Bus free!

For a week we've had a go anywhere anytime card that lasted well, a week. Thus we have endeavoured to get our money's worth and a bit. I'd have to ask management if we succeeded but I think we have. I certainly feel as though I've been bounced about, bruised and battered on our bus travels.

Today, to celebrate the expiry of our Tallinja Explore card the decision was taken to see Valletta Co-Cathedral by foot and ferry. With a leader suitably smartgpsmapped she was able to follow her outstretched arm and I merely followed her. A ten - twenty minute bus ride around the coast road gave way to a sub ten minute wander through a maze of back streets to the ferry. New tiny supermarkets, general stores, pastizzi holes in the wall and a gadget shop were found and examined as well as a "coffee" shop boasting a huge range of coffees. It readily became apparent that despite encouraging notices and shop displays what they actually meant was we have one type of ground coffee which we'll turn into a range of drinks. Four, to be precise, unless you include with/without milk/sugar. Disappointment but only a coffee anorak would feel it.

A €1.50 each ferry ride takes us to Valletta. As our fellow travellers disembark they follow the signs and we observe the bottleneck in time to take an alternative course. Our course avoids the minibuses offering rides up the hill for €1 and takes us past an innocuous looking building called "Fortifications Interpretations Centre" above which a banner cable tied to a railing announced "Free." I was all for walking past as free often means not worth paying for. Management, now with smartgpsmap firmly buried in the depths of the handbag questioned my onward intent, reminding me that a similar place in the walls of St.Malo was a gem.

Mind your head between displays.

With initial reluctance I again reverted to a following role.

A couple of hours later we found the exit.

It's actually built into the walls and explains how and why these fortifications were built over the centuries. There was one other couple wandering about when we were. After having got to the "end" you are enticed on to an outside walkway on top of this particular wall. It has a lift to ease the upward journey and the best toilets thus far encountered.

The views are magnificent but sat in a corner was a member of staff on a fag break. He asked us what we thought and I had to ask a few questions. His answers were eloquent and erudite, his enthusiasm unquenchable, his pride in his island rightly huge, it was quite an experience listening to him. More questions followed. I think he was pleased that we were aware of some of the history and not complete numpties. The arrival of the other couple elicited some further questions of him and eventually he had to return to work.

Once outside immediately to the left of the building and again, in the walls, we found a lift to Melitta street. A lift that looked unused. Free. The ascent took us to the main street, or one end of it. The fortifications at the top of this lift have the remnants of anti-aircraft gun emplacements every few feet except when they were HAA, heavy anti-aircraft gun emplacements in which case they're every few yards. It should be obvious but wherever there are AA or HAA emplacements the views are magnificent.

This wall leads into "Hastings Gardens" and thence to the new parliament buildings.

Fortified walls above the "Fortifications Interpretations Centre" looking towards Manoel Fort, Sliema and the Voldemort Tower, St.Julian, which we can see from our balcony.

By now the need for Pastizzis, refreshment of the liquid type and a seat with a view was required. We are familiar enough with Valletta to know the shortest route to see those needs met. On the way we passed a bookshop. I bought a history of Malta recommended by the bookshop man.

We still haven't seen the Co-Cathedral. Nor Fort St.Elmo, the war Museum or any of the places on the Valletta list let alone all the others. But we have had yet another enthralling day.

Three weeks tonight we'll be home. How on earth can we fit it all in?




PS. If these get a bit intermittent it may have something to do with the laptop which keeps suddenly going blank. The power supply plug has melted again but this time I have no soldering iron and heat shrink to mend it so currently the wires are kept apart with hope. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find a bit of plastic ......