Capital (Va)lletta

Today has been a day of rest and so I will take some time to catch up on all the events. 

Yesterday we headed into Valletta so we could look at the World War 2 museum and the harbour forts. As I have previously mentioned the way to travel in Malta is by bus, the network is comprehensive and regular, and while it may suffer a bit with punctuality, there is no real grievances felt as you just have longer to enjoy the sunshine.

I haven't mentioned the weather yet, so I figure I should give you an update. It is HOT. Much warmer now than the hottest day we had in the UK this year!! Occasionally a few clouds gather, but they are soon melted away by the sun. And while the is a sea breeze that sweeps around the streets, iris very unlike the chilling effect that we had in The Gambia, and instead it is just a lovely cooling sensation.

Anyway, back to the bus, we caught the number 12 from Bugibba bus station, and figured it was worthwhile getting a week long ticket - which gives us unlimited bus travel around the island and costs the princely sum of €6.50. Travelling by bus is the way to see Malta, as you go through all manner of small towns and windy narrow roads which clearly were not designed for busses!! It was an old fashioned bus, much like we had back in the UK in the 80s with that coarse carpet material on the backs of the seats, and even on the ceiling. 

With tickets the price they are, it is no surprise that the bus was packed but thankfully Sarah had us in the queue early so we managed to get seats. Malta has really brought out her British sense of queuing, and was indignant when some local Maltese lad just came and stood in front of us. Still her vexation was not a patch on the Russian ladies (I use the term loosely, and that was not the words Sarah used to describe them either, but I want to keep this blog a PG rated blog!!) who pushed in front of her at the toilets in Valletta. Sarah is still going on about that now!!

After an hour of driving around the island, we finally arrived at the capital. It has been a bit more developed since Sarah and I were last there, but there was still a fair bit of work to do before they are finished. The city walls were as impressive as ever, as were the harbour forts, but typically the one thing that we had come to see ( the World War II museum) was closed because, the guard informed us, they were relocating it to some indistinct area of the city over there (said as he was waving his arm in the general direction of the way we came). We did see them loading a jeep onto a trailer as part of this relocation, but I scarcely think that would fulfill Dan's requirement of what he wanted from a World War II museum.....

We sat down had a drink and regrouped, and decided to visit the museum of archaeology instead. This houses many exhibits from the temples of Malta and was a perfect way to whet our appetites before visiting the Hypogeum on Wednesday. It was an interesting, if small, museum and had an impressive display of Neolithic sleeping figures, as well as an inordinate amount of clay pots. Also, we finally got to see the George Cross that was presented to the island in recognition of its bravery against the Nazi bombing onslaught. 

An altar in the Museum of Archaeology on a lovely chipboard floor. I spared you endless pics of pots!!

The George Cross awarded to Malta, along with the letter from King George VI.

Surprisingly after all that, we were shattered and so we decided to make our way back home. I again feel like I have not seen all that Valletta has to offer,as we seemingly went down the Main Street we did last time. Is that all there is??