HOT DAYS IN MALTA

This is a hot place. Although the locals say it is unusual to be this hot at this time of the year. Anyhow, regardless how hot it is we still had to do our touristy (is that a word??) bit.

Our flat here in Gzira is out of the way a little. That is what you get when you select from the internet plus keeping the dollars in check. Given we are here for 4 weeks we had to select a place to suit our budget and, it is quite a nice flat.

Again we set off on foot and took it quite easy. We both have put on a bit of weight over the past weeks and need to get rid of it and what a way to do it by strolling around here in Malta.

Carmen obtained a flyer advertising a new shopping centre called High Point (ahh retail therapy you cannot get away from it). So, given the heat and humidity we set off and found it. A huge place that has just opened in February. Quite trendy as most new shopping centres are. Had lunch in the cool atmosphere and then set off on foot again to Ghar id-dud (now, you Australians might not know how to pronounce this one so I will do my best to spell it out as you say it. are - re- doot ). Carmen was a little disappointed that it has changed so much as there was a time in her teen years when she use to do some flirting around this area. It is now an area of hotels and high rise buildings - very touristy (there is that ward again).

We walked around Tower Road which skirts quite a long way around the sea side. Wonderful views, people sun baking on the rocks (no sand here at this particular place), little kiosks, deck chairs all make up a very colourful scene. We finally arrived at Balluta Bay and had refreshments. This Bay is the closet place to the sea from Carmen’s old home place. Brought back a lot of memories for her.

Finally we returned home, spruced up and Carmen’s cousin collected us and drove to see Carmen’s Aunt Nora in an Age Care Home. Tears and a reminiscing time was had. Carmen’s cousin then took us to Qawra (now, here is another one of those Maltese words - you don’t pronounce the ‘q’ so, it is something like ‘ara’ as in are’a and Carmen says I say it wrong - I cannot get my tongue around some of these Maltese words - they laugh at me) where we had dinner beside the sea on a balmy evening. Again a beautiful place where there were plenty of tourists and large hotels.