Yesterday in Tunis was wet and miserable, and La Goulette is not the prettiest of ports. Today we woke to hot sunshine and the beauty of Valletta stone harbour. Absolutely glorious.
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| Valetta Harbour from the ship. We sailed in through the harbour walls |
We like Valetta. In fact we like Malta as a whole, having visited before. We've travelled by bus across the island, and taken the ferry across to Gozo on previous visits. Today we were out to enjoy the good weather and the lovely, sometimes dramatic, lines of the city.
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| Buildings lining the harbour side. The sandstone colours and painted wooden balconies are everywhere. |
So we walked. All over. Around the outside and through the middle. We started by walking along the harbour side until we got to the lift at the side of the fort which takes you up the walls to the gardens at the top. From there you can watch the saluting battery fire the guns at noon, enjoy the small garden or relax with a cool drink in the warm sun.
And there are fantastic views across the harbour
We walked through the tall narrow streets
Until we found ourselves back at the harbour side.
We know from a previous visit that there is a path running right along the water's edge which will take us to the harbour wall. We loved it then, when the wind blustered and the waves crashed, leaving several inches of water to walk through. And we loved it today, with calm seas and hot sun.
The path runs along at the bottom of the harbour fortifications. There is so much history here, carved into the rock.... doorways, tunnels and steps.
We sat on capstans at the harbour wall, found a pop up art display created by a load of students from Rome, sat and enjoyed lunch al fresco in the narrow streets, and found the gardens of Floriana.
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| Veiws across Malta from the Floriana gardens |
It was just a wonderful day.
We had to be back on board by 4pm, which was fine, cos my legs we're starting to notice the 6 miles of roads and paths we'd walked. As part of the entertainment team, we have to go for Covid testing every day between 4 and 4.30pm. The passengers don't though, it's just us. So we went for our tests, got the all clear and settled back in the cabin to watch the harbour go by as the ship sailed out.
It was then that I realised that sitting on the capstan earlier in the day left unpleasant rusty brown stains all over the white shorts I was wearing. It looked like I'd had an accident! I tried, but the ship's washing machines were unable to get the marks out. I might have to write them off, but I'll try at home first before I chuck them out.
We finished the evening with dinner in the Grill as usual, and then watched an aerial duo demonstrate incredible balance and strength in the playhouse. Very elegant and entertaining.
Tomorrow is a seaday. I plan to visit the shop to get some more shorts.
A previous visit to Valletta..........
https://gettingaboutabit-cruising.blogspot.com/2015/11/malta-and-valetta-day-one.html
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