Blogging at Eighty

 Having missed the tour the first time I was outside with time to spare.  The pickup was outside the hotel but on the other side of the road.  May explain how I missed it the first time.  It was just a morning tour so I had envisaged - stop at first city, short walk round back on coach - repeat another couple of times.  But I had forgotten how small the cities are and how close they are to each other.  What happened was an hour of continues walking up  and down steps and along pretty plant filled streets.  I did learn that old renovated houses were not that popular with the Maltese as there was never any parking so many had been turned into aurb&bs.  By the end of it I couldn't wait to get back onto the coach.  The cities were next to Valletta and on the harbor so once back on the coach it was a short ride to the wine tasting.  It was in an old building which I gather also housed  a restaurant,  Long tables were set up...

 Today, Wednesday, I decided was the first day of my recovery,  I went for a walk along the front, although I did stop for a sit down half way to the aquarium, I still have the cough and catarre by I am sure they will sort themselves out before Friday and I am backing fresh air and excise to help them along.  Have one problem now, I have not yet managed to get to Valletta. I had planned to go on Friday as it will be Carnival for three days and I was told there will be a Museum open on Friday showing some of the history. On Saturday in the evening will be the parade and it seems the last bus  back is sometimes after 9 pm.  Not sure I will be up to going in after I have done my three citie tour with wine tasting.  But we will see how I get on.  Sunday it will be up early for a quick breakfast before getting the coach to the airport.  I can't tell you how often over the last few days that I haven't wish to go to sleep in Malta and wake up fit and wel...

 It started Friday night.  A cough and catarre.  It got worse during Saturday and by Sunday I decided to see a doctor - just in case.  Contacted travel insurers and in the end was booked in to see a doctor Monday afternoon.  Turned in was in a town miles away so I had to take a taxi.  He had just been told to drop me in the centre so I was left to find the place myself.  I was just about on time but had to wait  in the waiting room for some time.  The was only an elderly gentleman in there and not another soul in sight.  When the doctor finally called me in I found he spoke good English and  had such a relaxed air it was if he had all the time in the world to sit and talk to me.  He took my details, made a note of my existing medications and did a few tests.  He apologised but said since he had no knowledge of my medical history he could only offer some simple solutions.  A nasal spray for the catarre, cough mixture f...

 Loren, the lady I have dinner with kept telling me how nice Mdina was so a couple of days ago I at last got the bus there.  Journey of about an hour but it was a change to travel through an area with lots of greenery and interesting buildings.  It is called the silent city but it is not so quite when full of tourists.  The first thing I did on arrival was to have coffee and a cake in an almost empty cafe.  I was disappointed that it was not medieval as much of it was rebuilt in the 1700s after an earthquake.  The museum and Cathedral were interesting but a bit to ornate for my liking.  There was however an exhibition of Durer's prints.  I had a quick look but by then I had had enough of walking and decided it was time for me to find my way out of the city.  With no map not as easy as it sounds, I found myself near the outer walls so followed them round till I came to an exit gate which lead out to the car park.  More walking till at las...

 Not posted for some time in part because I was busy/lazy and in part because I couldn't find  a table at the right high to type on.  Found suitable table but the sun is so bright I can't see the screen.  I have now come down to the basement where I can at least see what I'm doing.  Couple of days ago went on the Gozo tuk tuk tour.  Picked up at 8.45 and arrived back at 5.30 so it was a full day.  The boat ride to the island was somewhat bumpy and some of the roads leave a lot to be desired  At times I feared for the fillings I had done a day before I left home but generally it was a really nice trip.  The driver, Herman, was Dutch and spoke German for the two girls from Austria and English for the four English ladies.  It was good to see some interesting buildings instead of the concrete blocks that seem to make up the area where I am staying.  Lunch was included with wine, water and an almond drink.  A selectin of starters wi...

 Yesterday there was some excitement in the hotel as young  skinny girls arrived, dressed up to the nines with 6 inch heels as thin as a pencil.  It seemed it was Miss Univers 2025 and the contestants for this year.   They were to be presented at 10 pm that evening and I am sure they were but I was upstairs getting ready for bed.  Today it was supposed to be stormy but this afternoon the sun was shining so I ventured out and went to Bugibba.  It is known as the place for lively nightlife but with a lot of workmen and machines all over the place it didn't quite live up to its billing.  I went into an outdoor cafe to have coffee and the wind was so strong it blow the cardboard cup of milk all over the place and I feared the cup would follow but at least it didn't rain Have booked to go on a tu tu tour of Gozo on Tuesday as the weather is forecast to be sunny and calm.  Also booked a tour of 3 cities and wine tasting for the following Tuesday....