Sunday and the very first rain shower - we were still in bed at the time so no problem.
We visited the local (really, just a few hundred yards from the hotel) Scottish/Methodist Church for their 10.30 service, and were amused in the announcements to hear an appeal for help with moving furniture and cleaning the manse. Just what our church had been up to before we left home. They are due a new minister on Feb 20th, so are fairly excited, being the only church of their type on the island can make them feel isolated, especially with the staunch catholic nature of the community.
Over lunch in an open air restaurant we were regaled with a detailed report of the football from last night - apparently Valletta were nearly robbed of the match, but came through in the penalties 4-1.
The statues lining the streets are still wrapped up, apart from the one I photoed which is resting on two huge sawing horse type devices in the street. We assume it is heading somewhere, but has not yet arrived!
Tomorrow we are going to the Hypogeum in Ħal-Saflieni,is a subterranean structure excavated c. 2500 B.C., probably our last major outing.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Valletta day 9
Saturday and still snowing at home we hear. Slow morning buying the local Malta Times and reading it whilst sat in the sun. Then the wind got up and we retreated to look around the Grand Masters Palace. Once the official and private residence of the Grand Order of St John. The palace is now the president's office and seat of the Maltese Parliament, but the State RFooms are open to the public. You go up the 'back stairs' and past the Opposition Whips Office to get in!
The Armoury is also on the tour and has a vast collection of Knights armour and weapons.
In the evening we went and saw some of the Band procession for the start of the Feast of St Paul. It looked to be going on all night. Crowd control (or lack of crowd) was complication as far as the police were concerned by a local football match between deadly rivals - every so often a crown surged out of a bar cheering and then quickly returned to watch again.
I can see why now I've just found the score.
Valletta 2 Floriana 2 - Valletta through on penalties
League leaders Hibs were eliminated from the FA Trophy this evening and Valletta just managed to scrape through on penalities.
The Armoury is also on the tour and has a vast collection of Knights armour and weapons.
In the evening we went and saw some of the Band procession for the start of the Feast of St Paul. It looked to be going on all night. Crowd control (or lack of crowd) was complication as far as the police were concerned by a local football match between deadly rivals - every so often a crown surged out of a bar cheering and then quickly returned to watch again.
I can see why now I've just found the score.
Valletta 2 Floriana 2 - Valletta through on penalties
League leaders Hibs were eliminated from the FA Trophy this evening and Valletta just managed to scrape through on penalities.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Valletta day 8 update
Having a frustrating time with the software that I use to add the GPS position data to the photos. The original software which worked last year now pretends to work, edits the files and leaves them of zero length!
One replacement works but is crude to say the least, and the last one I've found tonight is really good, and can even add position information, but this depends on a web server apparently being used by a very large number of Apple iPhone users, and so its very busy. Anyway I hope that by tonight all the photos will have correct position info and show in the right place on a Google Map. Fingers crossed.
Watching Sky News and seeing the snow at the moment, which I was at home to play in it -.
One replacement works but is crude to say the least, and the last one I've found tonight is really good, and can even add position information, but this depends on a web server apparently being used by a very large number of Apple iPhone users, and so its very busy. Anyway I hope that by tonight all the photos will have correct position info and show in the right place on a Google Map. Fingers crossed.
Watching Sky News and seeing the snow at the moment, which I was at home to play in it -.
Valletta day 8
Interesting day - another exciting bus ride. This time to Siggiewi, apparently British troops used to call it 'Siggy Wiggy'. The home of a large, now disused quarry. It houses a museum and exposition of the history of Sandstone mining. Strange rushed affair with the all too common headphones and MP3 player, taking you from place to place full tilt. The best idea was to turn the player off between each talk so one could take it in, in peace! Very quiet town/village, the centre of which consisted of the obligatory Catholic church and socialist club, with a seat so you could wait for the bus. The locals were very friendly, and have all been watching Sky news and seeing the snow in England. They have never seen snow here, or at least not for at least 50 years, although they do have very heavy hail occasionally.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Valletta day 7
A glorious sunny day - forecast was cloud/rain! But we had a clear blue sky and sun all day. It was a 'day off' day today, we just wandered the town and ended up back in our favourite spot overlooking the Grand Harbour from Upper Barrakka Gardens. Just a few pictures, the front of the hotel and the little cafe in the gardens.
The excitement is building up here for the St Paul's Feast celebrations this weekend, plinths all over the place and lights in preparation for the parades that take place - we are looking forward to the fireworks over the Grand Harbour on Monday and various parades of Bands.
The excitement is building up here for the St Paul's Feast celebrations this weekend, plinths all over the place and lights in preparation for the parades that take place - we are looking forward to the fireworks over the Grand Harbour on Monday and various parades of Bands.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Valletta day 6
Well here we are half way through the holiday and yet to take a bus! So today we went to the bus terminus - a large roundabout surrounded by bus stands and found a bus to Mdina. The buses all seem to be single deckers cast off from early britsh fleets of around the 50s. The bus we took went down the main road towards Mdina, and then diverted around Rabat and the surrounded villages before returning to Mdina. Traversing some alarming bumpy and narrow side roads on the way. I'll try to put a link here to a Google earth path to show what I mean (it will have to wait till I return to the UK, this laptop hasn't got the required software).
And so we explored 'The Historic Citadel of Mdina'. Another Cathedral - 'co' to Valletta, this one the Cathedral of St Paul. Had a snack lunch sat up on the bastions overlooking the surrounding countryside - which showed why Mdina was built were it was. The highest point around.
The final photos are back in Valletta, we were drinking coffee trying to make out what the thing on the wall was when this cute little girl started to look all around with the reveresed binoculars.
And so we explored 'The Historic Citadel of Mdina'. Another Cathedral - 'co' to Valletta, this one the Cathedral of St Paul. Had a snack lunch sat up on the bastions overlooking the surrounding countryside - which showed why Mdina was built were it was. The highest point around.
The final photos are back in Valletta, we were drinking coffee trying to make out what the thing on the wall was when this cute little girl started to look all around with the reveresed binoculars.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Valletta day 5
A more peaceful day.
Across to the other side of Valletta - in fact just a few yards right from the Hotel to Hastings Gardens. Quiet overlooking Sliema and its bays, high rise flats and harbours.
We then walked all the way around the tip of Valletta and back to Upper Barracka Gardens in time for the 12 o'clock gun. After a peaceful sit in the sun we moved in to the centre of town for pizza and refreshments, and to watch the locals about their business.
Across to the other side of Valletta - in fact just a few yards right from the Hotel to Hastings Gardens. Quiet overlooking Sliema and its bays, high rise flats and harbours.
We then walked all the way around the tip of Valletta and back to Upper Barracka Gardens in time for the 12 o'clock gun. After a peaceful sit in the sun we moved in to the centre of town for pizza and refreshments, and to watch the locals about their business.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Valletta day 4
So this was the Historic Sites Visit day - we a vengeance!
We signed up for trips to 'The saluting Battery' at Valletta, which is just below the gardens we had already found. Interesting, and we were there to witness at first hand the firing of the noon day gun.
Then on the minibus to the malta at War museum, here we watched a film of Malta GC (george vross) for the ingnorant amongst you and then were conducted around the tunnels all dug out by hand in the very early days of the war as shelters, mainly by women as the men were away at war.
Finally on to Fort Rinella with the only surviving 100 ton gun. This was one of a very few made in the late 1800 and as for all of them was never actually fired in anger!
All the sites are supported by volunteers, and staffed by young men pretending to be soldiers - they did a good job.
A very interesting day, but we are now brain damaged - too much information.
Swordfish promised for our evening meal.
We signed up for trips to 'The saluting Battery' at Valletta, which is just below the gardens we had already found. Interesting, and we were there to witness at first hand the firing of the noon day gun.
Then on the minibus to the malta at War museum, here we watched a film of Malta GC (george vross) for the ingnorant amongst you and then were conducted around the tunnels all dug out by hand in the very early days of the war as shelters, mainly by women as the men were away at war.
Finally on to Fort Rinella with the only surviving 100 ton gun. This was one of a very few made in the late 1800 and as for all of them was never actually fired in anger!
All the sites are supported by volunteers, and staffed by young men pretending to be soldiers - they did a good job.
A very interesting day, but we are now brain damaged - too much information.
Swordfish promised for our evening meal.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Valletta day 3
Today was a bit less hectic, visited the Sunday market. Interesting, some local produce and also a couple of 'car boot' type stalls which looked as if they were leftovers from WW11. Included containers of broken Chandeliers and Army style telephones. We retuned to the gardens for Coffee and a sit in the sun, we had to retreat after a while as a gale come up and threatened to blow us all away.
We found a nice square further in the town and ate a light lunch whilst being entertained by the local menfolk preparing a pedestal for the 'Statue of St Paul', this next week being his ship wreck celebrations.
We found a nice square further in the town and ate a light lunch whilst being entertained by the local menfolk preparing a pedestal for the 'Statue of St Paul', this next week being his ship wreck celebrations.
Valletta day 2
Started the day with a fire alarm! Got dressed grabbed valuables rushed to fire exit (front door) only to be met with the night portrt saying 'no problem' something in the bar had overheated, it was all smoke and no flames, so we could go back to bed. Good job too as not many people had taken notice in the first place!
After that we walked down a very hilly road where the pavement was a series of stone steps, very tiring and someone complained it hurt her ankles.
We went to 'The Malta Experience' and watched a film about the history of Malta, basically a tiny rock in the middle of the trade routes which over the course of 3000 years everyone wanted, and got, apart from the Germans who failed.
Walked around a bit and found the Upper Barracca Gardens" ? A great place to sit and watch across the harbour. Plenty of sun and coffee and drinks on hand - what more could we ask?
Spent the evening in the Hotel Bar....
After that we walked down a very hilly road where the pavement was a series of stone steps, very tiring and someone complained it hurt her ankles.
We went to 'The Malta Experience' and watched a film about the history of Malta, basically a tiny rock in the middle of the trade routes which over the course of 3000 years everyone wanted, and got, apart from the Germans who failed.
Walked around a bit and found the Upper Barracca Gardens" ? A great place to sit and watch across the harbour. Plenty of sun and coffee and drinks on hand - what more could we ask?
Spent the evening in the Hotel Bar....
Friday, January 30, 2009
Malta 2009
Well here we are on our next big adventure!
No Enigma this time just AirMalta and a hectic taxi at 11pm.
Hotel Osborne appears just up our street, quiet and unfussy.
Today, friday, we went for a stroll around the fascinating streets and vistied the Co-Cathedral.
More later.
No Enigma this time just AirMalta and a hectic taxi at 11pm.
Hotel Osborne appears just up our street, quiet and unfussy.
Today, friday, we went for a stroll around the fascinating streets and vistied the Co-Cathedral.
More later.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Complete edited Google Earth route
Full Google Route
This link should give those of you with access to Google Earth (sorry old Mac users) our complete journey including the shopping trips (!) and train ride to the Horse Shoe Falls at Llangollen.
And here are all the photos.
This link should give those of you with access to Google Earth (sorry old Mac users) our complete journey including the shopping trips (!) and train ride to the Horse Shoe Falls at Llangollen.
And here are all the photos.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Route logging
Last Google Earth -28juneto5july.kml
As you will have noticed we have been logging our daily route and publishing it as a Google Earth file.
This has been done with the aid of a small box of electronics called a GPS bug (eBAY).
Then this data has been processed using LOCR to put the lat/long info in to the header of the photos - it is missing on some of them, I had trouble uploading photos at the beginning of the journey, and lost the info whilst editing.
The 'bug' can be set to turn on and off by vibration, or only work above a certain speed. Wonderful for use in a car but turned out not to be useful on a boat! So in the end I set it to record data every 30 seconds and just started it before we left in the mornings, and tried to remember to stop it when we finished for the day,
The only problem we encountered was after a tunnel you need to allow time to re-acquire the satellites or the logging stops.
I can give more details to anyone who wants it.
As you will have noticed we have been logging our daily route and publishing it as a Google Earth file.
This has been done with the aid of a small box of electronics called a GPS bug (eBAY).
Then this data has been processed using LOCR to put the lat/long info in to the header of the photos - it is missing on some of them, I had trouble uploading photos at the beginning of the journey, and lost the info whilst editing.
The 'bug' can be set to turn on and off by vibration, or only work above a certain speed. Wonderful for use in a car but turned out not to be useful on a boat! So in the end I set it to record data every 30 seconds and just started it before we left in the mornings, and tried to remember to stop it when we finished for the day,
The only problem we encountered was after a tunnel you need to allow time to re-acquire the satellites or the logging stops.
I can give more details to anyone who wants it.
Final stretch
18:26 05/07/2008 5.19 miles 7 locks
very wet start to the day so didn't hurry. Then made a dry run up to the Watford flight, we were second in the queue to go up with 5 coming down. This took about an hour as nothing can hurry progress through the locks. Eventually we cleared the locks and headed for the Crick tunnel (wet as usual) and our home mooring. Just got back in time to beat the rain.
Sitting quietly in the marina now gathering our strength for all the packing and tidying up required.
Water here does not need to be boiled!
very wet start to the day so didn't hurry. Then made a dry run up to the Watford flight, we were second in the queue to go up with 5 coming down. This took about an hour as nothing can hurry progress through the locks. Eventually we cleared the locks and headed for the Crick tunnel (wet as usual) and our home mooring. Just got back in time to beat the rain.
Sitting quietly in the marina now gathering our strength for all the packing and tidying up required.
Water here does not need to be boiled!
Possible water problems
19:54 03/07/2008 8.3 miles 3 locks (Hillmorton)
Easy passage through the locks, thanks to boats coming the other way, then the long straight through Barby and on towards Braunston. Hit by a tremendous heavy rain storm, with as usual nowhere to moor, so plugged on. Eventually it stopped and we were in Braunston looking for mooring by 1.30. We were going for water but of course we are now in the region on Anglian Water affected by the 'bug' so decided not to take any on board as we have enough and as the notices on the taps say ' there are no current recommendations for flushing and cleaning boats tank to remove the contaminated water' I wonder what is happening back home in Long Buckby? We will soon find out as we will probably be home by Sunday.
Easy passage through the locks, thanks to boats coming the other way, then the long straight through Barby and on towards Braunston. Hit by a tremendous heavy rain storm, with as usual nowhere to moor, so plugged on. Eventually it stopped and we were in Braunston looking for mooring by 1.30. We were going for water but of course we are now in the region on Anglian Water affected by the 'bug' so decided not to take any on board as we have enough and as the notices on the taps say ' there are no current recommendations for flushing and cleaning boats tank to remove the contaminated water' I wonder what is happening back home in Long Buckby? We will soon find out as we will probably be home by Sunday.
Seeing old friends at Rose
17:06 02/07/2008 10.7 miles
Ansty to Rugby, stopping as usual to top up the larder at Tesco. Unevenful journey through pleasant country. Usual busy scene at Rose narrowboats, we managed a brief word with Mick (and Crystal) on Ruffian, and later saw Phil from the Marina on his way up there for lunch. Moored as usual by the golf course, not quite nice enough for a BBQ
Ansty to Rugby, stopping as usual to top up the larder at Tesco. Unevenful journey through pleasant country. Usual busy scene at Rose narrowboats, we managed a brief word with Mick (and Crystal) on Ruffian, and later saw Phil from the Marina on his way up there for lunch. Moored as usual by the golf course, not quite nice enough for a BBQ
Greenfield site developments
17:43 01/07/2008 12.6 miles 1 (small) lock
Left our pleasant mooring for the journey through Nuneaton and Bedworth, we were interested to see on the way up the redevelopment being done on what was an old quarry, and took the opportunity coming back to ask a worker there what was happening, he said housing eventually, but having filled the hole they have to wait a couple of years to let it settle before building.
Hawkesbury was busy, it is always a tight turn off the Coventry through the stop lock, this time complicated by a large trip boat out of the Coventry basin moored outside the pub.
Left our pleasant mooring for the journey through Nuneaton and Bedworth, we were interested to see on the way up the redevelopment being done on what was an old quarry, and took the opportunity coming back to ask a worker there what was happening, he said housing eventually, but having filled the hole they have to wait a couple of years to let it settle before building.
Hawkesbury was busy, it is always a tight turn off the Coventry through the stop lock, this time complicated by a large trip boat out of the Coventry basin moored outside the pub.
Assisted passage through Atherton locks
15:48 30/06/2008 5.1 miles 11 locks
Lovely clear blue sky greeted us this morning, a good start to the locks. Arrived at the bottom lock at 10 to find Chris and Helen waiting to assist us through, they had kindly volunteered to drive from their nearby home to help.
Quite a bit a traffic up and down which always helps, and more water than when we went the other way many weeks ago.
By 12.30 we were out the other end of the locks and wishing saying thanks to our assistants. A short cruise later we moored in the countryside, able to sit and enjoy the sunshine (and the tennis).
Lovely clear blue sky greeted us this morning, a good start to the locks. Arrived at the bottom lock at 10 to find Chris and Helen waiting to assist us through, they had kindly volunteered to drive from their nearby home to help.
Quite a bit a traffic up and down which always helps, and more water than when we went the other way many weeks ago.
By 12.30 we were out the other end of the locks and wishing saying thanks to our assistants. A short cruise later we moored in the countryside, able to sit and enjoy the sunshine (and the tennis).
Expensive diesel (Crick is only 85p)
20:03 29/06/2008 17.3 miles 2 locks 7.5 hours
Early start for the long journey down to Atherstone locks. Mixed weather mainly dry and cloudy. Used Streethay services for the first time, Diesel now up to 95p a litre - just wait till November when the tax regime changes.
Watered at Fazeley Junction, and continued on through torrential rain to moor below Polesworth within easy reach of the locks at Atherstone tomorrow. Pleasant weather resumed with a nice sunny evening.
Early start for the long journey down to Atherstone locks. Mixed weather mainly dry and cloudy. Used Streethay services for the first time, Diesel now up to 95p a litre - just wait till November when the tax regime changes.
Watered at Fazeley Junction, and continued on through torrential rain to moor below Polesworth within easy reach of the locks at Atherstone tomorrow. Pleasant weather resumed with a nice sunny evening.
Shopping again and on to Fradley Junction
19:59 28/06/2008 14.2 miles 5 locks
Said goodbye to Tixall Wide at 9 and returned to the mainline, hoped for services at Haywood junction, but it was hireboat changeover time so we carried on.
Pleasant weather, a smal amount of traffic at the next 3 locks to keep us company.
Shopped at Morrisons in Rugeley, this should see us through to the end (bet we stop at Tescos in Rugby)
Kings Bromley Marina was closed for services so we carried on again, reaching Fradley Junction late afternoon,
to find little boat traffic but no moorings close to the junction. We knew of a mooring outside the busy area however and were soon settled in watching tennis again.
Said goodbye to Tixall Wide at 9 and returned to the mainline, hoped for services at Haywood junction, but it was hireboat changeover time so we carried on.
Pleasant weather, a smal amount of traffic at the next 3 locks to keep us company.
Shopped at Morrisons in Rugeley, this should see us through to the end (bet we stop at Tescos in Rugby)
Kings Bromley Marina was closed for services so we carried on again, reaching Fradley Junction late afternoon,
to find little boat traffic but no moorings close to the junction. We knew of a mooring outside the busy area however and were soon settled in watching tennis again.
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