherlands (after Amsterdam and Rotterdam).  The population is approximately 500,000.  It is located in the west of the country, in the province of South Holland, of which it is also the provincial capital.  The Hague is the seat of the Dutch parliament, government and Royal Court (but the city is not the capital of the Netherlands which is a role set aside in the Dutch constitution for Amsterdam).  Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands lives and works in The Hague. All foreign embassies and government ministries are located in the city, as well as the Supreme Court and the Council of State.  The Hague is also the judicial capital of the United Nations, being the location of its primary judicial institutions, including the World Court.

 This is the building where Angus' office is located.  The office is in the third floor.  The top two floors of the building are where the Belgium embassy is located.

 Angus in front of his office.

 Opposite side of Angus' office showing the pond.

 Street view of the Mexican Embassy.

 Typical street with a canal.

 This building is the Hotel des Indes for the Dutch East India Company.  The Dutch East India Company was established in 1602. It was the first multinational corporation in the world and the first company to issue stock (a return of 18% was paid for over 200 years).  It was also arguably the world's first megacorporation, possessing quasi-governmental powers, including the ability to wage war, imprison and execute convicts, negotiate treaties, coin money, and establish colonies. 

The Hague, which housed the Ministry of Colonies, was the favorite city for soldiers and civil servants on furlough from the Dutch East Indies. The Hague offered facilities for families on leave, including shops with colonial goods and boarding houses. The Hotel Des Indes on the Lange Voorhout in The Hague used to accommodate many of these travellers. 

Escher Musuem

 Mel is standing in front of the narrowest, smallest house in The Hague. 

 Area in the old center of The Hague.

 This street is referred to as the Queen's Mile.  It is a private road in the center of The Hague and can only be driven on by the Queen.

Two mounted police officers.

 This is the "Rusthof" door.  It leads to some "almshouses" in the center of the block, built originally for retired servants of the royal family or church. The almshouses were often destined for the elderly. Poor elderly were dependent on their family, church or wealthy people. The rich patrons or the church founded almshouses where poor elderly could live free. The founders of almshouses were often childless men or women who wanted to spend the money from their estates after their death in a meaningful way.

 The door leads to a narrow hallway.

 The Rusthof

 The Rusthof apartments in the center of the block with a beautiful garden.

 Dutch shops.

 The Dutch Parliament Buildings, Buitenhof.

 Shopping area near the Government buildings.

 Walking street.

 William of Orange.

 Courtyard in center of the Buitenhof (government buildings.)

 Angus in the Buitenhof or Parliament courtyard.

 Fountain in the courtyard.

 Mel enjoying the walk on a brisk February day.

 The old prison dating back a few centuries.

 The Jewish Quarter from World War II.  During the occupation of the Netherlands during WWII, over 100,000 Dutch Jews were rounded up to be transported to Nazi German concentration camps in Germany, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. By the time these camps were liberated, only 876 Dutch Jews survived.

 Queen Beatrix's residence in the Hague.

 Another view of the Queen's residence.

 Gate in front of the Queen's residence.

 Narrow street in the old section of The Hague.