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29 November 1908 — San Antonio Palace, Malta | |
Sunday. 29th [November 1908]. Accompanied the D. & Dss in motor to Valletta for the morning service at Up. Barracca Church. Miss Pelly & Capt. B. followed in the 2nd motor. The Engineer’s band played the service very well & the sermon was good. We went back to San Antonio after having stopped to see the grand view from the edge of the Barracca– The sea was blue & very calm. Several officers & their wives came to lunch. At 3.30 the D. & Dss drove me in their motor to Verdala to see the Governor’s summer palace. We passed thro’ Notabile. We found the Govr & Lady Grant waiting to receive the Connaughts. The Palace is a sort of medieval strong tower in a pine wood—built abt 1583 by G. Master Verdala & most picturesque. It is surrounded by a moat now made into a garden—& has terraces going down the side of the hill. The interior consists of one large hall surrounded by rooms on each side & 4 small towers at the 4 corners– The rooms on this floor have all wagon roof ceilings. The 2nd floor was added by Pinto & the ceilings are square. We went by the winding staircase on to the roof wh is flat & made of big slabs of stone. From there the view is magnificent– One can see the sea at intervals all the way round & one realizes that one is on a not very large island. There were a few clouds about & the light was lovely as the sun shone from under them in different places. We returned to San Antonio by 4.30. Tea was served in the drawing room. Mr & Mrs Biancardi who came here to lunch had remained on—& some naval officers also came to tea. I had to decide my journey home & yesterday evening I settled with Myles that I shall start for Syracuse tomorrow evening by the Rubattino. | |
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