old tiger's Blog

The following day...we had a short excursion towards Mosta..
this place is known for it's dome..reminded me of Vatican City..
Mosta is bit north of Mdina..actually on the way to Gozo island..
this church=St.Marija Assunta..looks very impressive..
http://www.visitmalta.com/mosta-dome
a very strange thing happened here once..in 1942 a German bomb..
fell through the roof of this church..made its way all along the church floor..
but DID not explode at all..in fact..Maltese..think..it was a miracle
an example of this bomb can be seen around the church..
I doubt if it was the original one??
as usual Mosta got it's souvenir shops with gadget stuff..
next day we planned a visit to the blue grotto near Zurrieq..
Tiger

We took a bus to Valetta town again..
and took a ticket again to Mdina(bus)
Malta relies a lot on bus transport..it got a vast network..
Mdina/Rabat are like twin towns situated in central Malta..
being away from the sea..made Mdina scorching hot..
a hat or some sun protection was really necessary..
Mdina was a sleeping town with town gates,a cathedral..
interesting old houses in a special architectural style..
I recall we visited an art and crafts gallery...
the usual souvenirs..for tourists..as all over..
we saw a demonstration of glassblowing and pottery,ceramics etc..
we drank lots of soft drinks..to quench ourselves from the heat...
Mdina..was full of souvenir shops..a typical excursion town...
I don't recall we went to Rabat..
both Mdina/Rabat have religious history..
linked to Christianity and Islam..
http://www.holiday-malta.com/resort/malta/village/mdina/index.html
we returned by bus to Valetta/Sliema..
next outing was gonna be Mosta..
I'll report on that soon..
Tiger

When we were in Malta...it was going through a heatwave..
temperatures were ranging between 32 to 38 degrees Celsius
there was a German girl in the youth hostel who got a sunstroke..
we went out from Sliema by bus to La Valetta to visit this city...
taking a bus in Malta is an experience..busdrivers are efficient enough..
but daring and reckless..I bet it's their temperament..
Valetta was basking in the heat..walking its steep streets was a challenge..
first we went to see the Maltese experience show..it's something for tourists really..mostly a slide show about the history and traditions of Malta itself..
Valetta got some interesting churches..Maltese are fervent Catholics..
their*festa's* reflect their religious ardour..during these festa's their patron saints are carried around in processions,their churches decorated,brass bands,music,merriment,fireworks...it's all reflected...
St John's cathedral was worthwhile..but I had visited so many churches in my travells..I find they all looked a bit more or less the same..but still impressive enough..a few musea are maybe worthwhile..but we just wanted the cool breeze of the harbour..it was bloody hot..sweating was no joke..we just hopped into a local caf? to have a cool soft drink..the rest we strolled around the narrow alleys of this place..buildings were amazingly architectural..
in the evening we went back to Sliema..and we went into a restaurant overlooking the bay around St.Julians.we had a fish dinner..nothing to write home about..a mixture of local and Italian food??but..we were hungry..the youth hostel was run by a Maltese lady..very friendly person..we felt at home there..next door was a small shop for snacks and drinks..in Malta...one never starves from hunger..uhuh next day we planned a visit to Mdina/Rabat..will keep you peeps informed..
Tiger

Next July..we booked a plane ticket Brussels-La Valetta with Air Malta..
we also managed to book a 7 day stay in Sliema's youth hostel..
so..one fine day..we packed our bags..and off to Malta..
few hours flight to Luqa airport..changed some dollars into Maltese Lira..
Malta was very hot..in fact the 7 days we went there..
it was a heatwave with temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius..
this meant sweating,puffing,drinking lots of liquid..
my wife never could stand the heat..
her origins are from the Himalayan side of India..so..
first impression of Malta was a arid,dry environment..
Valetta..was nice..but after arrival was a transit point..
to take a bus to Sliema..now..Maltese buses..
oh my..these drivers drive reckless..
that goes for all car drivers in Malta..just watch out if you drive there..
maybe it's their Mediterranean temperament??
Valetta harbour looked very Mediterranian..little yachts and boats..
the bus ride to Sliema went fine..but..we had to walk few kms..
in heavy sunshine and heat...to reach the Youth hostel..
the warden was a nice lady..she gave us a key..
so we could enter as we wanted..any time of the day..
I'll tell more about this 7 days Malta..we went to see lots of places..
it's a beautiful country..I think 7 days give you a picture already..
lots of tourists in July and August..there's a lot to see in Malta..
we went to Gozo island by bus..but not to Comino etc..
www.visitmalta.com

Tiger

So..farewell Gambia..short visit..it needs more then 2 days..
again the bac(ferry)towards Barra..and again the taxi brousse ride..
towards Dakar..the Senegalese countryside..is worthwhile..
looked bit arid..deserted..hot..reaching Dakar..was a delight..
it was like coming home in our hotelroom..good shower..
just relaxing..it was our last day in Dakar..next day flight from Yoff..
the last day..I got a headache..my wife went alone to Kermel market..
brave woman..she told me..some *bana bana's*bothered her..
in the evening..we ordered dinner by roomservice..
I recall *sole meuni?re*which was a good prepared fish dish..
I made a fuzz with my wife..about leaving bit early..
did not want to miss the Brussels flight with Sabena..
took a cab..got cheated in the price..but..that's Africa as well..
we flew back home..this second Senegal trip..was O.K.
but..I preferred my first one..it was more adventurous..
next trip was Malta...I'll report about it soon..
Tiger