We decided to revisit Mdina (imdina)..a nice cloudy day would make for easy walking. The bus started from the 'Ferries' so we were able to get a seat.! It was full by the time it got to 'Balluta'..! Stopped at Ta Qali first & watched the ladies hand painting the glazes onto the table tops that would then be fired in a kiln. Then I watched a lady finishing hand thrown pots of which she had made many many the same! Lots of people around today. We caught the 186 up to Mdina and we wandered the limestone streets in the Eastern sector. Thinking we probably won't be back to Malta we took in some of Rabat again as well. Malta is a very different country to any of that we have visited. Always would have ... read more

An early start to Gozo (Għawdex) entailed a bus to Cirkewwa to catch a ferry. The hour on the bus took us through St Pauls which is built up with resort type apartments. The ferry crossing took 35mins & i was out sitting on the deck before we had even left the port....so was some other lonely person looking for real air.. The ferry sails past Comino island, very sparse, rocky and apparently especially good for diving. One of the top diving places in the Mediterranean. The water is beatifully crystal clear because of the rock. The entrance to Gozo port is very pretty and colourful with boats. The town perched above the small port. I remember reading that Gozo horticulture basically produce the vegetables for Malta. We aimed for Victoria on the bus 10 mins ... read more

A cool day & early set off. We decided to go all the way out to Rabat. An hour journey first to Ta Qali (te Arli) an old air force base with airplane hangers overtaken by Artisans with offerings of hand blown glass, filigree jewellery, lace, ceramics, olive wood, ironware (knights daggers etc), very basic setup but the produce is very remarkable. We watched the glass being hand blown. Very quick & skillful & there was plenty for sale. To see it being made certainly made you appreciate the price. A few hours were spent admiring the skills as we went from hanger to hanger. Brian somehow happened to notice an Aston Martin 1958 classic collectable (worth 900,000nzd) amongst a group of classic rally cars sponsored by Mdina Glass. The Mdina & Valletta Glass manufacturers are ... read more

Walk along the promenade to Sliema. A 3+km walk and ended up at 'The Point' plaza which came out the other side at the Sliema ferries. The promenade is a fabulous and easy walk along the seaside..the sea still recovering from the thunderstorms so quite rough on the rocky shorelline. Lots of people and families out enjoying the sunshine and the breeze.... read more

Good sleep, always when it rains.. We made a go of it & went into Valletta...bus from Leyland just around the corner. It was light rain but manageable. We had a great stroll down Archbishop Street. Lovely shops & usually there would be many diners on the pavement. The city is beautiful with it's huge limestone blocks on the super grand sized buildings. Influences are many including Sicilian, Arab, French, Greek, Phoenicians, Turkish, Nth African., Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Normans, Spanish, Knights of St John. We walked back up the hill via Merchant Street to the Battery Salute point. We could see quite clearly across the natural deep harbour to the 3 cities & all the shipping movement. It's really nice to share travel experiences with Mary & John who share the same passion...& really nice to ... read more