Malta in Bloom

First day in Malta and Spring is in the air!

Awake at 4am after a very early night, four hours work under my belt and off to sort out banking issues before meeting Russell’s friends from Nelson, who just happen to be in Malta today!

Sue in Birgu, framed by the spring greenery, while waiting for our visitors to arrive on the ferry.

Heading north, Medina the destination, we decided to take a side tour to the presidents gardens in Attard! The winter here has been kind to the green fingered gardeners.

It’s blooming in full colour, we have never seen these gardens looking so lush.

Turtles basking in the sunshine, the mornings cool breeze dissipating and providing us with a perfect summers day.

White swan posing on the lake. This place used to be the Maltese zoo and the best wildlife stay on, why wouldn’t they?

More colour, spring flowers putting my planter boxes to shame!

Russ and the monument of King George who reigned during the Maltese English reign of our beautiful island. One day there will be another King George, but maybe not in our lifetime.

Moving right along to the Medina (city on the hill in the middle of Malta) I spied this beautiful old classic Bedford van! This ones for my dear friend Don, a lover of classics!

Across the Island to Gnejna Bay for lunch at the food truck….baguettes for 3euros! And a free public toilet!

Cross country driving to the Dingli Cliffs!

Not for the faint hearted or those with vertigo, Russ and his friends on the edge!

A panorama of the deep blue sea and farmland at the base of the cliffs. A bluebird sky and views of an untouched world, a far cry from the populated east coast of Valletta and north and south of the capital.

The tour continued with a drive around the south of Malta, through the refugee camps, the container transfer port and Marsaxlokk, the colourful fishing village of the south.. and I might add, always expect the unexpected….

A gin palace roadblock, in the process of launching for the summer, note the ignorance of OSH – man hanging off the top side, while holding up traffic both ways….

A quick stop for liquid supplies at Lidl, dropped John and Chris back to the ferry and now home on the rooftop deck enjoying a cool “Cisk” our favourite local beer.

Life is good!