She brought the summer!

Carolyn has been here for five days and things are heating up literally…temperatures rising! Yesterday the tourist activities were halved due to these gals wearing out before the day was done…

We did hit Mdina – the silent city, before the crowds. Or did we? A couple of laps of the carpark before a space became available at 9.30am!

First time visitor (Carolyn) to this ancient city one is always overawed with its hilltop location and limestone heritage buildings…, again by 11am it was filling up with tourists! We switched towns to Rabat (across the road) and wandered through the residential side streets towards St Paul’s shrine! And the WWII shelters – next on the agenda!!

Old people we were – children we didn’t have… only people and cats would have fitted down some of these streets!

Gasping for fluid as the walk was little longer than necessary.. we found the Square (and a little more history) in front of the church! The boat people (off the cruise ships) busting out of Mdina into this town too..neither of us felt like going underground … so (reluctantly???) settled for a cool drink and decided a book reading resting afternoon was needed…

This morning, Saturday, we bussed into the capital city of Valletta, again before the crowds! Crossing the bridge and through the walls of Valletta (a city established in the Knights of Malta era in the 1600s)

Upper Barakka gardens is a must see and past the government buildings..this appeared…

A very tacky blue archway(photo opportunity for visitors) spoiling the magnificence of the historic sandstone government buildings!

The view from upper Barakka gardens remains one of the best in Malta! Looking back at the three old cities of Birgu, Cospicua and Senglea!

We were looking forward to a coffee here, but we were assaulted by the wine festival stands and no seats around the usual cafe….standing room only (for tonight) – no wonder I fainted at this event last year! So we moved on and found a side street cafe to sit and enjoy…

Finally a pic with the two of us!!! Some nice passers-by did us the honour and actually took about 10. I might add all of them capturing our best!!! Deeper downtown towards the tip of the city…we walked through archways…

Side streets and odd shops, even I had never seen before…

This (closed) antique shop with about 2 inches of dust on all its wares…,proving how old some of this merchandise is…..and just as the water ran out…we stumbled on a cafe with a rooftop terrace… first beer of the day..,,terrace all to ourselves!

With the view to the entrance of the Grand harbour, where all the cruise ships, super yachts, private boats and tourist tours pass through!

Refreshed after our beer and loo stop, Our walking tour continued towards the lower Barakka Gardens, passing the maltese summe baches on the edge of the city and harbour!

And into the gardens..usually a less travelled destination….however the cruise ships must have added this to their suggestions of “must sees!” and it was teeming with tourists…

Still a nice green area to wander around as we watched the midday fireworks from the middle of the harbour send puffs of smoke into the sky…

We soaked up the welcome shade of the trees and sea breeze…

Both getting a little peckish by this time, we walked along the Harbourside..

Past the traditional Maltese homes with their colourful doors and balconies….back to the ferry to take us to Bormla and our “Rouge Cafe” for lunch!

A Cisk(beer) for me and a chocolate milkshake for Carolyn, we settled back in the shade and under the fan (this keeps the flys away) and our food didn’t come…..we eventually asked after about 40 minutes and the poor girl was so embarrassed she had forgotten, that not only did we receive the platter ordered it was accompanied by a free drink each! Win Win all round!