The day started with breakfast at Lemon and Lime Marsakala and the All Blacks vs Argentina – courtesy of a very amenable English bar manager

Followed by a rest on the waterfront Marsakala and checking out the options for a slightly cloudy 30 degrees Malta day.

Found that on this day 8th of September is Victory day in history 1943 when the Italians withdrew their bombardment of the grand harbour and in celebration of this Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa is open to the public for a mere two euro. in light of the hubbys sore back we decided to see how close we could get to the entrance (parking wise) and go join the throngs….

We got lucky and as someone left, we parked about 50 meters from the gate – still a small sit was needed; Russ by the super yachts in grand harbour.

Further along the marina we passed Just a small 95 meter abandoned super yacht that got passed in by the Maltese court auctions at 43 million euro!! Still for sale if anyone interested?

Up into the fort and the views were amazing – last time we were here the Fort was closed and being renovated for CHOGM and we could only walk around outside

Stairway to heaven …..

Views from the top….

And the proof that we all made it up the ramps and stairs and enjoyed our nice cold cisk (beer) in the captains dining room

We had prime position to pull up our chairs and watch the annual Victory day races in the grand harbour (Malta’s version of dragonboating/rowing)

On display we caught up with these two guys on the way out – the maltese falcon and the lucky owl

Very hot , not the feathered birds the human ones (Trudi and Sue) we took a quick drive over the hill to Rinella bay for a dip in the sea then home to birzebuggia via the bakery and liquor store (closed on a Saturday!) so back to bakery to stock up on beer and sit on the deck in our Malta home with a nice cold drink and this happened

Big day for the wandering kiwis!

Leaving the land of the long white cloud and rain to the sunny island of Malta – welcome to our adventures

A very long squashed journey which is best forgotten – three weary travellers arrived at their destination and a nice cold beer and wine supplied by the brothers!!

A couple of days in a blur – the hubby with a very sore back and needing a few days R&R – Sue and Trudi took off, Sue honing her Malta driving skills in the ‘Red’ Punto – first stop Bormla – to the Vodafone shop to set up Maltese phone numbers – Trudi’s first taste of the old three cities shrouded in bunting for fiestas and surrounded by large yachts and super yachts in the sparking blue of the grand harbour. Said Vodafone’s sorted, off to supermarket to stock up and hit the wall!! Back to the bnb for some rest ourselves – then an early night to try and beat the jet lag (day 2) Day three saw a migraine attack yours truly but susiding in time to meet my cousins Sam and Anna in Birzebbuga for morning coffee! Then off to Marsaxlokk (the touristy fishing village) to buy Russ a hat and have lunch

Home for Russell’s rest then across the road to a four hundred year old fort; very posh restaurant for dinner with Kev and Rols

Up with the birds, well no birds, around 5am to head to Valletta to start the passport process for Russ – after being sent to three different places…… mission accomplished and in three weeks we can do the application when he has Maltese birth certificate. Another stop – to ID card office to change my Maltese address, then the dreaded visit to the bank to ensure the cards are working in Bormla (that is after a coffee at senglea). Needless to say not a simple process and one got swallowed after waiting in 35 degrees in a queue then had to start all over again – Trudi buying stamps was relatively simple except the electronic doors to the post office only opened when pushed – so standing waiting was not going to give her entry! Enough was enough for one day and off we went on a drive past Kalkara to marsacala and the Irish pub for a cold beer at 11.30am (yep 2 beers in the morning – really on holiday). Continued down the coast to St Thomas bay (a place to go back to) and round in a few circles to buy ice and all this done and home by 1.30pm

We are doing a couple of boring housekeeping things like washing and Rest time for Russ and Trudi and Sue off to the beach for the afternoon 🙂 Now the jet lag has gone watch this space for the wandering adventures of Sue Russ and Trudi in Malta