"Malta by Knight" Malta by CliffClaven


Malta Travel Guide: 12 reviews and 13 photos

It's not often you bump into a Prince and Grand Master.

Old Cliffie was at the headquarters in Rome of the Order of Malta - or to give the Order its full title, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta. He was there for a meeting but got out of the lift on the wrong floor. As he wandered along dimly lit corridors, poking his head hopefully into dark, book-lined rooms, a small, elderly figure in an impeccable dark suit asked in equally impeccable Italian if he could be of assistance. Old Cliffie thought he was dealing with a particularly polite usher and asked about his meeting, but as he listened to the explanation he suddenly realised that he recognised the elderly figure in front of him. He just hadn't recognised him at first, because in photographs he usually wore the full uniform of the Grand Master. Switching to English, old Cliffie mumbled his apology but the Grand Master merely chuckled and asked where old Cliffie had learned his Italian. The Grand Master chuckled even more when he heard old Cliffie's answer: in the back streets of Naples.

  • Last visit to Malta: Nov 2005
  • Intro Updated Dec 12, 2005
  • Add to Trip Planner (?)
  • Report Abuse

Reviews (12)

Comments (11)

Post a Comment   Submit Comment  
  • craic's Profile Photo
    craic Jan 14, 2008 at 5:57 AM Report Abuse

    time for a cliffie page - full of fascination as always - i strolled down Via Condotti several times and never knew i could buy a stamp there to send a postcard to someone in San Marino - if I knew anyone in San marino.

  • marcbrazil's Profile Photo
    marcbrazil Oct 16, 2007 at 7:40 AM Report Abuse

    Malta seems to be a great summer place to visit in Europe, eh? Very interesting tips that you wrote!;)

  • hunterV's Profile Photo
    hunterV Apr 10, 2007 at 1:22 PM Report Abuse

    Thanks form your enlightening us on that subject!

  • uglyscot's Profile Photo
    uglyscot Jan 20, 2007 at 9:19 AM Report Abuse

    You live and learn. I think I came across the place in Rome , but backtracked as didn't know what it was.

  • unravelau's Profile Photo
    unravelau Oct 30, 2006 at 2:17 PM Report Abuse

    Wonderful, full of humour, interesting information and your beautiful perspective. Thank you. Carole.

  • jungles's Profile Photo
    jungles May 29, 2006 at 10:30 AM Report Abuse

    Love your page about SMOM, but why didn't you post it under Rome? A symbolic stance on its status as an independent nation perhaps?

  • Sininen's Profile Photo
    Sininen Dec 28, 2005 at 10:45 PM Report Abuse

    Hello Michael! HAPPY BIRTHDAY wishes from Finland! Very informative page on Malta, where I'd like to travel in 2006. I'll check more carefully later. Cheers, Sini

  • daarth's Profile Photo
    daarth Dec 12, 2005 at 12:56 AM Report Abuse

    This was all new to me!

  • pigletsmom's Profile Photo
    pigletsmom Feb 8, 2005 at 11:20 PM Report Abuse

    All I can say is, you must have some delivery route. Very entertaining writing.

  • Darby2's Profile Photo
    Darby2 Dec 25, 2004 at 12:20 PM Report Abuse

    Q. How do you make a Maltese cross? A. Stick a lighted match in his ear.

CliffClaven

“"The heart is sad for golden friends I had"”

Online Now

Male

Top 5,000 Travel Writer
Member Rank:
0 1 1 6 4

Badges & Stats in Malta

  • 12 Reviews
  • 13 Photos
  • 122 Forum posts
  • 11 Comments
  • 1,858PageViews

Have you been to Malta?

  Share Your Travels  

Latest Activity in Malta