Two Visits to Valletta

Earlier this week we drove to Valletta and spent a wonderful day just walking and admiring.  Today, we thought we’d do the same but this time we took the bus!  Much easier! For 2.6 euros each we could have a “go anywhere” day pass and, with the cost of parking the car as well, it was a no brainer. So we had a second wonderful day in this beautiful city.

From the top of the Saluting Battery you get a fantastic view of the Grand Harbour (and Doug) with Fort St Angelo centre (and someone’s blooming big yacht on the left!)

Looking out to sea from the Grand Harbour.

Much of the city is made up of steep, narrow streets – many of them stepped.  Building of the city started in 1566 by the Knights of the Order of St. John and much of it is now showing its’ age.  However, there is a huge amount of (European?) money being spent on some very ambitious renovations.

A view of the west side of Valletta showing the huge bastions built to defend it.  The dome belongs to the massive Carmelite Church and the spire to St. Pauls Pro Anglican Cathedral.

The Maltese love their balconies and nowhere are they better than in Valletta.

Across St. Georges’ Square is the Grand Master’ Palace – known locally as just “the Palace”. 

Today we went off the “tourist trail” for some lunch in a ‘local’ bar.  We found one  in St Pauls’ Street opposite St. Pauls Shipwrecked Church.  Fantastic food at locals’ prices!  These places are exciting to find – they’re usually just a door in a wall and when you go inside it’s full of people eating and drinking!

On our way back to the bus station we walked out through the city gates and we took this shot of just one small piece of the monumental job the Maltese people have of saving this beautiful place.  Valletta really was built as a fortress.

A day on Gozo

We’ve had some really good weather since we’ve been here in Malta and today started bright and sunny but very windy.  As the forecast for the next few days wasn’t brilliant we decided to take the car on the ferry to the island of Gozo while the weather was good.

After a very choppy half hour trip we arrived at Mgarr harbour.

We travelled the complete length of the island in about 1/2 hour to visit the very picturesque Dwejra Bay.  

James at the “inland sea” at Dwejra Bay.  It’s fed by an 80 meter long tunnel from the sea and, due to the very rough weather (which was increasing all the time!), this normally calm piece of water had it’s own waves.

Out in the bay the waves were tremendous and the wind was making it difficult to stand up.

We made our way back through the island and stopped for a couple of hours in the capital city Victoria where we had some lunch and visited the very impressive “Cittadella”.  Normally it would have been a pleasant walk around the walls and through the narrow streets but the wind was so strong it blew dust into everyone’s eyes and it was another case of trying to remain upright! 

This is Doug high up overlooking Ramla Bay on the north coast. At this point we were in the lee of the island and the wind was not so strong.

By the middle of the afternoon the weather was deteriorating badly so we decided to make for the ferry back home.  We had an exciting voyage to say the least – we travelled back in a force 8 gale (official!).

This was our view as we approached Cirkewwa Harbour on Malta! Yes, the ship was at this angle and yes, they are waves breaking over the ferry terminal!

Home safe and sound! - although it was quite a while before the vehicles were allowed off the ship as the wind was rocking it too much.

We had a great and exciting day and, as you might say: Whoa - what a ride!!!!!

Sunny Malta!

We are in Malta for 10 days, having arrived last Saturday and getting out of the UK before the bad weather set in!!  The weather has been warm and sunny since we arrived (apart from a brief drop of rain yesterday).

We’re staying in the apartment of our friends, Neil and Phillip, who have a wonderful place in Mellieha which has views across to the smaller island of Gozo and, on a clear day, we can see Scilly and Mount Etna.

After our arrival Saturday midday, Neil and Phillip took us on a small tour around the immediate area so that we could get our bearings.  We happened across “Popeye Village” which was the stage set constructed for the film back in 1980 and which is still used as a tourist attraction.

There are some wonderfully high places to have a cup of coffee and take in the views.  This one is in the oldest part of Mellieha town watching the sun go down.

We arrived amid the general election which has dominated island life to the extreme for the last 3 days. We all knew when the results were established as the car horns started sounding and mortars were being let off like fireworks! It was a landslide victory for the Labour Party we understand!

A couple of pics of the election celebration.  It’s taken very seriously (or not as the case may be!)

On Sunday James went down with a virus which kept him in bed all day while the other three went out and enjoyed themselves! He’s better now, thank goodness.

This is breakfast this morning on the balcony looking towards Sicily.  So much nicer than snow!  We took Neil and Philip to the airport today for their flight back home.  They’ve been here for a few days but sadly need to return to their hectic schedules.  We’ve had a great few days with them and it seem strange being in their home without them.  Thanks N and P for your great company and all the help showing us the ropes!

“Moore” Excitement in Selsey

On Monday evening Selsey celebrated the 90th birthday (March 4th) of its’ most famous resident – the late Sir Patrick Moore.  The Selsey centre was packed with friends and colleagues, both past and present, in tribute to a most remarkable man and as a fund raising event for one of Patricks’ many projects he supported - St Wilfred’s Hospice in Chichester.

We enjoyed an evening of thoughts and reminiscences from both the world of astronomy and from friends in the village.  Patrick was an accomplished musician and cricketer as well as a great astronomer.  He wrote a hundred or so works for orchestra and xylophone and, to that end, his protégé Christopher Beaumont played a number of Patricks’ compositions for the xylophone.

The evening was made extra special by the presence of Brian May, Sir Tim Rice, John Culshaw and Paul Able (from the Sky at Night program)………

……..who shared with us their thoughts and experiences as close friends and astronomical colleagues of Patrick.

L to R: Paul Able, John Culshaw, Brian May, Tim Rice, Dr John Mason and Iain Nicholson.

The evening ended with a rendition of Happy Birthday and a toast to a brilliant, witty, generous and extra-ordinary man who touched and guided so many lives during his long and distinguished carrier.  We also feel deeply privileged to have known him over the last few years and to have had his company at our own celebrations back in August last year.  Thank you Patrick!

Another, and equally special event has happened this week – we’ve had the pleasure of daughters Vicky and Frances who have both been able to come down to see us!

“Ernie”, Vicky and Frances on a cold but sunny Selsey seafront on Monday.

Vicky had to return home on Monday evening but Frances and Kel have stayed on for a few more days and today we all went to Portsmouth for lunch and bit of retail therapy.  This is Kel, Doug, Frances and “Hixie” on Spice Island with the Spinnaker Tower in the background.

Our visits to Portsmouth aren’t complete without a detour on the way home through Southsea to see the Isle of Wight hovercraft. It never fails to excite James!!

Our last day in the “Big Apple”

Yesterday evening we took the very smart advice from Linzie and Bernie, who we had lunch with earlier, to take the Staten Island ferry after dark to enjoy the views……..

…. but before we left to catch the ferry James needed to get his priorities right and finish the blog for the day!

The ferry trip was all it promised to be.  It was a clear dry night and this was our view as we left the terminal building – “wow” was not enough!  The brightly lit building is ‘1 World Trade’ which is just being “topped out” with its mast to make it 1776 feet high – the year of American Independence. 

Just another photo for posterity! (On the rear deck of the Staten Island Ferry)
Today is our last day and this morning we went on a guided tour of the hotel. We had wet weather for the first time this week so, apart from keeping us in the dry, we got a fascinating insight into the history and architecture of the Waldorf Astoria.

This is the Grand Ball Room which has been used for so many great occasions in American history. 
During the tour we were incredibly lucky to get the chance to visit the “Royal Suite” on the top floor of the the Waldorf Towers – something even our guide had not done very often.  The suite was used regularly by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor (Edward and Wallace Simpson) and can now be hired for $23,ooo a night………………

The Sitting Room- where we were invited to sit where we liked!

Dreams of grandeur?

The Dining Room – which is the only room in the hotel to have a barrel–vaulted ceiling due to it being on the top floor.

One of the bedrooms (which, surprisingly, was not much bigger than our room – although the bathroom was just a wee bit better!)
This week we’ve had a ball!  James feels as though he’s been put through a mincing machine and pushed out as sausage meat!  We’ve found the people of New York  to be so friendly and helpful to us wherever we’ve been.  We’ve now started to get the hang of the street system which can easily have you walking in the opposite direction to the one you want go in but we’ve still not “gotten” used to the size of the meals!  We have learnt to say “cworfee” but it’s been another thing to keep up with the pace of the decision making needed when ordering food.  A great, great week – Doug has really enjoyed his birthday treat and he says a big “thank you” to everyone who has sent him messages via text, email and blog comments and he still can’t believe he’s seen Barry Manilow!
Tonight we fly out at 8’o clock – we don’t want to go!!!!!!!

We will be back!

A School Reunion in New York!

Yesterday evening we had birthday cocktails (compliments of the Waldorf) before leaving for a brilliant night on the town – which ended at midnight with the best Chinese meal we’ve ever had.

Today we did our third and final Red Bus tour – this time around Uptown Manhattan, Central Park and Harlem.

Just round the corner from the hotel this morning we came across the current filming of “Smash” – the amount of equipment they need was amazing, and this was a fraction of it! the trailers for the stars took up half the road in the next block.

James on the Red Bus (which was thoroughly enjoyable but bitterly cold). The tower block where Ricky Martin lives is right behind.

Further along the route we passed the place where John Lennon was shot.  Each side of the archway there are four flames which continuously burn.

Love it or hate it – the Guggenheim Museum on 5th Avenue.

Heading down towards Times Square – a very iconic view of a New York street scene.

At midday we had arranged to meet Linzie and her husband Bernie who live in New York.  Linzie was one of Doug’s school friends who lived in the same village as him as a child, and he hasn’t seen her for 28 years.  We had the most fantastic time with them over lunch at Lillies on Union Square.  Linzie is an actress and her husband Bernie is a New York city fire fighter.  It was a great privilege, and a fantastic opportunity, to meet and talk to him about his involvement in 9/11.  It was also amazing to hear about so many film stars that Linzie has met and worked with.  We had a great few hours laughing and chatting as Doug and Linzie remembered all the events from their childhood.  Thanks so much both of you for your great company and Doug was so delighted for the chance to meet up with Linzie again after so many years.

Doug, Linzie, James and Bernie.

“The Happy Couple”.

Later in the afternoon we took the metro back  to Grand Central Station.   We visited this superb place the first evening we got to the Big Apple but we were too tired to really appreciate it’s beauty.  An amazing and vast place as you can see.

Tonight, as it’s our last evening, we intend to take the Staten Island ferry after dark to see the lights of Lower Manhattan.

Happy Birthday Doug!

As an extra birthday present for Doug, yesterday evening we went to see Barry Manilow at St James’s Theatre on Broadway as we managed to get half price tickets at Times Square ticket booth, we couldn’t believe the seats we had only 11 rows from the stage!  It turned out to be an absolutely fantastic show.  Even at his age he can still get the crowd going!

We were all up, standing in the isles dancing and singing and waving our glow sticks! and, although we are not huge fans, it was a great opportunity to see a world star in his home town and we were very glad we got the tickets.

Doug in Times Square after the performance.

Today we spent the most part on conducted Red Bus tours around Manhattan and Brooklyn.  It was great to listen to all the incredible fact and figures as we went past various famous landmarks.

Times Square on the bus tour.

Doug outside the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street.

A view of Downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge as we crossed the East River.

At the end of the Brooklyn Tour we chose to get off the bus and walk across Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan.

This evening our celebrations continue with complimentary cocktails from the Waldorf, as a Birthday Gift to Doug, after which we will then go out for a meal and hit the club scene later!