Last night the birthday celebrations began – and I was spoiled rotten – even a Cherry Cheesecake Birthday cake!

We left Fgura at 8.30 am and headed to the other end of Malta to catch the ferry, playing dodgems with hundreds of motorbikes!

There was a ride to raise funds for men’s cancer all meeting at the ferry cafe

We caught the 10.30 Ferry, car, Sue, Russell and Trudi

Headed straight to Xlendi Bay for coffee

Then a walk around the promenade outside the bay

Photo moment pause with the rugged coastline heading north

Soaking up the sunshine on the rocks! And the lookout tower on the cliffs in the background

Then off on the ‘Driving Tour’ navigated by Russ!

First stop Dwejra – home to the fallen Azure window which collapsed into the sea march 2017!

Now a rock face

We wandered to the inland sea – a water hole filled up through only a cave opening and a popular spot for divers.

We took a boat ride through the cave

And out into the Mediterranean Sea and the caves of the blue grotto (Gozo)

Inside the caves and…

The BLUE waters – a Little Rock and rolls after the storm – but having taken the safety lesson (“put a life jacket on!” Then at the end of the ride “take the life jacket off”) we felt perfectly safe with our skipper!

Getting precariously close to the caves inside the pink rocks of underwater rolling into view with the waves

Back through the very small opening in the cave after about 20 mins – 5Euro well spent!

A small refreshment break and on the road again in search of the Salt Pans on the north side at Xwejni Bay

Practicing forgotten balance beam skills!

Russ’s turn too!

Continued around the coast to Marsalforn and lunch at 3.30pm – pizza and left overs for tea!

Paying the bill and one more stop for Russell to visit some old temples. We left him there and went in search of milk and ice! No luck with the ice and got terribly lost on the way back to collect him. Retraced our steps and made it! Then off to the accommodation for the night – a farmhouse in Qala

On arrival the welcoming party – underground goats!! Rather an earthy smell and considerable number of flies but you get what you pay for and we have the house to ourselves and this…

In our yard! Now just waiting for the beer and wine to chill down!!

Last nights sunset told us the sunshine was returning to our lives after the Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane)

Day planned to make the most of it – walking to the car parked by the prickly pear bush

These plants are abundant as they seem to not need water!

We headed to Marsaxlokk – to the markets and the fishing village in the south. First stop Costa Coffee!

At the Market place, tourist free apart from three wandering Kiwi’s, everyone was keen to offer us a bargain!

After the storm all the fishing boats were in port –

Getting ready to head out.

Sue, boats and town in the background – happy place in sunshine, by the sea and Boats! What more can a girl ask for?!

A quiet drink and watching the world go by..

A very small part of the world! And minimal impact on the environment mini ‘electric’ smart car

The colour of the streets – all houses build of Sandstone blocks with brightly coloured doors!

Next stop St Peters pool! Since my last visit the road has been concreted, so did not have to negotiate the rocks and potholes. We saw a number of dry people leaving – having donned the bikinis we were looking forward to a swim. Over the top we realised why!

The tail end of the storm was still rolling in and no calm waters!

Saved ourselves a climb down and out as we very quickly realised that a swim in this spot was out of the question. A middle aged selfie on the cliffs.

We were about to leave in the car when a young German couple asked for a ride back to marsaxlokk (to avoid the 40 minute walk). The girl had been caught on the rocks by a rogue wave, fallen over, lost her shoes and was rather bloodied and battered. Good deed done for the day!

We headed to the old go to beach, ‘pretty bay’, determined to have our first swim in a week!

Lunch first however

Hot dogs and chips! Just so mum knows the chips are still great!

We waited the statutory 30 minutes before our dip!

Sheltered, clean and cooling! Welcome back summer, we are definitely sunshine girls and boys!

A very ordinary day in Malta today – still windy and cool – although the sun is trying to burst through and there is definitely a shift in temperature!

Russ and Sue headed to Valletta to collect Maltese birth certificate and go to the ID office – not too far ahead as we need everything signed by a noted recommender before applying for passport etc..

So after a frantic few hours of driving (again) on the Maltese roads, we needed a coffee.

Actually two!

Trudi was off to her hairdressers appointment for the morning.

We then met our cousins for (another) coffee! Near San Anton gardens

Great catch up – and back home to see Trudi’s new hairdo!

A quiet afternoon and out at 4pm when the shops open to choose our dinner for the evening!

Friday night in Malta and the three Kiwis have hit holiday mode!! Finally

This morning was chilly by Malta standards 20 degrees Celsius – tights and a sweater rather than shorts and a singlet.

A small bit of retail therapy and off to the charity shop to donate all Kevin’s unwanted clothes!

Then a drive back to Senglea to hunt for a coffee – waterfront deserted and we soon realised why….

The wind was almost gale force blowing into the grand harbour, boats were rocking on their moorings and three kiwis had trouble staying upright

Sitting on the Seawall in between the waves rolling in

Last week Trudi and Sue were swimming here in the mirror like water – not today we’d drown!

A couple of locals trying to secure their Luzzu on its moorings – and this was on the sheltered side!

We then noticed that the marina in Vittoriosa had filled up and was sheltering lots of new boats from the storm so off we went to walk the wharves – the big boys were in town…

Silver is the new black

This beautiful old girl

The crowded neighbourhood

A helicopter transport option

And the Big Boys toys option! Who knows what’s behind the roller door (it’s probably not Wally)

3x 400hp motors on the racing toy (we have one 150hp on our 21 footer back home)

And holding firm to the wharves! The 1200Hp machine in the background!

Then it was refreshment time

Almost out of the wind, apart from the intermittent gusts that almost lifted the umbrellas!

Having satisfied ourselves that the boats were weathering the storm, we dropped Russ back to the house and Trudi and Sue went off for their new nails (by appointment only!)

Girls on holiday – guess who’s who with the new nails!

Great day of our life in Malta – still waiting patiently for more beach weather!

No story yesterday as I attended my dear cousins funeral in Malta – I was lucky enough to see her and say goodbye before she passed.

This morning we woke to cooler temperatures, wind and cloud, lucky we had a shopping day planned.

Off to the tourist area of Sliema and, in the madness of vehicles and people, managed to secure a car park. Quite an achievement in Malta these days!

The prevailing winds were whipping the water over the Sea wall and on to the road. The ‘Punto’ was safely out of reach!

Coffee first in the tree’d square across the road

Pidgeons and all. Trudi and Sue took of for ‘girls’ shopping and met Russ back at the starting point (only a few minutes after the agreed time!)

Waiting patiently and practicing the ‘smile’

On to the next stop, Tigne point shopping centre, a four storey mall! Food first at the French Cafe.

Then out to the lookout bridge to blow out the cobwebs and make sure that boating and swimming was out of the question today

The rocks bellow and Valletta in the background – no cruises for the tourists today! All the tour boats were rocking on their moorings

Couples photo moment Sue and Russ!

We then agreed to girls shop and boys shop in the mall again, meeting up a couple of hours later…. girls with shoes, handbag and tops! Russ with a tourist book of Malta. Perfect example of Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus!

After several laps of the car park we finally exited heading for home! A quick detour to Pavi (a rather large supermarket) which not only sold food

We found Trudi is famous in Malta

A wok named after her!

Skimmed over the food section and found the fresh fish looked suspiciously like our red snapper

And had to ask the Maltese name and it is… ‘Red Snapper’ caught in the Mediterranean deep sea!

Then off to the bottle shop area…..

Very very large bottle of vodka which at 428 Euro stayed right where we found it!

However this was tempting for all my guitar playing friends

Guitar wine rack – how cool is this!

Rolling on for 5pm after a big day of footing it around the shops – shoes kicked off and a quiet ..

Another couple of cooler days ahead before the sunshine comes back for the weekend and we can hit the beaches again.

Woke up to a morning after heavy overnight rain, still and steamy and blue skies (again)

No need to water the plants on the deck

The town of Fgura already alive at 8am – with cars and shoppers out before the rush. Actually the rush was already on. I wandered down to the supermarket and bank feeling like a local with my shopping bags!

Returning to find a huge crane blocking our street then appearing above our deck (on the fourth floor) lifting a very large steel pole into the lift shaft next door..

We headed off to collect Kev and meet our Mosta cousins and our kiwi cousins (here for three days) for lunch at the aquarium in Qawra.

Looking back at the newly refurbished Doleman hotel!

And then inside the aquarium restaurant the ceiling alive with fish sculptures…

A long leisurely lunch overlooking St Paul’s Bay

And Sue soaking up the sunshine (note closed eyes)

A little trick of photography and we have the two photographers in reflection

Selfies in the window!

Returning via the coast to our Southside, Russ napping and the two deckhands keeping an eye on the awning as a strong (but welcome) breeze blows in….

no dinner needed just saying!

This morning George and I shared coffee time, for the last time, on the steps of Senglea – the morning sunrise over the inlet and Vittoriosa!

We took George to the Airport this morning and went back to our Senglea home for the last time – packed up ready to shift to our Maltese home in Fgura

Oops – where’s ‘Wally’

We had a planned luncheon appointment with our new friend Carmen at midday (our neighbour across the street on the opposite balcony) – an amazing lady (who we took shopping). She had lunch ready and, being an accomplished pianist and musician for 30 years in Rome had promised to play for us.

I think, because we are big people us Kiwis, she had overestimated our appetite!

Ham rolls (actually all gone) – patitizzi – stuffed olives – Maltese cheese and cake. All served in your special dining room surrounded by antiques, from her ancestors! Trudi wanted to experience the Maltese house, this was the real life. Carmen’s family home avoided the bombs in the war and is still original and built in the period of the knights 1500’s

She then brought tears to our eyes with her beautiful piano playing – she had played in Operas in Rome!! We were very privileged.

Our own private concert and She even composed a new song for us which together we called “The Kiwi”

We then loaded the car and Russ and brought first load to our new apartment. We left Russ to unpack and Trudi and I shifted the 2nd load. Kev was here upon our return and, very hot and bothered, we relaxed with a cool drink on our new beautiful deck!

And our green fingered Rols has provided beautiful flowers

Penthouse with a view and a beautiful apartment, everything is away in its place!

The three kiwis are relaxing in the evening warmth enjoying the ambience of our new abode….

Rooms with a view, a big deck, washing on (finally have a washing machine) and the beer and wine chilled!!!

Close up and personal with the Giraffe crane

This afternoon a Luzzu (Loot Zoo) cruise around the grand harbour, George’s Swan song before he heads back to the English winter!

3.00pm we piled our 300 kgs into the traditional Maltese boat!

No wind and calm sea – perfect conditions as the sides of the boat were only about 30-50cms above the water

Cruising out from Senglea

Fort St Angelo with the superyachts in the foreground

Footing it with the big boys – 4 on a Luzzu 100 on a tourist boat – we felt like the mouse beside the elephant!

The bachs in the Clifts of Valletta catching the cooler southerly breeze

The small exclusive (expensive) cruise ship in port in Valletta

The dry docks and the oil rigs in for maintenance in the Bormla inlet.

And the 200 million USD super yacht in for a tickle (only 3 years old and privately owned)

Back into port after 40 mins and Vittoriosa and marina in the afternoon sunshine (this mornings thunder clouds now dispersed)

George’s last evening at Senglea waterfront kiosk for fish and chips! A great dad photo with a postcard background!

And it’s goodnight from me

We woke to wet roads, wet deck and wet George returning from the gym. Rain is very welcome in Malta at this time of the year!

We left George in peace with the objective to visit our local church, on Russell’s 61st birthday and coincidently Maltese Independence Day, a public holiday.

Rain ceased and we spied our landmark from the Main Street of Senglea (when we get lost we look for the giraffe crane)

Then onto the Senglea Church – only open in the mornings

Outside and, having donned respectable clothes (no short shorts or sleeveless tops), the inside..

The Maltese Cross coloured glass at entrance

Front of church pulpit and pivotal focus of this magnificent building – ornate carvings, statues, chandeliers, glass, wood and Gold!

There were about 30 of these

Side room and tiled floors

This child angel looks almost real

Side alcove (one of many) all so well maintained and clean!

Then off in search of a coffee – only 10am and too early for the waterfront cafes after the rain!

Over the bridge and back to our go to – Cafe Rouge

Two coffees later we decided to see how George was going and he met us to take the ferry to Valletta for lunch!

Two huge cruise ships in..

as we docked at the Valletta wharf!

Up in the lift and some family photo opportunities at Barraka gardens overlooking the Grand Harbour.

Russ and George

Russ, Sue and George

And…

Trudi, Russ and Sue With two of the three cities (Birgu and Bormla) in the background.

Off in search of food

Consequently Valletta was buzzing with lines of tourists! And all the cafes were pretty full! We ended up in a food hall eating Kebabs and drinking a coke and George logged in to work life

Russ decided (as it was his birthday) a walking tour of Valletta was needed! George left us and went home to carry on with work. Public holiday in Malta does not mean public holiday in England!

The remaining three trapsed around the streets of Valletta finding, by this time, most of the attractions closed and thousands of those boat (cruise ship) people wandering aimlessly.

A quiet, steep side street earlier in the day, which we walked from the bottom up at the end of our hike!

Lots of construction sites and tired legs! Vittoriosa definitely a better choice for a walking tour!

On the ferry and back to the home side, desperately in need of refreshment, as after the rains comes the humidity!

Our local convenience store offered this much needed respite. Russ ran into his new buddie and the icing on the cake (actually no cake just a nice cold beer) was ‘Johnny Be Goode’ giving Russ a couple of treasures he had stashed in the back of his car…

Antique China car (extremely heavy) and boat!

Whoever received such special birthday presents!

Rest time, legs up before a dinner out for some birthday celebrations…

Trudi and I have a new friend called Carmen. She has no car and we took her shopping – she told us we are beautiful girls inside and out and god will bless us! (We possibly need this blessing)

Trudi pushed the trolley and I read out the prices as we quickly realised she had very poor eyesight.

We dropped her home and walked to Bormla for a quick shop ourselves. We met George and Russ for lunch/coffee at the kiosk at Senglea

Back to house, George to work and The Three Kiwis prepared to set off on their walking tour of Vittoriosa – first stop Senglea waterfront – Sue with the Luzzu (pronounced Lut zoo) Maltese fishing boat

Then across the bridge to the Vittoriosa square – first stop hydration at the band club

Russ was really thirsty!

Off we went and the next few images are of the streets and life in this ancient city

Sue in the streets

This bar was too slow and we were very thirsty – Russ and Sue waiting patiently – the waiter did not come so we moved on 👋

The infirmary for the knights of Malta in the 1500s

Sue and Trudi at the end of Vittoriosa with Valletta in the background

Looking back to Kalkara inlet from the wall! Slightly overcast but still like a mirror

The Maltese clothesline – drying time one hour! It works for us.

Maltese gardens – the green on the streets!

Maltese houses and balconies – who’s behind the red door?

The artwork on the communal living house – shared living house.

Door handles sporting the Maltese cross on this beautiful green door

Sue making friends with a local and his feather baby an albino pidgeon. Thank goodness he had been to the bathroom before sitting on my hand.

In side the Norman house – the oldest house in Vittoriosa, paintings, urns and others very ancient relics (not talking about Russ and Sue we are relatively young in this picture)

A fantastic picture of Russ – we have been working on the smile and I think we finally have it!

Final stop

George has met us at the end of the day

and Trudi is training the Barman – she finally got a big glass and an ice bucket! The bottle is coming….

Then Russ went and helped himself to a beer from the fridge – oops forgot to tell the Owner (since rectified)

Now the three kiwis plus one (George) in for a relaxed evening…..after our road trip (on foot) around the ancient city of Vittoriosa.