fajrdrako: (Default)
[personal profile] fajrdrako


Ever been to a house that is just about perfect?

I have, several times. There was my aunt's big stone farmhouse in Paris, Ontario. There was a house I once visited in Boston. Another in Ottawa, that belonged to one of my yoga teachers. And [livejournal.com profile] rosiespark's place, in Malta.

Perfect.

Yesterday we went to the Maritime Museum in Birgu and saw the special exhibit on Lord Nelson. We'd both seen it (briefly) before; we both wanted to go back. We gave ourselves an hour and a half and when that time was over we were still only halfway through and the guard had to make us leve, though he was kind about it.

It isn't that the exhibit is so big. It's that it's so interesting. I was at first fascinated by seeing the bed that Lord Nelson and Lady Emma Hamilton had slept in, in Naples. (It did occur to me to wonder where Lord Hamilton had slept. I guess, when you live in a palace, a spare bed is easy to find.) Then we found some wonderful maps, and a book of orders written in Nelson's own handwriting - before he lost his hand. There was another item containing his signature, obviously written in his left hand, after he lost the right. All sorts of fascinating things. We plan to go back today.

Before the museum, we went to a wonderful restaurant called Chez Philippe ([livejournal.com profile] rosiespark's treat for my birthday, even though my birthday is past, I was thrilled) where they had what just might be the best creme brulee I have ever tasted. The host was delightful, spoke European French (and noted my Canadien accent right off) and sat down at the table with us to describe the specials of the day. Very friendly. And then the food turned out to be superb. We had the daily special starters; then I had octopus salad, which I love and won't be able to get when I go back home... and that superb creme brulee.

After the museum, fortified by our Age of Sail passions, we went back to Mlj user=rosiespark>'s place and watched the first two Horatio Hornblower movies, The Even Chance and The Examination for Lieutenant, which I have previously called The Duel and The Fire Ships, because I have the American edition of the DVDs. There were some technical glitches with the television, which seem to have been overcome.

I loved the Hornblower movies as much as I ever did. And the characters. I have even come to appreciate Archie more than I used to, though it's Pellew I continue to most adore. For some reason I was noticing the peripheral characters more - the nameless sailors in the background, and the wonderful secondary characters like Matthews and Styles and Foster.

[livejournal.com profile] rosiespark had been playing some wonderful CDs - Yo Yo Ma, the soundtracks of The Lord of the Rings and Master and Commander, and I said she probably didn't have any CDs I wouldn't like. She challenged me: "Nine Inch Nails?" But I love Nine Inch Nails! So we are listening happily.

Date: 2005-10-29 12:28 pm (UTC)
ext_6909: (Default)
From: [identity profile] gem225.livejournal.com
You sound as though you're having a wonderful time, and I'm very happy for you. Thank you for posting. :-)

Date: 2005-10-29 03:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
I am certainly having a wonderful time... These are beautiful islands. I only hope I am able to write up my trip and do it even half the justice that the place deserves.

Date: 2005-10-29 04:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] monsieureden.livejournal.com
Awww, I want pictures! Especially of you two. :)

Date: 2005-10-29 08:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
I have been taking many pictures, but you know, I don't think I have a picture of me and [livejournal.com profile] rosiespark together. Mostly it's been one of us taking pictures of the other, and of the beautiful scenery of Malta. We'll have to get a picture of us both tomorrow. I'm sure Beulah or Lyn will oblige.

Date: 2005-10-30 05:31 am (UTC)

Date: 2005-10-29 08:40 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
I told [livejournal.com profile] rosiespark that you want a picture of us, and she sais, "Who's going to take it? the cat?"

Heh. Maybe.

Date: 2005-10-30 05:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] monsieureden.livejournal.com
LOL. Hey, why not? I know cats are pretty talented.

Date: 2005-10-30 10:55 am (UTC)
ext_15621: The Pixel in a paper bag (Default)
From: [identity profile] rosiespark.livejournal.com
Pablo the Wondercat. *g*

Date: 2005-10-30 04:27 pm (UTC)
ext_15621: The Pixel in a paper bag (Default)
From: [identity profile] rosiespark.livejournal.com
Well, it'd have to be Pablo, Billy or Pixel doing the photographing, and Pablo is indisputably the eldest...

Date: 2005-10-30 04:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] monsieureden.livejournal.com
I just love the name.

Date: 2005-11-06 11:58 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fajrdrako.livejournal.com
They are, but they are opposable-thumb challenged.

Cute, though.

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