Sunday, 18th March 2007

After the inclement weather of the day before, ideal conditions greeted the grouped ramblers from Malta and Scotland, that gathered at the Domus Romana to launch the first walk together from a programme that will last for the rest of March.

Setting-out together through Mdina

Some thirty rambler guests from Biggar and Hamilton in Scotland joined the hundred and twenty locals and were welcomed by the RAM Secretary and encouraged to intermingle and share experiences during the forthcoming walk. The leader of the walk for the day, Felix Grech then gave a brief preview of the route.

Listening to Felix at Chadwick Lakes

That route ran from Mdina down past the old Train Station across the Ghexierem Bridge over the Mtarfa ridge and finally down to Chadwick Lakes. Here, Felix recounted the derivation of the name from the English hydrologist who during the last century was responsible for the replenishment of the local water table through the building of dams that prevented the quick run-off of rain water down the valleys to the sea.

A view of Bingemma chapel

The climb up to Dwejra under a warm and bright sun was somewhat eased by the fresh breeze and indeed rendered pleasant by the reflection of the brilliant colours from the surrounding countryside in full bloom. Over the Dwejra Lines the Great Fault over which the defensive wall was build could now be viewed in its full glory and better understood. The use that was made of the fault for defensive purposes was also better appreciated.

Crossing the Bingemma gap

At Bingemma the ramblers crossed the valley over the arched doorway in the wall that is flanked by musketry loopholes. Nest to the Chapel dedicated to Our Lady the group took a brief but well deserved rest before the way back to Rabat was resumed through Tas-Salib and Gnien is-Sultan.
 

:: more to come ::