As we sit at the airport in Malta…having had a whirlwind of social, domestic and cleaning activities for the last couple of days….we catch our breath!
Tuesday saw us starting on a bit of cleaning (terrace again) and sorting before meeting a bunch of family at Senglea for dinner and drinks in the evening…Bolt has been our friend as their taxis (door to door) are less than 10€…
We arrived around 7.30pm and caught up with cousins….
Neville and Michelle and young energetic Mason!!!
And the Attard Family….on a Tuesday night the kiosk was full by 9pm…Home in bed by 11pm, a great night of lots of laughs and hugs!
Wednesday was cleaning day…made slightly challenging with the bigger digger action…
And the first rain of the trip….
On our walk to the bank and a (quick) coffee catch up with Charles in Paola – the heavens opened….for two hours!! We got stuck huddling under an umbrella drinking …coffee….then wine and beer to pass the time.
We finally got back into it (the jobs) around 1pm ….which after the weather event meant a third terrace clean in two days!!’
Across the road is now ground zero after three weeks of activity!! Next….the 6 storey apartment construction begins!!
An afternoon of jamming stuff into our (small) check in bags and a (bolt food delivery) dominos pizza, we hit the sack for an early start this morning!
However sleep was interrupted by an electrical storm which started at 9pm
Lighting up the sky with fork lightning strikes every few seconds!! Spectacular from our back terrace…
Up this morning and in our Bolt (taxi) by 7.30am and as we board our flight to Toulouse we say goodbye to … the heat, great friends & neighbours and Sue’s wonderful Maltese family….x
The church in the centre of Valletta is famous for its Caravaggio paintings from the 17th century….
An Italian artist while in exile from Rome was afforded the opportunity by the knights of St John to live and paint in Malta rising among the ranks to be actually knighted himself until once again falling from grace and being deported … before which time he was commissioned to produce many paintings which hang in this Church.
We visited this cathedral with cousin Evelyn on Monday…
The ceilings…
The floors…
The walls…
The monuments…
The altar…
And the endless archways…
We got in early at 9am when it opened to beat the crowds of cruise ship tourists…and explored the inside and the museum…
We then took in the movie outlining Caravaggios life and time in Malta!
Trudi and Evelyn discussing the art! We also ventured down into the catacombs where the knights of St. John lie..
It was then out into the 21st century heat and busyness of Valletta streets…taking a coffee break and saying our farewells to Evelyn.
Busing home and getting a load of washing on the back terrace as the front one was reeling in the demolition works once again!
We had a job to do with Vivienne, who needed some fuel injector cleaning medicine and some fuel – then carried on to Rouge cafe to have a late afternoon 2 for one cocktail…maybe our last!
We soaked in the view for an hour or so…
Before returning home to start sorting some packing….
This morning…Sue up and at the terraces by 6.30am…
Getting some of the jobs done…two hours later….
The bigger digger was hard at it raising a dust storm!!
The harsh reality at the end of a journey is somewhat sobering as we plan our last days…filled with family, domestic duties and packing two months of life into a carryon suitcase!
Having spent time with the ladies in the neighbourhood on Friday..as Sue tried to suppress the tail end cough from her cold…a trip to Lidl to replace the household supplies we have consumed and drunk…Saturdays plan was to spend the afternoon with Sue’s cousin Marcella in Bugibba and her family for dinner in Naxxar.
Marcella recovering from a nasty bike accident three weeks ago, strolled with us to the piazza for a coffee…the hot afternoon made pleasant with the (warm) breeze rolling in off the sea
The very touristy area of Bugibba is filled with tourists and tourist traps…
Beach clubs, cafes, souvenir shops, high rise hotels and people from many foreign countries…
It was then off to Naxxar to spend the evening with her sister…Ginger the Chihuahua in tow!!
We enjoyed a lovely dinner and chat before hitting the road home to Paola just after 9.00pm, in the dark, navigating the racing car drivers (or they think they are) a cop stop, speeding motorbikes and people randomly crossing roads…very pleased to settle Vivienne in the garage for the night!
Sunday morning broke around 6.30 and found Sue once again in the garage and giving Vivienne her spring clean inside and out and washing out the garage and the footpaths in front from the last few weeks accumulation of dust! Job well done! Followed by a bit of back deck washing and a quick walk to the supermarket to get Bread for lunch…
It was then off to the final family Sunday lunch at Sam and Anna’s…we will miss our Sunday gatherings!!
We were provided with a special treat today- fresh sea bass!
It was delicious…as all Anna’s home cooked meals have been! We have certainly eaten well this weekend!
As we watch the sun set to another glorious red and orange sky, the fireworks banging away in the background…we look ahead to our last three days on the Island of Malta! Where has two months gone?
As Sue (the weed) decided it was time to have some home days she contracted a sore throat head cold thing! So this week the wanderers have not ventured far from our town of Paola!
Trudi has spent time taking artistic photos of our banana plant with the Paola church in the distance!
We have ventured out to the town for the odd coffee when Sue’s drugs kicked in and caught up on our reading and the odd house job along the way!
The temperatures have dropped this week (to 30ish) with a breeze on the terrace and clouds have given us some respite from the August heatwaves!
Evening strolls in search of refreshment top ups! And…
Locals enjoying the cooler evenings…a Maltese habit of sitting outside once the sun sets!
Trudi went missing this evening for over half an hour and Sue was anxiously scanning the streets for her return ….
Peeping over from the penthouse terrace!
In a week we will be in France and hope the health issues have gone tomorrow so we can get on with our last week of socialising and sightseeing before we leave our island in the sun! Where has 2 months gone?
As the sun sets we plan our week ahead… from our haven in the middle of the med!
When the words go silent the adventures begin! This happened as two young cousins (from NZ) arrived for a weekend visit, it was time to get a wiggle on and fill the schedule with, sights, sounds, activities, food, drinks and as far as Vivienne can go from daylight till dusk….
Saturday morning we hit the coast road heading south, four in a 2 door Subaru vivio, yoga exercise ticked off, as we began our day of squeezing in and out of Vivienne….full aircon (windows down) blasting as we headed past…
Kalkara, towards Smart City…
The newish business park and Shoreline shopping mall!
Dressed ready for a day of heat and cool dips along the way (bathing suits under shorts and singlets), next destination was St Thomas bay, where we stripped off and cooled off before taking breakfast at Zion across the road…
Again not disappointing…omelettes and toasties to quell the worms for the next few hours…
Next, St Peter’s Pool near Marsaxlokk..
Anyone who visits this famous pool must jump off the rock (after a somewhat substantial climb down) Sue having previously ticked this off her bucket list… sent the visitors down, while she and Trudi relaxed under a dusty tree!
Avoiding the climb back up!! Folding back into Vivienne, down the hill to the fishing village (and street market) in marsaxlokk town! Always a warm experience and working up a thirst…so upon arriving at Pretty Bay (Birzebuggia) the team made a unanimous decision it was definitely refreshment time!
Inching into the afternoon, time to move on to the Blue Grotto, where the cousins took the luzzu cruise out into the caves…
Trudi and Sue, took their 2nd swim for the day!
Deep water holes equals cooler and cleaner water…upon returning from the little boat tour the (young) cousins had a dip..
And took their 2nd jump of the higher rocks on the other side of the inlet!
An up hill climb back to Vivienne, followed by a drive into the next bay, Ghar Lapsi..and past the desalination water plant, converting salt water to household water!
Continuing up the coast along the Dingli cliffs
Cloud cover rolling in and providing some much needed respite from the direct fireball sunshine!….
As this part of Malta Island is very exposed.
The itinerary was a little large for one day as we raced to Rabat hoping to catch the WWII shelter and St Paul’s catacombes and shrine under the church…we missed the entry cut off by 15 minutes…so put this on the agenda for Sunday.
However, still time for the weekenders to visit Mdina, as most of the tourists had left for the day, it was a good time for this adventure! Trudi and Sue had (another) drink at the kiosk outside in the shade, gathering our energy for the upcoming evening…
Back home to shower and change, and bus to Valletta for dinner!
The fountain alight…on arrival
The city on fire with the Queen Tribute concert blasting away from the open air theatre just inside the gate. However, the hunt for a Pizza dinner not as easy as one would expect in a city teeming with restaurants!
We were actually playing the Maltese game and arriving for dinner at 9pm….along with everyone else…so seats were full or the restaurants didn’t serve pizza!!
After about 30 minutes of roaming the streets on already tired legs…we hit the jackpot! One table for four in a “Pizza” serving place!
More refreshments, food and a toilet stop, the tired Kiwis, Young and Old, joined the Main Street procession back to the homeward bound bus…
Sue and Trudi still standing (just)!
Next morning(Sunday) Sue took the weekenders to Birgu to take a Luzzu tour around the Grand Harbour…soaking in the sights and sounds of Senglea, Birgu and Valletta…
Catamaran dwarfing Fort St Angelo…
Cruise ships dwarfing Valletta…and the Cousins…
Enjoying being back on the sea!
A short drive home to collect Trudi for the rest of the days itinerary!
Round two to Rabat, and entrance to the WWII shelters etc…Sue and Trudi holding fort at the Italian cafe on the Square…
Keeping to our timeframe…google mapped Vivienne to Mosta! Where we met one of the local cousins Evelyn…
Who took the Kiwi visitors through the church, to see the unexploded bomb that was dropped through the dome into a congregation of 300 people in WWII.
We had our regular lunch invitation at Sam and Anna’s, mid afternoon, where we had a fabulous roast pork dinner!
The two Sam’s getting to know each other and no show without Bailey (the dog)…
Who was very well behaved in the crowd!
A flying visit is never complete without a stop at Rouge cafe in Cospicua and two for one cocktails! We had just enough time to take our visitors on the way home…
We actually managed two rounds before the 6pm cut off!
Vivienne was ready for a rest and so were the Kiwi team…so a quiet evening at home? A few refreshments, Trudi made toasted sandwiches and Sam helped Sue tweak the terrace plant watering system which had sprung a leak!
The weekenders left by 9am this morning and Trudi and Sue have been resting our overworked muscles…slowing attending to a bit of washing and shopping…
Is Saturday morning, Malta time, the All Blacks time to shine!
Talking of Shining….the Paola penthouse got a spruce up yesterday in readiness for two Tauranga Kiwis to join the crew…
The (cheap) shoe of choice, scrubbed and drying on the (clean) terrace!
Last night Sam and Brodie landed at Luqa(Malta) around 6.15pm…Vivienne was going to collect them, but Sue decided it was easier to take the (7 minute) bus and bring a (Bolt) taxi back for a mere 5€, as 20 planes were landing within about 20 minutes! Good call….much less stressful than navigating the new flyover arrangement in and out of the airport!
The resident Kiwis decided a nice introduction to Malta would be to dine on the Senglea waterfront drinking in the lights of the old cities…
Sue chose a restaurant that (from memory a few years ago) used to be great food!
Whilst those back in NZ may think this Sea bass meal looks like something we eat every day…it was heaven to finally get a plate of food that looked fresh and familiar!! The rest of the team chose more traditional Italian meals, all of which were also delicious!
Duly sated…we took a stroll to the end of the Senglea point..
By 10pm it was peaceful and not crowded, barring the odd fireworks bang in the distance..
We returned (Bolt taxi again) to our abode to the street cats settled in for the night!
This one had taken over our neighbours front step!
From the cousins I hear….. its too hot! But the kiwis still venture out, with fluids loaded…and timing right for suitable adventures….
The holiday shutdown is in process and we have had a couple of days without demolition noise and dust! The fireworks continue with the ongoing feasts….but this has become an expected background noise! The church bells that chime (for 15 minutes) on the hour can be a different story however! Conversation stops while they do their thing!
On Wednesday, Trudi went for a new Do(hair) at a salon in Bormla she went to 6 years ago! Her first excursion on the bus on her own..while I stayed home and attacked the terrace!
This was after lugging bleach and cleaning products from the supermarket and walking to the next town to replace the bucket I had broken…..
Needless to say by the evening I was hot and bothered and Trudi was looking very glam with her new do!
On both accounts we decided we needed a cocktail to celebrate our successes! We lashed out and enjoyed a very refreshing strawberry daiquiri! Choosing to take taxis to our destination rather than walking and busing in the heat!
Yesterday was Valletta movie day…3 hours in the afternoon in the airconditioned cinema after an English breakfast for brunch at the La Vallette Band club with the locals!
Then the streets with the tourists gourging on pastries! If we weren’t so full from our breakfast this could have been tempting!
Before settling into the nice cool movie theatre for the arvo!
Yesterday (Monday) another hot day….armed with electrolyte drinks we decided to hit the local shops…as from Thursday it is summer shutdown week and the summer sales are in full swing.
The morning was spent ducking in and out of airconditioned shops, standing in front of fans, guzzling our fluids and hunting out the bargains.. returning home early afternoon to the jackhammer in full swing as ground zero approaches fast…
Lucky Vivienne was tucked away in her garage and we had not put a load of washing on the terrace, as it was covered in dust…we are hoping to have a break from demolition dust and noise in the shutdown!
Today we were meeting our friend Charles at Balluta bay for lunch….taking the one bus(with aircon and no walking involved) and a scenic tour of the hospital, Pembroke, St Julian’s (every touristy places) before arriving at our destination….
A very short walk on the shady side of the street, to a reopened restaurant on the sea. (Closed in and very cool and pleasant) THE VIEW….
Looking back towards Pembroke
And from our table (through the glass)…THE FOOD…
We all chose a crispy chicken Caesar salad, that was huge, both Trudi and I couldn’t finish it…
We left Charles around 2.30pm and decided to have a wander around, the even more touristy area, Sliema…..as we were in the vicinity anyway.
Charles did warn us it would be too hot, but of course us kiwis only learn by our mistakes…he was right! Sue did however snavel up three bathing suit pieces for €8 total…then realising we had missed the shopping area of Sliema and had now arrived near Manuel Island, we gave up, catching our breath in the bus stop cafe….with yet some more fluids while waiting for our next direct bus home!
A slight breeze and a very cheap drink and we were heading home by 4.30pm with relief!
We caught our breath in the cool for 10 minutes , and spied our dear old neighbour sitting on her doorstep waiting for someone to chat to…Sue went down and chewed the fat…
The last few days have been more than hot and the heat has finally got the better of both the wanderers…minimal wandering, relishing air conditioning, and well….literally melting! Here goes our weekend story…
Began with an inside day on Friday, canning a planned BBQ invitation on Friday night, not only due to the heat, but also creepy messages received (prior to event) from the proposed host!
Saturday a visit to Sue’s cousins up north, Trudi experiencing the first melt, and overwhelming heat exhaustion….rescued by the shade and a cool glass of water from a nearby indian restaurant (very helpful) owner..
Then home to hydrate (bottles of water) and rest in the cool for the afternoon before venturing out to the Delicata wine festival at Barracka gardens in Valletta after the sun set!! Catching a very crowded bus around 8.30pm…seems everyone had the same idea!
Arriving at the gates of Valletta to the lit up fountain monument! Realising the daytime 40 degrees had not abated…and bodies perspiring the minute we were out of the airconditioned bus… oh well we were here now so we strolled (slowly) towards the festival…
22€ later, armed with a (glass) wineglass and a bag of tokens to buy wine we passed through the gates of Upper Barracka Gardens…passing…
The medics on standby….not realising that we would soon be needing their services!
Into the Throngs of people…
Hunting for the first glass of wine(to lighten our token load) and some air to breathe…
Every inch of the ground, standing room only, was taken as the band pounded out its tunes to a very warm crowd…
This is where things took a turn..or rather Sue did! We had just found Sue’s cousin and partner and found a more peaceful standing spot at the back of the gardens (first wine in hand) Sue doesn’t drink wine so had only had a couple of sips of her Rose….when the heat melted her…literally! Flanked on one side by Trudi and a cousin on the other..consciousness left her….coming to for a few seconds then out cold..melting to the ground…
Back to my first person story…I woke crouching on the ground with my back against a metal fence…Trudi one side in tears (she had got a fright when I fainted)….one cousin on the other side and 2nd cousin racing round gathering water and alerting medics…the ones we had earlier passed!
By the time they arrived I had almost drunk a bottle of water, and was recovering…they gave my cousin electrolyte sachets…not one but three… to add to my second Bottle of water, after downing this I felt brand new ! But definitely not game to ingest anything other than water for the rest of the evening! So my cousins and Trudi had a great night with my share of wine tokens, and I quietly enjoyed the fireworks, vibe, sights and sounds of Malta’s annual wine festival party..
An event that happens every year when I am here, but have managed to miss…and was not prepared for the overwhelming heat and crowds…
Needless to say…first job on Sunday was a walk to the pharmacy to purchase our own supply of electrolyte sachets and drink daily as a preventative action!!
Yesterday’s adventures took us north to the hill cities of Rabat and Mdina…..a very touristy area but well worth a meander…
Front garden, small spaces, green and floral in the streets of Rabat..
Bougainvillea grows well in this dry climate (no rain in the 5 weeks we have been here) it seems there are two plants that grow prolifically here….this and Prickly pear bushes (the fruit of which is consumed by the locals) Any other plants need human intervention (and water!)
These towns are very historic and monuments of religion and saints adorn the streets! Think I missed my calling…
Taking a coffee on the square in Rabat at a very nice Italian bakery cafe….in front of the Basilica of St Paul…
We then wandered through the streets and over to Mdina…
Past the line up of horses and carriages (€35 for a ride through the streets of Mdina). Wouldn’t think of it; not because of the price but too hot for the horses!!
We hopped from side to side in the shade, until drenched in sweat and decided it was definitely time to search for some sea!
Google drive took us to Gnejna Bay….down a very steep mostly single lane road…and we dived in…actually no heads under water!
The orange sandstone sand was not particularly inviting so we plonked ourselves on a table and chairs (under umbrella) at the kiosk, for a cool drink and fruit salad for lunch.
As we needed a supermarket stop on the way home, we hit the road mid afternoon, with our open window air conditioning in full swing and arrived back to our penthouse terrace covered in dust…
As the demo across the road was heading towards ground zero…with the noise and dust continuing for another hour!
All who wander are not Lost girls 