When we came back yesterday we handed over the car keys for the concierge to put it in the garage (easily the tattiest car they've ever seen - so embarrassing) and the lovely young lady labelled the keys up with our room number. This morning we had to wait ages for the car and it transpired the chap had been looking for our room number on the registration plate - wally!
The gales had subsided considerably this morning but there was still a keen wind. We'd avoided the cliff tops yesterday but this morning headed for the Dingli Cliffs which are supposedly rather beautiful.
The gales had subsided considerably this morning but there was still a keen wind. We'd avoided the cliff tops yesterday but this morning headed for the Dingli Cliffs which are supposedly rather beautiful.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
There is a little church (naturally) on the edge but we didn't walk down to it.
We then drove down to the Blue Grotto and experienced the touristy side of Malta for the first time; cafes selling snacks/drinks and tourists by the coach load. You have to get a boat to reach the grotto (we didn't fancy it - the boats were very small and seemed full of squealing oriental teenagers) but as you can see from these pictures the water certainly was very blue.
We then headed for town of Mosta in the middle of the island to see the church which is famed for its rotunda (took a direct bomb hit during WWII but fully restored now) - the ceiling is beautiful.
Then on to the next door town of Naxxar as we'd read about a "beautiful 18th century stately home and garden" which were worth a look. We'd assumed it was on the outskirts but as we were negotiating a roundabout in the middle of town, Ian suddenly noticed a sign and we were lucky enough to find a parking space nearby. Unfortunately the "palace" consisted of only about 5 rooms and whilst they were very ornate they, and the garden which was winter bare, didn't really warrant the €15 entrance fee. No photos from inside, but a few from the garden/ conservatory.
I don't actually remember taking this, must have been as we were walking back to the car.
There have been quite a few signs in Malta which have made me giggle; couldn't always get a photo but here are a few.
This one may be grammatically correct but it still made me chuckle. Fortunately I don't need a hair dryer at this juncture but it seems it would have been a bit of a lottery as to whether I'd have found one or not.
Not quite such an interesting day, but we enjoyed the drive around.
For dinner we walked down into Valletta old town to a traditional Maltese Ftira restaurant and had their speciality which was rather pizza-like only the dough was much heavier - similar to focaccia. They got Ian's order wrong so he had 1/4 of mine whilst waiting, but even with his help I only managed half of it, but it was delicious - as was the complimentary bread and tomato paste.
One thing that has surprised me enormously is the food - I guess it's a mix of Mediterranean and North African - but whatever it is, everything we've had has been full of flavour and delicious.
We then headed for town of Mosta in the middle of the island to see the church which is famed for its rotunda (took a direct bomb hit during WWII but fully restored now) - the ceiling is beautiful.
Then on to the next door town of Naxxar as we'd read about a "beautiful 18th century stately home and garden" which were worth a look. We'd assumed it was on the outskirts but as we were negotiating a roundabout in the middle of town, Ian suddenly noticed a sign and we were lucky enough to find a parking space nearby. Unfortunately the "palace" consisted of only about 5 rooms and whilst they were very ornate they, and the garden which was winter bare, didn't really warrant the €15 entrance fee. No photos from inside, but a few from the garden/ conservatory.
I don't actually remember taking this, must have been as we were walking back to the car.
There have been quite a few signs in Malta which have made me giggle; couldn't always get a photo but here are a few.
This one may be grammatically correct but it still made me chuckle. Fortunately I don't need a hair dryer at this juncture but it seems it would have been a bit of a lottery as to whether I'd have found one or not.
Not quite such an interesting day, but we enjoyed the drive around.
For dinner we walked down into Valletta old town to a traditional Maltese Ftira restaurant and had their speciality which was rather pizza-like only the dough was much heavier - similar to focaccia. They got Ian's order wrong so he had 1/4 of mine whilst waiting, but even with his help I only managed half of it, but it was delicious - as was the complimentary bread and tomato paste.
One thing that has surprised me enormously is the food - I guess it's a mix of Mediterranean and North African - but whatever it is, everything we've had has been full of flavour and delicious.