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…

While Trudi spied from above!!!

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!

Yesterday was pool day for the wanderers – we decided to venture back in the water after not swimming since our tummy bugs! Here in Malta there are a number of ‘Lidos’ or beach/pool clubs where you can pay for the loungers and umbrella, usually a kiosk or restaurant on site and in this case a big swimming pool!

We chose one in the south (close to us) at Marsacala which we loaded ourselves up and decided to spend the afternoon at!

It was 10€ for the full day and as we didn’t arrive until 1.30pm we thought it might be cheaper – especially as we mentioned we only wanted a couple of hours! But no, they saw us coming, two old blondes (obviously not Maltese as most of the clientele was) and it was 10€! We were given a wrist band in fluoro yellow stripes and told how nice it was (the piece of paper strapped to our wrists!)

In some cases one just grins and bears it as we were there, we were hot, and we were 20€ (for both) poorer!

It was cool in the shade, cooler in the water and the entertainment of watching the locals play was interesting to say the least!

The water seemed clean, but as there was no chlorine smell we still avoided putting our heads under.

After a couple of hours, around 4pm we decided it was time to move on and check out the swimming holes (off the rocks and free) across the road…

This area looks over the rock formed salt pans and is very barren and unpopulated…just inside the harbour point there are ramps leading to deep (more healthy we assume) swimming holes…

Three people were in the water which gave us hope for a return visit…

Sue was down and Trudi was up on the promenade…however as the afternoon was scorching we filed this spot for a future visit and hightailed it to the Irish Pub – Lemon and Lime a regular haunt from previous years visits…sitting outside in the shade, looking at the fishing boat preparing for their next voyage and inhaling our first drink!

Very relaxing as our two bedraggled bodies (from afternoon swimming and sweating) cooled down and dried off!

The evening progressed very nicely, Sue mindful of the drive home and limiting alcohol intake! This, however, did not stop us making new friends and ultimately being invited to a bbq on Friday night!

Which may have seemed like a good idea at the time….waking up this morning not so sure! Oh well we will see….safety in numbers we say and Trudi has worked in a prison in her work life!

After a terrace clean and sheets wash(out to dry on the clean, terrace) the demolition team across the road, arrived on Saturday morning….and clouded the air with sandstone dust!

The digger is down to the next level, in its compounding pile of sandstone bricks! Thank goodness the washing dries in 30minutes and can be rescued!

There was also activity on the roof terrace next door….as a crane blocked the road below and hoisted a spa pool to be placed next to our wall…

Which now initiates…a constant bubbling and loud music and loud talking, invading our evening relaxation on our terrace…just a little more noise to add to the already rowdy Maltese environment!

So it was out of here on Saturday morning, bus to Valletta….to join the multitude of tourists from the two ships that arrived in port overnight….

We found some peace in the Valletta band club…

Along with a 5€ full English breakfast including cappuccino and more water!

Valletta was celebrating its feast this weekend….

And along with the throngs of humans, streamers afoot and fireworks (in the middle of the day) the shops were airconditioned and the streets providing shade…

We settled on a park bench outside St Paul’s cathedral under trees…opposite the high court!

A place that my brother and I have fond (not) memories of when we battled out a three year court case to reclaim our deposits from some dodgy developers, a few years ago!

The padlock on fence thing has obviously become a worldwide fad…

Even when not adorning a bridge!

More meandering, in the shade, brought us to our next drink stop, near the upper end of Valletta..

Too hot for coffee and over a cool drink we decided the Ferry/bus option home would be our final leg…Ferry’s run from Valletta to our side every 30 minutes and buses are constant, so a perfect connection meant we were back in our air-conditioned apartment in time to settle down for and evening of Olympic Athletics!!

Sunday, gave us the family mid afternoon lunch, prepared with love by Sue’s cousin Anna, and as usual delicious! Sunday is also a good day to take Vivienne (car) out as traffic is mostly clear….

This week we will return to the sea…after our upset tummies last week, we have been a little hesitant…but no heads under, and hunt for deep water in non tourist areas!

Have been in hibernation for a couple of days, watching Olympics and recovering from upset tummies!

Today was the first day we felt like leaving the house (and air conditioning) and it was a trip to Lidl (supermarket) for supplies! Dropping the frozens at home and down to senglea cafe for a coffee and bruschetta!

A cool breeze and watching the boats go by….

Our table with a view…a small snack and plenty of water…we decided to go in hunt of a friend we made 6 years ago….

In the streets of senglea…we found the house, with open windows and a dog barking but no Carmen…

So we gave up on finding her and wandered down to Bormla to find Trudi’s hairdresser Francesco… website saying salon open until 6pm.. but on a hot Friday afternoon…..

Continue reading “R&R&Rumbly Tummies” →

Popeye village in Malta where the original Popeye movie was filmed in 1980, starring the late Robyn Williams, has been restored and now is a big (tourist) attraction on the Island…Tuesday wanderings meant a trip for Trudi, Sue and Anna (Sue’s cousin) to this northern end of Malta and into the world of Popeye and Olive Oil!!!

The village is unique in Malta due to the fact it is built from timber – a rarity where everything else is stone!

The general store…

The mayor’s office

Rooms for rent (thought we’d book a night)…until…

Inside the options were limited…

However the afternoon tea was tempting!

And Anna found her favourite place in the kitchen!

Trudi was tumbling in the crooked house…

And the artwork carefully hung!

The residents had gone fishing…

And Popeye was lying at rest….or was he????

Minimalistic gardening….

And elaborate letterboxes…

Enough of the village on a 36 degree day…back to the double sunbeds (one each)…

And the rooms with the view…

Looking down to the swimming hole…

Due to the temperature today…a large part of our afternoon was spent swimming, eating, sweating and drinking fluids! Rinse and repeat…

Around 4pm the sun was dropping and our sunbed shade was diminishing fast….slowly pack up, cover up…

And head up!!! A very steep climb for three hot gals! Into a very hot Vivienne (car) and head south to drop our partner in crime home, grab a cocktail and a pizza on the way and park up for the evening…not before leaving our mark at Popeye village…

Our signatures on the green board in the museum!!