tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49321313989751121262024-03-14T00:42:16.925+01:00Merill Eco ToursUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-35265905896813614842018-08-17T11:24:00.004+02:002018-08-27T08:52:57.843+02:00Discovering the rural areas of Malta<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is impossible to miss the caressing of the sun and the beautiful sight of the Mediterranean sea when</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
you are on <b>the island of <a href="https://www.visitmalta.com/en/home" target="_blank">Malta</a>.</b> It is beyond gainsaying, as tourist and honeymooners alike can testify to this fact. The little archipelago of Malta animates both young and old with delectable cuisines and a views, hidden from the mainstream touristic traps, that only matches the <b>description of paradise.</b> The beautiful land and seascapes of the tiny sandy beaches, the high and indented cliffs, the crystalline water and the huge number of cultural and historical attractions, are most pleasant and the main selling points of this little country. But beyond these rare attractions is the evergreen vegetation and <b>beautiful diversity of Malta's green beating heart.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7I6SsPyFwWhBE8E3znaZXOQuJDLwRsGAwAf3S1OvSDStOPg9ZvaGNCvy8hNpew2h-6v0ZrK0Ujid9JbGfblt64uTnT5G_0EmOjlcnmwiWr7qsNWyc2jyeKf1cd3To4X6nPvQ34Y7pTPX/s1600/IMG_9070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1600" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7I6SsPyFwWhBE8E3znaZXOQuJDLwRsGAwAf3S1OvSDStOPg9ZvaGNCvy8hNpew2h-6v0ZrK0Ujid9JbGfblt64uTnT5G_0EmOjlcnmwiWr7qsNWyc2jyeKf1cd3To4X6nPvQ34Y7pTPX/s320/IMG_9070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Moving away from the central-east coast of Malta, as you leave <a href="https://valletta2018.org/" target="_blank">Valletta</a>, Vittoriosa or St. Julian's, you will discover the <b>pocket-sized terraces of cultivated farmlands.</b> The aerial view of this part of the island makes it look more like a chessboard, a feat accomplished by the use of low stone walls to demarcate one farmland from the neighbouring one. The beautiful northern and southern terraces of Malta is a sizeable expanse of cultivated fields of strawberries, olives, pumpkins. tomatoes and vines. The farmers of Malta are generally into a mixed-type of cultivation and animal production. The <b>fertile lands of Malta</b> produce crops of great quality, a compensation for the small land area (316km²) available for cultivation. The quantity of crops produced is also limited because of the traditional means employed in the cultivation of crops due to the lack of large machinery and farming technology to local farmers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAixRXQ4VmiDllxIHY9a4TcT6KnWRq12cq0EdJJ-4NlegKvYz2YFNzsegi6ehUuKmVhmQj18HCz5G3v5BxIQ08RJS2EBjoxezHBXK5A4Sy4nm6D4A2HNb5r34eWFdwemfvEKu1GXRO969/s1600/IMG_9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAixRXQ4VmiDllxIHY9a4TcT6KnWRq12cq0EdJJ-4NlegKvYz2YFNzsegi6ehUuKmVhmQj18HCz5G3v5BxIQ08RJS2EBjoxezHBXK5A4Sy4nm6D4A2HNb5r34eWFdwemfvEKu1GXRO969/s320/IMG_9245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As you move around the hinterland of Malta to meet its people and culture, you will easily recognise</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
the <b>local farmers</b> by their tanned faces which are furrowed with wrinkles and their calloused hands from local farming activities. At first glance, the Maltese look like they only mind their own business, but on a closer look you will find out how <b>welcoming and accommodating </b>they are. They are quiet, and they are proud of their work. They are happy people and are always ready to show their guests around their evergreen vegetation cultivated farmlands of fruit orchards and animal farms. Taking a trip around their wineries, cheese and olive oil farms will make you realise that behind the bustling 'mass-tourisim-zone', Malta is such a <b>little and idyllic paradise</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffulOzRNla8viYPGQ9sm56DYw4jwB_n0mFhx9lTvumD_zZq3t9ExNYKLXD1BsE7XeAifRHL-L9BUp70LDsXaoLkv-K_RPgexlvqnmJ1DrJ4drUgwEYsrTr-gnGd2EiQA9iCHhLRs3OagS/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgffulOzRNla8viYPGQ9sm56DYw4jwB_n0mFhx9lTvumD_zZq3t9ExNYKLXD1BsE7XeAifRHL-L9BUp70LDsXaoLkv-K_RPgexlvqnmJ1DrJ4drUgwEYsrTr-gnGd2EiQA9iCHhLRs3OagS/s320/IMG_4383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the rural communities of Malta, it takes hard work to maintain the beating heart of their little paradise. The Maltese go around their businesses day-in, day-out. Getting to know the humble and hardworking people of Malta will make you realise <b>how connected to nature these persons are.</b> We see this in farmers like Grace, a local who works daily to keep her sheep to produce the <b>Ġbejna</b>, a typical sheep's milk cheese. Regardless of the humid and windy conditions of the winter or the stifling heat of summer, Maltese will still go by their businesses be it the baking of <b>Ftira </b>(Maltese bread) or tending to their farmlands throughout the year. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One would expect an average Maltese farmer or artisan to look stressed and overworked, but on the contrary, these passionate people look radiant. The Maltese are <b>so passionate about their work</b>. This fact is attested by Mario who views his herd of sheep differently from other shepherds and introduces you to his sheep like they are family. Even Charlie, another member within the <b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/" target="_blank">Merill Rural Network</a></b>, sees his bees as his colleagues as he tends to them, as carefully as possible. The Maltese appreciate nothing more than a sincere <b>appreciation of their work and products</b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhveRvfcE1sJ5nbGvoM5mHGnuIuGTdKhkBNwqPjrQMJWFefkZiwxrGMHMj7MINtLl30hD-nIp5fuCpa5NhtPyDAWUm8R9h2bNNSLXRLJnuny69wj6zGgW0vLFzVDyB9wjsFc_yD0HUfMc/s1600/IMG_9415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhveRvfcE1sJ5nbGvoM5mHGnuIuGTdKhkBNwqPjrQMJWFefkZiwxrGMHMj7MINtLl30hD-nIp5fuCpa5NhtPyDAWUm8R9h2bNNSLXRLJnuny69wj6zGgW0vLFzVDyB9wjsFc_yD0HUfMc/s320/IMG_9415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The island of Malta is not merely an amazing place for honeymooners or tourists, but for everyone that is willing to experience the <b>true identity of such a little island community</b>. Once tourists leave the hectic life surrounding urban Malta, there is nothing compared to the closeness to nature that one experience in the rural. Come, hear and feel the sound and <b>caressing of nature</b>, far away from the crowded beaches and the hum of the urban life. Immerse yourself in this little, green, alternate and rejuvenating reality. Smell the olives on the trees and feel the freshness and goodness of the true Maltese product.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
-----------------------------</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Chiara Dalla Fontana</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Chiara was born in the province of Vicenza (Italy), but she spent these last four years in different Italian and Spanish cities like Lucca, Valencia, Seville, Rome and Milan. Passionate about travel, curious by nature, and with a great desire to explore the world, she's always with a suitcase at hand, ready to leave for any destination. For this reason, she decided to approach the world of travel through her profession. Chiara graduated in Tourism Sciences at the University of Pisa, then followed a Master's course in Travel and Photo Report. Now she is putting her studies into action by linking the two interests that matter most to her: writing and travelling. Currently, Chiara is in Malta working for the Merill Rural Network, and is excited to explore this new type of tourism approach, based on rural communities, sustainability, ecology and authenticity.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Chiara Dalla Fontanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09258885878866727921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-83385221818621207272018-05-18T12:27:00.001+02:002018-05-18T12:27:49.558+02:00Our Food and Wine Tour from Miyuki's view <br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Miyuki Sugihara, a Japanese artist, joined us for a Food and Wine tour. The images speak for themselves!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Home Page: </span><a href="http://meyoukey-s.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">meyoukey-s.com</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Meyoukey-729154723935598/" target="_blank">Meyoukey</a></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDNDZAEifaY-W0d2an7zKsFYGJNTzddNwIcxZiCQqd9mOxoDyMT70lP2S-pMPBY4hcH2blUDP6MuN5C_h1NGTpkaev8ktfiNi63QNpZitQfPaglLsDBbyDzCJyXmI5iQa5dYoMq3W3dzP/s1600/20180518_090738.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDNDZAEifaY-W0d2an7zKsFYGJNTzddNwIcxZiCQqd9mOxoDyMT70lP2S-pMPBY4hcH2blUDP6MuN5C_h1NGTpkaev8ktfiNi63QNpZitQfPaglLsDBbyDzCJyXmI5iQa5dYoMq3W3dzP/s640/20180518_090738.jpeg" width="438" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxr7XlcVR-SIvLJTJSTiQxJyW0N-A72m5CzjxOk-fm2RHaPkIpw8XKFlJvAfpoh-VXcuZzOVPm8VM3Jss4IowH0qmpFxCGfhyXStrwDAg6gP6zFadSSOotNLnuScwCIwG-Lrb5CD2N9Iv/s1600/20180518_091404.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="442" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxr7XlcVR-SIvLJTJSTiQxJyW0N-A72m5CzjxOk-fm2RHaPkIpw8XKFlJvAfpoh-VXcuZzOVPm8VM3Jss4IowH0qmpFxCGfhyXStrwDAg6gP6zFadSSOotNLnuScwCIwG-Lrb5CD2N9Iv/s640/20180518_091404.jpeg" width="442" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-74372311733109986232016-01-31T12:37:00.000+01:002016-02-25T16:29:10.824+01:00Mġarr Rural Trail<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.004px; line-height: 18.2052px; word-spacing: 2px;">The <a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/sites/default/files/Discovering%20Imgarr%20-%20Rural%20Trail.pdf" target="_blank">Mġarr Rural Trail</a>, which features a number of sites of historic, cultural and natural importance, was inaugurated today. The trail includes information panels which highlight natural attractions, and historic treasures amongst which are the Ħaġrat Temples, an ancient religious site, and the Roman baths on the way down to Għajn Tuffieħa. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.004px; line-height: 18.2052px; word-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.004px; line-height: 18.2052px; word-spacing: 2px;">The </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.004px; line-height: 18.2052px; word-spacing: 2px;"><a href="http://mgarrlc.com/" target="_blank">Mġarr </a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , "geneva" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.004px; line-height: 18.2052px; word-spacing: 2px;"><a href="http://mgarrlc.com/" target="_blank">local council</a> and the <a href="http://www.leadermajjistral.eu/" target="_blank">Majjistral Local Action Group</a> made this project possible through EU funding.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/sites/default/files/Discovering%20Imgarr%20-%20Rural%20Trail.pdf" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXpMpdFPHqyJBxWnLW31Zf67yX7-1X0uGJO9HGpFyrfQTrrbjonBTLLFjcY_gXT6aRA70atA76naUVaJhU-NJdfL7HyIYYx-a-IQMbwjcEl-CJsJFe-kryn9HZQD1dIU9yIUELw3c3sY/s400/mgarr+rural+trail.tiff" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/sites/default/files/Discovering%20Imgarr%20-%20Rural%20Trail.pdf" target="_blank">The M<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.2px; text-align: justify;">ġarr </span>Rural Trail - Click to view flier</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSjQYuOZ32J_dR4zU_rdRJPVsmdADkEfooPo6YLlhvf6At5wJ6K98TwcyRBXlIzyCXOZzHEKgvWDXQOstE5pamqqcz-hX4A3YWM_PxJT_bkpLR19Cgjaik5uAvbLlmYEhzLfRmT03Zao/s1600/IMG_20160131_092701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSjQYuOZ32J_dR4zU_rdRJPVsmdADkEfooPo6YLlhvf6At5wJ6K98TwcyRBXlIzyCXOZzHEKgvWDXQOstE5pamqqcz-hX4A3YWM_PxJT_bkpLR19Cgjaik5uAvbLlmYEhzLfRmT03Zao/s400/IMG_20160131_092701.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Inauguration speeches</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMfCHcx9q9GpglbAMroHq4DYclRK-N02CdHget7_sIQyPwFSVf0J7zJ3WbTXc2s0G4URsC68D8TKQmAvt0nCw8NiD_DaUAqRi6N9a5VjWrMcA0l_BRuI3U5w8Iek68LvQG99nFjLNttE/s1600/IMG_20160131_094234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMfCHcx9q9GpglbAMroHq4DYclRK-N02CdHget7_sIQyPwFSVf0J7zJ3WbTXc2s0G4URsC68D8TKQmAvt0nCw8NiD_DaUAqRi6N9a5VjWrMcA0l_BRuI3U5w8Iek68LvQG99nFjLNttE/s400/IMG_20160131_094234.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Walking towards the grove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsMJYwkcXdzV6Dnf3g7yy3VTvxYDN365Ad3cEX7L5SkN2ihFtG6I5nXGgC2_gxI2GxoMbYJjpUVWeMp-fb9o6K66GtTXIOm__4g-RKzNxxuXy3Ol29WEduwU6s8p7dHlGkDOVpHgatpk/s1600/IMG_20160131_094716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsMJYwkcXdzV6Dnf3g7yy3VTvxYDN365Ad3cEX7L5SkN2ihFtG6I5nXGgC2_gxI2GxoMbYJjpUVWeMp-fb9o6K66GtTXIOm__4g-RKzNxxuXy3Ol29WEduwU6s8p7dHlGkDOVpHgatpk/s400/IMG_20160131_094716.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dr. Ian Borg, Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">and 2017 Presidency</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6JzXTLaFZjpOK5TREM25TjEApje9gPB1Avx8pl6TkEA_p9mSlZ5cYDxwHcMil9Gc3DkNHXu6zZfbM8G8267htlke09BrSHY4kv5EoQ8ZGNrbgF2nt9ykg_aCxOWk2oPFtsxf-Vf1sM/s1600/IMG_20160131_095001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z6JzXTLaFZjpOK5TREM25TjEApje9gPB1Avx8pl6TkEA_p9mSlZ5cYDxwHcMil9Gc3DkNHXu6zZfbM8G8267htlke09BrSHY4kv5EoQ8ZGNrbgF2nt9ykg_aCxOWk2oPFtsxf-Vf1sM/s400/IMG_20160131_095001.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Majjistral LAG Manager Ms. Marisa Marmara’ and Mġarr Mayor Mr. Paul Vella planting young olive trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />C. Borghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539628619560793349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-18618016675882984432015-12-07T10:32:00.000+01:002017-09-30T21:21:39.531+02:00Olive oil in the Maltese islands<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdbHNq7QvluZ4NOJS6gZYwpSEqja2DXnK6wFmVghIGPuv0bUqyiwdNnGI3fYVLh8buj8TQXL6ZR0p4_Sn5nxVb3sEkROxq6s2yQ-yIf14IGYd-GVnmhm3v8PjeOAlUn11Z9qX5NxLL78/s1600/Olive+tree+resizedok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdbHNq7QvluZ4NOJS6gZYwpSEqja2DXnK6wFmVghIGPuv0bUqyiwdNnGI3fYVLh8buj8TQXL6ZR0p4_Sn5nxVb3sEkROxq6s2yQ-yIf14IGYd-GVnmhm3v8PjeOAlUn11Z9qX5NxLL78/s1600/Olive+tree+resizedok.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>From amber yellow to emerald green, olive oil comes in many shades and hues. Sometimes known as ‘liquid gold’, it has been a staple in our diets for time immemorial – around 400 generations, to be exact.</i></b><br />
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>The History<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<b><br /></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, the olive tree has played a crucial role in our diets and nourishment for around 10,000 years. It is believed, in fact, that we've picked olives from trees since the early Neolithic period, and that we started extracting this fruit’s oil some 8,000 years ago. Everyone from the Grecians to the Israelites to the Romans and the Minoans cultivated and consumed olives, and all of these milked them for their delicious and wholesome juices.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This age old tradition that pre-dates written history has survived the test of time, and nowadays, olive oil is a favourite among all the people of the world, be they Mediterranean or not. So much so, that the global production of olive oil is of over 3,200,000 tonnes per year; and it is assumed that close to 100 per cent of that is consumed each year as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fun Facts About Olive Oil<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">Olive oil’s renowned health properties and aromas are due to their plant-based antioxidants called ‘polyphenols’. These are believed to be both anti-carcinogenic and anti-aging.</span></b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>We all know that some red wines get better with age, but olive oil is a product best consumed as fresh as possible. For this reason, you should always check its harvest date.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>It should be stored in cool, dark places with the lid firmly in place as light, heat and oxygen can destroy its chemical compound. In fact, the fridge is one of the best places to preserve its taste, colour and nutritive elements. It may solidify, but, once taken out, it will go back to being a liquid within a few minutes.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The notion that extra virgin olive oil (evoo) should never be heated or used for cooking is not supported by research. However one should not use EVOO for frying. During our <a href="http://merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">EVOO experiences</a> we examine this fact in more detail and discuss from where this myth originated.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>While unfiltered olive oil may look less appetising – muddy, even – it is actually much tastier and much more nutritious than its filtered counterpart.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>No two harvests are the same, so no two batches of olive oil can ever taste the same.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A certain degree of bitterness is required to ensure that the olive oil is genuine.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>In tasting sessions, different people may taste the same olive oil differently; that is why the aroma is given more importance.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Proper, unfiltered olive oil contains natural fats, meaning it has a high-calorific value – but, don’t worry, they’re good fats!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv8O0-5YTayka92QHV9O9OgF5pdnLTeOd_WZ-ZgrkPl4FvLqOq8C7QmpJTQjg1kQPGyLSMXU255kN6B2ITSFraQFQufdLUbs7diYf_6OkU5Oa0RoCaejVPhTotlLzdgYnZgBuvJPwyy8/s1600/11081581_10152982973446749_1008225037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrv8O0-5YTayka92QHV9O9OgF5pdnLTeOd_WZ-ZgrkPl4FvLqOq8C7QmpJTQjg1kQPGyLSMXU255kN6B2ITSFraQFQufdLUbs7diYf_6OkU5Oa0RoCaejVPhTotlLzdgYnZgBuvJPwyy8/s1600/11081581_10152982973446749_1008225037_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extra virgin olive oil can be easily coupled to other local ingredients</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Merill & Olive Oil</span></b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Olive oil was one of the first products we discovered at Merill. This was no coincidence, however, as two of the first people we teamed up with were Charlie and Ray Vella, the hard-working farmers and owners of tan-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove?fref=ts" target="_blank">Nixxiegha Olive Grove</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Over the years, we have made it our mission to support the farmers in our rural network, particularly those whose work is eco-friendly, thanks to the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rurdev/index_en.htm" target="_blank">EU LEADER</a> funded Project. This training consists of pest control and management, olive oil appreciation, and health and safety regulations when working around trees, among many others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As part of our on-going work, we also support researchers who are rediscovering old Maltese varieties and studying their unique properties; and we help create awareness about the benefits of choosing local and unaltered food products. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What We Offer<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="color: #222222;">Should you wish to organise an Olive Oil Tasting session to find out what real, unfiltered olive oil tastes like, feel free to get in touch with us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;">We have:</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"> </span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="text-indent: -24px;"><b>Basic Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Tasting</b> – Get to grips with olive oil with a simple-yet-informative tour of the <span style="background-color: white; color: black; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">olive grov</span>e – served with delicious Maltese bread, of course! Organise a private group or <a href="http://merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">join other eco-guests on our regular shared experiences</a>.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: -24px;"><b>Professional Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Tasting</b> – As one of newest ventures, this offers small groups the chance to sit down to a glorious olive oil tasting session that will challenge everything you think you know about the taste and smell of good olive oil.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #222222; text-indent: -24px;"><b>Bottled Extra-Virgin Olive Oil -</b> Bottled liquid goodness that’s of a guaranteed quality and origin.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;">written by WriteMeAnything.com</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcQY_AsFKL2yl4mXjxHvnci39_n8pBnPRUtU2LFna_9NDuARda-mL1KylWjGmtFjsq2a17ZLsVv8ImlapmyxmCLeql6sOFepZUPXcxJ6SCRmOfllFUoMhoIsuiSBSE-A1ogGnzC1eYZo/s1600/olive+oil+shots+++jeanette+tasting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcQY_AsFKL2yl4mXjxHvnci39_n8pBnPRUtU2LFna_9NDuARda-mL1KylWjGmtFjsq2a17ZLsVv8ImlapmyxmCLeql6sOFepZUPXcxJ6SCRmOfllFUoMhoIsuiSBSE-A1ogGnzC1eYZo/s1600/olive+oil+shots+++jeanette+tasting.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>For more information on Merill or our Olive Oil Tasting sessions, why not drop us a line at </i></b><a href="mailto:info@merill.com"><b><i>info@merill.com</i></b></a><b><i> or call us on +356 9944 3118?</i></b><span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic; text-align: right;"> </span></div>
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Shared tour</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Every Tuesday!</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYyOaS4gLQs6kh3C0N_WB-5_X9hyyDLMdFp9TYo1mz2Ilk20T4zgoJ9eCbIF6p08CA6Yf_fSXNzJm-UMsjdWB3mawmb7rZdqBgiphLJbZR-353Lho1JHCIxEn14Jnq7JO55szPel0RI4/s1600/EU+bannerrgb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-91817489856243324332015-07-06T13:47:00.003+02:002015-08-24T20:32:29.048+02:00Agritourism policy and the environment<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="article_date" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #666666; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Friday, December 6, 2013, 00:01 </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12.0053634643555px;"></span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-weight: normal; line-height: 12.0053634643555px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">by </span>Kristina Chetcuti</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Building new agritourism structures is ‘blasphemy’</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="article_content" id="article_content" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="drop_shadow" id="article_single_attachment" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.294118) 0px 1px 4px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0941176) 0px 0px 40px inset; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.294118) 0px 1px 4px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0941176) 0px 0px 40px inset; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;">
<img alt="Ecotourism agency Merrill believes Mepa’s agritourism construction proposals would create eyesores in the countryside. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi" id="attachment_297055" src="https://3a09223b3cd53870eeaa-7f75e5eb51943043279413a54aaa858a.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/63973df7cbe160d0ade46b5c3ba869632585201530-1386323504-52a19e30-620x348.jpg" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" /></div>
<div id="article_single_caption" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif !important; font-size: 1em !important; line-height: 1.167em; outline: 0px; padding: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; word-spacing: 2px;">
Ecotourism agency Merill believes Mepa’s agritourism construction proposals would create eyesores in the countryside. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi</div>
<div class="default_top_margin" id="article_body" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 20px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="image bbcode_attach bbcode_attach_right bbcode_attach_medium image_border drop_shadow" id="image_tag_297056" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.294118) 0px 1px 4px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0941176) 0px 0px 40px inset; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1px solid rgb(210, 210, 210); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.294118) 0px 1px 4px, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0941176) 0px 0px 40px inset; clear: left; float: right; margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 2px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 279px;">
<img alt="Jeanette Borg. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli" src="https://3a09223b3cd53870eeaa-7f75e5eb51943043279413a54aaa858a.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/1360d53691854a0521db1e2aa8a98f293389429916-1386323499-52a19e2b-360x251.jpg" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; display: block; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 279px;" title="Jeanette Borg. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli" /><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: 0px; color: white; display: block; font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif !important; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 8px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">Jeanette Borg. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Building new structures for accommodation in rural areas, as provided for by the new Outside Development Zones draft policy, is “blasphemy” according to a local pioneer in agritourism.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
The draft policy was launched last month by Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia, who said it aimed to develop agritourism by allowing farmers, individually or in groups, to build up to 10 rooms for accommodation when their land exceeds 60 tumoli.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
However, Jeanette Borg, managing director of Merill, the first ecotourism agency in Malta, believes this proposal would create an eyesore.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“We are completely against building more establishments on virgin land, agricultural land, or garigue.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“Building a utility room to serve as a store for agritourism purposes is one thing, building up to 10 rooms is another thing,” she said, pointing out that the rooms would need ancillary structures such as driveways and parking spaces, leading to entire complexes.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“Landscape mitigation is very hard to achieve, and they will be nothing but an eyesore,” she said.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Ms Borg believes the problem is that “we try to copy Sicily” – a scenario that “would not work” here.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Agritourism, she said, is a combination of experiences and not just accommodation in rural areas.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“Eco-friendly types of accommodation such as restored old town houses in the heart of Maltese villages also are agritourism,” she said.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Travelling distances are minimal in Malta so tourists are a maximum of half an hour away from the farm where the agri-experience is to take place, she said, stressing we should not aim to create a drastic shift from hotels.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“That would be shooting the local tourism industry in the foot.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
She questioned the need for rural accommodation when the island’s tourism marketing is geared towards Malta being “a sun and sea island”.</div>
<div class="bbcode_quote bbcode_quote_right" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: url(http://www.timesofmalta.com/img/quotes.png) no-repeat; border: 0px; float: right; margin: 0.5em 0px 0.2em 1em; outline: 0px; padding: 15px 10px 0px 30px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 300px;">
<div class="bbcode_quote_body" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif !important; font-size: 1.5em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Landscape mitigation is very hard to achieve, and they will be nothing but an eyesore</div>
<div class="bbcode_quote_details" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: url(http://www.timesofmalta.com/img/quotes_end.png) 100% 50% no-repeat; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif !important; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; left: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 30px 25px 0px; position: relative; text-align: right; top: -15px; vertical-align: baseline;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“Agritourism is a niche market. We won’t be inundated with large quantities of high-paying tourists overnight: do we ever see promotion of Malta’s rural areas?”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
A case in point, she said, was Gozo, where most of the farmhouses available for tourists remain vacant during the shoulder months.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
The marriage of agriculture and tourism, she said, is one of the few ways that our farmland can preserve its character.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“Unless an economic value is given to agricultural land, we will continue having farmers who forfeit their land to build more since property is still generating money. This is dangerous.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Ms Borg praised the draft policy for “its good intentions” and being “a good attempt at allowing investment to take place in rural areas that was not possible in the past”, such as the establishment of farm shops.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
It is a welcome option because it will enable locals and tourists to buy fresh produce directly from the farmers, she said.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
However, she pointed out it is still practically impossible to obtain permits to process local food in small-scale plants and the Department of Public Health is still “imposing non-practical requirements” for genuine producers.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“This red tape is leading to apathy in the Maltese food delicacies industry – no wonder delicacy shops are opening up selling items from all over the world, except Malta.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
She hopes “loopholes and bureaucratic webs” will be addressed, citing farmers who have been denied permission to restore derelict buildings or build an underground reservoir.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“We all know how many huge complexes or residential areas have been granted permits on virgin land.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Project processes ought to be centralised in one institution, she recommended, as currently projects need endorsement of the Agriculture and Public Health departments and at times even the Malta Tourism Authority.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
“By the time one gets the seal of approval for a proposed, EU-funded project from the three bodies, the call for funding would have closed.”</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 1.167em !important; line-height: 1.3em !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 15px; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 2px;">
Article from <a href="http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131206/local/Building-new-agritourism-structures-is-blasphemy-.4977" target="_blank">Timesofmalta.com</a></div>
</div>
</div>
C. Borghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539628619560793349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-90365027359286833352015-05-11T16:02:00.000+02:002016-10-06T16:23:27.266+02:00Viticulturists within the Merill Rural Network<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWfQR8TNwADI3rScaIT-7mNUYlHol_T_pWcSnWamm8W6eXpdlOGY0cvw1Df6P9BmyILDuWSG_v8LOeWyOpFkTiBk04ANp3Gq4oS-hyED9AYZ-BYG9E1dd_xdRQJ9A3Jpe8ShEvRVEuj4/s1600/vines+banner+viti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWfQR8TNwADI3rScaIT-7mNUYlHol_T_pWcSnWamm8W6eXpdlOGY0cvw1Df6P9BmyILDuWSG_v8LOeWyOpFkTiBk04ANp3Gq4oS-hyED9AYZ-BYG9E1dd_xdRQJ9A3Jpe8ShEvRVEuj4/s1600/vines+banner+viti.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Much like our forefathers believed that the stars controlled their
destiny, we now know that climate and geographical regions affect the chemical
composition of grapes and, in turn, of wine. The study of this science, and
some might even say nature’s art, is called viticulture, and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillruralnetwork?fref=ts">Merill Rural Network </a>is proud to be helping out those furthering Malta’s sector in this
sphere. </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grapes are an incredibly versatile berry: They
can be eaten fresh, add a burst of zingy sweetness to dishes as raisins or
sultanas, and even make the anti-oxidisin</span><span style="text-align: right;">g drink that is grape juice. But for
all its worth, their best loved and most influential use remains their ability
to ferment and create one of the world’s oldest alcoholic beverages... Wine.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">At Merill, we champion tradition, crafts from an
age that is fast disappearing, and the use of long-established practices when
it comes to agriculture, but we also understand that science and new knowledge
are there to help us build a more sustainable and efficacious system. And that’s
where our viticulturists come in.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet Carmel &
Paul Cortis, <i>brothers by blood and in the
field</i></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgOajFCv5JLy6yRUBqQ6ADz6CZHZjacxMoxZbrecj-95BrvFIDjoUG3P29IFhQoy7z-YuGB017UcIWct70GYRbz1KrBSMMZbASw6ApDu-juBcOrub31JGqH7jLJWo8TA66_Gou6GZOfU/s1600/cortises.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ-RNFWNtYTqbWUTa5qu18Z_ADZkZMAuP4B1A4-NdbuoGp6vtmUbchfg2j6t_XqBEhqvqYfn33lWNV8xX3RKupXOEzGVaZvPoZAxoPavoS4rpwUK7t0o-9CXHp_P6odrbb8b6S6DjpBM/s1600/cortises.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQ-RNFWNtYTqbWUTa5qu18Z_ADZkZMAuP4B1A4-NdbuoGp6vtmUbchfg2j6t_XqBEhqvqYfn33lWNV8xX3RKupXOEzGVaZvPoZAxoPavoS4rpwUK7t0o-9CXHp_P6odrbb8b6S6DjpBM/s320/cortises.png" width="216" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Working the land is a backbreaking job that, more
often than not, cements the bond that ties father to son, mother to daughter,
and sibling to sibling. Carmel and Paul Cortis, are brothers in and out of the
field, but their mutual love for viticulture has led them to develop a requited
fondness that is evident in their work.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div class="Normal1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Chances are, you’ve already laid your eyes on one
of the patches of land that the Cortis brothers manicure on a weekly basis.
Perched just beneath the imposing, fortified city of Mdina lies their vineyard;
a beautiful medley of colourful vines that contrast exceptionally well with the
straw-coloured walls of the Medieval Silent City.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It’s hard to believe that this landscape was once
devoid of life, and that Carmel and Paul had to reintroduce soil and plant
vines when they first took up farming. They’ve come a long way since then and,
through heavy investment in machinery and new technology, hard work, and pure
determination, they are now the proud carers of a plantation of grapevines that
bears fruit in the summer and provides greenery throughout the rest of the
year. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Carmel and Paul are part-time farmers, but most
of their free time is spent tending the field, along with their wives and
children, who provide a helping hand whenever needed but particularly during
harvesting season, when the workload is at its peak.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meet Patrick
Gauci, <i>a man whose pastime enriches the
landscape </i></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While not many fathers expect their children to
follow in their footsteps, Patrick is one who can proudly say that his
influence on his son gained Malta another, much-needed agriculture graduate. At
55 years old, however, Patrick still spends a lot of his time farming, and is a
person whose pastime is ‘rewarding’, ‘relaxing’ and beneficial to Malta’s
grape-growing industry and the land he sows. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Situated at the foot of the ridge where Gnien
l-Gharusa tal-Mosta lies, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/G%C4%A7ajn-Ri%C4%A7ana-Vineyards/905141869507796?fref=ts">Ghajn Rihana Vineyards</a> yield grapes that go on to
produce some of the Island’s most celebrated wines. All this, Patrick does in
his free time, but he has been doing so since he was a child, and is grateful
to have found someone who will take care of his land with him and also once he
can no longer do it himself.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jBaK_N2scSbClcWGfumM09YXcdtYO9tMlzL0M18qN7WpGccj1yJEJjKwOaUXw5cFFowcrCJsAmwC7OIQag51wtpn19J20r_Gd-BwJiRPg-YRFpWDw5G3PpVuyp85KMN-tJ1jQsG7k_o/s1600/patrick+viti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jBaK_N2scSbClcWGfumM09YXcdtYO9tMlzL0M18qN7WpGccj1yJEJjKwOaUXw5cFFowcrCJsAmwC7OIQag51wtpn19J20r_Gd-BwJiRPg-YRFpWDw5G3PpVuyp85KMN-tJ1jQsG7k_o/s400/patrick+viti.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a lifetime’s worth of experience in farming
and viticulture, Patrick has a wealth of intellectual and practical knowledge
in the field that is now fostered and bolstered by the EU-funded <a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank">LEADER programme</a>, secured through the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillruralnetwork?fref=ts">Merill Rural Network</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To stay up-to-date with Carmel & Paul’s Cortis Vineyard, you can
follow them on Facebook by clicking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cortis-Vineyards/1406274156283045?fref=ts">here</a>; for Patrick’s Ghajn Rihana Vineyards,
you can click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/G%C4%A7ajn-Ri%C4%A7ana-Vineyards/905141869507796?fref=ts">here</a>. For more information on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillecotours?fref=ts">Merill</a> you can contact us by e-mail
at info@merill.com.mt or by calling us on +356 9944 3118.</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Written by <a href="http://writemeanything.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">WriteMeAnything.com</a></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp5orv3WyAM_J1r9a-u5V0-f1vz4UPXB1n_g9bbQYlpfDdwXl-vBW5eAtWvJirR2cYG9nQWc_eKOD-ElE0H6DkdAuFju0S1OXYTWDYOP0t7cv59aMPlYpKsIhlMeSGlkkd8wop0oBhWI/s1600/EAFRD+++MAGF+++LEADER.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-60706491205380103262015-05-06T12:16:00.003+02:002016-10-06T16:25:18.088+02:00Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_ll99vw7Dlr1JA4_J53Ob13CDqPiMkOVG-pc0WPcwOfKAu17DPDgic44YXdUkPp4x32oEyzPfWI_PiU9H5WvhQhpGyqhBXBrsvNxTZQ_iS_fnu7VoAdpiRpAMERj0t2QrTRZUL0GZ9c/s1600/the+Vine+and+Wine+exp+2+wine+tasting+at+Bingemma+Olive+Grove2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_ll99vw7Dlr1JA4_J53Ob13CDqPiMkOVG-pc0WPcwOfKAu17DPDgic44YXdUkPp4x32oEyzPfWI_PiU9H5WvhQhpGyqhBXBrsvNxTZQ_iS_fnu7VoAdpiRpAMERj0t2QrTRZUL0GZ9c/s1600/the+Vine+and+Wine+exp+2+wine+tasting+at+Bingemma+Olive+Grove2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wine is an icon that has transgressed time and tastes. So much so, that 10,000 years after the first batch of this alcoholic beverage concocted from fermented grapes was made, wine still holds an important place in our everyday lives.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Benjamin Franklin once said that ‘wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy’. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We agree, but we also believe that wine is more than just a simple beverage that accompanies your dinner, or which you sip as you chat to friends. After all, each bottle of wine holds within it traditions, customs, scents and tastes that have been 10,000 years in the making.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Taste Local</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As many of you probably know, we are firm believers in the produce yielded and products created locally, and there are many reasons for this. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>To begin with, these are zero-milage products, meaning that their carbon footprint is much, much smaller than something imported from abroad. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Buying and promoting these products also helps safeguard customs that have been in use for generations, and helps promote the growth of our local agricultural landscape and economy. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But, more than that, we truly believe that local produce, aided by the kiss of our generous sun, and lovingly grown by the wonderful farmers that have dedicated their life to this practice, results in superior products that taste divine.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That’s why our Wine & Cheese Tasting sessions only make use of locally-produced wine, grown in vineyards scattered all around the Islands that benefit from our fertile soil and optimum weather conditions. And, to complement the wines and take your taste-buds on a journey through Malta’s culinary traditions, we add creamy and soft sheep’s milk gbejniet (traditional Maltese cheeselets) to our offering.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJg4cF3HgNnmZaYG8m8rRK3fSHw7D0hg6KQo5LlEZ53hUnjuMeCWIAzBA2YX_3Wgg0Th3LtpxugayKbicYZXP2YrPm3PqRb4OhB40Ug5VjZs0m5ZHGiekiVWHXN5-Nc8j6AigOMU7sqM/s1600/wine+and+cheese+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJg4cF3HgNnmZaYG8m8rRK3fSHw7D0hg6KQo5LlEZ53hUnjuMeCWIAzBA2YX_3Wgg0Th3LtpxugayKbicYZXP2YrPm3PqRb4OhB40Ug5VjZs0m5ZHGiekiVWHXN5-Nc8j6AigOMU7sqM/s1600/wine+and+cheese+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Wine & Cheese Tasting Sessions by Merill</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our Wine & Cheese Tasting Sessions take place at one of our exclusive venues, which set the stage for an idyllic afternoon in the company of expertly-picked, boutique wines and fresh gbejniet created from local milk by local producers using recipes that date back tens, and even hundreds, of years.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we take you through the different wines and explore their fragrance, palate and origin, we also guide you through the deep and intricate taste of our humble gbejna, as well as the history and legacy of the venues we are in, which include <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tassalutorchard?fref=ts">Tas-Salut Orchard</a> or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove?fref=ts">Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As such, these Wine & Cheese Tasting Sessions are great for both locals and visitors, and whether it’s a birthday party, get together, team-building session, or just an afternoon spent getting to know the local viticulture, we will always welcome you with open arms.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Other Details:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>As we’re sure you know, wine tasting sessions are all about getting to know the wines at hand, so we’ll make sure you won’t get drunk while in our care, and we promise to keep you safe.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>These tasting sessions cannot substitute lunch or dinner in their entirety, so they make for a perfect pre-dinner activity.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They are available all year round, no matter the weather!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>They’re perfect for an afternoon gathering that allows you to taste some delicious Maltese wines with a backdrop of the pink and yellow sky as the sun sets. It also means that, if you come in the hot summer months, you’ll avoid the stifling heat of the early afternoon.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Groups can secure the exclusive farm venue – drop us a line for more information about this.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">●<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Visitors will try three different kinds of wine and two types of gbejniet – making these sessions ideal for vegetarians too.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt3q1w1U1wvzeMcyjvErcsKNSIqBXFfPhZ5BzELASj5qESHAIsoXlnnk_jQNwnzJ6WONb6rzebzYUBXvq_dSU1YGRADKJl1OBfg5x5rBYV5JfPXnT5MEUg1ZXEGn-C7-9Sx5uIr24L7c/s1600/cortis+16+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt3q1w1U1wvzeMcyjvErcsKNSIqBXFfPhZ5BzELASj5qESHAIsoXlnnk_jQNwnzJ6WONb6rzebzYUBXvq_dSU1YGRADKJl1OBfg5x5rBYV5JfPXnT5MEUg1ZXEGn-C7-9Sx5uIr24L7c/s1600/cortis+16+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For more information on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillecotours?fref=ts">Merill</a> or our Wine & Cheese Tasting sessions, why not drop us a line at info@merill.com.mt or call us on +356 9944 3118? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Written by <a href="http://writemeanything.com/" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">WriteMeAnything.com</a></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "trebuchet" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.1999998092651px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRp5orv3WyAM_J1r9a-u5V0-f1vz4UPXB1n_g9bbQYlpfDdwXl-vBW5eAtWvJirR2cYG9nQWc_eKOD-ElE0H6DkdAuFju0S1OXYTWDYOP0t7cv59aMPlYpKsIhlMeSGlkkd8wop0oBhWI/s1600/EAFRD+++MAGF+++LEADER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-9525563052061218692015-04-10T14:30:00.002+02:002016-11-10T13:11:36.555+01:00Antoine's Weaving Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigczNhhRYwY5AK3IJRLObMHs_wYN3BgjI5Pun3L9ZPMDUaUKIuu2WIcMDAxkAtvhKUn4t3oVS_98r2HHpOL00Wd0AaQXrb6qrNrfYZv_o3nc-iPQaG88ieeEbTV9MF17MkbQzzoewzbRg/s1600/carpets2.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigczNhhRYwY5AK3IJRLObMHs_wYN3BgjI5Pun3L9ZPMDUaUKIuu2WIcMDAxkAtvhKUn4t3oVS_98r2HHpOL00Wd0AaQXrb6qrNrfYZv_o3nc-iPQaG88ieeEbTV9MF17MkbQzzoewzbRg/s1600/carpets2.1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b> W</b><b><i>eaving is one of the world’s oldest trades, and its simple process
of interlocking two distinct sets of yarn or thread at right angles to create a
piece of cloth is so perfect, it hasn’t changed in over 9,000 years.</i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
Around the world, cave paintings, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and
scraps of fabric preserved in time, have revealed that the weaving of yarn and
thread doesn’t only predate civilisation, it even predates history – with many
historians and archeologists believing the craft to be over 12,000 years old. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
Here in Malta, the first known piece of weaving discovered
dates back to around 800BC, to the time when the Phoenicians ruled the island.
As with many other crafts, we embraced it and, 3,000 years on, we still produce
fabrics and cloths using this ancient method.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
Having said that, the manual process has all but become
extinct thanks to the industrial revolution that literally mechanised the exact
same action that has been used for millennia. Now, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl?fref=ts">Antoine tan-Newl</a> and Merill
have joined forces to use the technology that threatened to destroy the local,
manual craft to help safeguard it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b>Who is Antoine?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
Antoine Vella, known affectionately as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl?fref=ts">Antoine tan-Newl</a>, first
began learning the art of weaving when he was just eight years old, and it took
him over eight years of constant practice to get his skills up to scratch.
“I’ve always been absolutely fascinated by the different kinds of weavings that
exist, and it was my dream to learn how to create a piece of fabric myself,” he
tells us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl?fref=ts"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKflcn8lMDBtUBrwd-kV1Z_mKfM2BlIgMcr29peFmKtH8vEYRrYW-stfBq2k-rPcef4wC64UVql-whTFes9PxfBQfGnlyI1KT5XiJqAaNstct2AqE9t1mT5WbfRAvYonpjL9yGxgq1lw/s1600/IMG_9578.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
Today, Antoine runs his own weaving workshop, which hand-produces
carpets, blankets, cushion covers, and an array of paraphernalia for the dining
room and the bedroom. “In the past, however, almost all fabrics and clothes were
created by hand using this process, including the ghonnella, flannel shirts,
and even underwear,” he adds.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<b>How is Merill
involved?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;">Through the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillruralnetwork?fref=ts" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Merill Rural Network</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">, Antoine has been entrusted with a
spinner (a machine that spins wool into yarn; a job traditionally done by hand
by unmarried women who were considered to be past their eligibility, hence the
term ‘spinster’) and a carder (a toothed machine that opens and cleans wool),
which </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">were purchased
through funds granted by the EU’s <a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">LEADER programme</span></a>.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
These
two pieces of equipment will give Antoine the opportunity to mechanise two of
the most time-consuming parts of the process of weaving, allowing him to create
a larger volume of work. On top of that, the spinner will make use of
Maltese-produced wool that is often discarded or burnt; leading to a product
that is 100 per cent local and that is still hand-made.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Antoine has also received training in a wide range of
topics, including health and safety measures to be taken when using these two
machines and when welcoming visitors to his workshops, as well as in risk
management. “Learning makes life interesting, and I was stunned by the amount
of new developments – and even older ones – which we were exposed to,” explains
Antoine. “It’s definitely bettered our process and business!” <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm1tASqK3KE&list=PLsZv6lcOyN6LnMlFZHMnd9Z2adPdVma6d&index=2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWj3UEOUP4hU8yM7ZJU95Dvf7xA4V5sBERqTAbbc0vnC5eWji-LndiMFX-KzaWVVSBBoM6QgRPgvsmncUT2ZPMy7rRgUFmUbMWZ8mYqiatiX1OdVp15f17eKJyNtfbVlIDVk31Xe82m7I/s640/antoine+video.tiff" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm1tASqK3KE&list=PLsZv6lcOyN6LnMlFZHMnd9Z2adPdVma6d&index=2" target="_blank">Click to watch video</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB93j5unGBhn__4Yj_15ziCjHtYUj3nsPEen9_aRocvY21Z2XaM9cOuwol_hWDCWRK-iiMvCaCRXlf0FrDdBANmPtJGFpicdoSEysqFm6R2VIVLLF9p1-i0sLtIsfo3mQciJ18JqfLzaU/s1600/bombli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB93j5unGBhn__4Yj_15ziCjHtYUj3nsPEen9_aRocvY21Z2XaM9cOuwol_hWDCWRK-iiMvCaCRXlf0FrDdBANmPtJGFpicdoSEysqFm6R2VIVLLF9p1-i0sLtIsfo3mQciJ18JqfLzaU/s1600/bombli.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">written by <a href="http://writemeanything.com/">WriteMeAnything.com</a></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>A visit to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl?fref=ts">Antoine tan-Newl</a>’s workshop can be organised upon
request. For more information you can send us an e-mail at </i></b><b><i><a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt">info@merill.com.mt</a></i></b><b><i> or call us on 99443118.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmVF4JKfOEN_-4qqkHHvNkdUf5gUOLbSbs968DeEGvATV6e3JSQGSlvUj95ekgP-AeGkgK18sSo0CeNNgwAj7ZyZeWeRv4qbPzI536CcbGH3yxyhVx4uRyiL1auBVeqZp2fpTx1bYWHg/s1600/EAFRD+++MAGF+++LEADER.jpg" width="640" /></a><span id="goog_877345847"></span><span id="goog_877345848"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a></div>
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-28246820601701861002015-04-06T14:18:00.000+02:002017-09-30T21:17:06.900+02:00Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove<div class="Normal1">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkwaQmUhlkYsTuc6j8Y9fWRV1FM4uH2eh6qMZGiYGNd-6Ut4VY3QvJiH5coj1s8weOAzgfy7j_qdJhmxD1taNRRIWaHYjj99Y85jzpjqL0f-L_jscC9luCYUbZVovDiH4iAlDWobaSX1o/s1600/sunset+tan-nixxiegha.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal1">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>At
the limits of Mgarr lies a path that is lined with the most mouth-watering of
scents. Take it, and you will soon discover the majestic-yet-subdued beauty of the
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove?fref=ts">Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove</a>, a haven for indigenous and endemic flora that has
found a home amid the rugged landscape.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is hard to
believe that, not very long ago, the patch of land that makes up the Tan-Nixxiegha
Olive Grove was derelict and in ruins. The rubble walls had been damaged for
years, leaving much of the soil to the mercy of the elements, the flora had
been replaced by weeds, and it all just seemed like another stretch of
uncultivated land.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>What Happened Then?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thankfully,
two amazing farmers called Charlie and Ray bought this piece of agricultural
land; and, through their hard work and determination, they turned it into their very own Garden of Eden. They restored
the rubble walls and returned the grove to its terraced past, they planted
windbreak trees to provide shelter to the then newly-planted olive trees, and
allowed rosemary bushes and endemic plants to grow, thus providing a safe haven
to many species of birds and insects.</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2pOwSL_jxEpRsLn3yQU7Y_jAVQFv4TT6YaoNwGXMQwyJZRkUsFQLK-cnFOz8HSOCVVYbxNtDPdu1IFofJV_X4PR77ThmCHrhp_UsX8qXBkcv_teyxuzkyMBh6xoCRvATf8IzSVSpPsw/s1600/ray+&+chalie+no+edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2pOwSL_jxEpRsLn3yQU7Y_jAVQFv4TT6YaoNwGXMQwyJZRkUsFQLK-cnFOz8HSOCVVYbxNtDPdu1IFofJV_X4PR77ThmCHrhp_UsX8qXBkcv_teyxuzkyMBh6xoCRvATf8IzSVSpPsw/s1600/ray+&+chalie+no+edit.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
Since then,
the olive trees have grown strong and now yield olives that make some of the
tastiest olive oil in the country. Tan-Nixxiegha has also been opened to be
public, allowing many to catch their first glance of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheirolophus_crassifolius">Widnet il-Bahar</a> (Malta’s national plant), to smell the scent of wild thyme and rosemary, and to
be left breathless by the stunning views of the countryside that surround it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKvleCmI1N0rd_UMqDnQ9ullzfxlEOmDZl0bJBbI527a1pbb2PTVglnbHnIEcG0D0gavNxlHO_xm4i386ABPjU-rXUpeqXFI0Lw9qCh9eeuKN38KcWxeg04-NTyCN7xAcF5d3fs6mWMI/s1600/rosemary+biodiversity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKvleCmI1N0rd_UMqDnQ9ullzfxlEOmDZl0bJBbI527a1pbb2PTVglnbHnIEcG0D0gavNxlHO_xm4i386ABPjU-rXUpeqXFI0Lw9qCh9eeuKN38KcWxeg04-NTyCN7xAcF5d3fs6mWMI/s1600/rosemary+biodiversity.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How is Merill Involved?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Tan-Nixxiegha
was one of the first places that became part of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/merillruralnetwork?fref=ts">Merill Rural Network</a> and,
since 2011, we have brought many local and foreign groups to this ‘beautiful’
and ‘friendly’ grove – as the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2137518-d2172921-Reviews-Merill_Eco_Private_Tours-Qormi_Island_of_Malta.html" target="_blank">comments and mentions on TripAdvisor</a> put it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Over the
years, the range of things you can do at Tan-Nixxiegha has doubled, and we now offer:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Tasting Sessions – </b>where you can sample
the deliciousness of fresh Maltese produce, including extra virgin olive oil,
wine and jams.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>A Nature Tour – </b>where you can see and
smell the countryside like never before and become familiar with the many
endemic types of flora that add to the natural beauty of the grove.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Sales of Local Produce – </b>which is just
what it says on the tin! Visit us to buy fresh and delicious produce, including
estate-fresh, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil produced by Charlie and Ray
themselves. <i>Limited quantities are available,
but they are incredibly high in quality.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="Normal1" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-pagination: none;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGCp5WB6qLRi8GbnvtBFZOrlzyfNjHCMp32Utp61igC5R6jFzcSOrzA83N2kvkDtNbee4R2aUwFG0WhIf-jSAF3ANaybmnm05cpU7YHVk5vLQJxAKDgR8tX7M5BSWMLMOpLFicp8N4vo/s1600/Table+set+up,+olive+oil,+herbs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGCp5WB6qLRi8GbnvtBFZOrlzyfNjHCMp32Utp61igC5R6jFzcSOrzA83N2kvkDtNbee4R2aUwFG0WhIf-jSAF3ANaybmnm05cpU7YHVk5vLQJxAKDgR8tX7M5BSWMLMOpLFicp8N4vo/s1600/Table+set+up,+olive+oil,+herbs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><i><span style="color: #666666;">written by <a href="http://writemeanything.com/">WriteMeAnything.com</a></span></i> </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Would
you like to organise a scrumptious tasting session or a nature tour at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove?fref=ts">Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove</a>? Then drop us a line at </i></b><a href="mailto:info@merill.com"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">info@merill.com</span></i></b></a><b><i><span style="color: blue;">.mt</span>
or call us on <complete id="goog_1196723741">+356 9944 3118.</complete></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Shared tour</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Every Tuesday!</a></b></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6F5FXW7X6lFInYI_gYtDUfm8nN1rc3wEbOAgkJuLS16dgUYttRF3jcz4Hqmamwoqgi1RBCY84lW72othygl1sC2W65o23JOU43naTYNMOAFjIxBsuEWp5kBMNkWIyJaMn_Vuzvgph9HI/s1600/EAFRD+++MAGF+++LEADER.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-80655497255365488402015-03-16T15:11:00.000+01:002015-12-07T10:32:58.105+01:00Tas-Salut Orchard<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eVEEAZ0iJOp9gbGk7_2664QTLCKbDggmcLF4nT0XPJi2uyaZjw7ipD13_dhjkF9TPTtTt8aUWSBzhnDILXpvdF2X2hpUunJnEc0m3xrQTeQ8jk0pbV87piJ68TLwfIPyHpuq6Knqpyw/s1600/sunset+tan-nixxiegha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eVEEAZ0iJOp9gbGk7_2664QTLCKbDggmcLF4nT0XPJi2uyaZjw7ipD13_dhjkF9TPTtTt8aUWSBzhnDILXpvdF2X2hpUunJnEc0m3xrQTeQ8jk0pbV87piJ68TLwfIPyHpuq6Knqpyw/s1600/sunset+tan-nixxiegha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Nestled in the hills of Mgarr overlooking the splendid Gnejna Bay is a group of fertile, terraced fields renowned for their delicious produce. They are closely linked to the people who have worked them for generations – the same folk whose descendants are now one of Malta’s last farming families.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Tas-Salut orchard is tucked away behind a group of large boulders; boulders that have safeguarded the arable land from harsh weather conditions, and that provided a safe haven to the land’s proprietors during the tumultuous years of World War II.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>What Happened Then?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
A lot has changed since those days, but Benny, one of the children who sought refuge there, is now the proud patriarch of one of Malta’s last families to live off the land. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This has truly shaped Tas-Salut and, while many orchards abroad tend to yield one type of produce, this orchard has many pockets of land dedicated to growing oranges, apples, figs, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, marrows and a variety of herbs, among others things. It’s a real feat, especially considering the size of the orchard.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM52YVboz5xssVrhzx94zO6kpUAw9GCIU0IBm3Xqba4BazyiZ8xI-N-XOaYqyCx-p-F0eqv6bejKR_VUjjiIiEIF1Pv43yTkA1FjvBWiSKmz08ALL7hqpXVcwv_Ty-dndPOUIeRYPWeU/s1600/gnejna+sun+dried+fruit+veg+display+merill+local+products.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrM52YVboz5xssVrhzx94zO6kpUAw9GCIU0IBm3Xqba4BazyiZ8xI-N-XOaYqyCx-p-F0eqv6bejKR_VUjjiIiEIF1Pv43yTkA1FjvBWiSKmz08ALL7hqpXVcwv_Ty-dndPOUIeRYPWeU/s1600/gnejna+sun+dried+fruit+veg+display+merill+local+products.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Benny is also one of the many local farmers who avoid the use of chemical pesticides when possible. For example, to grow his strawberries, Benny makes use of a method called ‘biological control’, which means using living organisms to naturally kill insects that are harmful to cultivated plants. This, however, cannot be carried out on all crops because certain pests that cannot be ‘removed’ by biological means.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How Is Merill Involved?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Benny has kindly opened the gates to his orchard to visitors, and Merill now provides tourists, locals and corporate groups with a variety of experiences at this wonderful venue, with breathtaking views that stretch all the way to Gozo’s majestic cliffs. There is so much to enjoy here, including:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u>Professional and Basic Olive Oil Tasting</u> – where you can sample the dark-green goodness of cold-pressed, Maltese olive oil.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u>Wine & Maltese Cheeselet Tasting</u> – where the beautiful notes of Maltese wine are enhanced by the tangy taste of fresh, plain or peppered Maltese ġbejniet, made from 100 per cent sheep’s milk.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<u>Orchard Tours</u> – where the history of the area and the orchard comes to life amid sweet-smelling strawberry plants, vines made heavy by abundant clusters of grapes and other fruits, and a sense of the traditional that has long been thought extinct.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQd75cnH48idhE-Y3Nrae_3QoXJslU0qaOUYPGmCRD-5rVfYccXii3_jwzRfuXTczbc4k33bokdMI5_TXhMndfkiPIPkllOZ7dKs2LkMBqVvZsltl37pC83XliwANXpdiLTu5eNSUOq8/s1600/DSC_6126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQd75cnH48idhE-Y3Nrae_3QoXJslU0qaOUYPGmCRD-5rVfYccXii3_jwzRfuXTczbc4k33bokdMI5_TXhMndfkiPIPkllOZ7dKs2LkMBqVvZsltl37pC83XliwANXpdiLTu5eNSUOq8/s1600/DSC_6126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>How Are Merill and Benny working together?</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
They say that if you give a man a fish, he will eat for a day; but if you teach a man how to fish, he will never go hungry.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At Merill, we know that the farmers in our network are more than able to feed themselves and work the land they so dutifully look after. Yet agriculture is a field – no pun intended – that’s changing at an unprecedented rate; probably more so than it did during the Industrial Revolution.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That’s why, since March 2014, Benny, together with a few other members of the Merill Rural Network (located in the northwestern region of Malta), has been participating in a project funded by the EU <a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank">programme LEADER</a>, whereby investment has been made in marketing and training for the members and their families, and in the acquisition of equipment to improve farm and workshop visits. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Through this project, Tas-Salut’s owners have been provided with equipment and training in firefighting and risk-management practices, among others. Benny and his wife Tessie have also had training in hosting, ecotourism, food handling, first aid, and many other related topics. On top of this, during an educational trip to Sicily with various other members of the Merill network, they got to experience the similarities and differences between foreign and local farming.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gS8YH4pLAaeWTGjxinzhyphenhyphenCrTkvyooV9oHyDE-gyLKYcRxMGNv2AkYaMiDPy8hhBFqDCIM-fh-uq061NrTR0oLlRyf4tC8QhGiOO_awFXmvsoFNAHocil8Esrjeebz1r1ojrNWf8mLw/s1600/benny+&+strawberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3gS8YH4pLAaeWTGjxinzhyphenhyphenCrTkvyooV9oHyDE-gyLKYcRxMGNv2AkYaMiDPy8hhBFqDCIM-fh-uq061NrTR0oLlRyf4tC8QhGiOO_awFXmvsoFNAHocil8Esrjeebz1r1ojrNWf8mLw/s1600/benny+&+strawberries.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;">written by WriteMeAnything.com </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Would you like to organise a scrumptious tasting session? Then drop us a line at info@merill.com.mt or call us on 2141 1388.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: #444444; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/en/leader" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYyOaS4gLQs6kh3C0N_WB-5_X9hyyDLMdFp9TYo1mz2Ilk20T4zgoJ9eCbIF6p08CA6Yf_fSXNzJm-UMsjdWB3mawmb7rZdqBgiphLJbZR-353Lho1JHCIxEn14Jnq7JO55szPel0RI4/s1600/EU+bannerrgb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b><br /></b></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-17219421287815839642014-06-20T15:29:00.000+02:002014-06-20T15:47:31.088+02:00Maltese birds, butterflies and bees!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicarhr642gpQzWYtMuGcMN_8CEJYnWKBJRii7UUMgA0NPhRZwD7L8s8muBsEpuljw4Oyn26MAaitN3L6JxXks4gv7FiKmv6xptJ7gJCJS577iLrTsgHKS5ke4suHVKQaae1hyphenhyphenWTdO0s7KS/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicarhr642gpQzWYtMuGcMN_8CEJYnWKBJRii7UUMgA0NPhRZwD7L8s8muBsEpuljw4Oyn26MAaitN3L6JxXks4gv7FiKmv6xptJ7gJCJS577iLrTsgHKS5ke4suHVKQaae1hyphenhyphenWTdO0s7KS/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha+view.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow tail Butterfly |Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove <br />
| Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; word-spacing: 2px;">Swallowtails found in the Maltese islands are an endemic race found nowhere else in the world. If it becomes extinct in the Maltese islands this race will be lost forever. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.899999618530273px; word-spacing: 2px;">The swallowtail is our only endemic butterfly. It is so special that it should be declared Malta’s national butterfly. We already have a national plant, national bird and national tree. It is now time to have a national butterfly as well. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">Its scientific name is</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">Papilio machaon melitensis</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">, melitensis showing that it is a Maltese race. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">In Maltese it has several names. It is known as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">farfett tar-reġina</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">(queen’s butterfly),</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">farfett tal-busbies</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">farfett tal-fejġel</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">, fennel and rue being its two food plants. It is also known as</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"><i>farfett tal-lira </i>(Reference: Mr. Paul Portelli)</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 1.3em; word-spacing: 2px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5GGY9TUm_51NqcpdgXwPnEvYTtAPUtlfUDoiQHI7tubpBw-F2dZN1wgyojkwflneKFYaofGVydpLFHvzBPCs8ME5dnFB26h_bLtRElTLJKh0GxkAs0gjBKnpzl4-EXqfdSod14ahS7Zs/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV5GGY9TUm_51NqcpdgXwPnEvYTtAPUtlfUDoiQHI7tubpBw-F2dZN1wgyojkwflneKFYaofGVydpLFHvzBPCs8ME5dnFB26h_bLtRElTLJKh0GxkAs0gjBKnpzl4-EXqfdSod14ahS7Zs/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow tail Butterfly |Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove<br />
| Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN05d1vDJNDjNWW5Q8kr0e-vs2lAFNxSJ8fmgT0gdjLZi3FeUOBJ_xD7QUXpKAXhKVtwKMOCklTKnzgqNkqQQDDoyue3F_0tP_j_a1VVVWVg_rmtpRhCMbnZrfr3BiD3rMalErNQ78cOy/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha+and+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrN05d1vDJNDjNWW5Q8kr0e-vs2lAFNxSJ8fmgT0gdjLZi3FeUOBJ_xD7QUXpKAXhKVtwKMOCklTKnzgqNkqQQDDoyue3F_0tP_j_a1VVVWVg_rmtpRhCMbnZrfr3BiD3rMalErNQ78cOy/s1600/farfett+butterfly+saghtar+nixxiegha+and+bee.jpg" height="400" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maltese Swallow Tail feeding on Wild Thyme and a bee in flight | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-RcUeA-W0Gm7OOiR1spYurwk3mQrprQsH72ODk2fjDxJPog3rEkrnr302yEP_igrVlJXbyF41H9dTpXhNDhJThi-Vqqw0XvKzZjueyGGZpQgoODuEbZdXXW2K-Ln7TqijW83Lzz1DAjJ/s1600/chicks+nest+nixxiegha+sleeping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii-RcUeA-W0Gm7OOiR1spYurwk3mQrprQsH72ODk2fjDxJPog3rEkrnr302yEP_igrVlJXbyF41H9dTpXhNDhJThi-Vqqw0XvKzZjueyGGZpQgoODuEbZdXXW2K-Ln7TqijW83Lzz1DAjJ/s1600/chicks+nest+nixxiegha+sleeping.jpg" height="400" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shhh! they're asleep | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqycZwPdBfWZtQAT0lhAl6YekGUbOgEOsFXvIcrr2gHy-xKRmgIG1PxktaILPGlbMTn1xCtD35KCFfLtkaWtHw0MYDqNHPdfHJWqQvgJpZuoopG2kurg0qQCUTWz6n1csZU8J5CFYt4Khn/s1600/chicks+nest+nixxiegha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqycZwPdBfWZtQAT0lhAl6YekGUbOgEOsFXvIcrr2gHy-xKRmgIG1PxktaILPGlbMTn1xCtD35KCFfLtkaWtHw0MYDqNHPdfHJWqQvgJpZuoopG2kurg0qQCUTWz6n1csZU8J5CFYt4Khn/s1600/chicks+nest+nixxiegha.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nestlings of a Sardinian Warbler | Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove | Photo by Christian Borg | 20.6.14</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://naturalmalta.blogspot.com/2013/03/swallowtail-butterfly-papilio-machaon.html" target="_blank">Information about the Maltese Swallow Tail Butterfly by Mr. Paul Portelli</a><br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-14463780477133144992014-06-08T09:39:00.001+02:002014-06-08T22:58:55.955+02:00Merill Rural Tourism Project featured on Malta's National TV station<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3x_Cmi6ZctDxpRjD-WOCFkpgZa9-THufrt8l2bkaRdQWIpX6SxjEfjDtsuwdxQw5wC-jqX4mFozWC2IOTpST17jy3GmoeS3yz5ruO9mlWaFI4-tun3zELTZRy4JkhvtNEwqsJviEK84w/s1600/Guests+at+tas-salut+agro+biodiversity+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3x_Cmi6ZctDxpRjD-WOCFkpgZa9-THufrt8l2bkaRdQWIpX6SxjEfjDtsuwdxQw5wC-jqX4mFozWC2IOTpST17jy3GmoeS3yz5ruO9mlWaFI4-tun3zELTZRy4JkhvtNEwqsJviEK84w/s1600/Guests+at+tas-salut+agro+biodiversity+(2).JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guests at Tas-Salut Orchard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While temperatures are rising we bid farewell to a busy spring and welcome summer time. It has been a busy season hosting many locals and tourists on our farm venues. In the meantime we also started off an EU funded project entitled "To enhance, strengthen and assist the Merill Rural Tourism Network".<br />
<br />
This €110K project which is 80% funded by <a href="http://enrd.ec.europa.eu/leader/en/leader_en.cfm" target="_blank">Leader Funds</a> and managed by the <a href="http://www.leadermajjistral.eu/" target="_blank">Majjistral Local Action Group Foundation</a>, involves several tasks, including purchasing of small scale investments, training of the members within the network and marketing. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dissemination of information is being carried out with regards to Malta's rural treasures focusing on the Majjistral region. All the attractions being promoted are taken care of by the farmes and arstisans within the network. They feature unique farms and workshops in rural villages including Mosta, Mtarfa, Mgarr, Rabat and Dingli. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday our project was featured on the news thanks to Malta's national TV station - <a href="http://www.tvm.com.mt/" target="_blank">Television Malta</a>. The feature (in Maltese), highlighted the experiences offered by Merill as well as outlined the project in relation to three of the members within the network. Mr. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl" target="_blank">Antoine Vella</a>, an artisan, was interviewed at his workshop in Rabat. Tan-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove" target="_blank">Nixxiegha Olive Grove</a> was also filmed and described as a museum of trees, herbs and endemic species. Last but not least the stunning views and surroundings at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tassalutorchard" target="_blank">Tas-Salut Orchard</a>, a Mediterranean fruit orchard, were also featured.<br />
<br />
The other members within the Merill Rural Network who are participating in this project are Carmel and Paul Cortis of Cortis Vineyards, and Karl and Mario Scerri who are full-time farmers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>Online article in Maltese</i> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Turisti jinghataw esperjenza fil-kampanja Maltija, tradizjonijiet u kultura.</div>
Source: www.tvm.com.mt<br />
<a href="http://www.tvm.com.mt/news/turisti-jinghataw-esperjenza-tal-kampanja-maltija-tradizzjonijiet-u-kultura/" target="_blank"><i>Click here</i></a> to watch news clip in MalteseUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-20540381239220199232014-05-26T12:47:00.000+02:002014-05-26T12:48:29.596+02:00Certificate of Excellence 2014 from TripAdvisor<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>37</o:Words>
<o:Characters>214</o:Characters>
<o:Company>lyon 3 université jean moulin</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>262</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Tableau Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For the
second year running, we are really proud to receive the Certificate of
Excellence 2014 for our eco and agri experiences! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">We are more
motivated than ever to offer unique experiences in Malta and Gozo, and we count on you
to give us some more terrific reviews!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhgMtz2qxy65mTP57ARjsTBtwkRzujuhyphenhyphen7RWNRV1HeN0sLmnlqydJGA3l1LuLkA9wCDyUeIVO7_H9AI9n-WFsLHU6BROBijJZ-6GDqdeV8MUfdl5GJYvoO2BCRCqsMw0ic6EXJFQW0Nc/s1600/trip-advisor-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBhgMtz2qxy65mTP57ARjsTBtwkRzujuhyphenhyphen7RWNRV1HeN0sLmnlqydJGA3l1LuLkA9wCDyUeIVO7_H9AI9n-WFsLHU6BROBijJZ-6GDqdeV8MUfdl5GJYvoO2BCRCqsMw0ic6EXJFQW0Nc/s1600/trip-advisor-2014.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAsAMzah79W99CZMWkcb4XZVYlrlcJR_XUSxDte6Xnyo388q9qh7hZEcxdMG_GBfUFBo4an6Uqb4js0lo4MLZsWjz7bZWl_IIx_pgNul5PpDLwnbfQlSN7iWuTmleI_Tm4HwDzRzPwvs/s1600/1010202_638828389496680_30368224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAsAMzah79W99CZMWkcb4XZVYlrlcJR_XUSxDte6Xnyo388q9qh7hZEcxdMG_GBfUFBo4an6Uqb4js0lo4MLZsWjz7bZWl_IIx_pgNul5PpDLwnbfQlSN7iWuTmleI_Tm4HwDzRzPwvs/s1600/1010202_638828389496680_30368224_n.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="p1">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAsAMzah79W99CZMWkcb4XZVYlrlcJR_XUSxDte6Xnyo388q9qh7hZEcxdMG_GBfUFBo4an6Uqb4js0lo4MLZsWjz7bZWl_IIx_pgNul5PpDLwnbfQlSN7iWuTmleI_Tm4HwDzRzPwvs/s1600/1010202_638828389496680_30368224_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAk1hKZPYtAoS_1RwG8sKaM0X4K1tMHpubSw-NQLTZ3sMv5SQhdfxWKBaDyTt6VzQ3UmcH2-5QxjjF79IKOfK6cNZVNWXaFkMokiucea7ImG-nTtbGyAfftDQz7X8YitB6ho62T9YNw/s1600/10003876_677282525667049_5195628206656453992_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjAk1hKZPYtAoS_1RwG8sKaM0X4K1tMHpubSw-NQLTZ3sMv5SQhdfxWKBaDyTt6VzQ3UmcH2-5QxjjF79IKOfK6cNZVNWXaFkMokiucea7ImG-nTtbGyAfftDQz7X8YitB6ho62T9YNw/s1600/10003876_677282525667049_5195628206656453992_n.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8LZzVPxPBCboeoRwEP0VC30wT6e58T_-ZA1CZZKdKBmjyS3fxrQbzpRupbXP5hFJG12cRa93_fND9Px0tsMZ2u3Qj1LkMY_U56Vd1rKW5zNqT-MVX-OdqO_euK1hqqF3LRJ9v0QF4Ug/s1600/marianne+testa+group.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8LZzVPxPBCboeoRwEP0VC30wT6e58T_-ZA1CZZKdKBmjyS3fxrQbzpRupbXP5hFJG12cRa93_fND9Px0tsMZ2u3Qj1LkMY_U56Vd1rKW5zNqT-MVX-OdqO_euK1hqqF3LRJ9v0QF4Ug/s1600/marianne+testa+group.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPR_iblY4oXVbWz5vTTtDDHxbJH0sbTwAvFQmpoWRN0cawngQwhhgWOe3_HHdJpagVP7sOemMkcgBUtsz8mlfugc2sBuMEj1yn9SbFcWCI0id8NC6ex2nRIk7t4pXqOY2SBEo0fZ-QpI/s1600/Guests+at+tas-salut+agro+biodiversity.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPR_iblY4oXVbWz5vTTtDDHxbJH0sbTwAvFQmpoWRN0cawngQwhhgWOe3_HHdJpagVP7sOemMkcgBUtsz8mlfugc2sBuMEj1yn9SbFcWCI0id8NC6ex2nRIk7t4pXqOY2SBEo0fZ-QpI/s1600/Guests+at+tas-salut+agro+biodiversity.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7cYnS6DK-NtMIsru02Lpmd5dWe_vF4l8DvxSOyLcF7qfMZAAR3rPg_TXkIVo-T9WkxnCrD6KkY0O6ZbC3oKiL7CYe8Pu4Spq1l1jxxmvO3YYE4yNxfxAS8i7KRdeHQA0En4MrCpsPYo/s1600/582477_269254136536423_442065366_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7cYnS6DK-NtMIsru02Lpmd5dWe_vF4l8DvxSOyLcF7qfMZAAR3rPg_TXkIVo-T9WkxnCrD6KkY0O6ZbC3oKiL7CYe8Pu4Spq1l1jxxmvO3YYE4yNxfxAS8i7KRdeHQA0En4MrCpsPYo/s1600/582477_269254136536423_442065366_n.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-Uug6S3Grnlo%2FU4MVLRmXqpI%2FAAAAAAAADKk%2FmOSkuxLpiMc%2Fs1600%2FGuests%2Bat%2Btas-salut%2Bagro%2Bbiodiversity.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUPR_iblY4oXVbWz5vTTtDDHxbJH0sbTwAvFQmpoWRN0cawngQwhhgWOe3_HHdJpagVP7sOemMkcgBUtsz8mlfugc2sBuMEj1yn9SbFcWCI0id8NC6ex2nRIk7t4pXqOY2SBEo0fZ-QpI/s1600/Guests+at+tas-salut+agro+biodiversity.JPG" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-XpKT4GBc8N8%2FU4MXKBnQqAI%2FAAAAAAAADK8%2FymxKgDJ4-ec%2Fs1600%2F1010202_638828389496680_30368224_n.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAsAMzah79W99CZMWkcb4XZVYlrlcJR_XUSxDte6Xnyo388q9qh7hZEcxdMG_GBfUFBo4an6Uqb4js0lo4MLZsWjz7bZWl_IIx_pgNul5PpDLwnbfQlSN7iWuTmleI_Tm4HwDzRzPwvs/s1600/1010202_638828389496680_30368224_n.jpg" -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-86783950700759808492014-05-21T22:25:00.001+02:002014-05-21T23:11:27.167+02:00Eight members within the Merill Rural Network visit Sardegna<div class="pane-title">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Earlier this month, 8 members within the Merill Rural Network joined other local artisans and farmers in Santadi, Sardgna for the <a href="http://www.galsulcisiglesiente.it/cooperazione/simposio-delle-identita-rurali" target="_blank">Simposio delle identita rurali.</a></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7Le7eMye-6O3omtWMTPlLW-4IBJAU9Uw5L9x2Z8m2A5-go4Ny1ZeyqbIjnjhD76GQtFqSgoaMb1xs9mRZVR7QG3LdIXAt8juzZJ6nC0NaKtGBDmpC5RS3sBkp4POKzzu4m7NxbZzsEs/s1600/antoine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7Le7eMye-6O3omtWMTPlLW-4IBJAU9Uw5L9x2Z8m2A5-go4Ny1ZeyqbIjnjhD76GQtFqSgoaMb1xs9mRZVR7QG3LdIXAt8juzZJ6nC0NaKtGBDmpC5RS3sBkp4POKzzu4m7NxbZzsEs/s1600/antoine.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntoinetanNewl" target="_blank">Antoine tan-Newl</a> (weaving)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R3G_bdIpTh8lPECXMd2WpqzKaF-aw2KjrHJZ5ouWihD6QEyEjv3ygrl754ccM7BHisxk0zr7A7NBw3kP_apfiqLuOypquTd-QH7jB2HTkVcdBvp6nHff4dKC8OAypf2jLWkmRa2TJTU/s1600/mario,+zaren,+doris,+george.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R3G_bdIpTh8lPECXMd2WpqzKaF-aw2KjrHJZ5ouWihD6QEyEjv3ygrl754ccM7BHisxk0zr7A7NBw3kP_apfiqLuOypquTd-QH7jB2HTkVcdBvp6nHff4dKC8OAypf2jLWkmRa2TJTU/s1600/mario,+zaren,+doris,+george.jpg" height="297" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DarmaninSaltPans" target="_blank">Zaren</a>, Doris, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/georgefarrugia.art" target="_blank">George </a>and Mario (artist and sea salt harvesting)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRRmrYtXTP250bFmoxdaQJxpadHhsRkmeoCGPB_edWUbvTtRToGXc9D-iFyn0VG8_6w4mRwGqd3Ddtl4QekmyI1erLeVReGQplevqVP-K5AkhBvwaoyfrJShoWOBe_tvPtWcGGDfUUn8/s1600/tessie+doreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRRmrYtXTP250bFmoxdaQJxpadHhsRkmeoCGPB_edWUbvTtRToGXc9D-iFyn0VG8_6w4mRwGqd3Ddtl4QekmyI1erLeVReGQplevqVP-K5AkhBvwaoyfrJShoWOBe_tvPtWcGGDfUUn8/s1600/tessie+doreen.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tessie and Doreen (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/nixxieghaolivegrove" target="_blank">Maltese local products</a> and weaving)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjjjepcYI_7JNX2lCP0Mtc4i6aWGz0PFwU2kXYPpkrKlTecTPaMk50jxcC_HtWItontrIOSFXsZOeB4Q2EMRKicp_ojxEBP_nJSbDgZ9WHNIXi5E8tBJO5fDd7bCSTWNOCTSTt8lIXhM/s1600/steph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjjjepcYI_7JNX2lCP0Mtc4i6aWGz0PFwU2kXYPpkrKlTecTPaMk50jxcC_HtWItontrIOSFXsZOeB4Q2EMRKicp_ojxEBP_nJSbDgZ9WHNIXi5E8tBJO5fDd7bCSTWNOCTSTt8lIXhM/s1600/steph.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steph (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/merill.local.products" target="_blank">Merill</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> The experience was made possible thanks to the <a href="http://www.leadermajjistral.eu/" target="_blank">Majjistral </a>and <a href="http://www.galxlokk.com/" target="_blank">Xlokk </a>Local Action Groups.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVexM-svKso31ZWaor8fLWFoYKNllQ5huueI2BS0x583wW-iGeqReenyNJHhSpsq1wPLzCwJMxRpZ51F6VnTyQD-Y_Ybf24h51_hqkMX_6SCKaLYYy1Fcv-4hQ_Bez7AASGFnpmHswC4/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVexM-svKso31ZWaor8fLWFoYKNllQ5huueI2BS0x583wW-iGeqReenyNJHhSpsq1wPLzCwJMxRpZ51F6VnTyQD-Y_Ybf24h51_hqkMX_6SCKaLYYy1Fcv-4hQ_Bez7AASGFnpmHswC4/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZdExYf__b3pIsGoXquzLYFe8NmDYNT_Iy45EU4dCLHGX9on1F4l_DcHiaFtk2f-Jh-Vq3M9aJMhhBO6wvorEwFjVYxWZLl6Q1YZrqRai99CerD6iCUXAnta0nlDTGjPz1jW7d9unPuo/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZdExYf__b3pIsGoXquzLYFe8NmDYNT_Iy45EU4dCLHGX9on1F4l_DcHiaFtk2f-Jh-Vq3M9aJMhhBO6wvorEwFjVYxWZLl6Q1YZrqRai99CerD6iCUXAnta0nlDTGjPz1jW7d9unPuo/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyduuDKLVQiJkMv8fhNexpCbZxVPX2-rsjW2OwSmmTUgSJNCTtZzTPSx-Kitp_o-JLhsu7Z0R1Fh0I966QIep9gqCyz-hQcjdFJ3qChNJ86t4hYBU7g7Ozl7qP9801vCvJP40BCkoxGE/s1600/IMG_3358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyduuDKLVQiJkMv8fhNexpCbZxVPX2-rsjW2OwSmmTUgSJNCTtZzTPSx-Kitp_o-JLhsu7Z0R1Fh0I966QIep9gqCyz-hQcjdFJ3qChNJ86t4hYBU7g7Ozl7qP9801vCvJP40BCkoxGE/s1600/IMG_3358.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmcmdVELhaEUAC2bfPhqHPRyTYjTzUOV4JRtxGyt00UrKV8hqsHvWSRKAajZeOkoLrXo1RzA5IJ4GvzAGTNxzgPwxp61SMDn-U_nTu2Ax9XIpwm4qbsBq8Fb4AFiiV5pDuM9Cfvcw_Bs/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmcmdVELhaEUAC2bfPhqHPRyTYjTzUOV4JRtxGyt00UrKV8hqsHvWSRKAajZeOkoLrXo1RzA5IJ4GvzAGTNxzgPwxp61SMDn-U_nTu2Ax9XIpwm4qbsBq8Fb4AFiiV5pDuM9Cfvcw_Bs/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf-3SmRC0kz1kp-D-OzdVBXs7zCrnrwMCSASvAtkeGR4RqtcPgMaL1_ekSDA1gLjALzN0sqnJ-rmvrbMLspu-NOPhMen2kN54bKuJ1xIxcwoD4wyQD5jeU6K0qjteVkvrxbE6qVuQaKA/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcf-3SmRC0kz1kp-D-OzdVBXs7zCrnrwMCSASvAtkeGR4RqtcPgMaL1_ekSDA1gLjALzN0sqnJ-rmvrbMLspu-NOPhMen2kN54bKuJ1xIxcwoD4wyQD5jeU6K0qjteVkvrxbE6qVuQaKA/s1600/IMG_3404.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhg8hHolMANi0choGVcXGJQ5BaLKoC3XQBXU5OkZUhF0xh62Rz9wQ5q26BAkqRGbdyWb5BVxtlTMqz3c-1I2WC-BaDmbUmd_hqhYccGQZWUBu8qoT7VncbvpyKfEShXcFkUsTYMqJRes/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhg8hHolMANi0choGVcXGJQ5BaLKoC3XQBXU5OkZUhF0xh62Rz9wQ5q26BAkqRGbdyWb5BVxtlTMqz3c-1I2WC-BaDmbUmd_hqhYccGQZWUBu8qoT7VncbvpyKfEShXcFkUsTYMqJRes/s1600/IMG_3405.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3961K7aeCT8Y5dK4FaVH-j_uM7_PzUSUW1Ei0n77m_0GcNDVFfNZlT-T3J7fcRVoUH__OFGny_iOD6HRCGAEdjkL_WJuj63RjK3gUbL1uBDX8K4lIw-Dh0R_F7P6XLdedC3CWxaIjog/s1600/IMG_3409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3961K7aeCT8Y5dK4FaVH-j_uM7_PzUSUW1Ei0n77m_0GcNDVFfNZlT-T3J7fcRVoUH__OFGny_iOD6HRCGAEdjkL_WJuj63RjK3gUbL1uBDX8K4lIw-Dh0R_F7P6XLdedC3CWxaIjog/s1600/IMG_3409.JPG" height="320" width="202" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81DhojyIK72Sw84CE2qrob4mUujLwvs37dANgV0vUp9tCnhL-SKM8gpNVzEKM0SCGERk-lYw5l-e4bWjP2WnRQT653JcAVU4VHKbiSQWQWfTL5HN4Q6Gha6tt9o31WUueQB5BAjrgxJs/s1600/IMG_3412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81DhojyIK72Sw84CE2qrob4mUujLwvs37dANgV0vUp9tCnhL-SKM8gpNVzEKM0SCGERk-lYw5l-e4bWjP2WnRQT653JcAVU4VHKbiSQWQWfTL5HN4Q6Gha6tt9o31WUueQB5BAjrgxJs/s1600/IMG_3412.JPG" height="129" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynlosFyQwnWy-raF9V66all9Xj6JqMCoPZq74j8TdcjC-cXors8Tqv2Y_blwbPE78hm9WhLmxanGW6Oh-hLx0ti2zwVLcm0q-liXNYuP4rsLoh0di4rE0xQKR0bFYtvXbzdQ5iXD4c0s/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynlosFyQwnWy-raF9V66all9Xj6JqMCoPZq74j8TdcjC-cXors8Tqv2Y_blwbPE78hm9WhLmxanGW6Oh-hLx0ti2zwVLcm0q-liXNYuP4rsLoh0di4rE0xQKR0bFYtvXbzdQ5iXD4c0s/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHmu8eIyGQ9F6pMuxyNQQmg3ILopVeFjmh4SnDLiR9LmaEFPEb4d8g1vHgp8vziiFzkS6sgWLHi7i1yZ53io0J5TaK_35HFhp-ITr144WB4FuwVcbPLLUxPWgi76fbpgtMvnOjiw_-Ok/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHmu8eIyGQ9F6pMuxyNQQmg3ILopVeFjmh4SnDLiR9LmaEFPEb4d8g1vHgp8vziiFzkS6sgWLHi7i1yZ53io0J5TaK_35HFhp-ITr144WB4FuwVcbPLLUxPWgi76fbpgtMvnOjiw_-Ok/s1600/IMG_3468.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGJ22RX7GXH_kKA09s9qss1pco0WGWO-C5tNNtwY-G1OlUFCU2RipQ4MYe80iHLEUHclE549ICEfYiuG4PGlX2qZVRJzkww2iAl8OhW96aBPtVM71LunTlAdKOnTiLHHBjY_hUNYsG8o/s1600/Zaren+demonstration+with+kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGJ22RX7GXH_kKA09s9qss1pco0WGWO-C5tNNtwY-G1OlUFCU2RipQ4MYe80iHLEUHclE549ICEfYiuG4PGlX2qZVRJzkww2iAl8OhW96aBPtVM71LunTlAdKOnTiLHHBjY_hUNYsG8o/s1600/Zaren+demonstration+with+kids.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgInVc8QkqiihPD7lTsH6dKNEy7ywY2U2NKxVPv30zQxkWTUtT4LD_6Od8MtykEm5bFyllkJ6N32Y_WUy9oeM6n1_tCHLuSyV16IlH2ntdtmxF2wGQ5o75mX5_wX6VADHGbL7DG0uVFY/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgInVc8QkqiihPD7lTsH6dKNEy7ywY2U2NKxVPv30zQxkWTUtT4LD_6Od8MtykEm5bFyllkJ6N32Y_WUy9oeM6n1_tCHLuSyV16IlH2ntdtmxF2wGQ5o75mX5_wX6VADHGbL7DG0uVFY/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />C. Borghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539628619560793349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-81102267872101643572014-03-10T00:18:00.000+01:002016-01-27T17:07:01.972+01:00Her Excellency Ms. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley and her guests on a rural tour with Merill<div style="text-align: justify;">
In February we had the pleasure to host the US Ambassador to Malta Her Excellency Ms. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley and her guests on a rural tour. Here are some photos from the visit.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzySvUgtomi9HiqRh4UJ2aInVuUERsrJ17LCh6UM9jzWSzo5TMFHEFYyIwaN6UdFJwt4ZhCJ2xH1DafgCtgRqzSuyHV9DpoRq8msLuW8hOLxgur1BaZ9QBrF2xfZACi6VzXijvTZSqMU/s1600/Ambassador+Gina+Abercrombie-Winstanley+and+guests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZzySvUgtomi9HiqRh4UJ2aInVuUERsrJ17LCh6UM9jzWSzo5TMFHEFYyIwaN6UdFJwt4ZhCJ2xH1DafgCtgRqzSuyHV9DpoRq8msLuW8hOLxgur1BaZ9QBrF2xfZACi6VzXijvTZSqMU/s1600/Ambassador+Gina+Abercrombie-Winstanley+and+guests.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a chat at Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUq-_HmWaspgXDireJPoBKykoMD1kVsPHR7QLRsb2GXw77httZRMyH2VWs98cETIw-72xsNQRQD8SQZ7_wSF14Ut9gOW4Zjqz5ndcwQeZbI6ubYZQrLW1cEfhfJuw0ShXe06cQ4n1Ewn8/s1600/Ambassador+Gina+Abercrombie-Winstanley+and+Richard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUq-_HmWaspgXDireJPoBKykoMD1kVsPHR7QLRsb2GXw77httZRMyH2VWs98cETIw-72xsNQRQD8SQZ7_wSF14Ut9gOW4Zjqz5ndcwQeZbI6ubYZQrLW1cEfhfJuw0ShXe06cQ4n1Ewn8/s1600/Ambassador+Gina+Abercrombie-Winstanley+and+Richard.jpg" width="397" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time to taste some delicacies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J2AzTtBW_0rfaF0vj5bp7QfnEpi_NMOob1Dml9ilkmIkDmxYrtshoWMdi6DBg487QPepuH-yk0IzfBiOagbukHHOWe1AOimhbOl8yWFnbJ76o-1Hv4o2F7e4ntaVZA3hmkfvGWFiST_A/s1600/Gina+with+Bella,+chully,+and+tessie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8J2AzTtBW_0rfaF0vj5bp7QfnEpi_NMOob1Dml9ilkmIkDmxYrtshoWMdi6DBg487QPepuH-yk0IzfBiOagbukHHOWe1AOimhbOl8yWFnbJ76o-1Hv4o2F7e4ntaVZA3hmkfvGWFiST_A/s1600/Gina+with+Bella,+chully,+and+tessie.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right - Ms. Tess Gauci, Her Excellency Ms. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, <br />
Mr. Chully Vella and Mrs Isabella Vella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjoa7aBxO8FNJphp2F_2be786zcYpS_GCOErZmt14h8jSui7JsEDFGAMxOQj9nSE9EuMukyd40gLUucLC2CE8n2a5Ixtg30iAZLiJqR1udVgmPz5ZU8RZdABaHI6KHoONC8FcN7fCtZL0/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjoa7aBxO8FNJphp2F_2be786zcYpS_GCOErZmt14h8jSui7JsEDFGAMxOQj9nSE9EuMukyd40gLUucLC2CE8n2a5Ixtg30iAZLiJqR1udVgmPz5ZU8RZdABaHI6KHoONC8FcN7fCtZL0/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guests at Mr. Antoine Vella's weaving workshop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WLQw-lSleVSVT-IkaiVgQyPz3MMcGoXBN8RP3W7cR0fruY1ddMDRe6vwWY5qkKVIAL1p8DRy2hpCsFb7wvL82EJEpTy04JdwG-j0TxYVYAWsPUlIWqFZz7yuDo79fnCzyWDs5Zy9m0FS/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WLQw-lSleVSVT-IkaiVgQyPz3MMcGoXBN8RP3W7cR0fruY1ddMDRe6vwWY5qkKVIAL1p8DRy2hpCsFb7wvL82EJEpTy04JdwG-j0TxYVYAWsPUlIWqFZz7yuDo79fnCzyWDs5Zy9m0FS/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr Antoine Vella explaining the tricks of the trade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNifPghqtDzRVF2e0tj2iFqrTTOnZKRibMg2y64xcunzx0h_foLuwMq0dHoSdAD2Q9AXqYLDu0qtkxluAZBHJunCLMC3G0L7_fNINz98oQlFuMhhYeisYMdYzENjEbio9InTZ8ZlxtxYL/s1600/Display+local+products.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNifPghqtDzRVF2e0tj2iFqrTTOnZKRibMg2y64xcunzx0h_foLuwMq0dHoSdAD2Q9AXqYLDu0qtkxluAZBHJunCLMC3G0L7_fNINz98oQlFuMhhYeisYMdYzENjEbio9InTZ8ZlxtxYL/s1600/Display+local+products.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merill Local Products display</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79ATBqBFNhvJ08mIhyphenhyphenh2ULpgpPDhLwqoigccb7gxnvRRbtew1BVollbKli6IMTX9NgHenFQnuCPEc2b1S5R_2C-PjQYZIjjC933E1g3xJRn_Yj9fVDTmB3wwyCqp2A40qhvxLg-J8r3r/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX79ATBqBFNhvJ08mIhyphenhyphenh2ULpgpPDhLwqoigccb7gxnvRRbtew1BVollbKli6IMTX9NgHenFQnuCPEc2b1S5R_2C-PjQYZIjjC933E1g3xJRn_Yj9fVDTmB3wwyCqp2A40qhvxLg-J8r3r/s1600/IMG_3260.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying traditional coffee </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqzPhweK4E_fkmklZoc0RbfyOjcvErkc-lro5aA3FrDQcI2QdIAzSzOUQ_190V1mGSy5eoUybUI4bBiJXjQ6-MNAvUuNVZ865DS_y4HGTthuXe0OCODFfXHt1Aw0mcSv4USeDAt2-jHAw/s1600/Gina's+review.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqzPhweK4E_fkmklZoc0RbfyOjcvErkc-lro5aA3FrDQcI2QdIAzSzOUQ_190V1mGSy5eoUybUI4bBiJXjQ6-MNAvUuNVZ865DS_y4HGTthuXe0OCODFfXHt1Aw0mcSv4USeDAt2-jHAw/s1600/Gina's+review.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7iCEotmed6CiJNexo4D9lOwL7MZntUirNQU5hydHq6TaZR8022V2pACEaJdB5R6AnB8QK2xXllla1qJ1omlybYtoqjeRUYBW3hwIlGvby-8P2nwM74yK_LO9Yiitd72keBku319mTrzE/s1600/Denise's+review.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7iCEotmed6CiJNexo4D9lOwL7MZntUirNQU5hydHq6TaZR8022V2pACEaJdB5R6AnB8QK2xXllla1qJ1omlybYtoqjeRUYBW3hwIlGvby-8P2nwM74yK_LO9Yiitd72keBku319mTrzE/s1600/Denise's+review.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://beyondthecornfields.blogspot.com/2014/02/merill-eco-tours.html" target="_blank">Click here</a> to have a look at the blog post written by Denise, one of the guest attending the trip.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
For more details about rural tours drop us a line on <a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt">info@merill.com.mt</a><br />
<a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt"><br /></a>
<a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt"><br /></a>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience </a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">every Sunday morning!</a></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-90365201347685689362014-02-18T15:08:00.000+01:002016-01-27T17:51:20.240+01:00L'agritourisme à Malte vu par une étrangère <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX1iA6njSPEAqhGjQ0zdlJayjnaeBCIaxxWRgLzTcTwkqKO4Q0oQ2C-kq5JepU-xlND-5JDDkjkWulhE_YQ99XavxIvjvp0GJsSpMf3vfNLWCus1zeEHRs28FaA9xnhHRWMheoooJzDZs/s1600/Capucin+with+strawberries.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX1iA6njSPEAqhGjQ0zdlJayjnaeBCIaxxWRgLzTcTwkqKO4Q0oQ2C-kq5JepU-xlND-5JDDkjkWulhE_YQ99XavxIvjvp0GJsSpMf3vfNLWCus1zeEHRs28FaA9xnhHRWMheoooJzDZs/s1600/Capucin+with+strawberries.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capucine avec les fraises Maltaises</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Splendide île au cœur de la Méditerranée caractérisée
par le soleil, la mer, le sable, une riche histoire, une culture passionnante
et des personnes amicales… Voici les premières choses qui viennent à l’esprit
de quelqu’un qui parle des îles maltaises. Ce n’est pas pour rien que Malte,
ainsi que son île sœur Gozo, attirent des milliers de touristes chaque année
pour des vacances exceptionnelles. Chaque visiteur qui vient à Malte est à la
recherche de soleil, de relaxation et de calme ; ou, s’il s’agit de la
jeune génération, de la vie nocturne et des activités de loisirs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Mais Malte a beaucoup plus à offrir ! Tout n’est
pas que plages, soleil et culture… Il existe un visage de Malte que l’on
connait moins…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">En tant qu’étrangère je peux dire avec assurance que
l’agritourisme à Malte est quelque chose d’unique. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span lang="FR">« L’agritourisme
est une forme de tourisme dont l'objet est la découverte des savoir-faire
agricoles d'un territoire, et par extension des paysages, des pratiques
sociales et des spécialités culinaires découlant de l'agriculture. »<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Il permet de découvrir les côtés cachés de l’île,
apporte une expérience de vie inégalable à ceux qui participent aux excursions.
La meilleure manière de connaître un pays est de découvrir les traditions, les
anciennes habitudes, de déguster les saveurs locales et de boire les boissons
traditionnelles. L’agriculture locale ancestrale et certaines traditions
persistent toujours. La petite partie de la communauté qui travaille toujours
dans les champs a gardé les habitudes et le mode de vie ruraux. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Les produits frais qu’ils cultivent sont les meilleurs
que l’on puisse déguster. L’accueil extrêmement amical des familles qui
travaillent dans les fermes vous fait vous sentir chez vous et les petits
déjeuners ou déjeuners servis vous laissent des moments mémorables que vous
n’oublierez jamais. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">En discutant avec les fermiers vous pourrez connaître la
vie de la famille ainsi que les anciennes manières de cultiver. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">S’asseoir au grand air, profiter du soleil, admirer les
paysages à couper le souffle, déguster les produits frais et fait-maison - tels
que les tomates séchées, les olives, les confitures, l’huile d’olive vierge
extra, les vins locaux - est un moment inestimable. Cela vous donne
l’impression que pour un cours instant vous êtes, vous aussi, un membre de cette
famille et que vous appartenez à ce pays extraordinaire. La « Malte
rurale » a énormément à offrir, pour les touristes comme pour les locaux.
C’est le meilleur moyen de s’évader du quotidien et de connaître un pays ou de
redécouvrir ses trésors cachés. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Culture, traditions et cuisine locale sont ainsi réunies
pour offrir le meilleur de ces îles<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4932131398975112126" name="_GoBack"></a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Après avoir visité un vignoble, une oliveraie et les
paysages alentours des exploitations agricoles, je pense vraiment que c’est une
expérience que tout le monde doit vivre. Cette autre vision de Malte est
passionnante et éducative ; elle contribue à préserver les anciennes
traditions agricoles et à faire vivre la communauté locale. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Venez découvrir la « Malte rurale » ! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Capucine</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Pour plus d’informations sur la large gamme d’activités
que nous proposons, vous pouvez visiter notre site internet <a href="http://www.merillecotours.com/">www.merillecotours.com</a> ou nous
contacter par mail à <a href="mailto:info@merillecotours.com">info@merillecotours.com</a></span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.36px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: orange;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 15.36px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dégustation et découverte de l'huile d'olive vierge extra tous </span></b></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="line-height: 15.36px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;">les </a></span></b><b style="line-height: 15.36px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;">dimanches matin !</a></span></b></div>
</span></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-53762063291624706822014-02-16T19:34:00.004+01:002014-02-16T19:35:57.382+01:00Sentez le pain frais cuit au four de Hal Qormi<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 154.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixU8MR-e49UYJmZ4D4evbV7d3CAXDHFrfSeB8r9MHHcBs9TOzHQEBdYMSoZmLQvcmv4d5kDOpnHDRfnZtR7zUpfT9Iy6YPgx9eaSvZOuWyQgcTRzgPrnr8xe-tPinlmDJwCxmPqzM48oF/s1600/bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixU8MR-e49UYJmZ4D4evbV7d3CAXDHFrfSeB8r9MHHcBs9TOzHQEBdYMSoZmLQvcmv4d5kDOpnHDRfnZtR7zUpfT9Iy6YPgx9eaSvZOuWyQgcTRzgPrnr8xe-tPinlmDJwCxmPqzM48oF/s1600/bread.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a><span lang="FR">Comme tous les jours, je marchais dans
le village de Hal Qormi ce matin, pour acheter du pain frais. Plus tôt dans la
matinée, la plupart des villageois font leurs courses, d’autres font leurs tâches
quotidiennes, et certains profitent d’une tasse de café en parlant avec leurs
voisins. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 154.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">L’odeur du pain frais cuit au four est
tout simplement incroyable ici. Le soleil se levant, le village s’anime quand
les étals du marché s’installent autour de l’église paroissiale Saint
Sébastien. Le village est encore plus animé aux environs de midi quand les
habitants d’autres villages viennent acheter leurs produits frais sur le
marché.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Hal Qormi est connue pour être le
« Village du Pain ». C’est encore d’actualité aujourd’hui puisqu’il
possède le plus grand nombre de boulangeries en activité, dont certaines sont
âgées de plusieurs siècles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Qui y a-t-il donc de si spécial avec
ce pain ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Le pain traditionnel Maltais est
caractérisé par une croustillante croûte et une mie délicate. Le goût est
particulier étant donné que la pâte est pétrie et lève au repos. Un simple
morceau de pain peut aisément devenir un délicieux repas en y ajoutant de l’huile
d’olive, des tomates, des olives, des câpres, du sel et du poivre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Les touristes me demandent
souvent : « comment les boulangeries traditionnelles survivent-elles
face à l’industrie ? ».<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Et bien cela est possible grâce aux
Maltais qui choisissent d’acheter du pain frais du jour, soutenant ainsi les
traditions locales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Après avoir visiter Hal Qormi et
d’autres villages des îles Maltaises, vous réaliserez qu’il n’y a pas que la
mer et le soleil, les resorts et la vie nocturne… il y a bien plus à découvrir ici
!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 48.65pt; text-align: justify;">
Que vous décidiez de séjourner dans un
hôtel à St Julian’s, ou que vous louiez une maison loin du front de mer, ces
charmants villages ne sont pas à plus de 20 minutes en voiture de vous.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrN9QHsahNqJT7h4bAa2CociQu7BQUtPSZxDEjSCacLL3Uoe9PXWd3wB726H1i1ykTRqpLOaRJl_svDPf40gtNvbb3l-q6S1l4NbcyEJM4Au3DkXMIRt4p9sMF4_Bn141QBBlw5nsK72s/s1600/pastizzi+qormi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrN9QHsahNqJT7h4bAa2CociQu7BQUtPSZxDEjSCacLL3Uoe9PXWd3wB726H1i1ykTRqpLOaRJl_svDPf40gtNvbb3l-q6S1l4NbcyEJM4Au3DkXMIRt4p9sMF4_Bn141QBBlw5nsK72s/s1600/pastizzi+qormi.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span lang="FR">Pour partager ces expériences avec nous, n’hésitez pas à
nous écrire à info@merillecotours.com, ou à visiter notre site internet pour
plus de détails. Nous offrons une grande variété d’excursions pour les familles
et les couples ainsi que pour les groupes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Un de nos guides locaux pourra venir vous chercher là où
vous résidez et vous guidez à travers tous ces trésors cachés de Malte et Gozo.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; tab-stops: 154.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Saħħa għalikem
(Bien à <span lang="FR">vous</span>)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="FR">Jeanette. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-32714517698138323202014-02-11T16:13:00.000+01:002016-04-12T14:01:27.837+02:00Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tasting in MaltaHello Merill fans,<br />
<br />
Enjoy the clip featuring olive oil tasting at Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove locating in Mgarr, Malta!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ajLEX4Bv8Xc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Sahha!<br />
<br />
Jeanette<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">every Sunday morning!</a></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-88599085614507263402014-01-24T21:53:00.000+01:002014-01-24T22:05:30.613+01:00Maltese Breakfast with a Difference<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqM09D5ej5giAhqFcirO_BwS89RZICOmQBkeOS1a0xhQUFYYzkcrf0L643pmem9LWQ2x5h1Rig0stibv1XqTDCTVH0YY4GeGv-RI2UYJK8jjdzOMpown-fmfUV5lco7pJWGtD3ect3rLkK/s1600/Orange+marmalade+on+bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqM09D5ej5giAhqFcirO_BwS89RZICOmQBkeOS1a0xhQUFYYzkcrf0L643pmem9LWQ2x5h1Rig0stibv1XqTDCTVH0YY4GeGv-RI2UYJK8jjdzOMpown-fmfUV5lco7pJWGtD3ect3rLkK/s1600/Orange+marmalade+on+bread.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orange marmalade spread on bread</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVDkjwiId-wa1f9g8aPeZawTe9hKAyu1Uc-JsfktqYjYmdeu0Fq47e12gHvoeUY10zPKvwyl3a7ZHCJ9bmj2PgBXq8tuz2Dd0KZ9zXIxQSqh6i6SLKUNbhXxQtCTaSbe97BD2klKlXzo4/s1600/olive+oil+kunserva+olives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVDkjwiId-wa1f9g8aPeZawTe9hKAyu1Uc-JsfktqYjYmdeu0Fq47e12gHvoeUY10zPKvwyl3a7ZHCJ9bmj2PgBXq8tuz2Dd0KZ9zXIxQSqh6i6SLKUNbhXxQtCTaSbe97BD2klKlXzo4/s1600/olive+oil+kunserva+olives.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extra Virgin olive oil and Olives</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0A9k8vLqEbDLbA1cU0_3K2bii3fp1ka1Bcaox7UDIRhERDF1OFd8AAUN8nOAOh2Fxpg7ywXsTcd8xhizHdSsSM1EDuxDtjTdsDwBMs7cSWXWuryTgE97jxL0uJbWWNfuToW3t1mQlS_/s1600/Olive+oil,+honey,+mint,+bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnp0A9k8vLqEbDLbA1cU0_3K2bii3fp1ka1Bcaox7UDIRhERDF1OFd8AAUN8nOAOh2Fxpg7ywXsTcd8xhizHdSsSM1EDuxDtjTdsDwBMs7cSWXWuryTgE97jxL0uJbWWNfuToW3t1mQlS_/s1600/Olive+oil,+honey,+mint,+bread.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive oil and mint on crispy local bread<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For more info about eco and agri tours, farm visits, and tasting sessions drop me a line on <a href="mailto:jeanette@merill.com.mt">jeanette@merill.com.mt</a> or visit our website <a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/">www.merill.com.mt</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-28082041972221894182013-11-03T19:10:00.002+01:002017-09-30T21:17:41.610+02:00Maltese Olive Oil...a perfect ingredient for delicious Mediterranean foods<br />
<br />
Hello Merill fans,<br />
<br />
Hope you're doing all feeling super. This week we experienced some thundery rain showers in the Malta and this will turn our countryside back to green. Gozo is already beaming with beauty. The trees look fresh filling the air with a relaxing atmosphere. Almost all the olives have been harvested and pressed, now ready to be decanted for the first time. The air feels much cooler and this is a blessing for us who are outdoors most of the time. It was about time to say good bye to the very warm temperatures that accompanied us during our experiences for the past months.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jo1B8l1FRvGitYp5uTwQhWusnanWHu7AyjZW4w38SEIpuireWXoRUaQnOvaFpkyF_hysT_D4FrndSiciHkqzEPby5mcoehTbNbWeOoqSf8OkSGKWcr2sX_GP4UcA2ah6m7GXrnk8N8KR/s1600/Pouring+Olive+Oil+in+bebbuxu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jo1B8l1FRvGitYp5uTwQhWusnanWHu7AyjZW4w38SEIpuireWXoRUaQnOvaFpkyF_hysT_D4FrndSiciHkqzEPby5mcoehTbNbWeOoqSf8OkSGKWcr2sX_GP4UcA2ah6m7GXrnk8N8KR/s320/Pouring+Olive+Oil+in+bebbuxu.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maltese Olive oil direct from our farmers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<br />
Coming back to olive oil. Maltese extra virgin olive oil has been classified to be one of the best in the world and we're so proud about that. It's a healthier option to butter and has a myriad of healthy ingredients.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whether you're just a couple or a group of family, friends and colleagues, you may organise a tasting session with us to discover the health benefits and mouth watering food options. Feel free to drop us a line on <a href="mailto:info@merillecotours.com">info@merillecotours.com</a> for more details :)<br />
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sahha (good health)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Jeanette<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience</a></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Shared tour</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/evoo" target="_blank">Every Tuesday!</a></b></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-60604428161231232262013-11-03T15:16:00.000+01:002016-01-27T17:53:10.091+01:00L Huile d Olive Maltaise... un ingrédient parfait pour la délicieuse cuisine méditerranéenne<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<span class="s2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Bonjour à tous nos fans,</span></div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">Nous espérons que tout va bien</span><span class="s2">. Cette semaine nous avons eu beaucoup d’orages et de pluie à Malte </span><span class="s2">ce </span><span class="s2">qui va </span><span class="s2">contribuer à rendre nos paysages</span><span class="s2"> plus verts. Gozo verdit</span><span class="s2"> déjà</span><span class="s2">. </span><span class="s2">Les arbres respire</span><span class="s2">nt</span><span class="s2"> le grand air dans cette atmosphère relaxante. Presque toutes les olives ont été récoltées et pressées, prêtes à être décantées. </span><span class="s2">L’ai</span><span class="s2">r</span><span class="s2"> est plus doux</span><span class="s2">,</span><span class="s2"> ce qui est très agréable pour nous qui sommes dehors la plupart du temps. </span><span class="s2">Il était temps de dire au revoir aux températures élevées qui nous ont accompagnées ces derniers mois.</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB96NmmCpWDRn8_i5gyJprfzFgVeIcuke9NPKIJq9W75azwHltc6glWEzQF2DdprX0h8mIDGjHfdSBohBj9iSKL504EhmMrPxQZOsshE_tV8KwnVrnt9qer2-E3JHRc_yW6WGL3_fpQI/s1600/Pouring+Olive+Oil+in+bebbuxu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB96NmmCpWDRn8_i5gyJprfzFgVeIcuke9NPKIJq9W75azwHltc6glWEzQF2DdprX0h8mIDGjHfdSBohBj9iSKL504EhmMrPxQZOsshE_tV8KwnVrnt9qer2-E3JHRc_yW6WGL3_fpQI/s1600/Pouring+Olive+Oil+in+bebbuxu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">Revenons</span><span class="s2">-en à l’</span><span class="s2">huile d’olive. L’huile d’olive Vierge E</span><span class="s2">xtra de Malte a été </span><span class="s2">élue</span><span class="s2"> une des meilleures au monde et nous en sommes très fiers. C’est une alternative au beurre composée d’une ribambelle d’ingrédients très sains.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="s2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Que vous soyez un couple, un groupe, une famille, des amis ou des collègues, venez participer à une de nos dégustations pour saliver et découvrir les bienfaits et la qualité de nos produits.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="s5" style="text-align: start;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="s2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">N’hésitez pas à nous écrire à </span><span class="s2"><a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt">info@merill.com.mt</a> </span><span class="s2">pour plus de </span><span class="s2">détails.</span><span class="s2"></span></span></div>
<div class="s2">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="s2">Bien à </span><span class="s2">vous</span><span class="s2">,</span></span></div>
<div class="s2">
<span class="s2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jeanette.</span><br />
<span class="s2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; color: orange; line-height: 15.36px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<span style="line-height: 15.36px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: orange; line-height: 15.36px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Dégustation et découverte de l'huile d'olive vierge extra tous </span></b></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: orange; line-height: 15.36px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<br /></div>
<span class="s2" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: orange; line-height: 15.36px; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">
<b style="line-height: 15.36px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;">les </a></span></b><b style="line-height: 15.36px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr" style="line-height: 15.36px;">dimanches matin !</a></span></b></div>
</div>
C. Borghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10539628619560793349noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-42066010943724949912013-10-27T20:51:00.000+01:002016-01-27T17:09:48.062+01:00Olive Harvest at Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xNYiFL5f2P2FFh7IbReRx5KhjLm1FULMyyF-2tpFhvmBx1oqDc6sUayjJ1xpgDKhsaYt1t_s9cnFG0HFema0cXrySqxl1UAOZFSvz5UI0DocvUEKNYeXRTqndWPX8WYoE3B0cWbPgdli/s1600/chully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xNYiFL5f2P2FFh7IbReRx5KhjLm1FULMyyF-2tpFhvmBx1oqDc6sUayjJ1xpgDKhsaYt1t_s9cnFG0HFema0cXrySqxl1UAOZFSvz5UI0DocvUEKNYeXRTqndWPX8WYoE3B0cWbPgdli/s400/chully.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chully Harvesting olives at his grove - Photo by Christian Borg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r6p6ypktXEflogElydjPiUBM25nIKInpqrdOYYQEyDbiBRxw1ODEMyjnto2wcNBcTzAOlLuF95qkpaAv4QLrITEAt17lefa86R48B7wz89DQg8e8IjAObMxz1RAqIS_sMuXE8d7JfXQf/s1600/Olive+harvest+2013+-+1+rezised.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-r6p6ypktXEflogElydjPiUBM25nIKInpqrdOYYQEyDbiBRxw1ODEMyjnto2wcNBcTzAOlLuF95qkpaAv4QLrITEAt17lefa86R48B7wz89DQg8e8IjAObMxz1RAqIS_sMuXE8d7JfXQf/s400/Olive+harvest+2013+-+1+rezised.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hand picked olives from Tan-Nixxiegha Olive Grove - Photo by Christian Borg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp9Y6jpsAIBU3RmiN0PqSHixT5prhilgISZoW7ILhFQKLnI6M70szAI9j-_bnISeVjgFCHTVGhcfAZNnUNjBKzw6qWnmR-t25SJqYvGx8QKB-hrfjHN3TDv4Rkwsx3JenPHrAW-qd_Qcb/s1600/Jeanette.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxp9Y6jpsAIBU3RmiN0PqSHixT5prhilgISZoW7ILhFQKLnI6M70szAI9j-_bnISeVjgFCHTVGhcfAZNnUNjBKzw6qWnmR-t25SJqYvGx8QKB-hrfjHN3TDv4Rkwsx3JenPHrAW-qd_Qcb/s400/Jeanette.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeanette holding black olives - Photo by Christian Borg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
For more details about our Olive Grove Experience or our Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Contact us on <a href="mailto:info@merillecotours.com">info@merillecotours.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">Extra Virgin Olive Oil Experience </a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">NOW AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr"><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"></span></a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://merill.com.mt/extra-virgin-olive-oil-tasting-and-more-mgarr">every Sunday morning!</a></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-14246697569075579692013-10-19T19:29:00.001+02:002013-10-19T19:29:04.191+02:00Il-Gbejna - The Maltese Traditional Cheese<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkj-MVUQrae1yyilrW7YTQsKOY80yhU_FJ0lpfBZhJEnpL9arglsfKUFGi8QPbtBp0IG4MKW-QxKVZYKf40a_DfoVSFKESQMzbzDJU6eFSSCKbnFCBJIZMLkUglRHt6aKRY_NAPTm1OZW/s640/blogger-image-961577029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkj-MVUQrae1yyilrW7YTQsKOY80yhU_FJ0lpfBZhJEnpL9arglsfKUFGi8QPbtBp0IG4MKW-QxKVZYKf40a_DfoVSFKESQMzbzDJU6eFSSCKbnFCBJIZMLkUglRHt6aKRY_NAPTm1OZW/s640/blogger-image-961577029.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vZmQKQnb5ATAKD1K7quVKemptrhNAKuiba3oTS4QeeaVpWImsHh5AhN5XC4pytlwbkdRqDWc2zC7WDTJRQP2NZwpcU1Avs0dAkBvKcB6JV3_N5DtCGYz3umkaH6QnImv4bQPseqOfwMk/s640/blogger-image--1307918223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6vZmQKQnb5ATAKD1K7quVKemptrhNAKuiba3oTS4QeeaVpWImsHh5AhN5XC4pytlwbkdRqDWc2zC7WDTJRQP2NZwpcU1Avs0dAkBvKcB6JV3_N5DtCGYz3umkaH6QnImv4bQPseqOfwMk/s640/blogger-image--1307918223.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjvm5U1IJLhbdbhCER7TmVmo77QdD07jXqQsh9PRtQOW62PGTE_riNAuF09zZlAM4A5CfzXHue6B_eGyyfLzUDnKQtyFJ6QKdusllBOCjzL3Lk5S0bnDYZB9vlpLxj5DOObnRBZcb90o1/s640/blogger-image-376083875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjvm5U1IJLhbdbhCER7TmVmo77QdD07jXqQsh9PRtQOW62PGTE_riNAuF09zZlAM4A5CfzXHue6B_eGyyfLzUDnKQtyFJ6QKdusllBOCjzL3Lk5S0bnDYZB9vlpLxj5DOObnRBZcb90o1/s640/blogger-image-376083875.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-3002327616396954452013-10-19T12:14:00.003+02:002013-10-19T12:33:53.317+02:00Smell the freshly baked bread in the village of Ħal-Qormi <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuyxIR7iWN_cHeHWutxhmWnFlqp2sUc5Uh684DiuXCymYm-3UmLfDITS-d8zULG_D8oV8AIH67Up4Tvl4A2vpdJCmGeEvGTfPDLLbJAJV-xuiu8oDlwWXDh3G_j11kAu37QyPfRa1Qv9X/s640/blogger-image-2123064413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuyxIR7iWN_cHeHWutxhmWnFlqp2sUc5Uh684DiuXCymYm-3UmLfDITS-d8zULG_D8oV8AIH67Up4Tvl4A2vpdJCmGeEvGTfPDLLbJAJV-xuiu8oDlwWXDh3G_j11kAu37QyPfRa1Qv9X/s400/blogger-image-2123064413.jpg" title="Maltese Bread" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freshly baked bread - Photo: Jeanette Borg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
As part of my daily routine, I walked through the village of <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ħ</span>al-Qormi this morning, to buy freshly baked bread. Early in the morning, most of the villagers go shopping, others do their daily chores, while some enjoy a coffee while chatting with their neighbours. The smell of the freshly baked bread is simply amazing here. As the sun rises, the day gets busier when the market stalls are set up around the Parish church of St. Sebastian. The village gets increasingly busy by midday as shoppers from other villages come along to the market to buy fresh produce and other groceries.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">Ħ</span>al-Qormi is also known as the Bread Making village. It is still to date, the village that has the largest number of traditional bakers operating bakeries that are several centuries old. So what's so special about this bread? Maltese traditional bread is characterised by a crispy outer crust and a spongy inside. The taste is particular given that sour dough is kneaded and let to rise. A loaf of bread can easily be turned into a delicious lunch by just adding olive oil, tomatoes, olives, capers, salt and pepper.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_08VLcdJYf2FGj2SpubitzLYE1GQpByZWllu_T2i6FmBVA7-pncmTLCesM0IzqqyPD9r1Z2t7gulo4cDLbTF-ULu1KshxpscgoAUPJRXuSsUkdXkPFai4yP3ltG6muSrbY1pj-m0Ysjj/s1600/pastizzi+qormi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_08VLcdJYf2FGj2SpubitzLYE1GQpByZWllu_T2i6FmBVA7-pncmTLCesM0IzqqyPD9r1Z2t7gulo4cDLbTF-ULu1KshxpscgoAUPJRXuSsUkdXkPFai4yP3ltG6muSrbY1pj-m0Ysjj/s400/pastizzi+qormi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional cheescakes (Pastizzi) in front of St. Sebastian Parish Church - Photo: Christian Borg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Tourists often ask me, "So how did these traditional bakeries survive in this industrial age?". Well, we're lucky about that and it's thanks to the Maltese people who choose to buy fresh bread daily, thus supporting this local traditions.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
After visiting <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 17px;">Ħ</span>al Qormi and other villages around the Maltese Islands, you'll realise that it's not just about sun and sea, resorts and nightlife. There is much more to discover! Whether you choose to stay at a hotel in St. Julian's or rent a village house away from the sea side areas, these core villages are no more than 20 minutes away (by car). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Should you make up your mind to experience all this, drop us a line on <a href="mailto:info@merillecotours.com">info@merillecotours.com</a> or visit our website for more details. One of our local guides can pick you up from where you're staying and guide you through these hidden treasured of Malta and Gozo. We offer a range of private tours for couples and families as well as group tours, so feel free to contact us :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Sa<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ħ</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ħ</span>a g<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ħ</span>alikem (Good health to all of you)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Jeanette Borg</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Merill Eco Tours</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4932131398975112126.post-42644477578113040602013-07-10T15:45:00.000+02:002014-05-28T11:49:12.800+02:00Les spectaculaires fêtes de villages<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mqs5Ors9aDYvYjuPWFogZJz0hQT9UcxAjTJF281FP4LJo2nYqjW1ux3cWY6WwNmcx9sHn13wZqkw5QJ2ydG9Umzxetdeb7uyIhwTGaPZouRACKbokBHtCpbznKT3csqeWJ58g1Ncs8A/s1600/Qormi1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mqs5Ors9aDYvYjuPWFogZJz0hQT9UcxAjTJF281FP4LJo2nYqjW1ux3cWY6WwNmcx9sHn13wZqkw5QJ2ydG9Umzxetdeb7uyIhwTGaPZouRACKbokBHtCpbznKT3csqeWJ58g1Ncs8A/s1600/Qormi1.JPG" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
<i style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p><br /></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Expérimenter une fête traditionnelle est inévitable si vous visitez
les îles Maltaises !</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
L’été étant là, les 21 fêtes du mois de Juillet sont un excellent
moyen de découvrir les authentiques traditions locales. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Magnifiques églises illuminées, charmants villages décorés, feux
d’artifices, processions, groupes de musiques, stands de rue… Le rendu est
spectaculaire !</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Les fêtes religieuses sont extrêmement importantes à Malte, chaque
village les célèbre. Plus de 80 fêtes organisées au cours de l’année rassemblent
les villageois pour célébrer leurs saints patrons. Les traditions se perpétuent
de génération en génération et amènent joie et bonheur à chaque participant. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Nos excursions sur-mesure sont d’excellents moyens d’expérimenter ces fêtes
et de plonger au cœur de l’authentique vie locale Maltaise. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>138</o:Words>
<o:Characters>790</o:Characters>
<o:Company>lyon 3 université jean moulin</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>970</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:HyphenationZone>21</w:HyphenationZone>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Tableau Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3GaQq695KROvCRMW7RD_PKHgVBkQkcRgZhyEAwyMIeV19DVuYZnGkbD0wdru3Wntr7QNiKfESqb1tIfZ0UwB4NECbQ0F8qJbgtPazxaqi_ps2b1i4EqH45m1B9ISOtfGpgE2s3yHNk/s1600/qormi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3GaQq695KROvCRMW7RD_PKHgVBkQkcRgZhyEAwyMIeV19DVuYZnGkbD0wdru3Wntr7QNiKfESqb1tIfZ0UwB4NECbQ0F8qJbgtPazxaqi_ps2b1i4EqH45m1B9ISOtfGpgE2s3yHNk/s1600/qormi.JPG" height="400" width="268" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
N’hésitez pas à nous contacter pour plus de détails à
<a href="mailto:info@merill.com.mt">info@merill.com.mt</a> ou sur notre <a href="http://www.merill.com.mt/" target="_blank">site internet</a>. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0