We have had a great week in Malta catching up with Matt and Kat and enjoying the sights together. For me, Malta is definitely a country of contrasts between old and new, ruins, abandonment and progress. It is very very dry, almost desolate in places and yet so picturesque also. The people are friendly, the climate and food were great and I’m keen to read up on a bit of history now! (The livestock are there we’re told – we can’t verify that – we saw only a scattering of animals…. but apparently there are 19,200 head of cattle, 80,000 pigs, 17,000 sheep, 2,300 goats, and 930,000 poultry!!)
An early start and a good flight from Malta over Sicily to Italy where we picked up the Peugeot 407 which we will drive for the next couple of weeks. A bit unnerving for me to be so close to the road on the wrong side again (after being high and “safe” in the bus, and on the “right side” in Malta) but no doubt will adjust again. Getting used to the GPS as well – took a few wrong turns getting onto the auto strada out of Roma. Stayed last night at the Tenuta dell’Argento (the Silver Hill’s Estate), a working ranch on the hill above Civitavecchia, north-west of Roma – nice view out to the Tyrrhenian Coast and Mediterranean from our room and especially pretty with night lights. Ferries leave the port here for Sardinia, Spain and other ports. A change of weather too – it’s freezing and very windy!! Got my polo-fleece out!
Comments
Comment by Helen on 2008-09-22 15:52:34 -0700
Malta sounds like a place I would love to visit – I am very envious of you going to nice places!!!!
Not that I can moan – I leave for Switzerland today.
Hope the new van is going well – Keep safe with the driving and remember that 130k/hr on the autobahns is definitely the speed to go!
have fun
Love
Helen
