VALLETTA WEDNESDAY OCT 4

WE MET AT THE HSBC BANK AT 8:30 AM. OR MOST OF US DID! IT WAS ALREADY RAINING AND VERY BLUSTERY. WE ALL MANAGED TO CLAMBER ON TO THE ALREADY CROWDED BUS TO VALLETTA. WE WERE TREATED TO TTC TYPE DRIVING, BRAKING HARD AND ACCELERATING JERKILY. SO MUCH SO STANDING PASSENGERS WERE BEING BUFFETED AROUND AND AT LEAST ONE WAS BOWLED OVER.

WE LEFT THE CENTRAL BUS STATION WALKING INTO THE CENTRE IN A TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM

TAKING SHELTER AT THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

TRADITIONAL MALTESE BALCONIES CAN BE SEEN PAINTED GREEN

WE CONTINUED DOWN REPUBLIC STREET TO VIEW "THE MALTA EXPERIENCE", A VISUAL ACCOUNT OF MALTA'S HISTORY. ON THE WAY I TOOK A TUMBLE AN INJURED MY KNEE! THE STORM INTENSIFIED AND THE ROADS WERE AWASH. WE MADE IT TO THE PRESENTATION LOOKING LIKE "DROWNED RATS"

AN IRISH COLLEEN AND A SCOTTISH LASSIE POSING

WE ENTERED THE THEATRE VIA AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL

AFTER THE PRESENTATION WE TOOK A GUIDED  TOUR OF THE HOSPITAL THAT THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLERS FOUNDED IN THE 1500'S. OUR GUIDE WAS EXCELLENT.  HER DELIVERY WAS INFORMATIVE, CLEAR AND CONCISE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR. SHE REMINDED ME A LOT OF MEREL....

ORIGINALLY THIS WAS A WARD FOR MEN ONLY!

A KNIGHT'S COAT OF ARMS

AFTERWARDS EVERYONE RUSHED TO GET THEIR FREE BAR OF CHOCOLATE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TOUR

TRUDGING THROUGH THE RAIN AGAIN WE ARRIVE AT EDDIE'S CAFE FOR SOME SHELTER AND A BITE TO EAT. I NEEDED A BEER TO SOOTHE MY ACHING KNEE

LUNCH OVER THE GROUP VISITED THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ARCHEOLOGY

I WAS NOT INTERESTED IN VIEWING RELICS SO I WANDERED AROUND TAKING PHOTOS OF VARIOUS BUILDINGS ETC. BY NOW THE RAIN HAD STOPPED

AUBERGE DE CASTILLE

PAUL BOFFA PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA 

I REJOINED THE GROUP IN THE LOBBY OF THE MUSUEM FEELING LIKE A RELIC MYSELF

WE HEADED BACK TOWARDS THE BUS STATION WITH VIEWS OF THE PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS

ALL SMILES NOW THAT THE RAIN HAD STOPPED

LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY AND NOT GETTING ANY FROM "MY TROUBLE & STRIFE"

MAP ONLY SHOWS ONE WAY

BACK AT THE HOTEL WE CONGREGATED IN THE LOBBY CONSUMING COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF ALCOHOL. MY WIFE DID A NICE JOB OF CLEANING AND DRESSING MY WOUNDED KNEE

THERE THEY ARE AGAIN, POSING, TRUST ME IT WON'T BE THE LAST!