Malta

T

theos

Veteran
Malta

So I was just wondering . . . . how many of you guys actualy know of my piece of rock homeland called Malta. I dont actually expect you to as it is tiny bieng having an area of only 316 km sq which would account for slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC . . . but if you did hear of it, it would be nice to know how.

BTW it is on the movie makers map ;D
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

I've heard of Malta, but only as a land of legendary flying dragons and hobbits. Joking, we americans are decidedly unworldly...mostly due to the sheer size of culture and variety contained with our own borders. We also have a rather dismal standard of geography in our public schools.

I can say that I honestly know nothing about Malta, but you mentioning it alone is enough for me to go google it after I finish writing my post.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

I googled it as soon as I read his post as well. :)

It looks very beautiful. I want to walk around Gozo in the spring time!
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

Here’s what I have learned about your country:

Malta was acquired formally by Great Britain in 1814 and the island bravely supported the United Kingdom through both world wars. 1964 marked the beginning of Malta’s independence and ten years alter they became a full republic. Since the mid 80’s Malta has focused on becoming a freight transshipment point, a tourist hotspot and a financial center. They formally joined the EU as of May, 2004.

Malta is an archipelago located in Southern Europe and is one of the many islands dotting the Mediterranean Sea (south of Sicily). The specific geographic coordinates are 35 50 N, 14 35 E. Only the three largest islands, Malta, Ghawdex/Gozo, and Kemmuna/Comino are inhabited.

Malta has very limited natural fresh water resources and is increasingly reliant on desalination and they’re in talks with Tunisia regarding the commercial oil exploration of their shared continental shelf.

They maintain an available military of nearly 100,000 people, including about 80,000 that are fit for combat.

Maltese are descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians with strong genetic lines of Italian and other Mediterranean stock. They’re 98% roman catholic with a 92.8% literacy rate.

They apparently have a president who’s first name is Eddie, yet isn’t a Van Halen.

They have 1 AM radio station, 18 FM and 6 short wave stations as of 1999. They also have 6 television broadcast stations. They have several multiplex cinemas and an IMAX theater. The Centre for Creativity at St. James’ Cavalier, Valletta is an art-house venue that also shows many re-releases and non-english films. There’s a winter season of art films organized by the University of Malta Film Club, and the French Cultural Institutes and the German-Maltese Circle also have regular film seasons.

Notable films that have used Malta as a location include Midnight Express, Gladiator, Popeye, and U-571.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

. . . troy, helen of troy, julius ceasar, league of extrodinary gentlemen (bleah) all on this small rock . . . check us out. We are quite a few directors secret location and do you know who was preping here . . . . ;D
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

I'm jealous...you've got an island nation slightly under twice the size of DC...and I've just got DC.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

I have heard of Malta and I had to do a transti in Malta when going to Moscow from my homeland.
Also, I used to work with a girl from Malta and I have got a friend who used to teach Salsa in Malta as well.

From the airport I could tell that it is a nice place. The weather was wonderful and the sky was beatiful.

All the best

Fidel.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

I just like blasting the crap out of it in Medal of Honor!! But you knew that already.

CaptM
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

[quote author=araujofh link=board=Offtopic;num=1096652913;start=0#7 date=10/01/04 at 15:32:24]
Also, I used to work with a girl from Malta and I have got a friend who used to teach Salsa in Malta as well.
[/quote]

Salsa in Malta...™ that's cool!  :D

All the best

Terry  ;)
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

So anyway . . . if anyone is passing this way . . do drop in ;) I would love to show you around.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

[quote author=Matthew link=board=Offtopic;num=1096652913;start=0#0 date=10/01/04 at 10:48:33]So I was just wondering . . . . how many of you guys actualy know of my piece of rock homeland called Malta. [/quote]

That's where crosses and falcons come from, right?

;)

Dan
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

[quote author=GenJerDan link=board=Offtopic;num=1096652913;start=0#12 date=10/04/04 at 06:00:13]That's where crosses and falcons come from, right?[/quote]

Ah, the Maltese Falcon!
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

...and in Prague, there is a little beautiful Maltese Square, with a garden that used to be a set of stageplays under the open sky when I was about twelve. It was magical back then, must be even better now.

I met a Maltese couple on their honeymoon on one of my trip back to Czech Republic - very nice people, the young lady especially made me want to visit! ;) ;) It was funny how they thought CR was a big country for them - after almost 15 years in Canada and US, I got used to the dimensions here, and find my native land tinier and tinier with every visit :)

The Count of Monte Christo was filmed there as well.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

Just a few interesting facts about my home land which I could share is that

1. People from Malta are not called Maltesers, ;D but Maltese.

2. We have our own language called Maltese spoken by the locals population alone which numbers just around 400,000. The language has a grammer, literature and is taught at school just like Spanish, English, Italian etc . . .

3. There are more emigrant Maltese than locals. The emigrant population in Canada, Australia and the UK amounts to over 1 million.

4. Amounst other interesting sites, we have a international heratige site called Hagar Qim, dating to 3800 BC, and are argubly the oldest known human structures in the world.

5. The grand harbour which forms the capital city is a natural harbour that is totaly fortified by bastions (walls) built under the Knights of Malta that make a spectacular medival experience to any visitor.

6. Our main revenue generator is tourisim as in Summer the heat beats hard on the beaches making it a popular location

7. As for the film industry, some directors have found the light here to be quite unique as the sea brease that reaches all the island constantly cleans the air allowing incredible lighting conditions.

8. And one of my favorite facts is that small as we are, we got a mention in the Bible, in ACTS chapter 28, when St Paul got ship wrecked here on his way to die in Rome to get a 3 month breather and converting the island. He lived in a Village called Rabat, were I lived for 6 years, in a grotto which is a shrine of devotion for the 92% cathlic population.

Ok now I go pick up my commision from the tourisim authority on the oncoming flow of new tourists that are going to rush throught the airport gates with a DVX round their neck!
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

Hey, I've been guilty of over-promoting my home country!

But I think that's the best one can do to also promote understanding and tolerance - as long as you don't put down other folks native lands.

I've got an idea - this being such an international forum, we could have a 'Travel Tips' board - where people from different countries could share tips on good filmic locations.

I'll go first: If you ever visit Czech Republic, sure Prague is what everyone wants to see, but you should know that the country has about 2400 castles that are accessible to public, and are definitely worth visiting. Many of them are late-gothic and early rennaisance gems. My favorite is Pernstejn, a castle about three hours drive south-east of Prague. First built around 1270! Great gothic foritification architecture. Beautiful location and surroundings, used in countless movies, recently in 'My giant' (I think) starring Billy Crystal.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.ad...ory=&country=CZ&city=Pernstejn&submit=Get+Map

So there! Anyone with nice filmic locations in your countries, it's a challenge!

Jerry
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

Malta was the place where the apostle Paul ( The Bible, Acts chapter 28 ) was shipwrecked.

I'm out.
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

[quote author=Jerry XCheck link=board=Offtopic;num=1096652913;start=15#16 date=10/05/04 at 19:55:45] . . . .  where people from different countries could share tips on good filmic locations. . . . [/quote]

Locations sounds good to me!
 
Re:  Malta

Re:  Malta

Hey folks, never tried this before - see if I can link to some old pictures of that castle of mine (yeah, I wish it were mine... :D)

So, here are some shots (about ten years old, before they banned camera use):

View from underneath the third fortification wall:
93273ccs.JPG


Note the cracked wall in the left lower corner - I didn't know about it when the picture was taken, but I learned later that's from a Swedish cannon ball during the thirty-year war. The siege took place in 1645, but the Swedes never captured the castle.
95032ccn.JPG


Smack in the core of the fortress, the oldest part of it, dating about 1280AD - apparently in 13th century, they didn't bother to put a roof on top of it :D
95126acn.JPG

So, gents and ladies, now you know where to go to shoot your next horror film! ;D

Jerry
 
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