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Norwegian Jade Cruise Photos

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Day 12: Valletta, Malta

Norwegian Jade arrived in Valletta, Malta before breakfast, and passengers were already going ashore by the time we ventured onto our balcony.

Valletta's historic Grand Harbour was busy with cruise ships, tankers, ferries, and other vessels both large and small.

Fortifications on the cliffs around the port were a reminder that Malta has been the site of many battles and bombardments over the centuries.

The inevitable "hop on, hop off" sightseeing bus was parked outside the port gate, near a row of taxis.

When we left Norwegian Jade after breakfast, a ship's photographer disguised as a Maltese falcon was available for posed photo ops.

Farther along the hull, bundles of plastic were being unloaded for recycling.

The MV Zenith of CDF Croisieres de France was moored behind Norwegian Jade.

A map in the cruise terminal gave an overview of the waterfront. (Click here for a larger version of the map.)

As we left the wharf, we saw the first of many horse-drawn carriages in Valletta. (A roof over the loading area offered protection from the sun for the horses and their wranglers.)

The horses were supplied with water, and we suspected that the wranglers would have appreciated a jug of iced tea.

A sign pointed to a local tourist attraction, and another sign beneath it was written in Maltese and English.

Our immediate destination was the Upper Barrakka Lift, an elevator that would take us to the city center on top of the cliffs.

When we reached the lift, we saw a long ticket line, so we decided to skip the 25-second elevator ride and take the stairs.

The stairs proved to be the better choice, because there were several landings where we could enjoy views and take photos during our 190-foot or 58-meter ascent.