The kiwi athletes hit the road early, Kat went running, George and Russ went walking, Sue working and the rest of the team arising a bit slower to another warm day.

Kat and George then went to the gym and after breakfasting, Russ stayed home and the rest of the team headed to the Blue Grotto for a swim!

Lookout from the top, and straight down onto the yachts at anchor!

We then drove down into the car park, and headed right to the swimming hole – to cool the kiwi feathers!

Swimming off the rocks – see Mike in the middle!

Kat still soaking up the sunshine and….

Steph and Sue sitting on the edge spotting the jellyfish – there are still a few around as the waters not so warm yet.

It was so calm we decided to do a Luzzu cruise into the caves…

The window in the cliffs, as pointed out by our driver.

Our skipper at the helm with the umbrella for shade, none for the punters, tied onto the back of the boat.

And the clear blue turquoise seas of the blue grotto! One of many caves we visited.

A trip certainly worth taking, then back up the hill for a quick bite and drink before the next tour stop..at which time Sue realised she had lost the rental car keys!!!! Bag emptied out, last option, Mike checked the car and sure enough there they were in the ignition. Only to be informed, by the very kind parking man, that I had actually walked and left the car going. He turned it off and kept and eye on the car until we returned (2 hours later)…. worthy of another little tip I thought.

We then headed to Qrendi, to visit the 400 year old church on the edge of the sink hole (Malta’s Grand Canyon – our kiwi nickname).

A stop at Scott’s supermarket for salad supplies and home to collect Russ to go visit Sammy and Anna (our cousins in Attard)

The fireball sun setting on 40 plane arrivals last night at Malta airport to greet George and Kat to a hot steamy evening.

Jaxon, Steph and Sue up early this morning, to visit the Car boot market by 7.00am, still and hot and very busy with bargain hunting locals and a couple of Kiwis.

Already by 9.00am the heat was getting to one and all so it was off to the Birgu swimming hole.

Kat soaking up the sun after her Norwegian winter. I managed to swim a length of the buoyed off area (felt like half a mile – possibly 800meters)

Relaxing on the waters edge with a few more locals coming down for a dip. Today must’ve hit about 38 degrees celcius….a little hot for some of the Kiwis.

Watching the world go by…the locals were heading out to their boats by..

Overloaded dinghy and no life jackets. Mmmm maybe a couple of trips would have been safer.

Back to the house, after a coffee stop, to find the air bed (George and Kats bed) floating. The hose had come off the washing machine and flooded the upstairs bunk room.. Still with today’s temperatures, the dry out time was only half an hour!

Headed north to meet cousin Neville and Michelle at St Pauls Bay, planning a stop a Buggibba for the team to see the tourist area…no car parks anywhere and car number two needed a gas stop. Most gas stations are closed on Sunday, and finding one meant we were nearly at our destination and close to the meeting time.

Barracuda sports club and another swim stop!

And a fun afternoon spent with two more fabulous cousins!!

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.