I was also given to think about those Northern European gentlemen of wealth and leisure who were of the disposition who in the C18th and C19th would journey to the shores of the Mediterranean for sun, sites of antiquarian interest, and hott youths prepared to be obliging for reasonable remuneration... when reading this:
'We live here': fears ( Read more... )

A day or so ago I came across a Twitter thread exploring the horrors that might eventuate from time-travel tourism - having to take the equivalent of Ryanair to get to your chosen epoch, vast crowds in Renaissance Florence and other hotspots -

So I thought, wouldn't you then get the other thing, the whole 'the Sun-King's Versailles is the new ( Read more... )

Would recommend.
Okay, a few points deducted for mozzies and the public transport trauma on Saturday, but on the whole the transport situation was okay - cheap flat fare, and the buses connecting with the Gozo ferry terminal seemed to run expeditiously scheduled.
Not perhaps one for the art-lover - the Knights of Malta were not great, or at least, ( Read more... )

Anyway, Happy Diwali! Shine the light.
Today we had decided to take the ferry to the 'Three Cities' (cities being somewhat of an exaggeration). It had been raining before we went out, and was a little showery when we left, but seemed to be clearing...
And then when we reached the opposite shore there was a thunderstorm and a downpour positively ( Read more... )

A quiet morning wandering around Valletta, as we had tickets for the Hypogeum, which partner had been forethoughtful to book in advance, as they only allow a few people in at a time, for conservation reasons (and space considerations), with timed entry.
And the guidebook told us that there were frequent buses and it was not far from central ( Read more... )

Today we made the trip to the other major island in the Maltese archipelago, Gozo, allegedly the island upon which the nymph Calypso entrapped Ulysses for 10 years.
While the actual ferry trip is quite short, it departs from the opposite end of the island to Valletta, necessitating a somewhat lengthy bus journey to the terminal.
Since our time was ( Read more... )

Some problems with finding what was supposed to be the very near at hand and easy to find ferry terminal to cross the harbour - road works in the way - took a bus to Sliema instead, wandered around, failed to find a viable route to the beach - construction works ...
But did succeed in finding the terminal for tbe ferry back, and it did, in fact, ( Read more... )

Today we took the bus out of Valletta to Rabat, and went to Mdina, lovely walled city on a hill, quite stunning, wonderful to walk around though we also did the Cathedral and its Museum and the Palazzo Falson, and had lunch in a wonderful place on the walls with amazing view.
Then back into Rabat, which was mostly catacombs, though we did not get ( Read more... )

I had rather hoped that at this time of year mozzies would not be an issue, but last night I got noshed on by the local variety (Asian Tiger), which has the sneaky habit of not whining and announcing its presence, fearfully poor ton.
Today having lunch outside a cafe, the pigeons were exceedingly pushy in their wishfulness to join us. Tut.
However ( Read more... )

You know me, I cannot let terrible ancient jokes die, and on the lines of 'Do you like Kipling? - I don't know, I've never Kippled' I can now answer the question re Stirling.
Which was indeed very pleasant, aided by weather rather better (though with some showery outbursts) than it was earlier in the week and fairly good luck with transport.
Okay, ( Read more... )