Time to tease the Maltese - September 2018

I have said it so many times, everyone should travel, alone, at least once in their life. From the minute I arrive somewhere new I change.  New sights, sounds, smells and languages. It ignites my soul. Travelling lets me be the person I want to be - free. I can decide when or what to eat, where to sleep, what to do with my day.  OK I guess my life now is somewhat like that already, but travelling gives me freedom - no 9-5, no timescales, no deadlines and no rushing around. All I need in life is in one of my trusty suitcases with my bag on my shoulder. I stay in cheap accommodation, I smile and speak with the local people, I eat the local food and I sit and watch the world go by. When you travel, life is not a fashion show, you can wear the same thing day in day out, no one cares if your shoes don't match your dress.  I can change my plans with a blink of an eye, I can see a different route and take it.  Travelling shows you a side of yourself you may not be familiar with, it mak

Valletta is where the main bus station is so most of my journeys, using my trusted Oyster Card to through or change at Valletta.  Today, I was going to take the boat across Valletta harbour to go to the three cities. However, Mother Nature decided to put a spoke in the wheel of that plan as it was too windy and all the boats had been cancelled.  It did look choppy. However, there was a huge cruise ship in and Valletta was so busy.  I remember my friend Jackie in  More Valletta art - I do like this one Wellington, New Zealand saying the same happens there when there is a ship in, you cannot move for tourists (says she who is a tourist herself). So I had to have a change of plan and decided to go to Marsaxlokk, a beautiful fishing village.  I must have got on and off three different buses to get there, but hey the girl did good and found it.  I like getting off the stop earlier and then  mooching around, far better.  Marsaxlokk was well worth the effort. It was so beautiful and har

The advantage about an AirBnB in someones home is that it is normally cheap (mine is), you get to see 'real' people and how they live and also you are normally in a suburb so away from the tourists; the down side is when the house is awake, you are awake.  I have been awake every morning for 6.30. Today was no exception. I showered and was out of the door for 8.30.  My hosts are lovely but there is no good just hanging around. I waited ages for a bus. London makes you very impatient.  I never run for a bus there as I know, in five minutes tops, there will be another one. This is Malta, it is not London. I waited over 30 minutes for a bus (they had obviously cut one out of the timetable).  When the bus did arrive, it was crowded. I finally managed to get a seat which was a good job as I was on the damn thing for over an hour.  This bus went down some of the smallest roads and tightest corners, I am so glad I decided not to hire a car. I arrived at Cirkewwa which is a port o

My hosts are so lovely, I knew they would be. During the night there was so much rain, it woke me up. There really is something lovely about lying in bed listening to the rain, especially when it is so warm.  Funny incident this morning.  I was in the utility room with James looking for loo roles. No, let me tell you this story how it really was. I am in a tiny space with a gay man whilst a woman is trying to lick my flue!  I said to James, blimey come to Malta and go home a lesbian. He laughed so much.  I have to say the woman was their adorable dog, who for some strange reason, just want to lick me.  I wish I could find a man with those skills.  Moving on ....... I caught the bus to Mdina. This was on my list of places to visit. This place, the Breakfast for less than 2euros quiet city as it is know, has been there since 1500 bc. Just take a moment to think about that. I started off my visit with a Rick Stein moment. The boys had told me about a place called the Crystal Palace,

Autumn has well and truly arrived in London. This morning was dark, wet and cold. I caught the first train on the Bakerloo Line (7.15am) and made my way to Paddington to catch the Heathrow Express.  Much to the annoyance of some American travellers, it really was not much of an express today; well unless you count 20 plus stops on the Piccadilly line as swift. There had been overnight maintenance work on the track, so the express had to take it easy, as you do on a Sunday. Today I was flying from Terminal Four.  I have never flown from this terminal so I had to get off at Terminal 2/3 then catch another train to the terminal. I really do have to ask myself why some people travel. As you approach security there are numerous signs telling you what you can, and more importantly, what you cannot, take through security.  I have to admit I have got this down to a fine art now, even talking off my bracket as I know that makes the alarm go off. The woman in front on me, who had more