Monday was a home day after a busy weekend catching up on some chores and sorting out our “stuff” In my case collecting up seven weeks of life from every corner of the apartment! it was a big job! We finally got to spend time with the neighbours for a cuppa!
Then it was out to dinner, at a great restaurant “Chukkas” in Mosta with some cousins for an entertaining evening of laughs and fun!
This morning was our last day of tourist activities….first (accident) joining the morning mass at the Paola church ….suitably dressed with shoulders covered…
Another ornate environment…with not much of a photo opportunity!
As with the inside, the planter boxes are magnificent on the outside!
We then worked on getting our steps up, to walk to Birgu, this time I took Carolyn on the scenic route through Bormla, where Kevin used to have his old house of character….
The red door is now blue and the convent across the walking street is closed, without the joy of the bustling nuns and the kindergarten they ran at street level…
Twelve years ago I spent two months with mum, and this was my old stomping ground…so I took Carolyn through the side streets into Bormla town…
Not much has changed here, the houses are still inhabited by the locals and the steps are still steep!
A short break for the now habitual coffee, at Rouge cafe, on the way and a loo stop before boarding a Luzzu (small Maltese boat) for the Grand harbour cruise at the gates to Birgu…
Perfect day for it….slightly overcast and the water like glass!
The jungle of (small) yacht masts barely moving in the still morning….I say small, but in comparison to the super yachts now returning to their moorings they are dinghy’s….
The driver of our little boat said this big girl is owned by the owners of “Rolex” – I can find no reference to them owning a superyacht, however a one of this magnitude may have privacy measures linked to the general public’s search!
We joined an Englishman, his daughter and grand daughter….in our little boat and circumnavigated the Grand harbour, taking in the sights of Fort St Angelo, Fort Kalkara, Firt Rinella, Valletta and the dry docks between Bormla and Paola from the sea ….. our driver did not like talking (he said it makes his throat sore and I told him he was in the wrong job) and I once again became the tourist guide telling Carolyn what I knew of the area – the English folk thanked me for the commentary, and I was tempted to collect the tips!
Carolyn wanted one last visit to Valletta…so we left the tour on the Valletta side and took the lift up to Upper Barrakka Gardens….for the best view of the grand harbour….this time the wine festival kiosks and roped off areas had gone and we could take in the view from all sides…
Last year at the wine festival I had a little mishap…
Fainted in this very spot…a much healthier re-creation!
Leaving the gardens into the city, the horses and carriages were resting up patiently waiting for their home time at 1pm
Yes his name was George….I call all these horses George, as the only one I have ever ridden years ago was called George…I asked this one’s owner the name and sure enough this little beauty is George! Rules have changed – they must take them home at 1pm as they are not allowed to operate in the hot afternoons!
We wandered down into the city and ended up at a Maltese bar for refreshments…upon ordering our drink, we were also supplied with an assortment of Maltese snacks…
Carolyn’s joy at her interesting lunch snacks may be a little overrated!
Mid afternoon…temperatures rising, 10000 steps behind us….it was time to take our bus home to Paola for the afternoon siesta!
The activity across the road, finished for the day….as we rescued our crisp dry washing from the terrace and enjoyed our afternoon snooze!
Tomorrow is our last day in Malta, and a cleanup, deck was, car wash day….but now to enjoy the church bells ringing the early evening away!
All who wander are not Lost girls 