The early bird….

Catches the sunrise in Malta

Not quite in the Timezone – wide awake and working on the terrace at 5am – as the sun rises over the city – the temperature still a pleasant 33 degrees and humidity still workable! I have two hours on the terrace before I need to retreat to the airconditioned inside. I am so not complaining – this is what I signed up for and enjoying every sweaty moment!

Today was a home day – I took myself off at 9.00am for a walk to the local square – wearing as little as is respectable was sweating within 1 minute of leaving the apartment. As today is a public holiday the usual bustle of roller doors opening to exotic hole in the wall shops was absent. In summer here shops only open from 9am until midday and close until 4pm. Today it was just the cafes and convenience stores (corner dairies) who had any signs of life. Ducking into a shop just to soak up their aircon for five minutes were few and far between. However, on the square, their was life …..

The Paola church had its doors wide open – but as I was sleeveless in my attire I could not venture inside!

I plonked myself down at a shaded table in the kiosk cafe on the square…

Ordered a cappuccino and watched the world go by. $2.30 for a brew and a number of others wiling away the morning.

Then wandered back towards the flat and popped into our local convenience store – where the girl behind the counter was chatting away on her phone (as they all do here). Ok for all my fellow smokers (us outcasts) I asked about a mild tobacco pouch, she put down the phone but didn’t hang up and was very helpful. Here’s the thing – in NZ a packet of tobacco (30grams) is $76.00 and here a 40 gram pouch is €7.70 (for you kiwis that is $14.00 NZ and 10 grams more) my vice is a cheap one here!

While I didn’t need any, as this lovely lady had gone to so much trouble for me(like putting down her phone), I felt I had to buy one! I now have 3-4 weeks supply, when I really should be giving up haha!

The rest of the day included another walk to the supermarket – ftira (Maltese) bread and vegemite(kiwi) for lunch and another couple of hours work – culminating in cracking a nice cold cisk(beer) in the late afternoon. Kev and Rols have gone to a friends for dinner and I have made a fabulous Caesar salad for dinner (one can still get Caesar salad dressing here where it has disappeared off the shelves back in NZ).

So day three has passed and I am feeling relaxed again!

This one’s for you Julie! I have a big responsibility ahead!