…..I’m not ready to go!

My last week in Malta has been a whirlwind, and so has Malta….throwing high winds, rain and cooler temperatures!

After a fantastic weekend in Sicily, I arrived black on Monday evening, to unpack and get prepared for my last sojourn in the Isle of Malta. Tuesday began as usual, a work catch up, coffee in Paola, and search for a suitcase wheel that had not quite made the return flight home! To no avail, unfortunately I am leaving Roland with a three legged dog (case)!

Wednesday, after work was a final trip to the post office to offload some luggage that doesn’t need to share my next adventures and to meet my cousin Evelyn for lunch. A swim was out of the question, as the easterly wind had come up and black clouds were rolling in! Meanwhile, my throat was feeling raspy, which I tried to ignore, and getting caught in the rain as the skies opened up was the final nail in the coffin! Well, that is a little dramatic! By the evening I had a full blown cold or a sudden attack of hay fever from the wind and dust! I dug out a sweater, drank hot lemon drinks and took Panadol!

Still feeling pretty sorry for myself the next day, I worked, and cleaned, in between rests and sleeps, and was feeling a little better by the evening, and a bit hungry!

I took a stroll to dispose of some glass bottles, near the Paola council

My destination a well manicured, park/playground …..

Surrounded by tree (an unusual sight here) lined avenues! Still very windy, I battled with a dress that kept blowing up and showing my panties (the Bridget Jones type) and was thankful most locals were staying inside!

For six weeks I had been spying Burger King on my drives home and being close – a burger really seemed like what the doctor ordered.

Burger in one hand, other one securing my skirt, I scuttled home, hoping my dear old neighbour wasn’t waiting on her doorstep for our evening chat as I wanted to eat a hot burger!

Safely home, stomach worms sated, it was back to bed with Panadol and book – hoping to improve for my last day in Malta to see my Bonnici family!

Friday a little better, and work done, terrace cleaned, bathrooms cleaned, floors done, first pack of bag, I ventured out in Vivienne for one last time to help cook dinner and share my last evening with my side trip buddies! Dinner was successful, I even introduced them to the chocolate self saucing pudding, which even got a tick of approval from the matriarch- Sammy!!! I will miss this kind, fun loving and close family, the whole team coming to say goodbye!

One final cleanup and pack this morning and my taxi, Sammy and Anna came past and dropped me to the airport ready for the next leg of my journey! Zurich here I come!

There is always more in Sicily, Sunday began with a coffee in Taomina….as the cruise ship people began to fill the (already) full streets….

Coffee addiction satisfied, it was off to catch a bus up to the village of Castelmola, which is famous for the Bar Turrisi (more about that later) Down the hill to the bus stop where we could get no sense from the ticket office man, who was determined to sell us an all day pass on a hop on hop off tour, rather than a one way ticket up the hill, telling us the next bus was full and we would need to wait an hour for the next one! That one drove off with 10 empty seats! So we hailed a taxi! And a very nice driver “Christian” took us with no fuss up the zigzagging mountain road to Castelmola!

The higher you go the better the view! A wander through the town , some retail therapy, and (Yes) a climb up to the castle ruins on the top of the peak.

Everywhere, there is cobbled steps, and up or down a test to our aging knees!

The ruins of the castle fort, dating back to the 1800s….And the view from the top…

The long and winding road and Mount Etna(in the distance) which two weeks ago was erupting and threatening to put our side trip to this amazing place in doubt!

A rest on the wall, in the shade before the climb down hill to the famous (or infamous) Bar Turrisi…but first a visit to the church

Sharing the space next to the Bar! Now you will see why this is a clash of morals….the Bar Turrisi is a den of inequity…

Everything inside, is a monument to the male phallic symbol…..the door handles, the tap in the restroom, the bottles, the wall hangings and even the menu…

While the food and drinks also follow the theme…

While I enjoyed a very conservative Pina Colada, the girls chose otherwise (and Claire got to keep her (in)appropriate shot glass! Anna ate her ice cream Hamburger (brioche)!

Sated and entertained, we returned to the piazza (this time to try for the bus down) which was a lot less stressful (to get on) – not so much the ride down, as full speed around the snaking mountain road had us gasping for breath!

By now (nearing 5.00pm) a trip to the beach for a cold swim was easy to forgo, and we headed back to the apartment for some R&R (and packing) before our last evening out for dinner! Three nights in a row I have donned makeup to try and keep up with my gorgeous cousins!

We have eaten pasta, pizza, seafood, ice cream, and I have sampled the local beers! And also had three late nights for me! After midnight!

A last late night stroll (walking off our dinner) in a town bustling with tourists and music (yes third night in a row there was yet another concert in the open air theatre – Italian GIGI)

This morning I actually slept in, life catching up with me, luckily we had packed before dinner, and booked our taxi (Christian) to collect us for our trip to the airport, which turned out to be a little stressful, as there had been a five car crash in Catania this morning and traffic was bumper to bumper! He was more worried than us! If we missed the plane and had to stay another night we would have been happy!

However, we made it and now back in Malta in our respective houses, my washing done, and terrace swept…and for me (at least) a very early night and some fruit for dinner!!!!

Less than a week before the Rugby World Cup starts and I leave Malta, for my next adventures….

Two days seems like a lifetime, leaving Malta on Friday afternoon…

The Golden Girls (well two of them) as Claire’s (the young one) friends called us were dropped at the Airport for the 25minute flight from Malta to Catania,Sicily! Of course two hours before flight, being an international one, the journey began! Anna decided to leave her handbag with security while they distracted her checking her bag! First crisis averted, as they saved it for her when she realised! Very full plane, left on time and touched down around 5pm.

Next step (actually a few hundred) as we ran around in circles looking for the bus to our final destination,Taomina, a town perched high on the cliff tops on the coast (about an hours ride) We just missed the bus and had to wait for the next one that left 45minutes later. Claire being able to speak some Italian was rather an asset!

We travelled through the city of Catania, dropping and picking up and driving around in circles, glad we were not staying there, a city of old crumbly buildings, rubbish lining the streets and tagging on every flat surface! Then we hit traffic jams as we neared our destination, one way streets, with buses and cars and crazy motorbike riders all vying for the one lane!

The final stop, near the town of Taomina, after a steep winding drive, still meant an (uphill) walk to the centre of town to our apartment!

By now it was dusk, and the rolly bags clattered over the cobblestones as we ascended the final leg,

Looking down on the beachside towns….

All rather hungry, we met the apartment owner and had the grand tour of our three bedroom apartment. The location and the views from the wraparound terrace were fantastic. The decor (very tired) and lack of cooling facilities, and broken toilet seat not so great!

But it was dumping bags, opening windows and out for dinner, now being well after 9pm…the nearby street thronging with thousands of tourists, all the shops open until 11pm, and Andrea Bocelli playing in the open theatre drawing even bigger crowds than usual! Dinner, and a beer, eating at 10.30 pm, walking the streets, in search of water for the night (what was left of it and almost in bed by midnite! Day one over and three very tired gals!

Of course, I was awake early gasping for a coffee, none in the apartment, so I sneaked out and went in search! From one end of town to the other, avoiding the delivery vans, getting in early to all the restaurants before the people (apart from me) and finally found an open cafe to purchase two cappuccinos. (Takeout) by the time I returned the other girls were up and Anna and I enjoyed our morning coffee….before setting off on foot.

Over 10000 steps of up and down with the odd gentle gradient thrown in!

Breakfast, drinks, snacks and dinner along the way…with a few tastings (free) in the sweet shops!

While avoiding cars buses, motorbikes in the mostly single lane streets, with no footpaths – Fiat Bambina (the old one) being a symbol of Taomina.

The houses, churches, balcony gardens and colours of Italy..,,

In and out of shops, walking through Cliff side gardens gazing longingly at the beach below – accessible by cable car. Our wandering took us somewhat downhill so the final late afternoon leg was up!

No picture of the ride(cable car) – Down or up as it was an eye closing experience, yours truly having a vertigo issue!

A cool refreshment on a terrace cafe by the beach after which Claire and I attempted a swim in the late afternoon..knee deep and the cold water (compared to Malta sea bath like temperatures) meant we avoided wet bathing suits for the day!

Back up, eyes closed, and back for showers and to rest our legs before another dinner excursion! So many restaurants, all full, it was a matter of checking the menus, price and looking for an available table!

Dinner and drinks, and the two (old) golden girls home to crash at 11.30pm – the young one went for a stroll to listen to to concert!

Another day of adventures begins….

Last weekend ended with Dinner on Sunday with family and canine….

A very well behaved “Bailey” while we ate!

Monday was back to the grind – finally have my body clock set – up at 5-6am for a couple of NZ afternoon business hours – work till around 11am then off to have my morning cappuccino – Monday was a trip to Sliema to meet Rebecca (youngest cousin) and some Maltese business activity!

Tuesday, I caught up with another couple of cousins – driving to the google maps instructions – unfortunately all in Maltese!

And Wednesday afternoon was car washing day!

Thursday was cooler and my late morning excursion, which included bank, post office and coffee, also included a visit inside the Paola church (as I had sleeves on and you can’t visit a church with your shoulders showing)

Just as I was arriving home the day threw a curveball (and big raindrops) at me and there was heavy rain and thunderstorms all afternoon….

The thunder louder than the ongoing fireworks, which consequently I seem to have become immune to…however the rain collects all the dust from the air and my terrace is covered in muck!

I was due to meet a chap selling his car (for Kevin) on Thursday evening (at a place I am unfamiliar with) and not wanting to take my nice clean car out, I decided to bus it! This meant two buses, and of course I got on the wrong one second, ending up on the waterfront, which then meant a 2km walk Uphill – following my google walking map! An excellent condition car (in Malta) turned out to mean the motor still went – the outside looked like it had been driven down a one way obstacle street taking out everything on its way! Not a panel was unscathed! Actually in NZ it would probably be an insurance write off! Needless to say – I didn’t stay long, as the chap had obviously arranged a multi viewing anyway and told me to give him 10 minutes! I actually only needed 2!

So it was back on foot to catch my two buses home, picking up Chinese for dinner and a cold beer on the terrace….

The super moon here was not so impressive as the one in NZ, especially in a cloudy sky!

Now my Friday work is done, I’m all packed and ready for a long weekend mini break with my cousins! This time flying!

The Maltese islands consist of three main islands, Malta where most of the population lives and works, Comino the Rock – Blue Lagoon and popular tourist trap for boats and swimming and Gozo, the northern island, a 30 minute (car) ferry ride, where for the most part we step back in time and there are no traffic jams!

Friday afternoon I collected my cousin, Rebecca, overnight bag, BandB booked, for a couple of days exploring (with my Maltese guide) the places I haven’t been, loaded Vivienne (and us) onto the early afternoon ferry and the adventures began.

First stop Supermarket in Rabat, the capital, only place on the island where one encounters traffic jams (for 10 minutes) to get some overnight supplies (beer, wine and chips!)

Arriving at our hotel in Sannat for the night! A very enthusiastic Italian man(around mid 40s) met us at the gate before we had time to ring, as instructed, to let us in. He saw us (actually my gorgeous cousin) on the cameras! Oh Oh – should have rung alarm bells! Checked in and gave Rebecca’s Maltese phone number (as I couldn’t remember mine) and opened the door to a very spacious room with 1 double bed, 1 chair and a very large Exercycle/stepper machine! I had specifically chosen a booking on booking.com with two beds! So off I go to discuss a solution, the enthusiastic Italian, became more animated as he argued with me that I had booked room 3 (???) Without my glasses I couldn’t look up the booking but went back to the room, opened a beer, and scrolled through my mail – there it was! confirmed 2 beds, can sleep 3. Evidence in hand back I went and showed him the emails, to which he continued to argue it was not possible as he set up all the bookings! To which I offered to forward to him and he could sort out his technology issues, and his lovely Swiss German wife arrived and offered to put another bed in the room. Perfect for us, and I left him to ponder how he could possibly have made a mistake (Italian men don’t make mistakes) Actually he was about to make a big one! Rebecca and I both then went to the pool to relax! And the lovely wife served us a cold beer! We were over the room issue and enjoying the loungers, pool and beer! Rebecca then went to use our bathroom, and the Italian met her on the steps, and said they were putting the bed in could she open…(he asked her a few questions which she thought nothing of)

Upon her return (bearing in mind she is a gorgeous 30 year old!) she lounged back and received a text from the Italian – flirting with her! (Content not needed here) Old cousin advised young cousin to ignore and for the rest of the stay he dealt with me! Aside from this we had a lovely evening by the pool sipping cold Cisk!

Breakfast was included at 8am-9.30am, we were first and greeted by the very lovely wife, ate a huge breakky and went off exploring before checkout at 11.00am

Mgarr Ix-Xini inlet and beach quite near to our hotel – sealed steep narrow road – but navigated in true Maltese fashion with lots of horn tooting approaching corners! We sat with our feet in the cool water, watching the local swimming lesson class in action in the sea! More talking than swimming but a serious operation!

Next stop we were heading to the cliffs Ta-Cenc, but first for all you New Zealanders and Texans, we drove through a Maltese Beef farm (the road went through the middle of it!)

Not a blade of grass in sight, a few goats in the mix, and the fields are gigantic concrete structures under which the cattle live (sheltered from the suns piercing rays)We (kiwis) would have the greens campaigning to close these down!

Didn’t quite find the cliffs (without hiking over fields (mainly rocks no trees or grass), we stumbled on a luxury hotel on the coast looking back at the Big island of Malta

With an abundance of ripe prickly pear trees (Maltese love this fruit)…

After this it was back to the hotel to check out – which I did alone, and off to Rabat, the capital to catch the market day and a Cappucino in the air conditioning….,yes the day was heating up!

Vivienne, resting in the shade, we loaded in and the Next plan was to visit the Mixta Cave overlooking Ramla beach, another place I have never been..

After a very unsociable (small) road – taken at 5kms per hour, we parked and walked through the cave to look out on the most fantastic vista!

And it was cool in the cave! Refreshments beckoning – Vivienne then took us to the Clift top bar at Xlendi Bay, another tourist area, but sitting high above, under umbrellas, with the sea breeze, it was very pleasant!

Brilliant idea, we thought we might book a room here for another night, but the only room available had one double bed – and I wasn’t ready for a rinse and repeat of the previous night!

We headed back to take the ferry around 4.30pm arriving at Rebecca’s home, ordering Chinese (delivery only 1€ NZ$2) and there it was 30 minutes later.

Finally back to my abode at around 9pm, unloading and cold shower to rid myself of the days sweat!!! Temperature still sitting at 30 degrees and 90% humidity!

Seems like it’s the three “B’s” since I last checked in! The weekend was a full one again, after tuning into the first day of the World Athletics Champs in Budapest and battling with the recycling (freezing) internet channels on Saturday, I bused into Valletta to meet my cousins for Breakfast for lunch!

Breakfast was delicious at a cafe owned by their friend who was very attentive, providing Complimentary coffees. A couple of diversions, the pigeons christened Rebecca’s freshly blow-waved hair, and an apartment above us sprayed their excess air conditioning water! One way to cool off! The other cousins, Leonard included, met us at 4pm and off we went to the Barbie movie…

Five Barbies and One Ken (who was elbow prodded by his wife for nodding off during the movie)

A cool drink at a bar and I caught the bus home to watch some more athletics! And the cousins had parties to go to!

Sunday, home day, a little housework and more (frozen) internet TV with soccer finals and Athletics events – ready for the new week.

Monday, after work, I met another cousin at my local cafe, and once again had breakfast for an early lunch (still serving at 11.30am). Not as nice as my last one, but you get what you pay for! I then settled in to pack up a box to post home (to lighten my load) to the tune of thunder storms and brown (dust from the air) Rain! First rain since I have been here, and when I walked on the terrace in the afternoon (I didn’t realise it had been raining) I immediately thought the watering system was malfunctioning again, as there were steams of water running across the deck! Thank goodness it was just Mother Nature!

The next mid morning found me in a queue in the Bormla post office to post my parcel – high technology in having to submit the declaration online and work out the complicated product code process, however it was CASH only no card payment – so booking it in then off to the money machine and back, followed by a stroll up the Birgu street market, already packing up at 10.30am due to the heat!

Drive home in shopping traffic to finish my work, and looking and feeling like a drowned rat! It was a warm day after the thunderstorms!

The late afternoon I was taxi for my cousin, as her car had broken down , to her nail appointment in Mosta!

Filling in time I wandered down to the Mosta Church, embroiled in dust and roadworks as they close off the plaza in front….eyes watering (seems to be a constant thing with either dust or air conditioning) The one way streets are becoming more and more common in the towns, which actually makes sense as most can only accomodate one car – but terribly confusing for temporary Maltese drivers (me).

The evening plan was the family gathering at a pizza restaurant near Attard for dinner.

And outside is a children’s paradise…Anna and I took a stroll…

The street outside these walls harbours the villas of the Maltese millionaires….

A spare 20 million Euros (40 million NZD) will buy you one of these….

Phone slipped between 12 foot iron gates for a glimpse of how the other half (or 1%) lives in Malta! And this is just the entrance the front gardens lush …. (in an otherwise world of dust)

And the back gardens (I’m told) twice the size probably housing swimming pools, boats and a range of expensive cars!

Back to reality, drive home in the dark (with a very full pizza tummy) and a closed tunnel detour (didn’t panic) to a frozen TV and couldn’t watch our NZ athlete race in the 3000m steeplechase final!

Today, I woke to a neon pink sunrise (in the heat haze) and another work morning followed by a visit to the bank (tedious event) to reset passwords on my card, as the internet app on my phone didn’t recognise my face this morning! Another week half gone….

Weekdays mean morning work, and afternoon wanderings. Being a 60+ Maltese citizen, this means I can jump on a bus (for free) or a ferry for less than €1 and explore the island! Unlike New Zealand (my other home) the public transport here is fantastic – a long wait is 10 minutes!

Tuesday was a public holiday and my local, usually bustling town was like a ghost town, not a Cappucino to be had, so I leapt on a bus to Valletta (the capital city) knowing at least cafes would be open! Upon arriving the city was full of boat people (off the cruise ships) so I decided to walk down the north side and catch the ferry to Sliema(the tourist town for young people) This is a trip I have never taken so a new adventure!

The ferry ride was very pleasant with a sea breeze making it not so hot – however landing was a different story – the afternoon sun was streaming in all the waterfront cafes, I needed a bathroom and a beer, spied a shaded pub up a side street and settled in for an hour – the beer was huge! And the outdoor furniture comfy, and the shade most welcome. The waterfront here is full of souvenir shops and bustling cafes so after my sojourn at the bar, I headed to the bus stop to begin my journey home(electing not to catch the ferry back as it would mean a big uphill climb to my next bus in the afternoon heat!

This ice cream cart is for the young and the young at heart! We all love Thomas!

Home for the evening and a chat on the steps, catching up with my neighbours in the shade!

Wednesday, my local town, still recovering from the feast day, and a night of noisy fireworks, was still very quiet! So I jumped on the first bus that came along….to Birgu, my favourite one of the old Three cities on the Grand harbour! Decided I would (late) lunch at one of the town square cafes! As ‘Breafast for dinner” (bacon and eggs) was over, I chose a healthy Caesar salad! Looking fabulous on arrival, only to find under the facade it was padded out with soggy coleslaw! Not returning to that one! Then a wander through the streets soaking in the architecture I love…

Maltese windows and doors and the never ending attempts to add greenery and colour to a yellow stone world! It’s beautiful! Bus back home for the evening!

Thursday afternoon – beach day and Vivienne (car) out for a run! Birzebuggia in the south. A few circle rounds to find a park, near the town…

The church, as every town has, as its centrepiece! And stumbled on a street market starting to pack up! Worth a wander, purchased a red straw hat, and got propositioned by one of the locals! Who just wanted a smile! An hour or so wallowing in the sea and drying off, back home, with a fruit shop stop at Lidl(supermarket), to shower and change before dinner at my cousins! First drive home on the dark and I didn’t miss a beat!

Friday, today, last gasp at my work week (actually I’m very productive with no interruptions) and a trip to the charity shop to collect some more books at Marsacala. I am half way through my 7th(and last) English book in three weeks! Job done books and a vintage dress) and off to St Thomas bay for a coffee and a dip!

Bikini clad locals and foreigners, Benidorm style! Very pleasant never the less! A quick stop, on the way home, at my local supermarket “Carters” (aptly named) for some weekend supplies (namely Cisk – my beer of choice in Malta) and home for a terrace rinse off with the hose! (Again being hot and sweaty and salty)

A quiet Friday night immersed in my book and a cool Cisk, ready for a weekend of football finals and family time!

Here I sit on my terrace in Paola, Malta, sipping on a cool Cisk(beer) at 6.30pm with the incessant thundering of fireworks! Broad daylight so there’s nothing pretty just load banging – in preparation for the feast tomorrow!

Monday work morning and a coffee after in the town, laziness kicking in at 1pm, and overcast sky! Time for a good walk! So running shoes on (instead of jandals) and off I went making my way to Bormla (around an hours walk) with the promise of a two for the price of one cocktail at the Cafe Rouge…

First gate navigated, no footpath through the gate and a little sprint as a van approached my run way! Then down to St Helens Gate – the entrance to Bormla

This one a little safer with a middle walkway! Decided to stroll up the old street where mum and I spent 2 months at the old house Kevin used to own. Looking for the “RED” door!

Which is now a blue door! Nowhere near as eye catching…

And from the end of the “walking” street that I walked many a times, to cut through the steps, past the drug dealers house, to the town…

Many of the old houses doors are bricked up, not sure what this means, maybe there is work being done or after hundreds of years they are no longer inhabitable!

By this time, I was quite warm (actually I was sweating from my little sprint through the tunnel) and thirsty, around 3pm, surely not too early for a cocktail!

Made a beeline for Cafe Rouge past the Bormla church statues at its foot, and plonked myself at a table in the shade under the trees.

Yes – the happy hour runs til 6pm so I ordered my Pina Colada and got two…not one at a time… really needed a friend to share with!

The first one went down like a milkshake! The second one was getting warm…so I very politely asked the grumpy waiter for some ice to freshen it up, as I couldn’t waste it! Reluctantly (on his part) it arrived and I sipped away until I had finished both!

With quite an uphill journey ahead, I slipped through the first gate and veered right in search of a safer route through the second one (after two cocktails I wasn’t game for another sprint!). In the now afternoon sunshine walk to the top of the next hill and still no way through the wall…spied a bus stop and finished my journey back to Paola on the back seat of the bus!

As I was nearing home my neighbour (Adelina) was sitting on doorstep waiting for someone to chat to – so that was me for the next hour! Several other neighbours stopped by and we all had a neighbourhood ladies catch up! (as you do in the evenings in Malta)

I took my leave as bathroom was calling and back at home to the cacophony of fireworks and dogs barking!

As the FIFA women’s World Cup draws to its conclusion, I have the cable channels on the other side of the world locked in – just seems to be a different one for each game. The times are ver convenient, as I have them playing in the mornings while I am working. The English commentators are amusing, and always seem to pick the losing team, except when England are playing (so far!)

Friday afternoon found me again at the Sandy beach of Birzebuggia, in the south, cooling off and relaxing after my working week.

Saturday morning I was locked into the French vs Australia football quarter final, which ended up taking much more of my day than anticipated….culminating in Australian victory after a long penalty shootout. Not having eaten, I was dreaming of a big English breakfast at senglea, However, by the time it finished and I unfurled Vivienne from her garage and then found a park about a kilometre from my destination, breakfast was well and truly over. I settled for a cheeseburger and chips and a cappuccino by the seafront!

Drinking in the boat activity while the locals headed out to sea for the weekend! The luzzu (dinghy’s) in the forefront and a rather immodest grey monster cruising out, aptly named “Naughty by Nature”

As the. Kiosks on the waterfront don’t sport their own restrooms, a visit to the public loo across the road was in order before I went to find a swimming spot for the afternoon.

The terrace has been tidied up with some planter boxes, seeming not to have suffered the heatwave as have the ones on my deck!

Taking advantage of the shade, I retrieved the (hot) car and headed south (again) planning a visit to Marsaxlokk (the fishing village that always had a great market of local produce and souvenirs…especially when a cruise ship is in port (which happened to be the case on Saturday) a slight disappointment, only about four stands, which sold, 1. Cakes, 2. Lace tablecloths, 3. Tacky imported souvenirs and 4. Lemoncello (from Italy?)

The waterfront apartments (freshly painted) were a pleasant distraction….not near a swimming hole and too late in the afternoon to get near Peter’s pool (with all the teenagers and 20 somethings…) I headed for familiar territory – the sandy beach in the south!

Underestimating the Saturday afternoon beach activity I drove around for about half an hour not finding a park, and was just about to head back to the apartment and have deck hose off. When, as luck would have it, someone left at the far end of the beach and I squeezed Vivienne(car) in for a rest, and pick my way through the masses of umbrellas and deck chairs…

For a dip off the concrete wall! Which, by this time, was heaven! And my view (as I dried a little before heading home) was….

The container wharf! And being close to the airport , the chatter was interspersed with low flying jet planes coming in to land! Yes, the flight path for the day. Note to self, if planning outings on a Saturday, take the bus, being a 60+ Maltese citizen these are free(and air conditioned!)

Today Sunday, was a family day with my cousins, my turn to cook…and while the Kiwi curry was simmering away in the crockpot (for dinner) I made banana fritters for lunch!

Complete with lemon and sugar!!! Anna(my cousin) and I enjoyed a fabulous movie. Before we had an early dinner, the curry getting the seal of approval (from a very accomplished cook!)

Now another week begins (my time here is flying by) , a big public holiday on Tuesday (not for me, I’m on kiwi time), so steeling myself for the 24 hour war zone like fireworks that will undoubtedly accompany the feast celebrations. I love this Island!

It’s almost two weeks of living and working in Malta – and while my life is now turned down a notch (with summer sunshine and relaxation time) I have been enjoying a very different lifestyle to cold, wet, hectic New Zealand.

Nursing the plants back to life, with flowers starting to bloom

And the trellis vine is showing signs of green!

It’s several days since my last story, and I have again had a few maintenance issues, car and printer (need to reset something), but nothing I can’t fix! Getting used to fixing things and moving on!

Sunday found me rummaging through the car boot market at 7am, followed by exploring Birgu, one of the old cities where we have stayed

As you can see from the bunting – a feast was forthcoming!

Being early on a Sunday morning the square cafes were full of “Men” gathering for their morning coffee (or beer) while their wives did the housework and prepared the Sunday lunch! I was very kindly invited to have my Sunday lunch with my cousins and spent a very pleasant afternoon with them….all!

The work (mornings) week as rolled on and the afternoons spent reading, watching FIFA women’s World Cup games (yes I have very cleverly managed to find the games on one of the 500 channels!), taking a long walk(to keep the joints moving and today an excursion to Valletta (the capital city)

Taking the bus from Paola, with a driver who, I’m sure, thought he was a Grand Prix driver, had me in the city in 10 minutes! I seriously thought we might end up on our side as we raced around the corners!

A memorial to Daphne Caruna, the journalist who was murdered because she exposed corruption here in Malta!

The horses still braving the midday sun, waiting for one of the boat people to take a ride! I did think this activity was discontinued a few years ago, but there were several of these guys peddling their wares, so I’m guessing not!

A cool beer in the Upper Barakka gardens, while the (hot) workers set up all the kiosks for the wine festival, kicking into action tomorrow for the weekend, might be worth a visit! I had already decided I wasn’t going to risk encountering my earlier bus driver, and would take the ferry across the harbour.

Down the walls of Valletta in their lift and across to the sea…

To Bormla (another of the old cities)

Upon arriving – there was a bus coming down the hill heading to my home town of Paola – no time for a double hit of cocktails at the nearby cafe! Which was probably a good thing as I really needed to visit the supermarket on my way home (down to the last roll of loo paper!)

Was planning a beach visit, that is now tomorrow’s plan – the beauty of travelling solo, my plans just roll with the tide…