Sep 27, 2012 - Madrid

Hi everybody Since early this morning till this evening it has not stopped raining, Here i calculate they heave weather like north Italy. As it was like this I decided to choose a famous Museum,Del Pardo and at least be inside, but I was not the only one to think that way, as the que to buy tickets was a block and a half away in the rain. So I gave it a pass, instead I optioned walking the kings garden in the rain. After I visited the brilliant Naval Museum. After a good meal had an early night. Best Regards Tony

Jul 29, 2012 - Malta - Goodbye

11th – 22nd July 2012 Our holiday in Malta is quickly coming to an end and even though we have been to Malta a few times before it seems to get harder each time to say our goodbyes. On our last day we decided to go to Qawra Palace for drinks & nibbles. We had to have an early night as we had to be up at 2.30am to get ready to catch the ferry to Pozzallo. I had organised platters of food and a surprise engagement cake for Erin & Mark. It was a lovely but emotional night, as we knew that it would be quite a few years before we saw each...

Jul 16, 2012 - Gozo

Gozo: 9th & 10th July 2012 (Bed 52) We decided to spend one night in Gozo with Gavin, Louise, Marty & Ray. We booked a lovely hotel, Xlendi Hotel & Spa. From the rooftop of the hotel, we had a picturesque view of the ocean and the town of Xlendi. Gozo is half the size of Malta, with one tenth of the population. It is different to Malta, even though it shares the same language, it uses a distinct dialect. In my opinion, it is a unique and untouched island with rugged landscape and a spectacular coastline. It has baroque churches and old...

Jul 11, 2012 - Malta

25th June – 11th July 2012 (Bed 51- Sliema) It will be impossible for me to write a blog while we are in Malta. Our days have been so flat out that there are not enough hours in the day. I am going to post my photos and put a description on them so that you know where they were taken. Marty & Ray arrived in Malta on the 2nd July, Gavin & Louise arrived on the 3rd July and Mark & Erin on the 7th July. Now you know why we have been run off our feet!

Jul 10, 2012 - Malta - Arrival

24th June 2012 (Bed 50) The day that we have both been waiting for had finally arrived. A 12km drive from our hotel to Villa San Giovanni the ferry port. A 20 minute ferry trip to Messina Sicily followed by a 250 km drive to the port of Pozzello in Sicily. Another 1½ ferry trip and we were in Valletta. By this time we had been on the move for 9 hours, and we were really getting excited about seeing the relatives. We had organized with Sonia the lady we had rented the flat from to meet us in Valletta and that she did. By 6pm we arrived in...

Mar 3, 2012 - Day trip to Gozo

Wiki Info Gozo Early to avoid tourist groups to Hagar Qim & Mnajdra temples. Bus driver on #201 was very helpful and told us much about Malta including the weather, this winter was a record for cold (got down to a record 3 degrees centigrade in Feb) & rain, most since 1923! Of course, we were the only 3 on the bus, ha! Wiki Info Hagar Qim Wiki Ingo Mnajdra After viewing the covered, 'restored' ruins, this time I really appreciated the museum, well done w/ videos and interactive tech. I was glad the ticket fellow suggested going to the...

Mar 1, 2012 - Day trip to Mdina

Wiki Info Mdina 3-1 After purchasing tickets to the Hypergeum and ferry to Sicily, we hopped a bus (purchased 7 day unlimited pass at airport) to the Mdina, ancient walled capital of Malta. The LP had a fine guided tour written up saving us the price of local guide and thus payed for the LP to boot! Also, three cheers for the exorbitantly priced museum entries - needless to say I'm not keen on museums -because even at the oldsters price, Bon & Mari weren't tempted, ha! The trip around the 'old' place gave new meaning to the historic and...

Feb 29, 2012 - Fly to Malta

Wiki Info Malta Map 2-29 The one day in four years and we fly to Malta...nice, easy one hour flight and the island greets us with 70 degree sunshine. Renown for its 300 days of sun and never winter weather $26, we welcome this change having been in Tunisia's cold and off/on clouds & rain for 2 weeks. The change comes w/ a price however, literally a giant jump of 4 years. We soon discover to our dismay that the 37 Dinars we'd spend in Tunisia which would be sufficient to pay for a 3 bed room for 3 of us for a nite only is enough in Euros...

Sep 5, 2011 - Malta

Monday September 5, Malta - Mdina & Valletta Malta’s most uplifting sight may well be the view of the ancient walled city of Mdina from the plain below. Hunched on a high ridge, Mdina’s bulwarks and domes rule the horizon. Its history is said to go back 4000 years. It’s supremacy dates to Roman times when the city became the island’s capital. When the Order of St. John took over the island, the knights chose to make their capital on the harbor of what later became Valletta. Today Mdina is inhabited by a small population and all it’s streets...

May 27, 2011 - Malta

After arriving at Valletta airport, we were welcomed by a funky yellow bus, with no suspension, and transported to the old city in style if not comfort. The Maltese must all be born without knees as the gap between the seats on their buses is worse than Tiger Air economy. Valletta is the only remaining fortified capital in the world and is a remarkable expanse of sandstone and marble, thanks again to the Venetians. As Malta consists of three small islands (Malta 246 sq km, Gozo 67 sq km and Comino 2.7 sq km), it is easily explored as day...

Dec 15, 2010 - Malta ... last port day

Malta ... last port day ... December 15 Since we’d heard about a nearby community called Sliema, we decided to that the 1 Euro ferry over and check out where locals live. We walked across Valletta, found the ferry terminal and schedule and waited. Like a lot of laid back communities, the ferry schedule is only a guideline, no guarantees. Our 11:15 ferry arrived fifteen minutes late and left when the crew felt like it. As we left the sand coloured walled city and headed across the bay, we saw modern apartments lining the waterfront. Many...

Dec 14, 2010 - Malta ... exotic

Malta ... Day 1 December 14 After three days at sea, we awaken with excitement about what the day might bring. That the vista is Valletta, Malta is absolutely perfect. From the deck, everywhere we look are medieval walls, towers and cathedrals. According to our tour guide, the history of Malta dates back to 3600BC. Carbon dating of the Ggantua Temple (sp??) places it before the Great Pyramids at 2530BC, and Stonehenge at 2000BC. Just south of Sicily, it shares much history with its neighbour. Romans took over in 208BC and the Arabs in...