Malta June 4th 2007
Mtarfa, Mdina and a bit of Rabat.
We awoke to another overcast day though by no means cold, (by English standards), or dull. I don't know what time we arose, I don't remember, probably something to do with not knowing or caring at the time, though more likely the result of the lager consumed the previous evening. It wasn't late though and no hangover? Nice. Actually I have just figured it out from the photo below, the time stanp is 07.14, (actually 08.14 Maltese time), so quite early for us, Hehe.
View across Mellieha from our apartment.
(A bit overcast and the crane is still there)
We had managed to get the hotel to provide a 'continental style' breakfast package which amused Daniel and Rosie whilst I settled for a strong coffee and Kathy had a cup of tea. (I'm not going to describe what we had to eat every time/day, which will be a relief to most, just setting the scene so to speak).
The little car was a lot better without the luggage, at least for Daniel & Rosie in the back and we had no problem finding Mtarfa. Mdina is the first thing you notice in the distance as you get near, quite . . . I don't know what the word is, but imposing and spectacular, sort of serve my purpose.
As far as the David Bruce Military Hospital goes, well we almost fell over it once we had turned off the main road. I don't know the names of the roads but it was the dual carriageway running between Mtarfa and Mdina.
We pulled up and parked right outside the entrance in the picture to the left. I now know, from The Sir Temi Zammit School web site, that this is the 'left' side. It would have been nice to have found the front, but not to worry, I'm sure we will go again.
I'm not sure what I should have thought while we stood there in the rain, that sort of fine rain that gets you really wet, but there was a sort of urge to go in and wander around. I don't really know what I would have been looking for. Maybe for someone who could direct me to the Maternity Ward, Hehe!
On the right you can see our little car parked at the rear of the school, I think? If you look close you can just make out Rosie attempting to steal it, the car that is not the school. Wouldn't get the school in her hand baggage anyway. Might get the car in though.
Around the back of the School
(Silly little car and Rosie in the rain)
That was that really. I assume it was a school day and so couldn't really go barging in or wandering around the grounds. So we decided to move on to Mdina.
View as you approach Mdina.
(In the rain)
Once out of Mtarfa we doubled back round the eastern side of Mdina, just to get a good view really and to get there of course. There is a shorter route had we not been ignorant tourists, but if we had gone that way then we would not have seen the view of Mdina that we did. The picture on the laft does not do it justice really. It really does look quite grand standing on top of the ridge.
We found a car park easy enough, not far from the entrance to Mdina. What was nice was that there were no meters or ticket machines, just a really nice chap who said we could give whatever we wished, with the money going to help the upkeep of the city. I like that and yes we did give a reasonable amount.
Daniel & Rosie outside Mdina
(Stopped raining Yippee!)
I was really impressed by the gardens and area around the entrance. Clean, tidy, well kept and a credit to those responsible. I've just one question, was that moat ever filled with water? It would have taken a lot.
Mdina, Villegaignon - looking toward the Carmalite Church
(Daniel at botton right.)
The Silent City. It's easy to see, or hear, or indeed not hear where that name came from. There were many people there but even so it was quiet and peaceful. I suppose the lack of cars help.
Mind you, someone was trying to get in on the act with a very good impression of a thunderstorm in the distance. There is always one.
There is lots I could say about the City, but I do not think my vocabulary would do it justice. I could place lots of pictures of it here, but I think the only way to begin to appreciate what I would like to say, is to visit it yourself.
Below are a couple more pictures that 'say' more than I ever could.
Mdina. Quiet?
Mdina, Pretty.
What we did not do is visit Mdina at night. It's supposed to be realy nice, all lit up. Another for the next time, maybe.
Mdina done, we set off back to Mellieha looking for a shop or supermarket on the way to get supplies. Vodka etc. We found one in the form of Scotts, small compared to the mighty ASDA and Tesco, but strange, at least to us, as it has two floors. Never the less, excellently stocked and had all that we required and some, including the ritual Rosie versus Daniel 'Trolley squabble'. It's the old familiar details that make a holiday.
Once back at the hotel we decided to go and have a quick look around the main street in Mellieha.
We had a pleasant enough little walk up the main street, (quite steep), then it started to rain hard and harder and harder and harder until, and I'm not joking, you could have surfed down either side of the road. It was very nice of the Maltese to go to the trouble of breaking the rainfall record for the whole of june in one just one day. It seemed like it all came down during a 15 minute period while me and Kathy huddled in a doorway. I have no idea where Daniel and Rosie went but they were back at the hotel when we arrived, that was after negotiating the rapids coming down the steps outside our hotel.
The Pergola Falls ?
(Only active after very large quantities of rain.)
Apparently, 57.6 mm of rainfall was recorded at Luqa throughout the day, while the wettest June on record at the Met Office was June 1968 when 28.2 mm of rain was measured. I do not suppose for one minute it was amusing to the locals, nor really to us, but it was spectacular and something to remember.
It did not take us long to get dried off and put some grub together, after which we went down to one of the conference rooms in the hotel for a 'Welcome meeting' with other guests. I do not normally like these things, but it was presented well with plenty of useful information.
Then it was back to the apartment where Kathy decides to have a headache, which released me and the Kids to go down to the bar by the pool for a session. This is where, I think it gets funny. I get myself, Daniel and Rosie a drink and settle down at one of the tables to soak up a bit of the atmosphere. It was not long before I'm left on my own as the other two go off and play with some other children in and around the games room. Now, at some point Daniel decided to return to the apartment, what for I have no idea. When he found Kathy asleep he thought it best to take the cardkey from it's slot in the room and close the door, which had been left 'on the latch' so that we could get back in when we had had enough. Well when Daniel closed the door the sound must have awaken Kathy, who immediately assumed that someone else had crept in and stolen the cardkey and promptly telephoned reception to report it stolen. Did he get it when we went back. I think he did the right thing and even something I would have done myself. Glad it was him and not me though Hehe! Women !
Anyway that was that, day over, time for bed said me or was it someone else?. Tommorrow is another day.
Click here to read about Tuesday 5th June.
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