Slowly getting my feet on the ground and my head out of the clouds – sleep patterns still in euro timeframe, and still working 9 hours a day …. And still waiting for that Elusive bag who chose to continue being lost and wandering!

Yes that little (15kg) black and white one in the middle covered in butterflies is still spreading its wings!

Consequently after a whirlwind of socialising, working and cleaning the last few days, we arrived back on NZ soil Wednesday afternoon, being the last gals standing at the baggage roundabouts waiting for the elusive butterflies! To be clear, this is the bag with all the little treasures I found over the three months for my family and friends, my nasty old bag of well worn op shop clothes happily landed!

Needless to say, it was a longer than anticipated (or needed) after 35 hours of travelling, sojourn at Auckland airport whilst filling in missing baggage forms!

And that my friends is the last I have heard about the missing butterflies! I had one email telling me they are working hard to find my bag (that was on the 7th) now it’s the 10th – no update, no one answering phones, no call, no email, NADA! so sorry team – if you are waiting for your surprises, it doesn’t look like this is going to happen anytime soon!

My people here were happy to see me, help me settle in my now new home, Dan and his team having worked like slaves to get it ready for me! And as sleep has been evading me all the extra waking hours have been dedicated to rearranging and unpacking my possessions, and finding new homes for them!

Today, as it is the weekend, I need to collect my car and do a grocery shop! An expensive exercise in NZ where I hear a salad is out of the question!

Slowly I am getting my house in order and watch this space for the Mediterranean oasis in sleepy little Waiwera – will just need to get my hands on some fireworks and church bells! So there is life!

Many friends will appreciate the Maltese attitude to wine!

A big glass and almost to the top – half the price of kiwi pubs and not gone in one gulp! While possibly not so good for the liver – certainly good for the soul!

This last week is flying by in a blur of work and beaches! Up before the birds, 3-4am to clock my work day by midday and off to the beaches, swimming holes in the afternoons!

Sandy beaches

Rock swimming holes! Spoilt for choice and all only about 10-20 minutes away! Usually followed by a late afternoon lunch (doubling as dinner) ..

Yesterdays cafe of choice was in the top of the right building looking down the cliff into the Crystal clear water – certainly a room (terrace) with a view!

Too hot for cliff top playgrounds – the playground being the Mediterranean at this time of the year!

Well another work morning in progress, until I go to pick up George from airport for his one night stopover before he heads to Northern Europe and back to the States! A big family dinner tonight…

After a busy day yesterday, the 7am visit to the Carboot market had limited enthusiasmy this morning and a preferred slow crawl of coffee (and tea) on the deck was much more appealing as the sun rose in another clear blue sky!

Jill had a book to read and I decided to relieve my Monday work pressure by clearing the weekend emails (Before Monday NZ time kicks in while I am sleeping)

Around midday we took off in the car (GPS on help mode) and drove to the Dingli cliffs on the rugged farming side of Malta..

On the edge looking down on cliff side farming

The sheerness is not actually portrayed in the photos!

Further along the cliffs we came upon the Church of St Mary Magdalen first discovered in 1575 in this remote area and restored for public worship in 1646 – while I fail to imagine where the parishioners would come from as even today this is a sparsely populated area!

The breeze however on the cliff side was almost a wind and extremely refreshing! We then supported the locals and brought a prickly pear chocolate, from the food truck, for Sammy (my cousin) as we were headed there for a mid afternoon lunch!

However, as we were not far from Ghar Lapsi, the much talked about must visit swimming hole (known as a beach to locals) at the southern end of the cliffs, a short visit there before our lunch date was in order

We paid our one euro and parked at the front (of course) and refrained from a swim, we have an afternoon of swimming and lunch planned for later in the week with our cousins!

We did however enjoy a cool drink from the terrace restaurant on the cliff edge looking down at the Sunday swimmers.

It is much quieter during the week and we will be able to stake a rock claim with ease!

Back in the car and GPSing it to Attard for our traditional Maltese dish of rabbit! One of Russell’s favourites! Anna and Sammy and Jill and I had a delicious (huge) mid afternoon lunch – doubling as dinner and a sweet treat as well! We are getting very spoiled! Sammy sneaked off for an afternoon nap while Anna and Jill and I spent the rest of the day chatting (as girls do)

Home around 6, a quiet evening on the deck as the sun went down and an early Sunday evening – ready for work (Sue) and exploring (Jill) in the morning….and maybe a beach afternoon!

With only a little over a week until we leave this second home of mine, the days are flying by!

Looking relaxed? Don’t let looks fool you, life here is a hive of activity! The end of last week disappeared into a blur of work and shopping days!

Friday morning got up at 3am – 1pm nz time to get through work by 10am – when everyone in NZ had finished for the weekend! Jill and I had a plan….Valletta then Sliema for the day before meeting Tracey(our new friend) for 2 for 1 cocktails at the Rouge cafe at 5pm (this gave us an hour of happy hour to set us up for the evening)

On arriving in Valletta around 11.30am we discovered that a festival (of Maltese beer) “Pinta” was happening over the weekend – a few hours of shopping, coffee and exploring put paid to the Sliema side trip, as we had to get back to Paola (drop shopping and shower) before heading off for our night out! The beer fest was not met with much enthusiasm by Jill and as I’m not keen on shoulder to shoulder crowds we opted for pre arranged Plan A for Friday night! So Rouge Cafe it was!

Ok, so it looks like I was having a little rest – but towards the end of the night (having missed the last bus home) I was contemplating an Uber, while the girls finished their wine! Having been up since three am and falling into bed at midnight I had probably earned a little shut eye time!

Today, Saturday, Jill had a nail appointment at 8am so we got up early, if a little dusty and decided a big brunch (after nails) was in order before exploring my favourite part of this world – the old cities of Senglea (breakfast) And Birgu!

Breakfast was accompanied by the blasts of fireworks from Birgu who were gearing up for the feast of St Dominic! Having secured a park for “Vivienne” (the car) we set off on foot to jump on a luzzu harbour cruise on the other side of the harbour!

Cruising past the superyachts in Birgu harbour

The army training (pirate) ship – moored at Valletta.

Chased by a police boat when our skipper looked like we might be getting too close to the fireworks at Birgu!

The tankers fuelling up in Rinella bay

Circling the grand harbour gates and lighthouses! Luckily I was familiar with the landmarks as our skipper had very poor English and I could give Jill a commentary of sorts!

Cruising back down the southern side of Valletta – the beach and summer holiday baches.

Caves

And Rocks that are the foundation of Maltas capital! Back to rest on the Birgu side and another coffee needed! So we headed up to the square which is usually sporting some nice peaceful (and in the shade) cafes!

Not today! The lead up to tonight’s feast was in full swing! (at midday)

Band powering out music (really loud)

Folks singing and chanting (really loud)

And streets adorned with bunting! We did find a little side alley were we could get a coffee (the push button type) and some shade! (Still really loud) The city was gearing up for a big night!

There was one tourist attraction we were determined to get under our belts – The Malta at War Museum – a little further up the streets of Birgu! Having visited several air raid shelters over the past few weeks, this was a must….so underground we went again!

The story of the Second World War from the Italian attacks to the Germans almost claiming victory and the destruction these seiges wreaked on the Island of Malta from 1938 to 1944. You can certainly admire the resilience of my ancestors! From stories, movies, relics of the war, to poverty and almost starvation of the Maltese people – there was so much to read and see, I only took a couple of photos!

A range of Bombs unleashed by the Germans!

And the all important care package for the soldiers and sailors who defended this country!

Again there was also a maze of underground shelters – self tour – which took us well underground, ducking and descending into what felt like airless rooms, where the Maltese people lived for up to four years while the city above them (and their homes) were reduced to rubble! Two hours later we emerged into the afternoon sunshine and the last stop of the day was a much earned dip in the sea off the Senglea harbour point! Cooling off our hot bodies and feet!

But wait there’s more, one more stop I spied – La Guardiola gardens lookout above our swimming hole at the northern tip of Senglea

The watch tower – surveying the panorama of todays adventures!

A quick trip to the supermarket and home to clean decks and floors – with the ongoing construction surrounding us this is a daily task!

To be on the sea again – a 50ft yacht and a bunch of people we had never met! Jill and I were picked up by our new friend Gill and Lawrie and met 5 other ladies 2 blokes and a couple of kids, captain and his daughter deckhand!

Leaving Ta Xbiex marina (the largest marina in Malta) a little after 9am and under power out past the city of Valletta

Sun blocked and hats off as there was a bit of a breeze…bikini clad 60 somethings up on the bow and the rest of us hanging out in the comfy seats…

We set sail, we’ll the sail was up but the motor still running –

Up the coast past the high rises of Sliema and st Julian’s to a bay on Comino – the smallest of the Maltese islands (in the middle of Malta and Gozo….Swim time

It was all overboard – water slightly cooler than the shallow waters of the beaches! The others had all bought masks and snorkels and Jill and I our swimming sunglasses! Just as we were getting back on boat, me first, followed by Jill the infamous Jellyfish got her! It was a quick scrape with credit card to remove the stingers and a magic ointment and the after effects were next to nothing!

We headed out again and over towards Gozo and the southern bays. I must admit I was getting quite hungry by now – all the punters had brought a plate and I was looking forward to the shared lunch (our contribution was bacon and egg pie and fresh fruit)

We pulled into a bay just around from Mgarr and the feast began! These English ladies sure know how to cook – salads, chicken quiches, followed by fruit and homemade chocolate cake and lemon cake!

The sea here was full of Jellyfish and no one was game to risk a swim so we powered back to Comino and another bay, where only the odd one was swimming past! Most got in, but I decided not to tempt fate as I have been sting by these guys before and it wasn’t a pleasant experience! I donned an over shirt having had enough sun for the day and downed a couple of bottles of water!

Late afternoon – under sail and motor we headed back, Gill and Lawrie dropped us back to Paola around 7pm – a day a sea sure takes it out of you and showered and clean into bed for a early night!

Thursday was a bit of work while on holiday then a car sale day! Rols red cappuccino was ready to go! As Rols is now back in France I was entrusted with the transaction! Reconnecting battery, starting her up, meeting the buyer (in the garage) and signing paperwork and collecting the “dosh”. All went well after double counting the sale cash in the back of the garage, it was off to the bank to deposit in Rols account! A two hour wait (standing) waiting for the one (on trainer wheels) cashier, only to be told they don’t accept cash? Back to receptionist to ask what I do to then be told “sit down lady, there’s others before you”. Now while the thought of sitting down sounded like bliss after two hours of standing, I was getting a little cross wondering how much longer this would take as I did not want to wander out with the pile of cash! Finally, as the bank was closed (by now) and I wasn’t moving, a nice young man took me into his office and explained I could feed it into the money machine outside! I looked blankly and as he was probably wanting to go home he very kindly said he’d help! So off we went to deposit several bundles at a time and the “machine” counts and issues receipts! One hiccup where the “machine” stopped and spat out 2×10€ notes as one was a bit folded – and we started again! 4 x 100€ notes to go and my new best friend said not to put these in as the machine will jam! So we tallied up all the receipts (5 of them) and te total was 100€ short – somewhere along the process (probably the 10€ hiccup) the “machine” had lost 100€! My new friend emailed in a query and promised to let me know when the days takings were counted – that was Thursday – still waiting Sunday evening….so I’m guessing my sales commission has been lost in cyberspace! (Along with my tolerance for Maltese banks)

Having to gather myself for an evening outing, it was off to my cousins Neville and Michelle and almost 2 year old Mason Blake (meeting him for the first time) We had a lovely BBQ and took to the homeward journey like a duck out of water, missing the bypass and detouring along the northern waterfront in the night time traffic but eventually arriving home (11.30pm)

Friday was a work catch up morning for me, a shopping excursion ( before 1pm closing) more work for me in the afternoon and off to Sammy and Anna’s for Sammy’s famous seafood marinara spaghetti! Another delicious meal out!

Saturday morning saw another plumbing issue needing to be solved – this time the apartment below us, but as we have the roof, and the access is through Jills room, we were all up bright and early for the 7.30am visitors!

Day planned, we left our neighbours to lock up so we could reach Mdina(the silent city) in the middle of the island early!

And it was lovely and silent – us being the first patrons on the wall terrace cafe for morning coffee at 9.30am! Looking here back at the city

And our table with a view from the wall…

Words of wisdom in the cafe garden below…

Followed by a wander through the still quite quiet city…

A little shopping in the Mdina glass shops and back out over the bridge and moat gardens….

As the mainstream hoards of 11am tourists flocked in – groups of French school kids, English, Italian the main visitors to the Island this summer it seems!

Next on the agenda was St Paul’s Grotto – St. Paul’s Grotto is set beneath the beautiful St. Paul’s Church in Rabat. According to the Book of Acts it was here that St. Paul and his missionary party took refugee after their ship wrecked on the island of Malta on their way from Crete to Rome. It was also after their arrival to St. Paul’s Grotto in Malta that they began preaching about Christianity to the Maltese people, he became reknown as a miracle healer!

But first a side trip to the Tiny church St. Cathaldus catacombs dating back to the 17th century

No longer a place of worship as they cannot find a priest – we had a long chat with the old lady volunteer who was manning the fort and graciously accepting donations from those who visited the underground site!

Then off to the Grotto, the catacombs and the underground shelters of St Paul’s Church. For a mere senior citizens rate of €3.50 each Jill and I spent the next hour under ground (becoming a habit) exploring:

Halls of stone rooms that served as shelters in WWII – some of the Maltese tiles remain where the people tried to make it homely…

Raised tables for eating…

Remnants of carvings and wall decoration from the catacombs

Catacombs

St Paul’s grotto – note the silver ship lantern hanging from the roof!

Shrines to honour St Paul, and above ground the church…

Included in our €3.50 was entrance to the art and artefacts gallery and museum of oil paintings, church adornments, vestibules from the ages! No photographs allowed…so none taken!

You will have to be content with the following pictures of Jill and I enjoying a leisurely late lunch in the museum garden cafe.

And of course some liquid refreshments! This driving thing is good for my sobriety – only one beer at lunch allowed!

From here we were heading to Dingli Cliffs, but due to the fact I headed north instead of south – easy mistake – circled the same town three times – we gave up and headed home, in time for a feet up and book read!

Both rising around 6pm and making an executive decision to not stay home on a Saturday night, it was a quick spruce up and off to Valletta for a drink and a bite and Valletta nighttime action!

City full of cafes, tourists, locals, music and lights! a lot of pedestrian seats means these are lined with outdoor dining and it was a lottery choice for a cocktail and dinner! I would say we fell on the upside of the lottery (and price) but the food was good as was the service!

Lit up “Jellyfish” streamers just a part of the night lights, and lighted up alleys and buildings. Back towards the bus terminal we just had to stop and listen to a fabulous (male) singer belting out Adele songs that would equal her performance! Of course we had to buy a drink to sit at the table!

Nearing 11pm we dived on the first bus and were tucked up in bed by midnight!

This morning (Sunday) it was beach day! Out the door by 9am and fighting for a park at 9.20 am at Pretty Bay already humming with Sunday beach goers!

Staking our patch of sand with towels and brolly we had a coffee at the kiosk before cooling off in the Mediterranean (a couple of times) Another cousin Marcella and her Dad Lino duly arrived (en motorbike) and a Cold drink and catch up at the kiosk was had by all!

The last two days we have been on a mini holiday to Gozo – the 2nd smaller island of the Maltese Islands and stayed at Xlendi Bay

St Patrick’s hotel on the shores of Xlendi Bay – the valley view top floor rooms (2) and a fabulous deck….

Wind back – 7am yesterday Jill and I left our southern town of Paola and headed north, collecting my cousin Anna on the way (a girls weekend midweek) !

We reached the top of the island around 8am catching the ferry (car and three gals) around 8am… half hour ferry and unload (car and gals again) and hit Victoria (Rabat) the capital of Gozo at 9, as the world was coming to life!

First stop coffee! Anna’s hat not so high, the bunting from the feast of St Maria still adorning the streetS!

Then the shops all opened at around 9.30…having Anna as our local guide, we explored new areas and shops poked away from the main drag (yes heating up and dripping!) And fabulous Gozo treasures…I even found the often visited charity shop still going strong even after the Covid struggles! The morning disappeared into a blur of diving in and out of the airconditioned shops -and around midday we sat down(in a cafe under a fan) for a lunch of shared pizza! Then the next activity was the Cittadella (basilica of Gozo) –

The fortress on the top of the hill – Jill took herself off to circumnavigate the fortress and Anna and I scrambled for shaded streets

Right side only! Heading down to relax on the steps…

Caught napping from Jill above! Relaxing in the shade! Around mid afternoon we headed off to visit the miracle church Ta Pina and on to Xlendi Bay to book into our hotel! (St Patrick’s hotel on the waterfront)

And swimming! To wash away the heat of the day! The copious amounts of water we had drunk barely keeping us hydrated, it was certainly time to sit in the shade at a seaside bar (restaurant) and take on some more liquid refreshments!

I was a beer down when Jill finally received her cocktail!

Back to the penthouse apartment (room) and showers all round, having checked out the menu at “Pirates Gallery” (the bar of choice – mainly due to the shade) we had booked in for dinner at 8pm!

A team Photo after a fabulous dinner of local specialities!

A big day of walking, shopping, eating and lots of liquid, we retired and slept like babies!

The next morning, included in our hotel room was a full breakfast! Of everything you could want….and we fulled ourselves to the brim! planning a swim before checking out at midday!

Breakfast view! And a walk around the point to walk off full tummies!

The inlet where the baby sharks are born (so they say)

And a morning wake up swim, before heading back to pack up, shower and hit the road on day two!

The afternoon before, we were very proud of ourselves to find a park(for the night) in the shade of trees and where we could keep an eye on Vivienne (the car) from our balcony! Only to find upon return the next morning, the birds had taken a huge delight in covering her with their excretement! We couldn’t even see from the windows and with the heat their droppings had cemented like concrete all over the car! Anna raced off to buy water while Jill and I used our wet (swimming) towels to at least clean the windows so I could see out while driving! Not a good clean but good enough to see us through the day!

A visit to the craft village – more water! More sweating and Vivienne (the car) performing like a champion in the heat – aircon on when going downhill and off getting up the steep climbs of Gozo!

The view from the top of Zabbar back towards the capital (Victoria) before descending (very slowly) down a very off the beaten track steep decline to the shores of the northern salt pans in the coastal rocks! Around the coast to Marsalforn (a coastal seaside tourist town) for an afternoon hit off caffeine (still full from breakfast – no food needed)

Nearing 3pm we decided – getting hotter and wetter (sweating) it was time to head back to the car ferry and start our journey home! Luck was on our side and we were the second to last car to load on the next ferry! Arriving back at Anna’s house around 5pm! We offloaded a very tired (and hot) Anna and headed south. Today the temperature hit 47degrees! So we did very well with our adventures – fueled by water to make it home in three pieces!

However, last job of the day was to clean Vivienne (the car) as her blue paintwork was dotted with brown and white caked on bird poo! I sent Jill with the bags and washing upstairs (with strict orders to put my beer in the freezer) and I scrubbed and hosed Vivienne in the street (at least in the shaded side) another round of dripping sweat!

It was time to relax – showers on the deck from the hose, more cold drinks and fall into bed! A great midweek weekend mini break!

Carboot successful if somewhat sweaty – imagine a dust covered soccer pitch in 35 degrees- 8 am in the morning! Dragging thru piles of second had clothes with Everyone else that had ventured out early on a Sunday morning!

The haul! €8 euros each – something for everyone! We will keep you guessing!

Throwing the stash into the boot of our car, I cracked my head on the latch and had a few minutes of dizziness and an ongoing egg just above my temple – feeling a little queasy it was a wander through Birgu (before the sun hit the south side), a coffee (actually 2) in the square and along this area and through the narrow division to the north side…

The isthmus that separates Birgu from Fort St Angelo! And the super yacht harbour…

We watched this big girl come to rest a couple of days ago! Then, being a Sunday we took a quick visit to the supermarket before 1pm closing! Groceries unloaded we the needed an ocean dip – A harbour plunge and coctail (strawberry daiquiri) and a refreshing salad for a late lunch!

Monday, no work(just a couple of email forwardings) and I took Jill to St. Peter’s pool, before the crowds! Today, Monday, was a public holiday – St Mary’s day, the day the US arrived in 1942 with supplies that rescued the impoverished, hungry and almost ready to throw in the towel Maltese people!

It was a quick dip as the southerly winds were creating a bit of a swell into the rocks and there were jellyfish in the upper reaches of the pool that we wanted to avoid!

We had booked, the one thing I really wanted to do – the underground tunnels of Valletta (the capital city fortress) tour at 1pm. Easiest to catch a bus and time for a relaxing coffee at a Maltese bar beforehand…

In the shade and coolness of the stone Arches!

Then, “Underground Valletta” the water tunnels from the 1500s, and later the war shelters for 38000 residents of Valletta in the Second World War – when Malta was the most bombed country in this seige! The Maltese lived underground for up to three years, in damp tunnels and on very strict food rations! Their homes razed to the ground by German bombs!

Small 3×3 carved out rooms housed families up to 8 people!

The ancient water reservoirs(from the 1500s) letting in oxygen and a small glimpse of the outside world!

Tunnels dug out and crisscrossing the full fortress (area of the city under seige above) Valletta – electricity minimal(and unreliable) with the bombings and candles lit the way – cooking only done at the entrances so as not to decrease the oxygen levels! A tour certainly worth doing for anyone visiting Malta to experience the darkness and dampness of underground living in WWII – I can certainly understand why my grandfather chose to leave and make a new life in New Zealand as a young man!

We emerged cool into the mid afternoon heat (after an hour underground) and headed to the Upper Baracka garden cafe for a cool beer before catching the bus home!

Showers, washing and packing for our excursion tomorrow to Gozo(the smaller Maltese island) for a couple of days! Road and car ferry trip! 6am wake up call!

Waking up early on the first day of my holiday (yes no work for a week) – what?

She’s been on holiday for weeks you say! But working most days for a few hours including weekends! So yesterday, Saturday finished up at 10am and determined to make every minute of my week count, we hit the road!

First stop, charity shops Marsacala – driving the southern coast road to Marsaxlokk..which actually has its big market day today…temperatures rising, further south to Birzebbuga (pretty bay) ..

For a dip and a snack – mum and I used to spend some days here drinking coffee and eating hot chips!

Under the brollies at the kiosk at the north end, where all the Maltese people hang out ( and two white kiwi gals) Refreshed and cooling in our wet bathing suits we headed south through the town of Hal Far and some very interesting (narrow) farm roads- stone walls in either side – until our noses led us to Zurriq and sign posts appeared directing us to the Blue Grotto…

High on the hill…

Is the Maltese Falcon …. Waiting for tourist attention!

And way down below! Lookout point atop the cliffs of the Blue Grotto! We drove down as far as we could go – greased the palm of the car park attendant and parked up!

Then the tourist luzzu (boat) trip – Jill and I got the front seats of a dinghy like arrangement (with small smelly diesel outboard motor)

It was a bit of a race (with other boats) in and out of caves

Cool in the caves and searing hot in the sun! The driver spouting off a few words in what he thought was English, but we couldn’t understand a word, meanwhile our fellow tourists behind us didn’t stop taking in their language – Indian I think – and kinda spoiled the ambience!

Eyespy keyhole! The thunderstorms of Friday certainly a thing of the past!

The colours of the sea…

And the rocks towering above! It really is beautiful and ignoring the incessant buzz of 50 horse power motors on the steady stream of luzzus (boats) zooming in and out of caves ( hate to think what this is doing to the natural eco system) and the hoards of tourists (like us) taking boat trips and lining the rocky shores , the Blue Grotto seems to be holding its own!

Getting later in the afternoon it was time to navigate the roads again back to our original starting point (Marsacala) and the Irish Pub for a dose of All Black Rugby, some what hesitantly, as their last few tests against South Africa and Ireland which have been lost! But this test needed to be won to regain some pride out of the tour! And the team (staff) now remember me and had it all ready to go at 5pm! A nail biting 80 minutes, a plate of buffalo wings and wedges, two beers, two bottles of sparkling water and a few roars from the crowd (Jill and I) and the boys in black pulled it off!

7pm and time to head home (a 15 minute final leg) But no, the adventures were not over! On my well known route (not many of these here) we came across a huge car crash (blocking the entire rode and some very damaged vehicles) we and 50 others got turned around to hunt for alternative routes! This was a case of follow your nose, or the guy in front, keep looking for a familiar landmark – ok so after a while massive churches and roundabouts all take in a similarity! 8pm, our 15 minute journey took an hour, not too bad by Sue driving in Malta standards!

And this morning it’s Carboot Market Mornibg at 7am!

It’s been a busy three days initiating Jill into Malta life and I must say she is embracing it in more ways than one!

Having christened her new bikini on the first day, Wednesday she ventured into the business world – when I had to register Russell’s passing (as a Maltese citizen) – so it was a bit of waiting in the identity office for my turn!

Then off to St Thomas bay for brunch and a swim! Last time travelling with Jill in Rome – she lost her prescription sunglasses – this time it was her new bikini Knickers! Having changed into dry clothes before heading home for the evening – the missing Knickers were no where in sight when loading washing machine!

Thursday I had a very important Nail refurbish appointment and it was a night in after a shopping morning and nail afternoon!

LUCKILY – this very important item was purchased as a separate piece – so replacement knickers are now in safe possession! Not needed yet as we then experienced 25hours of thunderstorms and yes, for the first time since I arrived in June, RAIN!

Today, was the booked in advance visit to the world historical site just down the road – The Hypogeum – A Neolithic subterranean structure dating to the Saflieni phase (3300 – 3000 BC) in Maltese prehistory. The Hypogeum is thought to have been a sanctuary and necropolis, with the remains of more than 7,000 people. A little claustrophobic as we were both a bit dusty from a couple of wines the night before, and hanging out for our morning cappuccino!

However we had to wait a bit longer as the hatched plan was a wander around the capital city of Valletta – we caught the ferry from here, Senglea, to the city across the harbour!

My middle offspring looking for a job right now – and I found the perfect solution – from working from home to the other side of the world! Quite a big step!

Racing to catch the street market before midday, only to find it wasn’t really happening due to the thunderstorms that only rained themselves out while we were underground at the hypogeum! So an early lunch (11.30) was next on the agenda and the long awaited cappuccino!

Roaming the streets of Valletta….

Rebel sports in all its glory…

Past the Malta at war museum…anyone need a large anchor?

To the memorial (bell tower) of Malta being awarded the George Cross in 1942. This view from the lower barrakka gardens! Where after the rain the temperature was soaring and the sweat glands (and everything else) was on fire!

A seat in the almost shade to regain our composure and breath, before walking the southern side of the wall …

Past the holiday bachs and Valletta rock swimming hole!

Then watching the new Gozo fast ferry heading out of the breakwater at the tip of the city.

The day fading (and the wanderers) we headed back on our return ferry ride to a very hot little Vivien (Subaru) and up the highway for Jills first venture north to visit Anna and Sam for a cuppa in Attard! What started as a dusty morning turned into a big day as we finally arrived home around 6pm with nearly 10000 steps under our belt! Tis an early and quiet night ahead as I need to tie off some loose work ends in the morning before I clock out for my week off!