/**********************************************************************************
*																																									*
* This file contains the slide objects to be presented in the photo gallery and   *
* trip journal. The MakeCaptions1 function defined elsewhere will use the objects *
* found in the "slides" (case sensitive) array. Each array element will contain a *
* single Slide object which means it must have a reference ID, link, width, and   *
* height. The reference ID string, the width and height are integers, the link    *
* is a string. To define where the hyperlink text within the link goes surround   *
* it the meta-tag <ref></ref> pair.																							  *
*																																									*
*																																									*
* Parameters for the Slide function call are (reference, link text, width, height *
* and copyright string. The first two are required. 															*
**********************************************************************************/

defaultSlideWidth=700;
defaultSlideHeight=525;
defaultSlideCopyright="2006";
lastUpdate="June 8, 2006";

defaultThumbWidth=180;
defaultMaxPerRow=3;
defaultAlignment="below";
var relatedLinks = new Array();
relatedLinks[0] = "<a href='../about_hf.html>About HF'>About HF</a>";
relatedLinks[1] = "<a class='external' href='http://www.maltavista.net/en/map'>Interactive and zoomable map of Malta.</a>";
relatedLinks[2] = "<a class='external' href='http://local.google.com/local?f=q&hl=en&q=malta&ll=35.937496,14.375416&spn=11.03772,26.586914&t=h&om=1'>A Google map of Malta</a> Not nearly as detailed as MaltaVista";

var slides = new Array();

// March 19
slides[00] = new Slide("001", "Melleiha Bay. This is a modest-sized town on the northern end of Malta. We will be spending our nights at the Pergola Hotel. 09:28.");
slides[01] = new Slide("002", "The lands in this area are a patch work of small fields marked with stone wall boundaries. Here we are gazing on lands that are in some cases part of the Selmun Palace complex. 10:08.");
slides[02] = new Slide("003", "Selmun Palace. Now a resort this two centuries old building once hosted a charity.  10:08.");
slides[03] = new Slide("004", "The three loathes of bread were the symbol of the charity that once existed here. 10:23.", 800, 600);
slides[04] = new Slide("005", "Another view of this fine old building I think these is the grandest building we will see all day. 10:23.");
slides[05] = new Slide("006", "Typical of the paths that we would wander along and that cris-cross the bounded plots. 10:31.");
slides[06] = new Slide("007", "Looking down and out upon the Mediterranean Sea. This secluded, or seemingly so, beach is actually sandy. 10:56.");
slides[07] = new Slide("008", "The beach we spent some time at as seen from on high. 10:58. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2278-2280_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 1709, 600);
slides[08] = new Slide("009", "Dad. The same sandy beach. 11:03.");
slides[09] = new Slide("010", "I can only imagine what standing watch in this old fort (even when it had a roof) must have been like long ago when this place was active. 11:46.");
slides[10] = new Slide("011", "A wider view of the buildings of this old garrison. I've no idea how old this place is, but it sure looks old. 11:51.");
slides[11] = new Slide("012", "This panoramic view shows ancient salt evaporation pools. Water washes into the cribs and is trapped. The trapped water evaporates leaving sea salt behind. This is a really neat spot where water froths and boils through holes amongst the rocks. 12:29. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2290-2299_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 5556, 576);
slides[12] = new Slide("013", "I am trying to get the perfect shot of the water as it bubbles, geyser-like, through hole amongst the salt evaporation pools. ~12:37. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[13] = new Slide("014", "Looking back from whence we came. In the background are the salt evaporation pools we paused at not long before. 12:44.");
slides[14] = new Slide("015", "A monument to St. Joseph on St. Paul island. At least I think that is correct. 12:46.");
slides[15] = new Slide("016", "Signs of progress. This marker notes the start, nearly so anyway, of a Roman road. 14:42.");
slides[16] = new Slide("017", "A local Rosetta Stone for the Roman road we are about to walk upon. Italian, Maltese, and English are the languages represented here. 14:44.");
slides[17] = new Slide("018", "Another sign of progress noting this Pilgrim's Way. 14:43.");
slides[18] = new Slide("019", "We saw this flower often during the day. At first we thought it was Giant Fennel but later learned that it was something else. 14:46.");
slides[19] = new Slide("020", "Inside an ancient apiary - a home for honeybees. Who knows perhaps the Roman's, followed by countless more, used these bee houses to keep their honeybees and harvest honey.  14:49.");
slides[20] = new Slide("021", "Mom is standing just inside the apiary entrance. We are in the first set of apiaries. A second set is higher up near an exquisitely gnarled carob tree. ~14:56. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[21] = new Slide("022", "My turn to hunker down in the apiary entrance. ~14:56. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[22] = new Slide("023", "If you doubted that the previous photos were the inside of an apiary then perhaps this sign will convince you. 14:52.");
slides[23] = new Slide("024", "A final view from our walk seen from a paved road at a culvert. 15:50.");

// March 20
slides[24] = new Slide("025", "Catacombs. While today these catacombs are under a catholic church they provide resting places for people of many faiths as they have existed for millennia.. 11:03.");
slides[25] = new Slide("026", "A typical niche in this catacomb where a body once rested.  I am not sure now where the ancient corpses are at. 11:03.");
slides[26] = new Slide("027", "Rabat is packing up from a festival for St. Y that ended the day before. Festivals like this are commonplace. 13:14.");
slides[27] = new Slide("028", "Another shot of the now quiet street with the colorful banners still fluttering above us. 13:15.", 800, 534);
slides[28] = new Slide("029", "Another view of the decorative banners that were up in Rabat for the feast for St. Joseph. ~13:23. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[29] = new Slide("030", "I am not sure who this cathedral in Mdina is dedicated to. This is the Silent City. Today it is a place where tourists visit and try to envision the past. A thousand years ago it was probably in its hay-day serving as the capital of the island when Malta was ruled by the Ottoman Empire. 13:36.");
slides[30] = new Slide("031", "Their are two clocks high on the walls of the cathedral (you can see them both in the previous photo). The clock on the right is showing what you would expect. But the clock on the right is actually depicting the date. 13:39.");
slides[31] = new Slide("032", "Standing at the top of a great high wall that surrounds Mdina. Off in the distance you can see the large dome of the great church in Mosta. 13:45.");
slides[32] = new Slide("033", "Mom and Dad standing in one of the quiet streets of Mdina.  14:12.", 800, 600);

// March 21
slides[33] = new Slide("034", "Walking towards the village of Dingli. We are moving through the Silver Valley. It's named this for, I think, all the pools of water that serve as irrigation tanks. 10:43.");
slides[34] = new Slide("035", "Wind power in Malta. Mom provides some sense of scale. The windmills here certainly do not have the grandeur of those in the Netherlands, but then I imagine this windmill does not need to generate power for anything really large. 11:06.", 800, 600);
slides[35] = new Slide("036", "Mom and Dad sitting on the steps of the major church in Dingli village. While their may be other churches in this small village this is clearly the center of town.  11:35.");
slides[36] = new Slide("037", "Looking back towards what is perhaps the highest point on Malta near Dingli. 11:56.");
slides[37] = new Slide("038", "An early view of the Dingli Cliffs. These cliffs rise several hundred feet from the Mediterranean but do not do it all at once. They rise in a set of terraced steps and the Maltese use the reasonably flat areas for farming. 12:10.");
slides[38] = new Slide("039", "Another view from near the edge at the start of our walk northward along the Dingli Cliffs. 12:12.");
slides[39] = new Slide("040", "I don't know how old this bench, and the dozens if not hundreds like it around the island, is. Maybe men-at-arms sat at these lookouts centuries ago scanning the sea for approaching enemy vessels. Maybe they are more recent and used mostly by bird hunters like they seem to be today.  12:26.");
slides[40] = new Slide("041", "Mom.  We are near a set of small tanks by a rock-face. 12:56.");
slides[41] = new Slide("042", "We are about to cross this valley and climb to the building on top of the hill. I never did figure out what this place was though it is still used. 13:02.");
slides[42] = new Slide("043", "Looking back across the valley from next to the building you see in the previous photo. We would all have lunch at this breezy spot. The smoke you see is from a controlled burn that someone has just begun down in the valley floor. 13:27.");
slides[43] = new Slide("044", "A little ways away from our lunch spot. The weather is getting a bit cloudier. 14:00. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2366-2367_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 1440, 600);
slides[44] = new Slide("045", "This small church, like so many, sits near the coast not particularly near anything that I noticed. Near this church though their are active farm fields growing peas. 14:10.", 706, 600);
slides[45] = new Slide("046", "We would see birdcages likes these often. They are used to attract wild birds that are being hunted (or live caught). I don't know if the caught birds are made pets of or simply eaten. 14:13.");
slides[46] = new Slide("047", "Later in the day. We're still a bit inland from the sea. You get a great panoramic view of the terrain though  as you gaze southward (I think) with the Mediterranean Sea off to our west (right of view). 14:45. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2371-2373_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 1714, 600);
slides[47] = new Slide("048", "We are nearing the end of our walk. The last bit of the walk has been following a single-lane paved road. We had paused not long ago resting on the cliff tops and when a car went by we had to pay very close attention to our feet dangling off the roadside edge. Here you see a couple fellow walkers walking up a hill towards a bend that will take us inland again. 15:25.", 800, 600);
slides[48] = new Slide("049", "Walking towards this last village. The village was eerily quiet. 15:29.");

// March 22
slides[49] = new Slide("050", "A watchtower on the island of Comino as seen from the ferry. We are taking the ferry from Malta to the island of Gozo. It is a half-hour ferry ride from port to port and things seem to run pretty smoothly. 09:11.");
slides[50] = new Slide("051", "A view of Comino Island from the ferry we're riding to Gozo. The watchtower is one of many that the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem built to help protect their realm. 09:11. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2388-2392_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2883, 600);
slides[51] = new Slide("052", "The port at MGarr, Gozo.. 09:26.");
slides[52] = new Slide("053", "Ta' Pinu church, Gozo. Though a young church by european standards this church is a magnet for Maltese pilgrims. In june 1883 a peasant woman heard the voice of the Virgin Mary in the old chapel. In subsequent years miracles and acts of grace were said to take place on the site. In 1931 Pope Pius XI raised the churches status to that of a Basilica (Ta' Pinu had been substantially expanded by this time). 10:05.");
slides[53] = new Slide("054", "Dad, near the Azure Window, Dwejra, Gozo. 10:39.");
slides[54] = new Slide("055", "The Azure window. The people in the foreground are part of our walking group. 10:42.");
slides[55] = new Slide("056", "My turn to pose in front of this rock window. 10:46.");
slides[56] = new Slide("057", "The Azure Window, Dwejra, Gozo. Rocky Craggy cliffs form this spectacular coastline. The people you see are part of our HF group (Bernise and Franscoise I believe). 10:47. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2412-2414_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2080, 600);
slides[57] = new Slide("058", "This boat is about to pass through a tunnel (naturally formed) that connects this small inland sea (at Dwejra) and the Mediterranean. 10:55.");
slides[58] = new Slide("059", "The cliffs at Xlendi. Xlendi is a popular seaside village resort for Maltese. When it is not the high season the population is quite small. 11:38.");
slides[59] = new Slide("060", "Mom and Dad at the seaside cliffs at Xlendi. 11:38.");
slides[60] = new Slide("061", "My turn at this overlook near the small village of Xlendi. ~11:44. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[61] = new Slide("062", "It is hard to see in this photo, but this conglomeration of stones is part of a structure that was built circa 3,500BC. This is part a group of Neolithic temples. Somewhat younger, circa 25:00BCE temples can be found (and we would see later) on Malta island. 13:25.");
slides[62] = new Slide("063", "This panorama gives you a bit of a sense of the impressive nature of this neolithic temple which is part of the Ggantija complex. This temple was built during the late Neolithic (3,500 to 2,500 BC). 13:27. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2426-2429_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2409, 600);
slides[63] = new Slide("064", "At the entrance to one of the neolithic temples in the Ggantjia temple complex. ~13:29. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 640, 480);
slides[64] = new Slide("065", "Inside one of the temples. Though it is hard to see the wall behind me curves. The winds have picked up quite a bit. ~13:37. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[65] = new Slide("066", "While the temples were no doubt impressive places of worship in their day and remain so today I'm sure a fair bit of their presence comes from their location. This panorama should give you a good sense of the commanding vistas a worshipper would have seen 5,000 years ago. 13:38. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2433-2438_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 3291, 600);
slides[66] = new Slide("067", "Learn a bit more about the temples at Ggantija temple complex. 13:39");
slides[67] = new Slide("068", "St. George Cathedral in Victoria, Gozo. Victoria is the primary population center on Gozo. 14:33.", 600, 800);
slides[68] = new Slide("069", "Standing in the ramparts of the Citadel of Victoria. The winds are really whipping around us probably gusting to over 40MPH. 14:48.");
slides[69] = new Slide("070", "These canons helped protect Victoria (then known as Rabat) two hundred years ago. 14:56.");
slides[70] = new Slide("071", "On the high walks that surround the Citadel that protects Victoria, Gozo. ~14:55. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 480, 640);
slides[71] = new Slide("072", "An imposing set of buildings make up the fortress that is the Citadel. 15:00.", 600, 800);
slides[72] = new Slide("073", "The Blue Lagoon in the distance is over white sands and quite shallow. It is between the islands of Comino and Cominoto. 15:44.");
slides[73] = new Slide("074", "A panoramic grand view looking out towards Comino Island and the Blue Lagoon. We are returning to Mgarr harbor to catch the ferry at 16:30. 15:45. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2455-2460_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2626, 600);


// March 23
slides[74] = new Slide("075", "We are finally walking along the beach of Mellieha Bay. It's actually a pretty nice beach all things considered. 09:54.");
slides[75] = new Slide("076", "The steps that take you to the Red Tower. This tower was part of an extensive lookout network that initially was the usual cream color of so many of the limestone buildings, but people in nearby towers could not make it out clearly and so a few decades after it was built it was painted red. The tower could hold 50 men-at-arms for 40 days. Their is a 40,000 liter cistern under the floor that still collects water today. 10:34.", 800, 600);
slides[76] = new Slide("077", "A view from one of the tower rooms of the Red Tower. Though today their is a piece of plexiglass in the window I imagine 500 years ago when the tower was built that this was an open portal. 10:51.");
slides[77] = new Slide("078", "All that remains of an Allies, built by the Americans, radio post built during World War II. With Sicily 60 miles t the north, Tunisia and Lybia not much farther to the southeast and south Malta is still a focal point for battles involving the Mediterranean Sea. But what does it say that watchtowers like the Red Tower are still in decent shape while this is all that is left of the radio outpost. 11:34.");
slides[78] = new Slide("079", "The radio station is at the edge of the island. Take a wider look at the location here. 11:34. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2469-2473_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2261, 600);
slides[79] = new Slide("080", "Looking out towards Comino Island. The ferry is on its way from Gozo (I think). Comino has a single family living on it serving as caretakers. It is something of a nature reserve now and probably quite a nice place to camp. 11:38.");
slides[80] = new Slide("081", "Our group is re-united again. From this point we head south-westerly across the top of the island towards some lovely bays. 11:55.");
slides[81] = new Slide("082", "A grand panoramic view of the terrain we have just walked across to reach this point. 12:28. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2478-2480_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 1723, 600);
slides[82] = new Slide("083", "Looking back across the rock filled fields we have been crossing. The Red Tower stands high in the distance. 12:29.");
slides[83] = new Slide("084", "From turquoise to inky blue the Mediterranean Sea run the gamut of blue hues. It is absolutely fantastic. We are looking down on Cumnija Bay (I think though it could be Anchor Bay). 12:33. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2485-2488_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2157, 600);
slides[84] = new Slide("085", "The picturesque village you see nestling into the cliffs is not actually a thriving hamlet. It was made for the film Popeye. 13:41.");
slides[85] = new Slide("086", "Looking north along the coast. You can get a good sense how Malta manages to have 85 miles of coastline when the island is only about 10 miles wide and 15 miles long. 14:39.");
slides[86] = new Slide("087", "Wildflowers  on Malta. 14:47.");
slides[87] = new Slide("088", "Remember the birdcages from before? Here is a good close look at one. 14:57.");
slides[88] = new Slide("089", "We finished today's walk at Golden Bay (south of Anchor Bay which is near Ras in-Niexfa) where we were able to have coffee and, as it turned out, mediocre doughnuts. The water I am standing in is not the warmest I have ever stood in, but it is certainly swim-able. 15:46.", 600, 800);

// March 24
slides[89] = new Slide("090", "We are back at the Dingli Cliffs (different section) on the Southern Coast. 10:19.");
slides[90] = new Slide("091", "A radar station (doppler radar I think). 10:23.", 600, 800);
slides[91] = new Slide("092", "The first church of the day (I think it's The Annunciation Chapel, originally built in the 14th century). Like so many it sits in a quiet seclude location, but is still used. The sign on the right of the door, \"non gode l'immunita ecclesias\" (does not enjoy Ecclesiastical immunity)  is obvious evidence that criminals are not permitted to seek sanctuary here. During the Middle Ages especially a person running from civil authorities could seek sanctuary in a church and as long as they stayed within church walls for a year and a day they could then leave a completely free person. Naturally, many criminals took advantage of this and so to put a damper on things (i.e., prevent career criminals, probably mostly pirates is my guess, from continuing in their wanton ways) churches posted these signs informing people that their is no sanctuary here.10:34.", 600, 789);
slides[92] = new Slide("093", "Mom and Dad sitting atop a bluff amongst the numerous boulders. 11:07.");
slides[93] = new Slide("094", "Take a look at the countryside we are walking through today in this panorama. 11:08. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2512-2515_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>",2687, 600);
slides[94] = new Slide("095", "I am not sure what these little yellow buttercup-like flowers are, but they are pretty and fairly common. 11:23.");
slides[95] = new Slide("096", "We walked along this single-lane very quiet road for quite a ways. We passed by a lovely small chapel early on and passed by several large homes on each side that were huddled into the cliffs. Someone is taking good care of the gardens along the road. 11:44.", 800, 600);
slides[96] = new Slide("097", "Approaching Ghar Lapsi. One of the wonderful views we would see both before and after the small village. 12:29.");
slides[97] = new Slide("098", "The waters of the Mediterranean are incredibly clear here at the docks at Ghar Lapsi. We saw people doing some scuba diving here.13:14.");
slides[98] = new Slide("099", "Dad and I near the Mediterranean at Ghar Lapsi. ~13:20. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo by Dad<span>", 640, 480);
slides[99] = new Slide("100", "The diner we had lunch at. It is actually quite large inside. We had our lunch outside with other people in our group plus other tourists (or locals - I don't know which). 13:23.");
slides[100] = new Slide("101", "Not far from Ghar Lapsi we began to wind our along the cliffs along an honest to goodness hiking trail. The trail is about the usual width you would expect for a trail and so their is exposure that made people nervous. But this would be the toughest hiking we would see the entire trip. Looking northerly. 13:38.");
slides[101] = new Slide("102", "Now looking in the direction of our travel (South). Though some people did have issues with the section everyone made it through in the end. For some the roughness, compared to everything else we did, plus the exposure was what got to them. My guess is that had we done more tougher hiking it probably would not have been as much of a challenge. 13:39.");
slides[102] = new Slide("103", "The land is a bit more rugged here. Limestone cliffs mix with rock ledges to form the multi-level cliffs that seem to run the entire length of the western coastline. 14:11.");
slides[103] = new Slide("104", "Not sure what this monument is for now.  To get here we had to climb up from the trail we had been following to the cliff top. 14:28.");
slides[104] = new Slide("105", "Filfra is the smallest (I think) of the islands that make up the archepeligo. Not much there - no people, but some farming of plants that are used in a Maltese liquor. 14:58.");
slides[105] = new Slide("106", "A view from within one of the sea caves in the vicinity of the Blue Grotto. These sea caves are near the village of Wied Ir Zurrieq. Frequent boat rides on small open outboard boats (9 passengers and the driver) run from In this particular cave the seas are just a few meters deep and clear. 16:19.");
slides[106] = new Slide("107", "The seashore as seen from our small boat as we motored back to the docks. 16:26.");

// March 25
slides[107] = new Slide("108", "Our home for the past week. The Pergola is a crazy warren of rooms, restaurants, pools, and such but it was a good place to stay. Meals were ample if not exciting and hotel service was good. 08:53.", 600,800);
slides[108] = new Slide("109", "A final look down the 110 plus steps that lead to the lower streets of Mellieha. This town, like so many here, is built into the side of a hillside (or cliffside). 08:53.");
slides[109] = new Slide("110", "Look at the ornate splendor of the Co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta. This place is a grand mix of the splendid and less obviously so great. 11:22..");
slides[110] = new Slide("111", "As we walked through the cathedral we strolled across these plaques (not sure what else to call them) that are the capstones covering the graves of deceased Knights of Malta (Knight of St. John of Jerusalem). 11:46.");
slides[111] = new Slide("112", "Looking down one of the narrow steep streets of Valletta. 12:57.", 600, 800);
slides[112] = new Slide("113", "A view of the intersecting street to the one in the previous photo. 12:57.", 600, 800);
slides[113] = new Slide("114", "Street signs here (and throughout Malta) are found on building walls. This is the corner shown in the previous two pictures.12:59.");
slides[114] = new Slide("115", "Looking out from the shoreline from near where the previous photos were shot. I'm not sure now what we are looking out towards. 13:02. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2561-2563_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 1863, 600);
slides[115] = new Slide("116", "Sitting in the Manoel Theatre. This 600 or so person theatre was built in 17:31-2 and has been in continuous operation ever since. It is a lovely intimate space with very good acoustics. 13:45.");
slides[116] = new Slide("117", "In the atrium to the Manoel Theatre. This is quite a remarkable building. 14:12.", 520, 800);
slides[117] = new Slide("118", "The public bus terminal at the city gate of Valletta. Many of the buses these old-style Leyland buses from England. Pretty aren't they? 15:03.");


// March 26
slides[118] = new Slide("119", "A panoramic view from the promenade in Sliema. We would stroll along this pedestrian friendly way for about an hour before catching our harbor cruise. It's a very lively area. 10:24. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2574-2579_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2962, 600);
slides[119] = new Slide("120", "At this point I cannot tell you what direction we are facing when I took this picture from our Luzzu-run harbor boat cruise. But I am fairly confident that we are looking out towards Manoel Island. 10:54.");
slides[120] = new Slide("121", "Cruising down the far side of manoel island from Sliema (sp). I believe we are passing the old hospital at this point as we heard towards some great yachts. 10:57.");
slides[121] = new Slide("122", "Not sure if the domed building you see in the background is the co-cathedral of st. John or not. The harbors of the region of valletta are always busy with small and huge boats alike. 11:11.");
slides[122] = new Slide("123", "Take a look at these massive fortification walls. From the water you really get a sense of just how extensive the forts that protect bays like the Grand Harbor are. 11:27.");
slides[123] = new Slide("124", "Another view of the buildings and old forts that surround the Grand Harbor.  12:09.");
slides[124] = new Slide("125", "Sailboats abound in and near the Grand Harbor. 12:23.");
slides[125] = new Slide("126", "Looking out from my room at the Radison in St. Julians. 10:06.");


// March 27
slides[126] = new Slide("127", "Looking out from Barraka Gardens. These gardens are in a state of flux as they are renovated and repaired restoring them to their appearance of the late 1890s. 11:45. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2608-2614_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 3614, 600);
slides[127] = new Slide("128", "The view from just above the bank of cannons that are now used for signaling. This was quite an impressive sight and seeing the re-enactment of a noon canon firing to signal noon at Valletta was a real treat. 11:49. <span class='moreinfo'>You can also <a href=\"javascript:OpenImageNamed('IMG_2616-2619_pano.mov', 400, 300, true)\">view this panorama</a> as a virtual reality movie (starts looking to the right).</span>", 2921, 600);
slides[128] = new Slide("129", "Early 1800s canon at Barraka Gardens. These canon built around 1802 were used for over a century though in later years only to help mark time. At noon a canon would be fired off to signal the correct time. We were fortunate enough to see a demonstration of this done by re-enactors dressed in late 19th century British army attire. The rapport of the 20-pounder was quite impressive and the responding blasts from other signal canon at distant forts was clearly evident (though I don't think any of us noticed them on other days. If we did we dissmised them as just loud booms).  11:52.");
slides[129] = new Slide("130", "A final glimpse of my parents standing here at the entrance to the cultural and arts center in Valletta. 14:00.", 600, 800);

// Movies
// March 19
slides[130] = new Slide("MVI_2285", "I believe we are at Mgebah Bay. We are certainly near Selmun Bay (just west of it). 11:04.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[131] = new Slide("MVI_2286", "A quick look-see around the interior remains of an old garrison. 11:46.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[132] = new Slide("MVI_2300", "Standing at the salt evaporation pools. The wind drowns out my voice in this clip, but if you have been reading the journal and captions you know that this area host salt evaporation pools. Water would flow into the cribs and be trapped their. The sun would evaporate the water leaving the minerals, notably salt, behind. 12:31.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[133] = new Slide("MVI_2302", "Waiting for a water spout at the evaporating pools. Now and then when a large enough wave would strike just right water would burst forth from what would seem like nowhere - exiting though a blow hole made by the rocks at the shore. It was really cool to watch. 12:34.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 21
slides[134] = new Slide("MVI_2363", "At our lunch spot somewhat inland from the island edge. Though my voice is sometimes drowned out by the wind I think you get the gist of things. The fire that the fellow started down below was always under control. 13:27.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[135] = new Slide("MVI_2374", "The winds would blow hard and soft all afternoon. As you can see in this clip, I am not really sure where along the Dingli Cliffs we are. 14:46.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 22
slides[136] = new Slide("MVI_2393", "The car ferries that run between Malta and Gozo are frequent and efficient. Our crossing would be on near smooth seas and provide us fine views of Comino Island as you see in this clip. 09:12.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[137] = new Slide("MVI_2402", "Looking out from the site of Ta Pinu Basilica, Gozo. 10:14.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[138] = new Slide("MVI_2422", "Their are a few temples that form this group of Neolithic era, circa 3,500B.C., built temples. They're quite remarkable. 13:22.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[139] = new Slide("MVI_2424", "A look around the first temple structure. It is a bit hard to get a sense of things in this clip, butt besides clearly being a constructed structure of stones the stones themselves have carving in them. A lot of work went into building these places. 13:26.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[140] = new Slide("MVI_2430", "The second temple structure we would enter. For a five thousand year old place it is doing pretty well.  13:32.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[141] = new Slide("MVI_2431", "Like any building upkeep is important. This temple is receiving some TLC. The Ggantija site is, I believe, a world heritage site. 13:33.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[142] = new Slide("MVI_2432", "If the temples fail to impress then perhaps the view from them will do more for you. 13:36.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[143] = new Slide("MVI_2449", "The winds are really blowing up here. Wearing a shell was really a good idea up here. At least the temperature was warm. Can you imagine having to man the cannons at this citadel when the weather got nasty. This fort guards the capital city of Gozo now known as Victoria (used to be called Rabat). 14:49.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[144] = new Slide("MVI_2450", "Just a quick clip of my parents at a set of early nineteenth century cannons that overlook Victoria, Gozo. 14:56.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 23
slides[145] = new Slide("MVI_2462", "We have just climbed up from the beach in Melleiha and are about to head to the Red Tower. 10:27.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[146] = new Slide("MVI_2465", "Taking in the view from the roof of the Red Tower. This tower was built in the mid-1600s and overlooking Melieha Bay it is part of several dozen siege towers that the Knights of St. John built to defend Malta. 10:51.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[147] = new Slide("MVI_2466", "A quick look at our group just before we would descend off the high ground and start heading west towards Anchor Bay. 11:21.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[148] = new Slide("MVI_2483", "I believe this is Cumnija Bay. When we came upon it the glorious views stopped us all in our tracks. Anchor Bay, which we would come upon in just a couple moments was just a colorful. 12:32.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[149] = new Slide("MVI_2495", "The walk today was spent on the high parts of the island. Of course unless you are sea level you really do not have that many other places you can be. 14:39.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 24
slides[150] = new Slide("MVI_2520", "At the docks of Ghar Lapsi. The water is not very deep here. It is incredibly clear and clearly a favored spot for scuba divers (we would see some). 13:14.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[151] = new Slide("MVI_2529", "We have completed the toughest bit of walking we will do the entire trip. The walk along the cliffs south of Ghar Lapsi to  megalithic temples at Hagan Qin. While not truly a really hard trail it did have exposure and gave some people a bit, or more than a bit, of pause. But when you consider we had been pretty much just strolling lanes and wide trails that shouldn't be a surprise. 14:28.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[152] = new Slide("MVI_2549", "We have finished our tour of the sea caves in the area of the Blue Grotto and are now heading back. As you can tell we are in a small skiff with an outboard motor. Though only about 20 or so minutes long the tour of the caves was well worth it and something I recommend. And seeing the island from the sea is itself a treat. 16:23.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 25
slides[153] = new Slide("MVI_2566", "While listening to the tour guide is worth doing I think the real treat is to just look at the interior of the Manoel Theatre. Don't be fooled by the ceiling's appearance. It is actually flat but designed in such a way as to create the optical illusion of a dome. 13:47.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 26
slides[154] = new Slide("MVI_2573", "What more can be said than what I say in this clip. The pedestrian way we are standing on in Sliema looks out across one of the many \"creeks\" that make up the bays that Valletta and her surrounding satellite towns sit upon. 09:23.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[155] = new Slide("MVI_2582", "Again the tour guide is less interesting than the views from this harbor cruise boat. 10:55.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[156] = new Slide("MVI_2585", "Traveling down the far side of Manoel island from Sliema. 11:00.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[157] = new Slide("MVI_2586", "Sailing is popular here. But you would be hard pressed to put people on those little radio controlled boats that are passing by. 11:03.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[158] = new Slide("MVI_2591", "Heading back toward the dock now. We have just left the Grand Harbor proper and you could not ask for a better day. I guess the people on those large sailboats agree with me. 12:23.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// March 27
slides[159] = new Slide("MVI_2604", "Take a look at how busy Republic Street in Valletta can be. This is a pedestrian-only road and it passes by many of the biggest stops in Malta like the Co-Cathedral of St. John. Once you move off this road things quiet down considerably and their is still plenty to see. 10:36", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");
slides[160] = new Slide("MVI_2607", "The Barraka Gardens turned out to be the hit of our final day here in Malta.  It is too bad that I was unable to capture to firing of the cannon to signal noon. 11:42.", 320, 240, "2006", "movie");

// Prologue
slides[161] = new Slide("prnunciation", "A quick and dirty prnounciation guide for various phonemes in Maltese. <span class='authorcredit'>Photo copied from The Rough Guide to Malta and Gozo.</span>", 836, 800);