Mdina

The storm is abating and this morning we still have rough seas and wind but no more rain. We are going to Mdina, the walled city. First stop on our way is the wine store in Bugibba to make arrangements for a delivery. Can't get the wine I would like so we will stop on our way back and decide what we will get. On the bus to Mdina about a twenty minute ride. It is still cool today and the wind is blowing cold as Mdina is up high on a hill. It is almost impossible to describe this place. I thought it would be mostly a tourist destination but people actually live within the walls. I can only show pictures.

 

 

 

We spent about 3 hours walking the streets. There are many tourist shops selling Maltese crystal, lace jewelry and the usual "stuff". I found a stationery shop that had a fantastic array of pens. I have been wanting a fountain pen with ink cartridges.

We could have spent many more hours wandering around, so many things we didn't see, but we also know we have lots of time to come back again. Caught the bus.....getting pretty good at this after only a couple of days, back to the wine store, ordered our wine and as it was our first delivery they wanted one of us to go with them to show the way. I preferred to walk so Bob went with the fellow and organized the delivery up to our apartment. The afternoon had warmed up and I enjoyed the short walk home. Even the feral cats were enjoying the sun.

About 5:30 Ron came over with a microwave and a "coffee maker". We were expecting a regular drip coffee maker like at home. Wrong....they make coffee ala Italiano, espresso, or they do instant. We had one of these in the apartment but didn't know what it was.

So we are set...can't think of anything else we will need...we then walked over to the Portabello for pizza. When we came back we couldn't get the key to work in the apartment door. What next!! Thank goodness we have Internet and it worked outside the apartment door. Emailed Ron but he was out of the town so said he would send brother Edward to check. We sat in the stairwell for twenty minutes. Edward was there quickly as he tends to drive like the 25 yr old he is....lucky for us. And of course he tries the key and it works. I punched him because my thumb is bruised blue from trying ....Murphy's law ....he left us the spare key and said he was going for a beer, goodnight. They really are a wonderful family but I hope we won't have to need anything from them going forward, at least for a week.

The end of our first week. It has been eventful, a lot of organizing, catching up on sleep, but still walking and exploring every day. I think we have done a good job so far. I am delighted with everything I have seen and the people we have met....tomorrow we are taking the ferry to Gozo.

 

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