On the ferry from Gozo after a big day of exploring Gozo…. the Kiwi team was on the road at 7am this morning and after a hectic, traffic jam drive, caught the 9am ferry from Malta to Gozo, the northernmost island of the Maltese Islands.

Almost standing room only as the red hat tour had filled all the open deck seats.

First stop, Victoria, the capital, after securing a park and a wander around it was brunch time for the team.

Russ sporting his new 2 euro purchase from the op shop – the Maltese rugby jersey.

A happy Aaron finally found a freshly squeezed orange juice.

Then, all refueled, we headed up to the Cittadel, now fully restored since last time I visited. A full circumnavigation, around the fortress walls, filled in the next hour and a half.

The view from the back wall looking out over the toe of Victoria.

From the wall looking back to the cathedral.

More stairs, and Russ has had a good workout today.

The boys taking a rest in the shade..

A panorama of the slaves quarters (ruins) looking back to the church.

For a small island, these forts are built to a grand scale, humbling the humans.

Full circle complete and back to the church entrance…

Chilling (or roasting) on the entrance steps.

Moving right along, and unsuspecting of the midday rush…we spend nearly an hour getting out of Victoria, in the business closing and school traffic..

The drivers, Sue and Mike needed a well deserved break at Xlendi Bay.

From here the journey continued to the craft village and a little retail therapy.

The heat now getting to some of the team, it was off to Dwejra, the inland sea to cool off.

We took a Luzzu through the cave and out to the deep blue sea, and swells!

Aaron enjoying the cliffs, and a boat ride

Back through the cave tunnel to the inland sea where the boys and Steph had a swim.

Missed our ride up back to the car….a punk tuk tuk!

One more stop…

The Salt pans…Jax and Mike checking out the salt sitting on top of the pools.

Then off to catch the ferry at 5.15pm.

Now home, a two and a half hour drive from the ferry docking….seriously 30kms distance and we could have driven from Auckland to Tauranga!!

We decided to set off early today, Sunday, and head to Mdina to get a car park!

Not so lucky but a little down the hill we got the two cars in a side street.

The arches under the gate to Mdina. The early start, however, paid off as we beat the crowds!

A very tall cactus dwarfing our six foot plus boys in the courtyard art gallery.

The circle of friends, Maltese style. insidethe walls, The kiwis all decided a coffee was in order, and for the first time in years we scored tables on the balcony above the wall.

Aaron and Mike

Jax and Steph. Out of the wind the day was already heating up.

A little souvenir shopping…

Arches and crests…

And alleyways – still green before the heat of summer turns this world brown.

This fantastic Maltese glass medusa lampshade.

As the crowds rolled in we rolled out! Perfect timing…. and decided to visit the Chadwick lakes on the way to the beach. This location was down one way farm roads, and has been known as a nature walk and picnic area. Nowhere to be found, for the kiwis who envisage a massive expanse of inland water! Expect the unexpected!

Jax perched on a rock, while Russ went in search of water….found a local, who said we were in the right place, but the lake (creek) had dried up.

Off the kiwi tour guide agenda! But, been there done that, and certainly off the beaten track.

Ok next stop Gnejna Bay, the not so tourist stop, with food trucks for lunch…

First stop for the younger generation. A walk for some, a swim for most, and half a book read for yours truly….sure felt like summer at the beach.

Sunday evening coming up and a catch up with cousins at Birgu, no more driving for the kiwis!

The town team stumbled in at 3am, so after hanging out the washing and Russ’s breakfast and exercises, us older Kiwis left the party crew sleeping and headed up for a visit with Kev and Rols (brothers) in Paola.

Down the alleyway, we found our car covered in splatters of fresh concrete from a construction site four stories up! Not set solid the first job upon arrival at Kevin’s was to wash this off! Note to self, don’t park near a building waste bin!

The deck at Kev and Rols, sporting the new trellis and passion fruit plants, a recent project.

And the flora looking very lush…

Coffee and catch up for the first time in a week, we headed back around midday…..everyone still sleeping.

I put up a shade cloth and enjoyed a cold coke.

Actually two, a 150mil can just wasn’t enough, but rather a cute little size!

Russ and I then went and grabbed lunch and took a walk down the superyacht moorings.

We found the boat that Chris (dans mate) worked on for nearly two years.

We then found the skipper, Phil that Chris worked for and had a yarn with him….Kiwis are thought very highly of on the superyachts!

Back home to take Steph for a dress fitting, she could stand up straight and Jaxon and Russ went to Kevin’s for a beer!

All back home now, Aaron is up and mike still resting….a quiet night ahead I think.

The rain has gone and the sun came out! The morning started with the kiwi crew taking over the Irish pub in Marsakala, to watch the blues draw with the bulls and an English Breakfast.

Jaxon and Mike not really enjoying the dying moments of the game.

We then took a drive to St Thomas bay, but a chill breeze deterred the team from a swim.

A classic parked on the point – the Angle Box!

We then headed towards home for what was supposed to be a cleaning exercise! Half the team decided to take a nap and the other half opted for a walk!

Sue, Mike and Aaron set off on a walking tour of Senglea

Through the gates of Senglea and Portside….

Aaron on the wall, avoiding dog poo and weeds, but enjoying a great view of the port action.

Superyacht in for a refit.

Close up view of the giraffe crane (Trudi) and…

Oil rigs in for maintenance, problem is they have been there for three years and becoming a blot on the landscape for the locals.

Out to the Garelja Garden lookout, to watch Plan B, a 73 meter superyacht move around in the harbour.

Dwarfing Fort St Angelo after a 180 degree spin in the harbour only to reverse back in to another mooring…..spot the Luzzu in the foreground!

The tour continued with a decent back down Harbourside.

Passing the local domestic pets singing away in an arched shade area and breathing in the sea air! One of four cages outside….

A brief refreshment stop at “Alice Springs” cafe on the way back.

Home again, the nappers awake and Coffee on the deck in the afternoon sunshine.

Mike sheltering under the mat washing, perfect gazebo from the blazing sun.

The day turned chilly and rather damp at times today! Perfect day to visit churches and Catacombes.

We all headed to Mosta, the birthplace of the kiwi Bonnici’s and visited the Mosta church – where a German bomb went through the dome into a congregation of three hundred people and did not detonate! This miracle celebrated every year following.

Aaron photobombing my picture of the phone booth with the church dome in the background.

The boys on the steps at the front of the church, and two Euro entry opened up a panorama of colour and gold…

A visit to the Mosta church is not complete without looking up

Inside the dome! Very humbling, the size and patterns inside and up!

Statues and marble! A glimpse into one of the many monuments

The bomb, both blonde and metal!

We then had a wander through the streets in hunt for the bonnici bakery, where my grandfather was brought up.

In an angelic part of Mosta – a landmark that we were close!

Jaxon and Sue in front of the homestead and business – no longer a bakery. I hope the owner didn’t think we were scoping out their home.

The rain clouds closing in we headed to Rabat and the first time Malta visitors explored the catacombes under the church while Russ and I enjoyed a coffee under an umbrella to keep dry.

Russ eyeballing a passing umbrella!!

The younger generation returned after their underground adventure and as we started walking towards Mdina, it poured with rain. Flagged this and headed to Pavi so Jaxon could have a big supermarket experience!

Dropped the boys and groceries back home and Steph and I took off to the airport (again) to swap my car and then to Paola for the wedding dress extravaganza! I will say no more.

This morning from the roof top deck we saw two huge cruise liners pull in for the day.

Steph and my planned dress hunting day in Valletta, looking to be hectic one!

Across on the 8.30 ferry, it appeared we had beaten the rush. But taking a quick loo stop at barrakka gardens, the attendant told us another ship was due in at midday….we decided that would be our full stop!

No boys in tow, we had a great investigative morning, hunting out options, and finding out that Steph needs to book an appointment! Lucky she started early in the trip….seems they are very busy with the impending summer season ahead.

Sure enough we escaped the bedlam by midday to meet up with the boys and head to St Peters Pool in maxxalokk in the south.

Standing at the edge after the decent and checking out the jellyfish! No swimming on this side, the opposite side jellyfish free.

Russ decked out in his chair, guarding the valuables!

A natural accessible deep sea pool with many jump options…. the three boys all jumped from the highest point!

Mike first, coz he’s the oldest!

Jaxon next….

And Aaron, Full stretch! the first of several jumps….

Steph and I slid into the shallows and Russ a little deeper until the jellyfish decided to move across.

A couple of hot sunny hours, relaxing on the rocks and the (single) boys enjoying the bikini clad scenery.

We then climbed out and bumped our way back along the longest potholed road in the south.

A brief detour to maxxalokk, the fishing village on the way home

Bringing in the nets after a days fishing.

Home on the deck after a fun day of shopping, swimming and sunning.

So the giraffe crane in Bormla is the landmark that brings us back home…

Spotted from the street market in birgu this morning – the Kiwis hit the market first thing.

Laden with cleaning products, fruit and veges, new seasons clothing and bras and undies for Africa! Only purchases today, a hat for Aaron, fresh strawberries, cherries, tomatoes, mushrooms and Maltese bread.

A little rest for Russ while we all caught up with each other before breakky and coffee in Victoria square, Birgu!

Then off to Valletta, Sue, Steph and Jaxon to the passport office, and do the final administration for Jaxon to become a fully fledged maltesa!

Perfect timing, no queues, and back through Valletta.

The guards outsides the presidents palace.

A peek inside the courtyard and Jax and Steph framed in the knights archway

Jax would have rocked the armour, just perfecting the 20’s pose!

Then after the ascent from lower Valletta to the upper barracka garden cafe a nice cool ‘cisk’

10 years after becoming a Maltese citizen – in a few days he will have the passport!

Ferry back to the old side, we collected my car, from yesterday’s street park and headed to Lidl, for a grocery shop, and lucked out with a park, on return, a mere 50 meters from our house!

The day ended with a cool drink, and view of flags flying (not sure what for) from our roof top deck, Mike helped cook dinner and Aaron on dishes.. not even here a week and we are living like locals.

A morning of local town shopping, in Figura and Paola….

The Paola church in the town square. Then back to the house, no parking again and had to leave the rental Car about two kilometres away! Jax and Russ had been out to the airport again and the other four arrived back about 15 minutes later. Russ had a nap and then we all headed for the first excursion to Valletta by ferry.

Jack has found a new profession – would need a good supply of sealegs!

On the roof of the ferry, the Kiwis basking in the sunshine.

Off on the other side we pulled in by one of the two cruise ships in harbour today.

No dinghy, this carries about 3000 passengers, and didn’t bode well for a peaceful time in Valletta….sure enough the Main Street was teeming with lines of walking tours. And very hot.

Steph and Jaxon cooling off under the fountain!

Mike making new friends – note the initiative used to support the flag pole.

A wander though the town and inside the Inquisitors Palace… first time I have seen the doors open.

Internal courtyard behind the walls, colourful gardens and palm trees.

We ended up at the lower barracks gardens, and a cool beer looking back at the grand harbour entrance on a clear blue day! Summer is definitely here today!

Back on the boat to our side, and two for one cocktails to end the day….

Was planning on another couple of hours work….this may not happen.

Aaron, Michael and Jaxon, the boys from Waiwera in Birgu…

Today presented us with a cool wind and orange rain – dust from North Africa has rained down on the decks, cars and streets of Malta.

Up early again, and a stroll to the car boot market in search of coffee mugs and a salad bowl! Mission accomplished off to victory square and the band club for an English breakfast!

Steph in the Main Street. Russ met us for coffee after breakfast and we headed to the supermarket, along with half of the locals. Being a Sunday the supermarkets are only open from 9-12, so a little panic shopping spree.

Out to the airport to collect Mike and the boys rental car….getting mike was easy but the rental car was tedious as processing was extremely slow!

Jaxon is driving! Back to the house for lunch anda catch up.

The downward view from the roof, not for the vertically challenged!

Mike making himself at home, but not allowed to sit on the wall unsupervised!

We are all off to visit our first round of cousins this arvo….can’t wait! A test for Jaxon’s driving from the south to the north and everything in between!

Let the good times roll the boys are all together!

Saturday, being a day off, no work for me today. Washing done and on the deck to dry, Russ and I decided to explore our local area, on foot.

Heading towards Victory Square in Birgu, a mere 500 meters up the road, we mingled with the Saturday morning shopping/socialising locals. On the hunt for a toaster, pegs and a dish brush and had a very successful shopping morning…followed by a cappuccino (or two) at one of our favourite haunts.

However, today is EU Election Day and the Labour Party headquarters were bursting st the seams, and an excessive amount of traffic and chaos on the roads.

What would usually take 15 minutes to drive to the airport, was a very stressful 40 minutes.

We collected the weary travellers, Jaxon, Steph and Aaron, who were very pleased to be grounded after 30 odd hours of travel.

Their hearts lifted after climbing the four flight to the rooftop deck!

I can now share with you our wonderful view of the grand harbour looking across to Valletta….

Three tired but happy kiwi travellers.

Hunger pangs started to kick in , it was now around 1pm, so we all walked around to the kiosk in Senglea, where they had their first taste of Cisk Excel, the local beer of choice.

Hamburgers and chips and three beers later, the eyelids were starting to droop, But not before a 30 minute walk back through the township of Senglea.

And past Russ’s local haunt from last year, which was buzzing with Election Day activity. I think a visit back there is in order when Election mania settles down.

Russ fell straight onto the bed and is lifting the roof off, say no more…. and it is very quiet in the upstairs apartment!

All are overwelmed with tiredness and excitement…Russ just needs his afternoon nap!