As we start to descent into Valletta I’m surprised with all the sand coloured houses. I had expected to see a variety of colours like we saw in Italy.
On landing we have a wait before we can all disembark. The pilot finally makes an announcement that they are working on getting airport staff to help us and that they woke them up. Seems odd given staff are already taking the bags off but hey ho.
Onto buses we go to the terminal - the new standard for me. As we are driving we notice there are no gates at this airport so everyone either walks or is bused to the airport.
We have a wait for our luggage - seems odd given the bags came off before we did.
I had read that we need to pay for our taxi before going outside to get in one. Finally we have our bags so are off.
The ticket / voucher line moves quickly - once I’ve paid a driver is right there. Perfect! We had been watching others wait outside for their driver.
It’s a speedy drive into Valletta - the crazy driving skills of Sicily seem to be here too! Where we are staying is pedestrians only, thankfully our street is noticeable from where our driver drops us - after pointing it out to us we are off.
Wow wow wow! This place is amazing. And to think before a few months ago I knew nothing about this small island. We have a few photo stops along the way to the apartment. There is next to no one around so decide to make use of that while we can.
The apartment had given me very good instructions on how to get their and inside. Within minutes of stopping our photo shoot we are dragging our suitcases up the tight steep staircase (thankfully only around 10 stairs) to the lift.
From my bedroom window I look onto St John’s Co-Cathedral.
After relaxing for a bit I’m starting to fade (and it’s too early to go to bed) so we decide to go off for a wander. With no fixed abode we just walk.
The wows from earlier continue! The doors. The coloured balconies. The buildings. All wow. I’ll try not to take too many photos.....
We decide on a fresh pasta place for dinner. After ordering inside we sit outside on the sloping street. Great for people watching!
Monday 4 June I wake at 4.20am - yeah no thanks it’s far too early to get up!!! I hear the Church bells ring a few times before managing to doze off again then wake just before 8am.
The apartment lady finally arrives at 9.45am. She’s here to handle the payment part and that’s all. Strange that it couldn’t be done online.
As we walk out of the apartment it’s like we are in a different city to last night as all the shops are open. Walking a few steps it’s apparent we aren’t the only tourists around!
We have breakfast at a restaurant in St John’s co-Cathedral piazza. I order my first espresso since being in Europe; one sip and I’m feeling alive.
The plain facade Church was built between 1573 and 1578 has two large bell towers and an impressive clock showing time, day and date. The interior is the complete opposite of plain! However when it was originally built it was apparently equally simple to the outside. The 17th century was when the interior was revamped in the Maltese baroque style. We join the hordes of other tourists in walking around the inside before walking up to the balcony to get more of a birds eye view.
As we walk towards the water to the Malta Experience the breeze picks up - heaven! Thankfully we manage to wander along a few streets that aren’t pumping with tourists.
The Malta Experience is a 45 minute auto visual show that takes the watcher through the history of Malta as well as highlighting some of the Malta attractions.
Susan’s not feeling the best so we wander back to the apartment - stopping en-route to buy water.
I decide to head out to see where the bus stop is as we have planned to go to Mdina and Rabat tomorrow.
Walking outside the heat hits me. Yes it’s hot! I wander along streets I haven’t been on before. The bus station is a couple of minutes’ walk away - nice and easy.
The lift still isn’t working when I return so it’s up the stairs I go......not exactly what you want after being out in the heat. Thank goodness for a cold sprite when I got to the top.
Aah a cool apartment - just what the doctor ordered on a hot day. I have a good hour relaxing before Susan wakes up.
We decide to head over to the Three Cities which is just across the water. I had seen the tourist information center on my walks earlier so we pop in there to get directions to the ferry.
Nice and easy walk through the Upper Barrakka Gardens and Saluting Battery to the lift then lift down to the water. We have a short wait before the ferry arrives.
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The Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua) are more village like with their narrow cobblestone streets. From our wandering yesterday we spent time looking over.
We decide to get on the “happy train” - a small mini train type thing on wheels - tour of the Three Cities.
At the end of the tour we have a wander around a few of the streets of Vittoriosa before wandering along the water into Senglea. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast so pick up a pastizzerija - a local delicacy of pastry and a filling. I go with peas. It didn’t disappoint and cost all of EUR 30 cents. Bargain of the century!
We wander the streets - getting great views of Vittoriosa.
As we depart the harbour Susan’s boat is just departing - man alive someone has some serious money!
On arrival back into Valletta we take a different route up to the old town - taking lots of photos along the way. It’s a photographers paradise here!
There is certainly a lot more people around this evening than there was last night. We look at a few places for dinner before deciding on a Greek restaurant. The food is fresh and tasty. The service slow.
Tuesday 5 June I wake at my normal HK waking hour. After relaxing for a bit I head out for a run.
Boy it’s warm and it’s just gone 7am. I run one and a half times around the perimeter of Valletta (for 45 minutes). Loved seeing daily life start up.
Today we are off to Mdina and Rabat. Refer to other blog.
On arrival back in Valletta we head to M&S before stopping for lunch then heading back to the apartment to chill.
Late afternoon, feeling refreshed, we head out to the Valletta - Sliema ferry pier. We have a short wait before taking the ferry across the strait to Sliema. The views back on Valletta are amazing (if I say so myself!).
We aren’t sure what the main things to do here are so decide to just wander the streets. The buildings are the same as the other places we have been too - streets though are normal sized European streets. We get to an intersection, deciding which way to go we go left and a few meters along we spot the seaside. Aah bliss!
Sitting here listening to the waves crash against the rocks is pure bliss! Below is the rock “beach” with step access to the sea. Thanks but I’ll enjoy the view from here.
We take the 6.30pm boat back to Valletta. It’s still a stunning blue sky sunny day. I really do love day light savings! The views looking to Valletta are amazing.
On arrival we drag ourselves up and up and more up the hills to the city center. Have I mentioned it’s hot??!! And yes even for me - while there is limited humidity and temperature wise it’s late 20’s it’s feel sooo much hotter!
We wander around a few streets, some we have never been on before, until we decide on a place for dinner. I’m craving fresh produce. Aperol Spritz ordered. Now we focus on the food ordering.
As we walk back into the apartment I notice the sun setting - we watch standing on the balcony with a breeze. A lovely end to a great and busy day!
Thursday 6 June I wake around my normal hour - 6.22am. Didn’t sleep the best so decide on a walk instead of a run.
The city seems busier than it was yesterday morning, thankfully still quite quiet.
I wander around the Upper Barracks Gardens after my walk. It’s nice and peaceful with next to no one else around.
Yesterday when we were at M&S we noticed they had crumpets so decided that’s breakfast this morning. Vegemite in bag - off we go. Only to discover they don’t have them today. What a pain!
Susan had brought us tickets to visit the Hypogeum at 1.30pm this afternoon. One of the places she had researched, Marsaxlokk, is past the town where the Hypogeum is so we decide to go there first. It’s the same bus which allows us to see where we need to come back too.
Marsaxlokk is a small fishing village in the southeast area of Malta which is famous for its markets and traditional Maltese fishing boats.
On arrival into Marsaxlokk we wander around the harbour looking at all the brightly coloured boats.
Back onto the bus we head to the Hypogeum. On arrival we ask a local for directions and unfortunately end up at the wrong place. Back on track finally - next time I’ll trust google maps.
We are informed our tickets are for 2.30pm. Whoops!! After being told we should have come for the time we booked (yes we know that, but we made a mistake!!) we were changed to 1.30pm.
We both thought we were going to go underground but alas no, it’s an audio visual show only. Next available ticket to see the Hypogeum is on 25 July. Thanks but no thanks to waiting that long!!
We have a freshly squeezed OJ and coffee to recover from the second bad audio visual show!!
Wandering around Paola it feels like a sleepy town on a Sunday or on a public holiday - there is next to no one around. There is a HUGE Cathedral which looks amazing! The locals seem to be preparing for a party later / tomorrow so it’s all bordered up. What a shame. Instead we wander around the streets outside of the Cathedral seeing all the stalls being set up.
We have a short wait before a bus arrives to Valletta. It seems to be a shorter journey than we had coming here.
On arrival into Valletta we walk away from the old town to St Publius Church.
We had purchased and written post cards yesterday so before going back to the apartment make a stop at the post office. We arrive 15 minutes before it closes, talk about timing!
Next stop is the tourist information center where we get details on how to get to the Blue Lagoon tomorrow then Gozo on Friday. The lady isn’t exactly helpful.
Final stop before home is a gelato shop and a cake store. Needed after a day in the sun :)
Aah a/c we have missed you!
Late afternoon I head out to visit Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck.
Church of St Paul’s Shipwreck is one the Valetta’s oldest churches. My trusty Lonely Planet informs me St Paul was shipwrecked in AD 60 and brought Christianity to Malta.
I was enjoying the silence of the Church when all of a sudden a women’s voice is heard via a speaker - the other people in the Church then speak. Ooh dear time for me to leave.
It’s so nice with the breeze in the shade so I take my time going back to the apartment.
I stumble across some kind of service going on in St George’s square, in from of the Masters Palace. As they are speaking in Maltese I have zero idea what they are talking about. I ask one of the police - I’m told it’s the official ceremony for the national holiday tomorrow. Speaking on the government and what they do. I’m then told “it’s boring for the Maltese as well”.
We had found a place earlier for dinner which is close to home - to be fair most things in Valletta is close! We choose to sit on the balcony overlooking the street.
I managed a wee sleep in on Thursday 7 June - it has been an odd night with the 3 + hour wash going on (who does a wash that takes that long???!) then feeling hot. No exercise for me this morning.
See Blue Lagoon blog.
We wander back to the apartment via a gelato store for Susan. It’s nice to be back in the comfort of our apartment after the bus and boat trips.
I decide to head out for a wander after relaxing for a bit. The number of people around is a lot more than on previous days! With today being a national holiday there are events going on all over the city - one I see if a swim in the harbour.
We decide to head back to the Greek restaurant, from a couple of nights ago, for dinner. It’s amazing how many more people are around! Thankfully the restaurant is basically empty so no issues with getting a seat. On reviewing the menu we notice it’s changed from the other night and what we wanted is no longer there. Thanks but no thanks. Off we go to find somewhere else.
We have been underwhelmed with the food in Malta so far - nothing really jumps out when reading the menus. I had noticed bruschetta at the restaurant opposite the fresh pasta place the other night so we head there.
Within minutes we have a seat. I’m really enjoying being able to sit outside without sweating (summer in HK!) and being in day light savings.
The bruschetta is nowhere good as we had the first night (at the fresh pasta place). Fingers crossed our pizza and pasta are good.
We wander back to the apartment via the Upper Barrakka Gardens to see what’s going on with the Pageant on the Sea. With so many people it’s very difficult for a short person to see the sea. I’m informed not much so off we go. Once we walk in the door the fireworks start. We can’t see them but can hear them and see the light show that’s going on with it.
Friday 8 June I wake just before 6.30am - this time tomorrow we’ll be at the airport......
I head out for a run - manage to run twice around the perimeter (an hour). Had a couple of photo stops along the way. Sun was in the wrong spot for good photos!
Today we are off to Gozo. See other blog for trip to Gozo.
On arrival back into Valetta we decide it’s dinner time. We had seen a restaurant yesterday that’s close to the apartment so head there for dinner. I finally try a local beer - tasty!
My alarm goes at 5.15am on Saturday 9 June - far too early! But as we have a flight to Dubrovnik (via Roma) needs must. The one small positive is the sun is rising.
I had booked a taxi online a few days ago. As we depart the apartment it’s waiting for us. Brilliant! Surprisingly there are more people around than I expected at this time of the morning.
It’s a quick ride to the airport - hard to believe our time in Malta has come to an end. It’s been a great 5 days! Croatia here we come.
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