Saturday 16 January 2010

Saturday 16th Wake about 5.30am need the loo again; what do you expect after one and a half carafes of white wine the previous night, also feel a little under the weather as if I have a cold coming on, dive in to some of the extensive stash of medication I packed, then back into bed, mind wondering over what I intend to do today, not sure I ever get back to sleep, as 7.30 arrives decide to knock the gym on the head, due to a sneezing fit, no good taking risks I tell myself.

Down to breakfast very busy this morning due to the influx, while I’m sat there it occurs to me I’m thinking more and more about writing down my experiences of Malta, to the point I’m starting to have a running commentary going on in my head, analysing everything I see, thinking how I would describe it, is it like this for people who write books, film scripts etcetera?

Back to my room right I decide to have a quiet day, start packing my rucksack mustn’t forget my Mp3 like I did yesterday I get it out of the draw the head phones are all tangled up, what is it with cables you put them in your pocket or anywhere else, then when you go to get them again they are in what seems a million knots take an age to untangle them, do that have a mind of their own, one day I will stick a CCTV to watch them there is something peculiar going on there.

Today is again overcast with rain on the floor and in the air but not falling for the moment, on to another bus a weeks ticket purchased 13 Euros that’s just 4 more than for three days, you would have to be a tad silly not to use this form of transport it’s so cheap and reliable, my Aunt Marj and Uncle Harry had enthused to me about these buses but even they had not prepared me for the delight in store for me, hope my Uncle soon recovers his health, they could do with being here.
I have started taking a note book with me so I can scribble down things I see or occur to me from time to time, the hard part is there is no way you can write while the bus is moving you would end up writing on the person sat in front of you, so you have to wait till the bus makes a stop, then write them down as quickly as possible.

Looking out of the window it is noticeable that the street that looked like the Severn Bore yesterday only resemble streams now even thou it is not raining.

It has now rained four days out of my first seven on the Island, last night a local told me this was the first rain they had had in months, now that strikes a familiar tone with me the same things has been said to me many times in other parts of the world.
I well remember the British Labour government installing a minister for rain in the 1960’s or 70’s not sure which, his name was Dennis Howell, this was at a time of drought, I get the feeling that maybe my ability to attract rain could make me a very valuable asset in some parts of the world, should I advertise myself on Youtube or EBay?

Into Valletta find something indoors starting to rain slightly now, I walk passed the Palace and Armoury then turn back and decide to visit the attraction, after getting my first concession for being a duffer a saving of three Euros, once inside this it where it turns out the President resides, the walls are covered in portraits of Grand Masters of the St. John’s order, then on to the Armoury this has an extensive collection of arms and armour from as early as the fourteenth up to the eighteenth century, well worth a visit at ten Euros, seven for me.

I then take a walk along some streets and notice a woman on about the third floor of a building hanging out of the window lowering a basket on the end of a length of rope, I’m puzzled then I look across the road and other women are doing the same I notice between three and four doing the same, are they part of a basket cult? I get my camera out and then the answer, it’s the bread delivery, there is a guy taking money out of the baskets and putting in bread, I snap away, what a stroke of luck I walked round the corner I think.

Wandering on I see a sign for The Malta Experience, that should be worth a look, turns out to be a film show, up to the ticket desk how much please, nine and a half Euros, any concessions for seniors I enquire, no, I’m gutted, so hand over the full amount.
It’s a very comfy auditorium, I sit there waiting for the film to start, they have a clever idea, across the screen they display twenty flag from different countries against each is a number, on the arm of your seat there is a dial from one to twenty you stick the head phones on turn the dial to your language and your ready, Malta is number one you’d expect that, England come in at number two, that’s how it should be I think if only we could translate that into Eurovision Song Contest votes.

The film was an hour long, very informative there have been so many influence from the outside no wonder Malta has such a rich heritage, the Romans where there that’s not a surprise I suppose they have been everywhere what did they do for Malta I hear John Cleese ask, there was Arabic input you can still hear that in the Maltese language, then the Knights of St. John fought off Sulliman the great of the Ottoman empire a turning point in history without a doubt, then Napoleon ended the Knights reign, and Nelson ended his, yes I know name dropper! But I ask you food for the brain or what.

Film over now what? The war rooms should be interesting and dry, I try following the signs but after about fifteen minutes I give up, go off and buy a Tuna and Spinach pie, micro waved warmed, it’s a beauty a meal in it’s self ,and only one Euro thank you Capri Café.

Hotel bound a young Maltese couple I concluded, get on the bus carrying three large shopping bags, they put the bags on the double seat in front of me then sit across the isle, he is dressed in a leather jacket with one of those leather John Lennon type caps on, she has a hat with head phones on the outside, I’m thinking how can she hear the music with the ear phones on the outside? When I look again they are not real head phones is a design pattern on the hat how natty is that, she removes the hat has long raven black hair, they natter away to each other, she has one of those laughs that is infectious, you feel you want to laugh with her even thou you have no clue what she is laughing out.
All of a sudden the nattering has turned in artificial respiration have they both had heart attacks? They are oblivious to the other passengers as they super glue their faces together, and just in time before we all get too excited we round a sharp corner and the three bags go flying off the seats it has the same effect as a bucket of cold water they break off from their judo hold and with help from another guy and me collect up their groceries that are rolling around in the isle, a few minutes later the young guy pulls the cord that runs the length of the bus to inform the driver they wish to get off at the next stop, he pulls it so far, his young lady asks him did you want to take it home with us followed by that fascinating laugh, seems rather dull when they get off.

I have now been in Malta for a week it occurs to me there is something missing, I have been to many other countries and cities and always come across begging but here I have yet to see one person asking for money how refreshing, I have also not noticed any graffiti.

Back at the hotel I have a few drinks, then dinner, fish, then decide after emailing the loved ones off to my room for an early night.