Thursday, 22nd March 2007
Mellieha has its own particular charm that is better
displayed when the weather is clear and crisp. And like magic,
Mellieha presented itself and welcomed the six dozen ramblers
who gathered there at 9.30 in the morning of the second day of
Spring 2007. The Scots as much as the locals, immediately
started clicking-away with their digitals, aiming to capture the
beauty of the sun-hit baroque fa?de from the quaint and quite
square devoid of all traffic. The quiet was broken by the
Secretary addressing all about the day's itinerary.
At the Sanctuary
The start at the old Sanctuary of 'il-Madonna tal-Mellieha'
focused on the variety of the memorabilia that hangs on the
walls after that the nun taking care of the place gave details
of the importance of the historical sanctuary and the tradition
linked to it. All then descended into the cave in the valley to
view the shrine of Our Lady, after which the panorama from the
playing field behind the main church was taken in.
Next move was to take in the vista of the valley on the other
side of the ridge, known as Gnien Ingraw. It was explained how
in the 18th Century the site was acclaimed to have been the
location of the shrine of Calypso, which the French traveler
Lacroix had engraved in his travelogue for posterity. The party
was taken round the sloping site along paths that are full of
enigmatic steps, rock faces and caves. No wonder foreign
visitors some centuries back believed in the sacredness of the
place. Surely they had more evidence than what survives to us
today.
Leaving Popeye Village
Down the lush valley and a detour to view the fresh water
spring and the old farmhouse, the unfortunate blighted potato
fields and the fields of newly sown vegetables were taken in as
the fresh wind urged everybody on to keep warm.
Next stop was at the queer Popeye Village (set
of 1980 film,) where warm coffee was resorted to from vacuum
flasks or the site coffee shop even before lunch packs were
opened. All sought cover from the rather cold north-westerly
wind as locals and visitors intermingled in discussion on all
topics under the sun.
Popeye Village
Some visitors were lost at this point as they stayed on to
visit the Village, and the route was diverted southward, up to
the ridge at Il-Mansab overlooking Manikata.
Some other Scottish visitors decided to walk on the cliff
edge to Golden Bay from here. A left turn led the main group for
a straight distance of about one mile to the roundabout at the
Mellieha bypass, from where the parish square was accosted for
its warmth and protection from the elements. The walk had taken
some five hours inclusive.
Despite the chill, the novel walk was considered by all as
interesting, informative and highly scenic. Thanks to Wilfred
Borg who suggested that the last part of the route be taken in
the direction of the wind rather than against it.
Approach to il-Mansab
