Malta 9H

Who wants to know in detail the facts about Malta and Maltese radio amateurs, I recommend to him, to read OK1XU's post on the pages of the Czech Radio Club. It is from the year 2001, but many things are still valid today. That's why I don't want to carry water into the sea, but to share my experiences trying to meet at least one Maltese amateur. I already made preparations for it at home. I looked among the tickets for those, which started at 9H and I randomly looked up amateur data from QRZ.com, who might be near my place of residence. QRZ.com also provides a map of the amateur headquarters. With many Maltese amateurs I saw on the screen, that they are based in the Vatican. i atenuator a kusok drotu, what it is, maybe someone who is in the "image" will explain it to me. In addition to the Maltese cards, I prepared a few of my own and also a few photos . I quickly found out after arriving in Malta, that I can't find any amateur in the vicinity of Mellieha Bay, and so I tried to contact the 9H1MRL collective. For those who know Malta - a little thing, for those who don't – a detective with signs of a conspiracy. Maltese amateurs from Malta and also from the island of Gozo have a link to their organization in the yellow pages along with phone numbers. Of course those numbers are wrong. The receptionist from the hotel helped us here, who got it right on the information. It is for Malta +35621423608.

Maltese amateurs have club days on Sundays from 10. do 12. and on Tuesday and Thursday from 18. do 20. hours. We arranged a visit on Sunday by phone. Fieľ in negotiating was in it, that my "English", which is the second official language in Malta after Maltese, it is enough for a simple phone QSO, but it cannot be used for a more complicated conversation. Here the wife prevailed, who speaks English well, but amateur matters and details are not her strong point. Telephoning was even more complicated by airplanes, which landed at the international airport and the axis of the runway runs exactly above the radio club. However, the interview took place on three attempts. We agreed on Sunday.

But there was a problem, where is that Attard actually and where in that Attard can we find the radio club. We planned it that way, that we will go to Mosta by bus (something will be mentioned about that too), it is near Attard and we can take a taxi to Attard. Traveling by bus in Malta is convenient. On the bus, the driver sells the passenger a day ticket for 2,60 and to all lines. We got off at the parking lot in Most, where a place was reserved for taxis, but probably because it was Sunday, no taxi came. However, the Maltese are very kind and welcoming people, and so a passer-by told us after the hearing, that where we want to go, advised, let us continue by bus to Valletta and from there we will simply travel to Attard. And so it happened, and another Maltese traveled from Valletta, who knew, where the radio club is and he showed us, when should we get off?. If anyone would like to visit the radio club, here is a picture of the stop with bus numbers.

Everything was successful and we were visiting the Maltese amateurs. Carmelo 9H1AQ devoted himself to us the most, with whom we arranged the visit. We sat down for coffee, they discussed various topics. Of them, I was probably most interested in this, that they are in CEPTA, but who wants to broadcast from Malta, let him make a temporary mark. The conditions for obtaining it are on the MARL website and it is not difficult. We took photos together, they viewed the equipment of the club, QSL service, devices, which they collect with the intention of creating a museum. I will never forget the day I was with the 9H amateurs, it also assures me of the fact, that I just had a name day.

Now again about the Bridge. While traveling to the radio club, about six nuns boarded the bus and when we asked them for advice on how to travel, they recommended us to perform at Most pri Dóm. This one has been famous since WWII, when a bomb fell on the dome during an air raid, she broke through it and fell among the people, who were at the service. If it explodes, it would be a terrible massacre. However, the bomb did not explode and its replica is still shown to tourists. The fact that the bomb did not explode is considered a miracle. Version, that the bomb was made in the Protectorate and filled with sand by saboteurs of the production, they are extended only by Slovak or Czech speaking guides.

Finally, a picture of the bomb and the medal of the Cathedral in Most.

Ivan OM5UM