With another blue sky sunny 30+ degrees Celsius day, weekend washing (dry in 30 minutes) coffee and into Vivienne (car) for the first time in five days…

As yesterday was a big reading book day, our reading material has come to an end so we headed south to the Marsacala charity shops to replenish!

First one – three books each, this should keep us going for a while at 50c a pop!

Second one – three dresses (Sue) for the price of two, a grand total of €8!

Then off to St Thomas bay for a coffee and a swim!

A small sandy beach and a Lido (beach club) on the rocks

After cooling off in the water we were heading back to the car when we spied a newish tavern in the middle of all the Maltese beach baches…a little peckish we decided to check it out, both gasping for a cool drink!

In the shade with a slight sea breeze and a cool drink we decided to order lunch ….

Choosing the entree garlic Thai prawns and a side salad – just what the doctor ordered! We will definitely be returning to this one!

Looking across the road out to the locals marina…

More realistically sized boats (no superyachts) looking south to the cliffs

And the view north as we headed back to the car! The swimming coastline!

Mid afternoon driving with open window air conditioning and not many cars, we returned to our abode, via the supermarket to absorb some more Olympic entertainment (so long as the British are competing we get to see the events) horse eventing, archery, the rugby sevens until the British lose, a bit of swimming, skateboarding and judo! SO FAR….

A weekend of feasts, fireworks and village fiesta!

After a late return from Sicily on Friday night, Saturday found us shopping with the locals for vegetables and drinks and clearing out the apartment. In readiness for the promised kiwi lamb roast dinner for Sue’s family. Preparing a roast in Malta in Summer is a little challenging…using the oven for the first time here, timing to have ready for a late (by kiwi standards) dinner after the sun goes down!

The family arrived around 8pm and all was ready…

Terrace dining area set up…and cleaned(again)…

The roast lamb (pre sliced into steaks?) ready to serve…

The wine poured

And dinner enjoyed to the sound and sights of the evening fireworks!

Then the much awaited Sue chocolate self saucing pudding…

Cousin Anna had brought the ice cream!

All a welcome feast (meat and veges) after the bread and pastries in Sicily!

That was the kiwi feast, and even the dishwasher came out to play to clean up after! Another appliance we barely use here!

Sunday became a day of rest…after two late nights (for the kiwis anyway) and book reading and Olympic Games watching were high on the agenda!

The fiesta in Paola was culminating in the evening…after a week of activities, and the afternoon was like the calm before the storm…all the flags were lowered from the flagpoles, which is unusual. Checking with the cousins, evidently this happens when a prominent village member passes away…

Needless to say around 8pm there was activity as people were all heading to the piazza…so off we went…just in time to catch the parade…

Lining the (closed) Main Street of Paola with the locals!

The Church was lit up and people enjoying family time drinking Coke and Kinnie (and the odd beer)

The inside of the church also lit up and full of visitors

The brass band hammering out music, while everyone (didn’t realise there were so many people in Paola) wandered around, as all the seats were well and truly taken!

Sampling the local sweets – nougat in rice paper for the kids and big kids…which was not really nougat as we know it…tasted like the white icing one puts on Christmas cakes – we graciously took a bite and said yum and wandered around the corner and deposited the rest in a bin…

As our rest day had made us tired, we wandered back to the apartment (to read more and watch olympics) as the fireworks cranked up again…this time in the night sky we could see the lights and not just weather the constant banging!

Finally at around 11pm feasts, fiestas and fireworks (and two kiwis) were put to bed!

Our last day in Pozzallo, Sicily…we both woke feeling like bacon and eggs…but when in Rome(or Italy at least) ….

The choice of pastry and sweet breads is unlimited!!! A lemon tart was the lesser of all evils!

Last coffee on our rooftop (shared space) before packing our small bags and descending the four flights of stairs for the last time, we headed to the beach for the day, checkout was 10am and our ferry wasn’t leaving until 7pm…

We had booked a brolly and two loungers for the day – which turned out to be €25 for both of us, not the €25 each we were quoted upon booking…

A perfect place to spend a cool peaceful day, reading (Sue) swimming(both) and Trudi soaking in all the activities around….

The beach hawkers lugging their wares up and down the beach…selling everything from jewellery to dresses to sunglasses to beach toys and a lot more “stuff” that we didn’t need! Probably the most friendly locals in Pozallo, always with a smile on their faces!

We made friends with a young Irish couple who had come for a day trip from Malta and had collapsed in the shade near us, after the hot hike from the Ferry terminal..,,arranging to share a taxi with them back to the return ferry in the evening as none of us wanted to attack the hot 40 minute walk in the afternoon sun!

Asking at the beach bar where we could book a taxi, and being told there are no Bolt or Uber drivers in Pozallo, a very kind lady from Iceland adviced me that we need to ring the only taxi company and I took a photo of the card she had! I rang and of course no English but was told to msge in WhatsApp and they would translate! We were a little anxious when they didn’t arrive at 5.30 but a received WhatsApp message around 5.45 he was on his way..

The van arrived with the Iceland people already in it, and loaded the kiwis and the Irish! I think we were the extent of the tourists in Pozzallo this day!! Who had all spent the day at the beach!

We had booked the club class for the return journey, upper deck, bar and food!

And a great view from the outside areas…

As we sailed into the setting sun at 7pm…

A cool breeze outside and rather cold aircon inside!

Catching the Stairway to heaven and the changing colours of the evening sky as the sun dropped…

The final pink glow as the sun dipped behind clouds clinging to the horizon on the Mediterranean Sea!

A relaxing day completed by a beautiful sea crossing as we sailed into the port of Valetta

Right on time 8.45pm…the peace was about to end! We had taken a Bolt taxi to the terminal three days ago and it was €6 – we walked out of the terminal and were accosted by the independent taxi drivers .. first one offered us €35 euro for a 10 minute ride, next one reduced to €25 and the third one offered me €20 and kept coming back and reduced to €15 final price… by which time I had booked a Bolt taxi for €7.20!! who was only 2 minutes away! (By the way double these prices for Kiwi dollars)

Home by 9.30pm, washing in machine and watching the fireworks from our terrace (our town feast is on this weekend) until they died down at 11pm…very happy to get into our comfy beds and pillows last night!

The afternoon felt like a deserted town as everything closes in Pozzallo from 1pm until around 6pm …. But as the sun set the humans came out….

The boys enjoying the basketball court which had been deserted since we arrived at midday!

And after a disturbed night as all the other residents trudged past our roof level door…and partied on the roof top, which we thought was our terrace, as booked in the Booking.com confirmation ….we realised for everyone else, who had their own terrace, this was also common ground…. To hang washing, takeover the one table, and slam the door outside our room every time they needed to use their bathroom on the next level down until 2am this morning! Yay us for getting the best room in the house! The sun rose….

To a peaceful cooler morning and we set off at 8.30am for a morning coffee and croissant….

The town is alive in the morning as shops open around 9.30am until 1pm

This is the village square…

And the The Torre Cabrera watchtower which sits on the waterfront. It was originally built in the 15th century, and was enlarged and rebuilt in the following centuries. Again now under renovation

We visited all the shops, Italian fashions…brought some postcards, water, peaches and a bottle opener (a lot of the beer bottles here are not twist tops and we haven’t really mastered the art of the lighter opening technique) It was then home to don the swimming attire,grab a sandwich and head to the beach for the afternoon!

In the water…

Out of the water, sunblock and rinse and repeat for a couple of hours! Keeping cool, we decided to head back along the waterfront and stop for a cool cocktail…

Pina Colada’s without the cream…a most refreshing drink!! With a breeze blowing off the sea and wet bathing suits we kept the body temperatures down…until home, shower and change get amongst the evening action! The town comes alive around 7pm…

A frock for Sue and matching Italian designer shorts (brought at the Maltese car boot market) for Trudi…

€1.00 well spend when compared to the €100+ stripes in the shops!

Getting amongst the local transport…and spying the Italian version of Whitcoulls!

Of course all in Italian and we couldn’t decipher a word!

On our way to the street market in the middle of the square…

We had a full rundown from every stall holder about their goods and Trudi succumbed to purchasing some sweets…

Which she found rather inedible and gave them away to a Swedish family!

We did a bit of a pub crawl…Irish pub with no stout or wine… and very disinterested staff…note to self…do not bother with an Irish Pub in Italy! Then in search of the elusive Italian pizza….being directed by other restaurant staff…we found ourselves at a hamburger joint! At least they sold wine and Mexican beer!

Very friendly staff, and another direction to a pizza restaurant!!! Which, unfortunately we ignored and decided to hunt down the one close to our room….we should have listened as this one was not open tonight and the Italian pizza is still Elusive! Nuts and crackers for dinner as we once again shared our only deck with all those downstairs and their washing!! We did get them to move the washing so we at least had a chair to sit on….almost 11pm and they have just vacated “Our” space!!! One guess as to the review on Booking.com when we leave tomorrow!

A mini break to Sicily meant an early morning start….taxi at 6am, ferry terminal in Marsa by 6.30an and leaving Malta at 7.30am…

As the sun rose…

The 53 mile trip saw us out through the gates of the Grand Harbour right on time!

An hour and 45 minutes ride on the outside deck in the shade was a very pleasant trip….arriving in Pozzallo in the south of Sicily exactly at 9.15am…

Last to disembark – Sue was shooed on and shown the sign of No Cameras! Too late here is the ferry we travelled on! After being harassed by several taxi drivers and our response was we didn’t know where we were going we trudged the 2-3 kms in the heat to the first kiosk we could find!!! We had three hours to fill in before we could check in to our accommodation!

So when there is no wine, beer is good!

And first meal on Italian soil – ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce Panini!

Sue then found the nearest supermarket come dairy and collected milk, water, beer and wine to fill up our fridge on our arrival at the accommodation..the load got a bit heavier for the last Kilometre and we found a park bench in the shade until we could get into our room at 1pm…

A room (very small and up 4 flights of stairs)

But with a great view from our rooftop terrace!

To rest our bodies it was time for a warm beer and wine(not yet chilled) but liquid….sues beer not twist top and Trudi mastered the lighter opening technique!

Well done…after gathering our breath and cooling off in the now airconditioned cabin(!) we again ventured out without luggage….wandering along the shady side of the main drag – everything closed from 1pm to 5 pm …. So a kind local suggested a lido on the beach….where we could at least get a cool drink, and sit in the shade, enjoying the sea breeze…

The town is very quiet and peaceful compared to Maltas busyness and as we were getting hungry we thought to head towards a pizza cafe and chill for the evening! Unfortunately most cafes do not open until 7pm and having been up since 5am we were ready to eat and rest!

Our only option was a hamburger which I devoured, Trudi not so much…and enjoying the seaside entertainment as the evening cools…

The people here are very helpful to two non Italian doe as king kiwis!

Yesterday, Monday, , after a busy weekend meant we had to supermarket shop….we chose Pavi as we needed a bit more variety than Lidl (a basic version of paknsave)..,

So drive(yawn) and crazy drivers we did this mid morning! Then popped down to the waterfront for a coffee….swimming attire packed and ready for a cool dip! But as the temperatures soared (again) by midday we made and executive decision to drop our groceries home (butter and chilled food in fridge) before venturing out (without pressure of groceries) early afternoon!

Again south to Pretty bay…a breeze coming up in the arvo…we grabbed a table and a cold drink at the beach cafe and settled in for the arvo! watching the world go by!

Planes cruising in to land…

Beach vendors trying to rip us off with knock off Tommy Hilfiger bags, and raybans… not to be taken in we brushed them off!

Sue went for a dip and returned to a very distraught Trudi who was watching the man at the next table, having a turn, and practically vomiting on her feet…his family was looking after him, and we had just ordered hot chips…both, by now gagging at the smell, hoping the chips didn’t arrive….Trudi took a dip and Sue moved the table as far away as possible!

Luckily the waiter had forgotten the chips…as they man got over it and we asked the son to clean it up!!!…we finished our drink…amused by a very colourful family on the other side…

And the bottom flashing on the beach…

No….at 63 we have NOT succumbed to this latest beach fashion trend!

We headed home, stomachs now settled to build our shrimp cocktail salads….dinner decided earlier in the day while at the supermarket!

They were delicious….and as the evening wore on Sue retired to read and sleep and Trudi battled with the TV…snapping the evening from our penthouse terrace!

Towards the town centre and…

Looking up the other way…

Night falls around 7.30 pm, fireworks banging as they always are that this time of the year with approaching village feasts…at 10pm we were roused (woken in Sue’s case) by this magnificent LOUD band music! We leaned over the terrace wall and the Paola street band was right below us on our street winding up (practicing for the coming weekend feast)

Then they took off with great gusto marching and playing towards the town centre…

So wide awake we once again started the settling down to sleep process.

This morning, Sue wandered to the town for an errand or two…and the preparation for the feast is well underway….everyday more and more bunting adorns the streets and buildings….

A short excursion to the street market….coffee, home to clean Vivienne(at least wash her outside) before settling her down for a quiet three days as we leave early tomorrow for our next side trip!

Saturday was another no car day….terrace cleaning, house cleaning, power cuts, and heatwave! Every time we stepped out of the air conditioning we felt like we were in a hot bath…

Coffee at the local in the morning, cocktails in the evening and….

Burger King for dinner!!!! While keeping our fluids up all day….

This morning, Sunday was a trip to the Marsaxlokk fish market….not that we wanted to buy raw fish….

The selection(and smell) was overwhelming! While the entire waterfront was full of all the usual market stalls….

Lots of people and “feels like” 40 degrees! We walked the entire length and back to find a cafe with shade and a fan to have a coffee …. Once more dripping from head to toe..,

Trudi, again, making new friends as we realised the duck was actually a real one! Perched in a pot plant above her head!

The fishing village sporting all its little boats who had come to tout their wares at the market!

Two bras later (that’s all we bought) and a coffee inhaled, we headed back home via Lidl (supermarket) to jump in a cold shower and wash away the morning sweat (and fish aroma)!

It was then off up north for a mid afternoon lunch with the family….

Anna had made a delicious Spaghetti bolognaise! From here we all loaded into Vivienne…

And headed further north to catch up with the rest of the family!

A terrace with a perfect view for Trudi!!!! A football pitch!

Sue and cousin Leo on the deck before heading home at dusk!

Sammy giving me pre departure orders….which were duly noted and with only small detour meant we had a relatively smooth trip home – to fireworks and fairy lights….

Last night in our Xlendi Bay hotel we donned our new frocks…

And waited until the sun set….

Just drinking in the views and activities from our second story deck…then off in search of food…Xlendi reknown for its fresh seafood….

And as the sun set on the bay we enjoyed fresh mussels and other local delicacies – not sure about the fried sprats or chewy octopus!

The sun fell below the cliffs and the changing colours on the sea were amazing, enhanced by the 30 minute power outage (not our posh hotel though we had a generator!

Sunset and this morning….

Sunrise! Again soaking up the atmosphere as this beautiful seaside village came to life!

Included in our room rate was a full buffet breakfast…

Say no more – we both ate well (too well) and a couple of French pastries to take away for a later snack!

As checkout was midday – we checked the (free) bus timetable and aimed towards an 11.40 departure! We thought we would take a little €10 boat cruise down the coast and caves, followed by a swim, shower and pack up our minimal belongings! We waited 30 minutes for another two people (as boat would not leave with less than four) and gave up on that idea as it seemed no one wanted to get on the sea today!

We did however find the clock that cousin Sammy mentioned!

Plan B kicked in and we hit the rooftop lounge area with a cappuccino and a cheeky (leftover) wine from the night before!

This young Italian girl taking a photo of her hat beside the pool lucky we had had our dip already or we may have spoiled her picture!

Enough sunshine, a cool shower and off to catch the bus….

A 10 minute changeover in Rabat and on the (airconditioned) bus to the ferry terminal….arriving again 10 minutes before departure….alighting back in Valletta with 10 minutes to catch the ferry to Bormla, and a snack and cocktail (2 for one of course) at Rouge cafe….just in time for the final bus to arrive in 10 minutes….

We both agreed today was a perfect 10….and now home after a magical mini break in Gozo to a lovely cool penthouse in Paola!!

An early start for the kiwi wanderers! Out the door by 7.45am, bus (in rush hour traffic) to Valletta and a brisk walk to catch the 8.45am Fast Ferry to Gozo…,a mere €6 each return (as over 60 here are seniors) There must have been some doubt (if we were over 60) as we were asked the question!!! 10 minutes to spare and we were off!!!

Leaving the grand harbour in style and cruising (fast) up the coast to the northernmost Maltese Island of Gozo….

The plan was to jump on a bus to Rabat, the capital….but this was obviously everyone’s plan so we let them all cram on (standing room only) and waited for the next one…

Which only left about 5 minutes later and we got our (senior) seats in the airconditioned bus! Thank goodness….as the bus we had chosen took a scenic tour of half the island, through several towns, hills, narrow streets, collecting the locals (nuns and all) on the way….a good 45 minutes and lots of places we would never otherwise have visited….arriving in Rabat around 10.30am…and in desperate need of a good strong coffee!

Sated, and relaxed we set off through the streets of Rabat…

And only purchasing fans to wave the 40 degree air around as we got totally lost! Trying to get back to the bus terminal to catch our next (free) bus ride to Xlendi Bay for the afternoon, swimming and food!

Unfortunately we had just missed the bus and the next one wasn’t for an hour so we haggled with the Taxis €10 and settled for a €7.40 bolt ride which took only about 10minutes!

First cold one of the day…and fans in action!

As we drank in the stunning scenery of beautiful Xlendi Bay!

The clear blue sea with fish swimming around.

While sitting relaxing, we made the unanimous decision that we would check St Patrick’s Hotel ….on the waterfront with a balcony sea view….if a room was available for the night! Standing only in the clothes we wore and our bathing suits, no phone charger….etc….

And we were in luck! Booked and able to check in at 3pm!

So now a swim….

The sea was clear and cooling…filled in the afternoon nicely, going in search of a Cisk and wine and a phone charger before our checkin time!

All expectations met!!!

The room with a view!!!

And wait there’s more….we asked about the rooftop! We are on 2nd floor, rooftop is 6th!

The Xlendi Bay inlet from the 6th floor and….

Car park and valley from the other side….

Plunge pool, jacuzzi deck chairs and brollies! Another couple of relaxing hours spent in the shade of the umbrella, with a rooftop breeze! We kind of feel like the rich and famous!

Oh and we shouted ourselves a new frock to shower and change into shortly before sampling some of the local seafood!

And its over and out from me, pictured here telling this story….we have another glorious Gozo day tomorrow!

The last two days have fallen into almost a routine….coffee in the morning, visit with cousins and running a few errands…

Like supermarket shopping, telephone shops, and banking.

Paola, our village for the 2nd coffee of the day(first one is instant)…

Chatting with the locals while we wait for the money machine to refill!

Followed by a frantic drive to Attard, avoiding the crazy drivers, who always seem to be in a hurry, don’t know how to use indicators and seem to be totally oblivious to stop signs, all the while trying to climb into our back seat as tailgating is a given! Heading back south after the rush is over and hitting the beach at Birzebuggia early afternoon….

Watching the children play in the sea and the container blocks load on the ocean bound ships…

Darting from shade to shade…

To return to a very hot Vivienne (car) before searching for the first cool refreshment of the afternoon!

Today it was Senglea to what has always been a favourite cafe “Alice Springs”

The view and the breeze still inspiring, but the food and service seems to have slipped! New faces (and miserable ones) and the pigeons enjoyed Trudi’s Tuna Ftira (roll) much more than she did!

Tomorrow is Thursday, and recycling day (every day is a different type of rubbish day) which we can’t miss as this one is only once a week!

This week Thursday is also a Gozo day (the northern most Maltese island), but this time we are taking the fast ferry from Valletta rather than wearing out the air conditioning in Vivienne!