Blogs from Malta, Europe - page 10

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Europe » Malta » Malta June 7th 2017

No that doesn't stand for rock and roll nor even running and ranting. It actually stands for rest and relaxation. Us?!?! I had heard about this illusive idea and was even allowed about 30 minutes of it once before Claire started getting itchy feet and wanted to climb a mountain. We planned to go to the beach today and sit, read, relax....and write our blogs of course. There aren't many sandy beaches on Malta and so they get quite busy with people who spend each and every day of their holiday there. The trick is to find one without pumping music and at least a bit of sand to put your towel down without having to pay extortionate prices for a lounger and an umbrella. I'm not sure what makes people think that it is okay ... read more
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Europe » Malta » Malta June 6th 2017

When you come too close to driving over a cliff as you notice your intended destination is daubed in the word 'Private' is every available space complete with two dogs chained up, you may rethink your plans. And then when your re-thought plans are going for a walk, but you struggle to discuss this with your husband because he can't hear you over the thunder and the thunder is hard to hear because of the gale force wind, maybe this is time to give up? The original plan being a visit to Bingemma Fort and the further plan was a walk along the Victoria Lines aka the Great Wall of Malta. I could tell you a bit more about both, but what's the point when I gave up? You will have to go yourself - or ... read more
Hire car at Bingemma Fort with hubby to close to the edge of a cliff
Glass horses at Valetta Glass
Friendly ginger cat at Silvershop

Europe » Malta » Malta June 6th 2017

Today ended up being like the Cannonball Run of sightseeing. It hadn't started like that but, as usual, things with us rarely go to plan. What we had expected was some rain and so we decided to walk some of the Victoria Lines figuring it would at least be cooler today even if we did have to wear our raincoats. Which we both forgot. Not much use back at the apartment. Duh The Victoria Lines are walls that were built some time ago with forts along the way and it 'may' be possible to walk the whole 12 kilometres or so. We weren't going to find out but we drove to one of the forts instead planning to walk at least a bit of the way. Bingemma Fort looked like somewhere Nazis would hang out planning ... read more
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Europe » Malta » Comino June 5th 2017

We had originally booked a trip to go with a family run small company to Comino today. It cost a bit more but seemed worth it, however they had to cancel due to not working because of the elections this weekend. I don't understand the reasoning, but it meant we had to find an alternative. Captain Morgan Cruises are a lot cheaper, offer free food and drink (including booze and soft drinks) plus free (and as it turned out non-existent) wifi. But our hearts sank when we saw the giant over-crowded boat that turned up. Struggling to find a seat, I eventually bargained with an Italian group to get us two seats with a table upstairs that was open but covered, so with sun protection. I was still a bit dubious. In a nutshell, Captain Morgan ... read more
Captain Morgan cruise
Packed tight on a Caotain Morgan cruisex
The Blue Lagoon, Comino

Europe » Malta » Comino June 5th 2017

Malta day 5 June 5th A boisterous boat trip to the Blue Lagoon with my chavvy wife Before we set off for Malta we did some research into boat trips to the blue lagoon on Comino Island. We were recommended a trip with Barbarossa cruises who we paid a deposit to. Two days ago they said that they had to cancel our trip because of some people not working because of the recent election. Judging by the vast hordes of people who came on our boat let alone the many other boats at the lagoon we are a bit dubious about this. They gave us our deposit back and we spent it on a cheap and far from cheerful trip for a measly €17 including a buffet lunch and unlimited drinks. A bargain you may say. ... read more
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Europe » Malta » Malta June 4th 2017

Today I witnessed the sheer joy of people when their chosen political party has won. It was a pleasure to see people care about the democratic process and their excitement when it goes their way. I wish it was like that in the UK! But not all of Malta was partying, the early morning market was still set up in Marsaxlokk although some vendors packed up at 11am, maybe to celebrate when the news came in I wonder? After yesterday's huge lie-in until 8am, I decided that we needed to put in more effort today and get up at 7am. I regretted this later as I was actually dreaming about kittens when the alarm woke me. There is a genuine reason for this early rising on a Sunday; we were going to the fish market in ... read more
Fishing boats bobbing in Marsaxlokk
Marsaxlokk
Labour Party flags in Valetta

Europe » Malta » Malta » Valletta June 4th 2017

'There's a fish market on a Sunday market' they said, 'we spent over two hours there' they said. I'd love to find out who they are and why they made us drive almost as far as you can on Malta without driving into the sea. I've been to the fish market in Seattle where they're chucking huge whale size cod (well almost....) all over the shop. Now that's interesting. Lining up a few fish in front of you on a market stall isn't. Tagging it onto a tat market with a few fruit and veg stalls isn't exactly a tourist mecca. Fine for the locals I'm sure with a nice array of fruit and veg stalls as well but, and you may have guessed this already, I won't be rushing back... Lovely little bay though and ... read more
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Europe » Malta » Gozo June 3rd 2017

When the wi fi costs money in your accommodation you do the decent thing and tell them to shove it. This means that uploading blogs on my ipad means finding free hotspots and there are a few around....if you can find them. There's one in the region of the Knickerbocker cafe so we went there for a morning beverage after having breakfast in our apartment. With yesterday's blog uploaded our day could begin and so we headed to the ferry terminal to nip across to Gozo. We arrived to find 16 rows of cars all trying to do the same thing and none of them moving. The guy directing the cars perched us at the back of a lane and then seemingly gave up and I presume the queue snaked back down the road behind us. ... read more
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Europe » Malta » Gozo June 3rd 2017

Anyone who regularly reads Glyn's blogs will know that he likes to accuse me of making him get up stupidly early when on holiday so we don't miss anything. But last night when discussing a time to set an alarm, he was horrified when I suggested 8am. Surely not, how about 7am he insisted? I pointed out that it was long past midnight and perhaps some sleep was needed. So he agreed to the 8am alarm saying he would wake earlier anyway. I woke at 7am and uploaded yesterday's blog photos whilst the lazy sod slept through until 7.50. In hindsight I should have gotten us up at 6am, given how long we waited before we actually got to board the Gozo ferry. That aside, after going to the Knickerbocker for tea, coffee and wifi, we ... read more
Ggantija
Snails on the lavendar
Ta' Kola Windmill

Europe » Malta » Malta June 2nd 2017

Today I discovered something that I didn't realise was missing from my life. Or rather Claire did. I mean, have you ever been asked to do a bombardier impression? Well I have, now anyway. And Claire has pictures of it. The impression, not her asking me to do it. My life is getting towards complete. More of that anon as the day actually started quite badly. With a cold shower as we had no hot water. And then some chaos when we set off to pick up our hire car. Due to confusion with the airport transfer and the car hire company going bust we were picking the car up from the airport. As we were heading for the bus stop Claire realised her paper bit of her drving licence was in our apartment so she ... read more
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