Harmony Hostel Sliema

... self rule now, but it means nothing, as the European Union calls the shots.
We made many stops to enjoy the view and learn about the various forts. At one point we boarded little boats that looked rather like gondolas, six to a boat, and toured the harbor. Our guide was great. We discussed politics, health care and taxes. He is not happy with the EU. Qaddafi offered Malta oil at $10/barrel, forever ...

I've just popped over to Malta for a day & a bit (as you do!) to say a quick hello / goodbye to my parents (and bring them lots of goodies over for the last time in a while).

The weather is a little warmer than the UK, but not as warm as it's going to be in a week's time (ha ha ha).

Anyway, I'll keep this blog short so ciao for now!

Anita x

... boys have enjoyed the waterslide at the very top of the ship. The passages are huge and the rooms almost one third bigger in size than the last ship. The children are in an adjoining room so it’s all very cozy.

Our waiter at dinner is just adorable, Jay from the Philippines. Each night he talks to Olivia and says "Now Miss New Zealand what is your choice". One night was entitled Italian night and in the middle of the meal the song It ...

... at the residence for about 4hours, until we ran out of alcohol. I had so much fun planning and watching the event take place. It honestly made me really proud to be Am**ican, All week long thinking about how to show these students what Am**ican kids are like back home. I also, like many people wasn't the happiest with Am**ica (in gen**al) when I left the US back in January, and still have my fairshare of criticism for some of the politics and cultural decisions we make ...

... a novice when it comes to the field of poetry I have enough awareness to know that he is a real talent. I had only seen him perform once before at his sister Sally's wedding last year, so I was very much looking forward to hearing him recite some of the poems from his book on that day. Once again I was set back on my heels. I have always enjoyed witnessing human beings when they are doing something of which they possess an obvious talent. Could be sports, musical performance, acting ...

... is a life she has chosen freely and it is her way of being closer to God. Going to visit her tomorrow with her family will be a highlight that transcends this holiday. I got such a lift inside of me when Aunty Julie told me today that she spoke with Christine and she was so happy to hear I was going to visit her tomorrow. This is going to be a very emotional moment for me, I am not sure what to expect, but I only have positive thoughts about it and it is something I am going to savour.

... the water. Today I was going to explore the wonders of Valletta for myself! I hopped on a ferry from Sliema and enjoyed a wonderful 5 minute voyage across the harbour to the ancient city. I was buzzing with excitement as the ferry docked. The dock yard where we were let off had a flotilla of fishing boats and weather beaten old Maltese men going about their business in the morning sunshine. I imagined the scene before me would have been ...

... and asked us if we would volunteer to stay behind and catch a flight 12 hours later and they would give us $600 AUD and an upgrade to first class to take at a later time. We decided we probably did not have enough time to loose over 12 hours as we only had one day to get the motor home registered and given the trouble we had last time we could not risk it. After our 13 our flight we eventually arrived at Heathrow at 10.00pm, and picked up our hire car and drove to ...

... it was fun. The next day we went to Siracusa. We saw some really neat Roman ruins there, a huge amphitheater and some neat grottos. A neat old city. Next we headed up north and caught a ferry to the island of Lipari, which is part of the Aeolien islands, off the north coast of Sicily. We had such an amazing time here! First of all, we thought we'd booked a room in a cheap hotel, but turns out we got our own apartment ...

... that there is no countryside in Malta, but I eventually found it. I passed by Fort Rinella and into a countryside of small fields and stone walls. When I got to St Thomas Bay I followed a little rough track around the headland. This is where i saw dozens of little cage traps for wild birds. Each was mounted on a pole about 1.5m high. The cages sat on a stone platform and everyone contained a finch.The birds were hoping around the cages madly trying to find the exit. Wild birds ...