5th Week in Malta

 

Monday – We went with Marisa to get her uncles car VRT (MOT). It is a car kept in her garage which he uses when in Malta – as he lives in USA. Marisa lets us use her Qashqai car when we need it instead of hiring a rental car and she uses her uncles car. She left her uncle’s car in the garage and jumped back into the Qashqai and we then went onto her partner’s house that is being renovated….it was great to see the progress since we were last there 10 days ago.  Marisa is monitoring them almost daily to get the work completed..…she went to buy 4 big pots of paint they needed and then we went shopping in Mosta.  Marisa showed us the cheapest shops to get our everyday needs like washing up liquid and washing powder….they were 4/5 euros cheaper than locally : It’s because Mellieha is an up-market area where there are tourists so prices are higher – but in comparison to GBP it is still much cheaper  to live than the UK on most items.  We went looking for a lampshade as I have some lovely pieces of Driftwood that I bought with me that, I think, would make a lovely driftwood lampshade and Marisa said it would sell ‘like mad in Malta…people are crazy for wood’.  We spent Tuesday at the villa, relaxing.  We have lots of information on Malta and a book we found in the villa; so we are always looking at things we can do and see whilst we are here....also as we have friends coming soon we were looking at boat trips and places of interest they might like to see.

Malta is such a diverse Island….there is so much to see and do here and the weather is lovely that every day things like walking, sitting, having food in the sun is very pleasant!  Valetta, the Capital, has it all, Theatre, Cinema, Art, Museums and Historical sites…….if you want it.  It’s a small Island but we are amazed how jam-packed it is with all sorts of goodies. The beaches in our area are apparently the best - we have only been 4 times since we arrived here but I’m sure, now the sea is warming up, we will go many times before we go home. 

Whilst we have been here, John has been building a website for Marisa and her family business.

Marisa’s mother has 2 villas either side of where she lives - her sister and husband have 2 three bed villas where they live (which is a similar setup to Marisa where the owner lives on the top and the villas underneath are for renting or visa versa ), they also have 4 houses dotted around in the centre of the island.  So John has been building a website for the family as going through an Agency like ‘Malta Choice’ takes a big chunk of money and doesn't get them enough business.  According to Marisa, business this year is slow…so a website is imperative).   When it goes ‘live’ I will let you know the website details as you must come to Malta or spread the word as there is first class accommodation to rent all with pools with very helpful owners to help you have the best holiday you could possibly have.

I am looking at my floristry website to update it. I have been told to change the website name so I will have to think of one…………I think ‘Kent’ or ‘Kentish ‘ has to be there somewhere …..any ideas anyone?)

Wednesday we decided to get the bus to Sliema - where you can get the taxi boat to Valetta. We’re not going to do that this time……..we walked around the back streets, where there are crafts shops dotted around and big names including M&S, BHS & Mango, to name a few, but we went mainly  to see the areas we haven't been to before, as some of the architecture is amazing - some houses have not been cared for outside but I love those most of all.  Sliema also has a large ‘state of the art ‘ Shopping Mall too called  ‘The Point’ – you can get a taxi boat from Valetta to the shopping mall if you want. ‘The Point’ is a very large air conditioned shopping mall with big named European shops and lots of eating and ice-cream areas inside and out.  The outside area has waterfalls, where the children can get cool and have fun.  It is the only large shopping mall on the island (although Valetta has shops too). We had a quick look around and then got the bus back that takes 30 minutes.  We stayed on the bus all the way to our favourite bar as the weather was still hot so we thought we might as well enjoy the day further….that’s the great thing about constant sunshine!  We both had cocktails and snacks and went home with a happy glow to our faces.  Thursday we took a walk back to the bar,  earlier than usual.  There are two ways to go....through the town or down to the sea to walk along by the sea....it’s a nice walk either way. We walked through the town and onto the bay and it takes around 40 minutes (it’s all up hill on the way back so we get the bus!) Upon our return to the villa, I see Pam, Marisa’s daughter by the pool with a guy whom she introduces me to as Matthew who she works with and apparently is the pilot who is going to take John up in a 2 seater Cessna plane. 

(The week we were in Sicily Pam told me she had been up in a 2 seater plane, as a passenger, with her colleague from work (Matthew), who has a small plane pilot’s license but wants to get a Commercial license - so needs to get many hours of flying experience in to obtain this particular license.  I asked her if he would consider taking John up on a flight as a birthday surprise…albeit his birthday is in September!  I couldn’t miss this opportunity as it’s only 60 Euros…so a lot cheaper than our local Headcorn Aerodrome which charges around £150/hour – which I had considered before). 

Matthew told us that ever since he was a small child; all he has ever wanted to do was to fly planes. An Interesting guy, full of facts and figures, and as you can imagine, he and John got on well.  So they talked planes! He's taking John up next Monday at 9am for one hour….all being well with the weather, but assured us that he had researched the weather conditions, wind etc and for flying a small aircraft, it should be OK.  We got offered to join them and have a glass of wine and after we had drank their two bottles….. we got a bottle from our villa next door with some cheesy snacks and had a lovely afternoon and evening with them....they were good company…..they're both bright young people that have a lovely personalities and not at all supercilious or pretentious with all that they have achieved.  Pam also has a license for flying and is only 23  (Matthew is 21) and is in the process of trying to get promotion at work – she is an engineer for Luthhansa who fly to 15 destinations directly from Malta…….not bad for a small island.  Matthew told us that the airport is, in his opinion, too small now for the amount of aircraft coming in. Two young people with ambition and are fun too.  Marisa eventually joined us too around the table and we had a good laugh!   Thursday: I have taken on a job of shortening some curtains for Marisa that she bought in Sicily for the apartment next door to spruce it up a bit.  I am happy to be sitting in the sun sewing….can’t be bad Eh!  (She’s lends us her car and we only have to put petrol in it….so a favour can be returned ...... she has become a good friend).

Thank god for the KINDLE we have…..it’s great and I have just downloaded a really good book called ‘My Secret Sister’…Jenny & Helen…..a wonderful story about 2 ladies who find out they are sisters well into their late 50’s.  If you like reading true stories you will love this book with twists and turns and a happy ending…… and one of the sisters live in Tenterton, Kent and was top lady golfer in UK and US. A good read and I highly recommend it! 

Friday and Saturday we laze around, take our usual daily walk.....usually to the Maya Beach Bar. I have been swimming in the pool a lot, making the most of it as it is attached to the villa next door… but people are in now for a couple of weeks so it’s the beach or swimming pools in hotels….which they allow to non- residents. Sunday…and we have been here 6 weeks….I can’t believe it……we are nearly half way through our wonderful trip.  We are loving it and it’s great we can Skype our families and keep in touch that way. Since I have been gone....Nancy started crawling, standing up and has now got at least 6 teeth.  She was also ill and was in hospital for a few days....everything was checked and her blood was clear of Meningitas.  She had picked up something but is fine now...bless her.  It's a worry with young babies... she will one year old on 15th August! Rubymay has just turned 10 yesterday and went to Chessington Zoo for the day with a friend. I will be back for my other two grandchildren's birthdays in August..... Rive is going to be 17 ...can't believe that.....and Indi is 6.   It's a busy month for John as his grandaughter, Lily had a birthday and his daughter in America (Dani) and daughter in law Molly -and Haydon's next week.... all birthdays in May. My son James was 35 on 9th May so its pretty busy for me too. With our Anniversary coming up next week on 29th, Molly and Sam's on 30th and Stefanie & Priyesh on 31st.....whew ....a busy time for celebrations. 

Here's to our 6th week in Malta!

 view of the sea along where we are staying

 

 A dip!

 Breakfast in the garden

Me in the pool

4th and 5th week in Malta (including our trip to Sicily)

Monday 5^th May:  Walked, Swam. Eat and drank wine….that’s it!  It’s funny, when walking or sitting having a drink watching the Maltese go about their business…..they are mad drivers, and because of the weather they spend time outside their houses chatting and sitting around in the sunshine…but come 1pm till 4pm….no one is around, it’s siesta time. The elderly Maltese people all have black hair….haven’t seen any with grey hair and they are very smart wearing dark clothes!

Tuesday: Went to airport in the evening to collect our friends who have arrived for one week (Jenny and Ian) …..it will be great spending time with them.  Wednesday – we took our guests around Mellieha and down to our favourite bar…then home, had a swim and had siesta around the pool  Out for dinner in evening…lovely day …the sun shone all day …with no wind as like any Island it can be windy. Thursday…We took a trip to Gozo and Comino (to see the Blue Lagoon) on the ferry – it was a hot day. We hopped on and off a Red Tourist bus – which is really the best way to see the whole island. We first got off first at the Citadel in Victoria…..which is the Capital , walked around the narrow streets which are very quiet and beautiful with there colourful doors and flowers.  Had lunch and hopped on and off the bus again to various places.  Took ferry home, had drinks and snacks, exchanged photograph’s and all in bed by ten. Friday we took it easy around the pool….and went out to a local restaurant in the evening where, we think, the staff job descriptions all specify firstly…… “Can you sing?”.  The owner, waiters and waitresses and chef’s, in their black and white trousers, all got up and sang. It was a different kind of Karaoke night…..we will definitely go again…….we like the chef’s voices best as they firstly, sang in tune, secondly, had a lot of rhythm and personality. They weren’t the usual Karaoke songs either….a must to go again because the food was good too!  Saturday, our last day together, we hired a car and drove to Mdina and Rabat but alas, after at least 30 minute’s driving around, couldn’t find somewhere to park…people were obviously, up and about early today!  We ended up at the Ta’ Qali Craft Village, where local crafts and artefacts are created by local experts. 

The Ta' Qali area was a former RAF wartime airfield used in WW1 and WW2. The RAF vacated the area in the 1950’s and this wide open space now contains a National Stadium, National Park (with Amphitheatre) and National Vegetable Market known as Pitkalija. The Amphitheatre has had international concerts with artists such as Status Quo and Madonna and local artists. The US Embassy relocated to the area in 2011 from Valletta, where it had stood for more than 50 years.

Jenny and I were looking forward to seeing the Nissen huts, that made up the Ta' Qali' craft centre, but one caught my eye….HUT 137, OLIVEWOOD.  Art, Sculpture – woodturning and gifts….must find this hut.  It will be great watching craftsmen blowing glass, women making lace and making Filigree jewellery….which is unique to Malta.  We left the men in the café and Jenny and I set off around the huts……Jenny wanted to buy a souvenir for her home so we looked at the Glass and Pottery - there were amazing pieces being blown and all so colourful and unique – the Glass has many twirls of colours in it….luckily enough we had a wedding gift, of glass from Ta' Qali, from our Maltese friends ….and next time we go there we will try and add to the two  pieces as when the sun shines through it – it is really beautiful. 

We finally arrived at 'Olivewood', where John and Ian were already inside chatting to the artist and John was paying for something!  Hut 137 (designed in WW1 and was able to be erected in 4 hour by 2 men) is now being used by ‘Olivewood’.  The guy who rents it now, told us a story that a man who was in RAF in WW2 visited him and gave him a photograph of himself and 3 other guys who were living Hut 137 during the WW2.   The photograph is displayed in his shop….how wonderful.

I was eager to find out what John had bought as he opened the packaging to show me - it was flat and quite big…….It was a slice of Olive wood that could be used as a cheese board etc. I was thrilled - as I LOVED IT! The Olive wood was from Malta the darker and lighter wood resulting in differing growth parameters occurring in different seasons....so the guy told me.  Olive wood is a popular choice for salad bowls and is easy to care for and can last for generations.  Most olive wood products are handmade and are more expensive than similar items made from a softer wood.   It was not an expensive item but I will treasure it and every time I use it – it will remind me of our memorable time in Malta 2014.   We all enjoyed our time at Ta’ Qali and all had a keepsake to take home.  We spent the rest of Saturday around the pool before our ‘last supper’ together.  Jenny and Ian spent their last day on Sunday on their own and went to Valetta (they left early Monday morning for UK)….…but we embarked on our trip to Sicily leaving 4.30am Sunday morning.

Sunday 6.30am we set sail on the ‘Jean de la Valette’ (named after a Frenchman who became Grand Master of the Order of Malta in 1557). What an amazing Catamaran, new, big and very comfortable seats and armchairs.  It was built in Australia and bought over to Malta in 2010 and is the fastest Catamaran on the Mediterranean and the 3^rd largest in the world. It takes 800 passengers and 130 vehicles and took 90 minutes to get to Pozzallo in the southeast.  We first went to a shopping village as Marisa’s two daughters wanted to buy some Nike trainers (about 45 Euro’s…so about half price to UK and Malta). 

(Marisa's two daughter’s wanted to take her for a short break somewhere as it was ‘Mother’s day’ on Sunday in Malta and Marisa suggested going to Sicily so John and I could come aswell.  Marisa loves it there and spent a lot of her youth there and knows the Island well.

We had some food and ice-cream (of course) and left the shopping village to go to our hotel which was built high on volcanic rocks with lava walls and lava flower pots and had a lovely view overlooking the sea on the terrace. It was a base to explore and served us well.  The first night Marisa took us down to the fish restaurants in the area we were staying  (Aci Castello). The owner was pleased to see her and they exchanged kisses..they obviously knew her well as she always goes there when in Sicily....and even dreams about the fresh fish she will eat, long before she gets there…..”it’s that good?” I ask, she nodded her head vehemently! It was good!  I had just fish in a sauce on my plate and I have never tasted fish like it before. You mop up the sauce with some home made bread made with the best olive oil and Sicilian wine and leave with a smile on your face. The next few days we drove up and down the main roads going past the snow- capped Mount Etna….so impressive. Trips to Etna were 49 Euro per person so a little too expensive and a long walk up the mountain…so out of the question but we saw it every day looming in the distance.  We drove to various Gelateria’s during the day to have coffee and ice-cream and 'sweets' (cakes) and in the evening to eat fish or pizza – all good.  One night we had musicians sing to us so I got up to dance around them….which was duly filmed by the girls, who eventually danced with me while Marisa filmed it and it was duly put on Facebook by the girls.  Gelato is an experience not to be missed. You can choose from at least 20 different flavours and it’s delicious.  (Gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk to cream).  We also went to a huge market where everything was so cheap (Marisa knew where every stall was to get the best products).  Limocello was 7 Euros (in Malta it’s about 14 Euros and in the UK it’s a ridiculous price). I bought a good brand of sandals for my grandchildren for 10 Euros and a few T Shirts, (one/two euros each). Baby Nancy got a hand knitted jumper with hood from Gozo when we went there.  Olives, Ricotta cheese, Melons, Tomatoes, wines and brandy all ridiculously cheap…so the boot was full upon our return with all sorts of goodies. The Italians ride their scooters and cars as if there is no one else on the road.  You have to stop at all crossroads as the streets are not marked in any way and cars just come across the road without looking. We were safe hands with Marisa’s driving  as she zig-zagged her way past double parking in the narrowest roads ever….with women with pushchairs just crossing when they wanted – as if they had right of way..….your car had to stop……….a great experience but a bit scary. Sicily is a country of diversity, it has a population of 5 million and became part of the Italian state in 1860…..it is also incredibly dirty with rubbish blowing around everywhere. The ever changing landscape with hill-top towns rebuilt after the earthquake of 1693 are characteristic of this Island. Naturally, I bought some specialities of the Island….. Nougat …which is soft and chewy and abundant with almonds that grow there. I ate loads of Ricotta sweet pastries that were unique to the café’s around the markets, they were a warm pastry with a centre of Ricotta cheese and almonds  that dripped down your chin when eating them …heaven......and better than our Danish pastries as they have a sweet and sour taste.  Mmmmmmmmm! (I wish I'd bought some back to Malta).  Marisa had a phone call early Wednesday morning (we were catching the 9.30pm ferry that night) to say that our ferry was delayed for over three hours due to wind in Malta so we finally left Sicily at 1.30pm Thursday morning and the crossing took 2 hours instead of the usual 90 minutes. It was a rough crossing  with the sound of people being sick – poor things - but thankfully I slept the whole way.  I think, one of advantages of growing older is you embrace everything and enjoy the moment you are in!  It was a fantastic break in Sicily….and we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  Got back to villa 4.30am and in bed at 5 for a couple of hours sleep (after unloading the car!).  I lazed around the rest of Thursday and went early to bed with my Kindle.  It’s nice to be back to our ‘home’ in Malta.  Saturday and Sunday did housework, went walking and pampered myself with the products I had from my kids for Mother’s Day…..I feel blessed!

The Olive wood cheese board

At the Market in Catania

Aci Castello with Marisa and her daughers

In a park in Catania

A flower stall in Catania

Mount Etna from the car

View from the Catamaran as we left Valetta

View from our hotel in Sicily

The Terrace in our hotel

Lunch!

Lunch!

...being a piggy!

A stall at market

Coffee and sweets!

Posh shops in Catania

John eating ice cream!

Lava!

The Market in Catania

Flower stall

Marisa and me with Etna in the distance

Market

Third week in Malta

Monday: 28^th: Drove to Birzebugga, never been as south on the Island  - only to/from Luqa Airport.   Birzebugga, we discovered, isn’t worth a visit again because the Docks are situated there with big containers being hurled into the air like little boxes. Funnily enough, the beach is call ‘Pretty Beach’…clearly someone was ‘having a laugh’!.  Nearby is Ghar Dalam a prehistoric site that was discovered in the latter half of the 19^th Century with a series of excavations unearthing animal bones as well as human remains and artifacts. The Cave is a very important site for it’s Palaeontology, Archaeology and Ecology - it was here that the earliest evidence of human settlement was found. We then drove to a wonderful fishing village called Marsaxlokk…now this was pretty! I even chose the fish for lunch…black bream (we watched the fisherman bring the fish in). It’s well worth a visit there.

We got up early Tuesday, whilst we still had car (until 1pm) so we popped to see some places locally. Although we have walked to a Red Tower, on a hill above Mellieha before, we have never been beyond it and boy, do you get some wonderful views of the Island from different sides.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (can you believe we are in May) we caught up with various chores and swam in the pool.  We did, however, book to go to Sicily for 4 days by ferry from Valletta (Capital), in 2 weeks….. excited! Saturday, we went to Valletta to collect ferry tickets with Marisa, our Maltese friend, but en route we stopped in Mosta to see the progress of Marisa’s partner’s (Josef) house – who is renovating it.  It is a terraced house with two storeys above, one where Josef’s sister will live and the other, a penthouse for his brother.  Marisa is overseeing the project while Josef is at work.  She has built and renovating before with her apartment on top of our villas.  She’s good!  She knows exactly how to interpret Josef’s ideas and to make the most of the space.  The house is long, with rooms going off on the right from a long corridor.  Spare room first, then master bedroom with a huge en suite (the tiles are Italian with a huge flower spanning over one wall.  It’s all very tastefully decorated with paint as they don’t use wallpapers. There are pictures of ‘The Madonna and baby’ above the beautifully adorned bed – with a white patterned silk duvet and decorative wood furniture. The tiled floor, which is throughout the apartment has a carefully chosen pattern and all comes together very well. I could certainly sleep there!  The next room on the right is a second bathroom and then at the end a large open space with one end being the lounge area and the other, the kitchen.  Again, lots of beautiful wood furniture and glass top table with a carved wood base.  Most of the furniture and kitchen crockery and glasses have come from Sicily on their many journeys there.  Then out to the garden, all tiled with an amazing pattern around the pool and Jacuzzi and outside kitchen area and BBQ – which they are working on now and will be finished soon. It’s all been equipped, as houses are in Malta, with easy to clean fixtures…I love that idea.  It will be finished in about one month’s time and we have been invited to a BBQ (the opening ceremony) before we leave for UK. It will be interesting to see it finished……..a nice space. In the evening we went out to dinner (and a boogie) with Marisa and Josef, it was a good evening and the entertainment first class.  This is first time we have seen Josef as “his work has been busy”.  Sunday we lazed around, after the night before, then took a short walk around lunchtime and lazed around the rest of the day…it’s getting to the stage that it’s hard to actually turn over on my sunbed!!!

The end of another interesting week…..roll on week four – when we have our friends joining us on Tuesday until Sunday.

 

 Mosta Church

  Docks at Birzebugga

 Poor parrot tied up!

 Marsaxlokk fishing village

 Views over Gladira Bay

 Views from Red Tower, Mellieha