I sat on the roof top deck from 6.30am this morning, talking to Mum back in NZ and watched three cruise ships roll in. The orange haze of the sunrise over Valletta promising another warm day.

A little internet problem and a few phone calls to the landlord, turning the power to the whole house off seemed to remedy the situation…..but it’s off again so maybe the heat is putting the internet to sleep.

Russ had a rest and the other four kiwis took a trip to the supermarket, to stock up, before the Norwegian Kiwis arrive tonight.

Then it was off to the Birgu swimming hole… where the locals go.

Kalkara side of Fort St Angelo..no people and clear water.

Living on the edge….everything in this city is up or down.

And it’s a jump off the wall – the swimming hole marked out with buoys to keep the boats out. So cool, a couple of other punters but otherwise totally unpopulated and no driving needed.

Cutting through to Birgu marina at the start to Fort St Angelo – a nice flat walk for Russ, but even hotter on this side with the sun over the yard arm, streaming in.

However, as luck would have it, Steph spied an ice cream kiosk halfway back.

30 plus degrees celcius, we’d be fools not to partake, barring Jaxon who found a chocolate milk in the bottle store a bit further on.

Back to the hacienda, another power flick to reset the internet, late lunch, bed ready for George and Kat and siesta time for the roasted Kiwis!

Boys on the town last night, pretty much all night…. but Mike managed to pull himself together for a day of exploring with Russ, Sue and Steph….

First stop the wildlife park, which has only recently reopened in October, after a fire destroyed it in 2017. As with everything in Malta it is enclosed and covered, with pools of water for the animals to cool off in.

The pair of white Siberian tigers with three, two and a half week old, cubs were camera shy, but very special to see in their island home.

This park closes soon for the summer and tourist season and doesn’t reopen until the cooler weather again….and the animals just enjoy a quiet summer with their Maltese human family.

I decided I had to cuddle the orange tiger cubs – a mere €25 and a full photo shoot.

Not as angelic, or cuddly as they look, my first attempt incurred a lot of biting and growling and hissing and spitting….the trainer regrouped us (me and the tiger) and I had to grip firmly it’s bum and under its neck. She said; hold it like a baby, not quite how I would normally hold babies….but the method did deter any more biting and growling!

Then it was off, on the roads less travelled, through farmland, down the west side to Pretty Bay for lunch and a swim.

Mike still hanging in there with the team waiting for lunch at the kiosk.

As it is a public holiday here today the roads were clear driving was a breeze, but…..everyone was at the beach! Half a hour to find a park and a good wait for lunch…

Steph relaxing before we hit the crowds on the beach (in the background), for our afternoon dip.

We lose one kiwi today, Aaron leaves Malta and Ireland and heads to Italy….say no more!

Up at 4.30am working, coffee on the deck at 6am and the boats started coming in – three today!

Then a house cleaning morning mopping the four flights of stairs and all the tiles in between.

The rest of the kiwi team emerged around 9.30 when Russ and I were heading for a coffee.

The younger team did their cleanup and joined us, Russ headed home got a rest and five piled into the “Ford Fiesta”and headed to Paola tattoo parlour….,

Parking was at a premium- but a green space in Paola, The tattoo parlour….. didn’t work on several fronts, then off to Tigne Point.,., the shopping mall!

Sue missed a few pedestrians and ran a red light, got lost in the parking building and the mall was at least cool….no other attractions!

Home by 2ish and everyone was tired and a couple a bit sick! We were supposed to be visiting cousins but took a rain check – Aaron’s last night here and the boys are having boy time!

On the deck…,

Steph with her sunshade!

A quiet drink

Aaron resting his legs in the deck shade

And Mike going topless ..,,,

Steph Russ and I are relaxing and the boys having one last hit of two for one cocktails at their favourite bar!

Morning coffee and a stroll to Birgu to top up the Maltese phones and, surprise surprise, another cafe for lunch!

The days are punctuated with eating stops!

Russ and Mike waiting patiently for lunch.

Then, as the heat increased, it was off to the beach to cool the body temperatures.

The swimming hole on St Thomas Bay point…the water is still cool and it certainly did the trick and everyone enjoyed the dip.

Have chair will travel – Russ and Aaron drying off on the limestone rocks…

Looking north around the point, Aaron and Mike went for a wander while the rest of us dozed in the sun.

Kiwis covering up – seriously I’m sure a few of you at home would be soaking this up!

A view along the beach (rocks), I have to admit there are advantages to not sitting on the sand – cleaner towels and cleaner cars!

Back to the house and a little girl shopping (shops reopen at 4pm after the midday siesta) in Bormla and back to Rouge Cafe to meet the boys for…. you guessed it….

Two for one cocktails!

The sun set last night on six very tired Kiwis after a 13 hour excursion to Gozo. The orange sunset promising a warm Mediterranean day today.

Some promises are meant to be kept….

Hanging the overnight washing on the deck horse, the early sunrise highlighting construction workers on the Birgu Cathedral bell tower, no harnesses needed for the surefooted Maltese!

Jax and Steph had plans, and after I had done a few hours work, I joined them for a wander up the Birgu street market, replenishing Russ’s fruit supplies..

Then home for a bit more work and off to meet Charles (our Maltese friend) and Kevin for lunch at Senglea.

The boys enjoying the summer dining.

And the ducks enjoying the summer swimming.

Wandered back to the house, it’s nearly 4pm and found a great use for the bidet….

However jandals float, so kiwi ingenuity kicked in, the full bottle of washing liquid pinning them underwater!

Just retreated to the deck, where there is a breeze to have a quiet beer and read my book when the latest Kiwi/Maltese arrived home.

Superman with his dual passports! 10 years after receiving his Maltese citizenship.

A day of no driving and not rushing has been a very pleasant interlude!

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.