Karen Gales Youngson: Our First day in Marsascala

When you are driven somewhere you just don't see things the same as when you are walking. We know we are on the top of the hill at the end of the street. After a slow morning we are ready to start exploring our new neighbourhood. I remember Ron saying left, right, left and right....his instructions from George. So we head in the reverse down our road, il Quccata, (oochatta) and go right, left, right and down the three steep blocks to the main road and the HSBC on the corner that people keep using as a marker for us:).

We first check out the pharmacy. The doctor will be there any minute but as we talk to the pharmacist she tells us that 'the cold' that people have is lingering so I decide I'll wait another couple of days to see how I feel. It's been almost two weeks and now it seems to have settled on Bob today. Another package of Beechams lozenges.

We have a couple of grocery store names and are given directions to the first on our list, St Thomas' because the online description says they deliver. No luck, can't find it. We do find a bakery and buy three fresh loaves of Maltese bread and a couple of pastries to eat while we walk. The bakery ladies tell us the best place to go is Chef's Choice but we have to go by bus. It's only a five minute ride but a long walk and we are dropped off right at the door. We get some fresh meat and a few staples which is about all we can carry. They don't have our coffee or creamer but we have enough for a day or two. We just miss a bus going back and have to stand in the wind and some rain for a half hour. Such is the life of people without a vehicle:). The next bus that comes along is only going to Marsascala and does a big loop in and about town before stopping at the terminal. From there we start our walk home. We hit a couple of the small grocery stores along the way and manage to get some cream and carrots. Now we are really loaded down for the climb uphill. Three steep blocks up, one to the right, another steep block, a couple of zigs and zags and we are on our street and home.

We had a couple of hours of quiet before George arrived with a new microwave, a battery for the wall clock and a refresher course on the TV and DVD player. We had found a DVD in a drawer that was about Harbour Air. Bob told him they were from Vancouver Island and he said no they used to fly a charter over Malta and Gozo but it didn't work out so was no longer being offered. We watched the video and it showed all the places they flew over. He told us we could have the video as a souvenir. Somebody that had stayed in this apartment must have taken the tour and then left the video behind. We needed an extra plug for the microwave so Bob went with George to get one. He showed Bob where the mysterious grocery store was and the Bank of Valletta where we can change our large Euro notes.

Relocating takes a lot of energy. But we made some useful discoveries today and now have food and supplies for the next few days. Leftovers heated in our new microwave and we are ready for tomorrow.