The most interesting, if strenuous, way to enter Valletta is to gradually climb a series of staircases that rise from the harbor to the city, which sits atop the hill that has made it an effective fortress over the past 500 years. This particular staircase seems to incongruously come to a dead end, but that is illusory. Two more staircases are hidden from view here – they rise from the top landing on both the left and the right. A woman carrying a container has just descended one of them, and will soon climb the other. I caught her in my 24mm wideangle frame just as she reached its middle – giving the image its sense of scale incongruity. The characteristic golden hue that gives Valletta much of its identity seems to overwhelm her.