Saturday 30 January 2010

Saturday 30th Before I do anything today I need to do some, do it yourself surgery on my left foot to relieve the pressure, the details we will leave out.

The morning is not too promising weather wise, in fact I get as far as the door in reception, but see the rain, and remember the previous day, so return to my room to do some writing, forty five minutes pass, I decide to make the best of it and head for Valletta, I plan to see Fort Elmo, my first port of call is the Malta Experience to send off some emails, I walk down to Fort Elmo, the weather has improved markedly, on arriving, Fort Elmo is closed for renovation, but the war museum is close by and that’s open, I part with four Euros, the exhibition is well laid out, I’m also surprised and impressed just how many exhibits there are including the George cross and the letter from the King awarding it to the Island on the 15^th April 1942 when you see what those brave Islanders had to endure who could argue with that award, it is well worth visiting.

The holiday is defiantly winding down now as I run out of days and money, almost everything I wanted to do, I have, every day I have been out of the hotel early of a morning on a mission to see as much as I could, the fact I decided to record everything has now become an added burden, I almost look forward now to getting back to the UK for a rest, if in the future I decide to record my exploits, I shall do it by Dictaphone then type it up at my leisure.

I decide to return back to Cirkewwa my base, my weeks bus ticket runs out at 14.48pm I board the bus at 14.10 driver sees and accepts the ticket, if an inspectors is going to get on, get on soon I think, I soon forget about this then just five stops from home, you guessed it, one gets on, it is now 15.10, I’m sat at the rear of the bus, he gets to me looks at my ticket, then looks at his watch, I point out when I got on the bus my ticket was valid, he takes my ticket from me and puts a large cross on it, it’s expired he says, I will buy a ticket now if you wish but I intend to buy an extended ticket tomorrow, he smiles and I continue free gratis for those precious five stops.

The nights entertainment is as last Saturday, two guys playing middle of the road music, but they are half decent, the Maltese are down in force, from the first song played they are on the dance floor strutting their stuff, they show the British up with their prowess.

The duo then play a Mavericks song, dance the night away, a lone Maltese woman dressed in country and western style takes to the floor, tight black trousers, black cowboy boots, black cowboy hat, red blouse trimmed on the full length of the sleeves with white tassels, and a black waist coat, she is spellbinding in her performance, I am mesmerised by the speed of her foot movements, she draws thunderous applause, deservedly so in my opinion.

I stay a few drinks longer, the same pattern continues, the Maltese dance the polish off the floor, and every now and again, the cowgirl gives a demonstration, others joining in with her now as they grow in confidence, I then depart for bed having enjoyed the spectacle.