Wednesday, and five weeks gone....

After writing yesterday that we are always up in time to see the dawn break, today we slept til 7:00am. We had a lazy morning then decided to go back to Mgarr for some walking around. It was supposed to be the same weather-wise as yesterday but the sun never really burned through the overcast sky.

We are waiting for a bus in Mosta. The roads, even the main ones, are too narrow for delivery trucks and there is no such thing as a back alley or lane. So they all just stop and put on flashing lights and do their business. This fellow was delivering to the fish store and parked in half of the bus stop. If the bus had come along the driver would have just stuck his nose into what was free and people would get on and off.

Despite the fact that everyone we talk to says how bad the traffic is and that there are way too many cars on Malta, they all seem to work on a live and let live basis. Maybe because nobody wants to give up their vehicle so they have to accept the way it is.

 

We had another good lunch in Mgarr at the same restaurant as yesterday. We sat just inside as it was cooler today. These two old guys were there when we came in and where still there when we left. I was facing towards them and they never stopped talking with each other the whole time. They shared a bottle of wine, ate at least three courses, got ice cream desserts from the cooler then sat back to talk some more over espressos. They didn't people watch they just ate and talked. It was very nice for me to 'people watch' them.

 

This is how a row of apartment blocks must start. One twelve foot wide building with a garage. The windows and balconies are on the other side but I wanted to show the solid block side where another apartment could be attached. There are very few single family dwellings. When you do see one they look like mansions set out in the middle of no where. There must be areas where there are stand alone homes but we haven't seen one yet. No such thing as a subdivision of homes with yards. Land is too scare to waste on 'yards'.

Waiting for another bus on the way home. I think these are very smart bus benches. They only take up space when needed and they are always in a folded up position so there's never any bird poop on them when you need one.

We saw this sign as we waited and thought it meant fish and chips. Turns out 'Fniek' means rabbits.....so Rabbit and Chips Malta style....I have to try rabbit before I leave. It is a very traditional Maltese dish.

There is a tiny hair shop, 'Snips', a few doors up from our apartment and I stopped in when we got home to see about a hair cut. The lady was by herself, no customers and would cut my hair right away. I went home and got rid of my pack, washed up and went back. She is originally from Valletta but 10 years ago she and her husband decided they wanted a quieter lifestyle and they moved to Gozo to a little village called Ghasri. She commutes to St Paul's Bay to her shop four days a week. They plan to retire in a couple of years and spend half their time in Bulgaria where the cost of living is very reasonable. She was delighted and encouraged to hear about our travels as her husband worries that they might be getting too old to do a lot of traveling. He is 62 :)......

I now have a really short haircut. She discouraged me from doing the magenta colouring telling me I was too pale skinned for such a strong colour. I took her advice. I like my short hair and it's so easy to look after. Bob did a very good job taking me from my longish hair to this new short but I needed a little more of a professional cut this time. He isn't insulted by my decision. Sherry asked me for a picture so I did my best to do a 'complimentary' selfie. Never happy with the outcome but it is what it is. I think I need a little more sun on my now exposed forehead. It is winter here in Malta and these stone buildings are hard to heat so I find myself wearing a scarf inside and out.

 

 

 

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