Sunday in Malta

Sunday 19 May

Today we decide to take a day off as have been working on boat since our arrival and it is time for a break.  

  

The old city wall is being repaired in a very creative way

The entrance to Valetta has certainly changed since we were here a year ago.  
The new architecture cleverly integrates with the old.

There is an open air theatre built inside the ruins of a Roman temple.

Valetta is festive as usual

The Malta At War Museum is a highlight of the day.

We take the bus to Valetta then hop on a No 2 bus for Vittoriosa.  Get off at roundabout, cross into old city and turn immediately double left.   

It is not very well marked but we go down a sort of ramp under an archway and see in front of you the Malta at War Museum sign.  It is truly amazing amazing… such a well put together display of items from the Second World War and lots of film footage including rare war time documentary (Malta G.C.) from 1942 produced by order of King George VI.

Richard tells Pippy to get on down there...

Then the highlight, we don hair nets (to keep the helmet clean) and helmets and go underground to explore the 1.5 km of tunnels hacked out of the rock by hand by the local people so that they could have shelter and withstand the intense bombing raids which went on for three years from 1940 - 1943.  It is incredibly claustrophobic and we can only wonder at the courage of the people who spent so much time down here. 

There is even a birthing room.  We wonder at how many babies were actually born here… quite a few obviously.

This amazing early device converts AC to DC!

To our great surprise when we come out into the daylight and walk down into Grand Harbour, we find it is International Maritime Day and entrance to the wonderful Maritime Museum is free. 

To top it off we are able to catch a free ride on a pilot boat across the harbour back to Valetta. 

Here we explore the waterfront then find our way back to the Upper Barakka Gardens for a free open air concert by the Drop Out Band.  Wonderful voices and musicians plus a few other hi jinks!

This amazing lift takes us from the Port to the Upper Barakka Gardens

It is 6pm before they pack up and we stay until the last, dragging our weary bodies home to Matelot for an early dinner and bed.  What a lovely day out.