Mdina, Marsaxlokk & Gozo Island

'Luzzu' traditional fishing boat

 Mdina is the old capital of Malta, it’s origins trace back to 1500BC. It’s an ancient walled city with an extraordinary mix of Medieval & Baroque architecture. We met one of our friends here who is a regular visitor on our travels. You can purchase a whole days bus ticket for 2.60 Euros where you can hop on & off as you wish, we explored the beautiful promenades between the picturesque bays.

Marsaxlokk is a traditional small fishing village where you can admire the memorable ‘Luzzu’ fishing boats bobbing up & down in the harbour. On the bow of the boats are painted with a pair of eyes which are believed to protect the boats from danger.

Gozo is a small island off Malta which has been inhabited since 5000BC, rich in historical locations with 22 churches dotted around the island. It also has some amazing beaches with brilliant orange-red sand & clear turquoise waters. We caught the ferry over again using the amazing bus service for 2.60 Euros for the whole day.

Dwerja what a find a true gem of the Maltese islands, absolutely stunning place. Guarded by a coastal tower (1652), has a chapel St Anne’s (1960) & some amazing rock formations ( see the pics).

We rushed to complete this blog & check out of the hotel to get to the ferry only to be told it had been cancelled!!!!  All part of the adventure!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Malta,Maltese,Maltesers Moments!!

We set sail from Pozzallo,   after 14 months travelling we left our treasured motor home ‘Snuggly Wuggly’  in a secured car park which we had a really good deal with helpful staff & very close to the ferry port. The journey across took 1 ¾ hours just over 90KM in distance.

We have booked ourselves into a 3* hotel for the unbelievable price of £10 per night which includes breakfast & dinner, with an indoor & outside pool, no slopping out for a week, but we’re missing our Snuggly Wuggly!!! (www.TravelRepublic.com )

Malta  has a unique 7,000 years of turbulent history, from the early settlers of the Temple period, the Arabs & Roman occupation, the Knights of St John (1530) & the Great Siege (1565), Napoleon & Nelson, also the destruction of the two World Wars. The determinations of the people to survive & succeed the war were all honoured with the George Cross in 1942. The island was the most bombed country in the Second World War.

We took an open top bus tour with a cruise for 13 Euros another great deal which we were able to use over 2 days, fab. We ventured down its 10 creeks & into the unforgettable Grand Canal with stunning architecture & scenery. Valletta  is the capital city (UNESCO) it has narrow streets with an abundance of historical buildings, churches & gardens very beautiful not to be missed.

Typical Maltese cuisine definitely surrounds itself around Rabbit which is normally fried in garlic, or cooked in stews & pasta sauces. ‘Pastizzi’ is hot cheese & pea stuffed into pastry & ‘Imqaret’ deep fried pastry parcels filled with dates which we had with ice cream scrummy!!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Aberystwyth Girls Sicilian Visit!

Catania  is the second largest city in Sicily & it’s also known for its seismic history, having been destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake in 1169 & 1693, also several volcanic eruptions from the neighboring Mount Etna volcano, the most violent of which was in 1669. It has an eventful history, having been founded in the 8^th century BC. Under the city runs the river Amenano  which is visible in just one point south of the Piazza Duomo where the famous fish & general market is located, this was the best one we’ve visited in our whole journey.

It was wonderful to see 2 of my sisters & Mum who made the effort to come out to see us, they brought some wonderful, delicious & thoughtful gifts out & Tony was extremely happy with his Pork Pies, Black Pudding & Bacon!!!!! We had a fabulous time sampling the local food & drink, & visiting the tourist sites.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ddN1VXcO1Q

 

Silly Sicilian Haircut!!!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

At last i’ve persuaded Tony to get the mullet cut yippee! It was like going to bed with Ken Dodd & waking up with George Clooney!! (i’ve got a good imagination!)

We had a great walk to a small fishing village ‘Spoglitti’ which was around  a 9 mile walk where Tony promised me that we could return to the site by bus, guess what NO BUSES!!!! The track back was along soft, wet sand with little conversation!!!

 A few days later we had a 2 hour round  bike ride to Marina di Ragusa which has some beautiful beaches, explored the small town where Tony had his haircut & his friend gave me a Cucumber why?!  When we returned to the site our motorhome along with everybody elses was covered with black volcanic ash, Mount Etna had erupted with 5,000 metre high column of volcanic ash, busy clean up.

We’ve only got a few days left on the site so catching up on a few jobies etc.