Month: August 2012

Down the Cotswolds this weekend. I had booked the night away in the Dial House in Bourton many months ago and had almost forgotten about it, it was a night and a tasting menu for two – which is something that I don’t usually go for, but after watching the Trip I am now more keen!!. So got down to Bourton about midday, and couldn’t check in for a couple of hours, so we had plenty of time to stroll around the village. And what a place it is, we had been there a few times in the past, and it is really a great place, it is almost perfect as a chocolate box, English village. It has a river running through it which is fed by a spring, and is only 10 inches deep at any point – so perfect for paddling. Loads of lovely Cotswold stone houses and plenty of pubs and cafe’s.

Trouble is, it is always full of sodding tourists when the weather is nice.

We decided to head through the village for the first rest stop, as there is a pub on the way in which is some 500 yards from the village center, it has a couple of seats outside and compared to the village proper is dead. Real surly get behind the bar though, looked a little like Brick Top, but with a few “heavy” gold chains and rings – what a plonker Rodney. He didn’t seem to happy to serve us and after pouring Sian’s drink he said anything else –  so I asked him for a taste of his Chilli nuts, and he turned and grunted – In the drink..

Back into Bourton for a quick bite to eat as we didn’t want to spoil supper, and we had a little sit down in the Hotel garden which was quiet and just perfect for me. Sian had a doze and I watched the people milling about. A little later when some of the hoards had left, around 5:30 we ventured back in and had a wonder around the place then had a couple of beers in the beer gardens overlooking the river – other than the nosy kids and the spaktards who descend on these places it was idyllic..

Quick spruse up in the room, which was quite nice – across the way from the hotel in the Coach House (No.9) was plenty big enough, great shower and large bed. We went down to our culinary experience. Order a Miguel and got a tiny glassful, we sat in the garden for a short while before the waitress come out with “Some c compliments of the Chef” obviously I figured that this was the smallest c in the world because they didn’t want to spoil our appetites but it was actually a sign of things to come. They were kidney and smoked butter with prawn – or something like that (something a little more poncy) well, it must have been an ant kidney, it was tiny. I ate it and the entire thing got caught between my teeth. The smoked butter thing was odd, but tastly, but it had one prawn in, one, and not as you might expect a massive prawn which looks more like a lobster, it was a tiny shrimp. I hadn’t even noticed mine, so i must have swallowed it, it was so small.

Anyway, I was worried I might burst, but we were shown to the table – and you could see that this was “that” sort of place, she even undid my napkins and placed it on my lap – oh how lardeedaa. The rest of the food was stupid.

So after eating some foam, and some chicken and some salmon, and some goat cheese with beetroot, and a cucumber and wasabi sorbet we left. Only realising we missed the scrummy after dinner chocolate festival when we were heading back to the room.

Breakfast was magnificent. You could have a Breakfast starter, so I had the fruit platter which was a work of art and the thinnest but most tasteful apple I have ever had. The full English was great, nice bacon, nice sausage, nice eggs, nice hash brown, nice mushroom, nice black pudding, crap fried bread.

We were out of there by 9:30. Really good trip, great place, nice hotel, interesting food experience and fab brekkie – what more could you ask for. Big thumbs up to Bourton and the Dial House.

Another big breakfast. You get into a bit of a routine with this breakfast lark, but mustn’t grumble.

So today was the last day, doesn’t it come round fast? We had booked a Bus Hop on Hop off a couple of days back, and after the nonsense of Sunday today was the day to redeem the ticket. It was warm. We got the bus early door’s and managed to get the very front seats on the top deck, that made me feel sick. Still all over the shop thanks to that stupid bloody sea trip.. Anyway, bus takes ages, but not as long as the local service. We sped on towards Marsaxlokk, which was sold as the Padstow of the South of Malta. Not having been to Padstow myself I cannot confirm the similarities, I think it might be different. Had a walk up the front and looked at all the fishing boats which are famous in these parts. Very warm, so soon stopped off for a beverage – it was cheap. We had a look at the menu even though it was unfortunately very early there were sandwiches there for 70 cents. another 50 ccent to toast it. It was mental. About a third of the price of anywhere else we had seen. So, the next bus was in an hour, so we had a look around and then were undecided whether to stay another hour and have some lunch or get down to the Blue Grotto. We left, it was a good move….

Got to the Blue Grotto next around midday, was worried it would be very busy, but as we made our way down the steep hill to the boats it was looking nice and quiet. Got to the boat and went straight on, there were eight in the little boat and the driver, as we left the harbour everyone else stuck on their life jackets, we didn’t – that’s how we roll man. The Blue Grotto is a number of caves with the clearest water I have ever seen, some of the water was so blue that you wouldn’t believe a picture of it. Our driver (a Liverpool supporter!) gave us the tour, and you could tell it wasn’t the first time he had handled a boat. It was good there. Liked it alot.

Once back in the harbour we found a quiet spot in the shade and dove straight into the water. Swimming between the boats being able to see the bottom some four meters beneath you. Unfortunately within half an hour the crowds started appearing. The harbour queue got bigger and foriegners started swimming and jumping and sitting and talking next to us. That’s my cue for a sharp exit. Up the hill and had just enough time for a drink before the next bus was coming. Bus driver told us there was no where for lunch until back at Slemia, so we sat in the aircon downstairs this time for 45 mins until we returned. Went to one of our local haunts for a beer and a bit of nosh, Kate had a massive burger dinner, Sian had some ginormous duck pancakes, which were actually pancakes as in pancake day stuffed with a whole duck, I think I has thai fishcakes. They were big.

Up to the room next, I was shot, and just wanted a shower and a relax – great having a balcony, Kate took Sian up to the pool for a couple of hours – nice.

Evening meal on the final day was to the highly rated L’Artist, we had peeked at the menu before so Kate was as happy as a pig in poo to get down to the Maccy D’s in town for a Chicken Burger. Off we went to the restaurant early. The only people eating were the owners, only about six tables in the whole place – every one was reserved. Luckily they took their plates off their own table and sat us down. Simple menu, quickly order – Largest Rib Eye on the menu for me, Mixed sea food fury for Sian. Told the boss that I wanted my steak cooked how the chef would like it. Don’t think they understood, but I have faith. Great big bowl of bread, oil and balsamic vinegar later and along came the mains. Delish. Mine was basically just the steak on a plate, with some potatoes (baked! ;o) on the side, Sian’s was an enormous pile of mussles, prawns, calamari, garlic, wine and herbs. Loved it. Steak was medium rare, which I wouldn’t normally order for a rib eye, but it was fabulous – strangely it was “just” Aberdeen Angus, it must have been the fact it was cooked on a lava stone that made the different…

Home James, and bed for the last night. Next day was a reasonable 8:45 start for the airport, so no problems with getting up. The airport experience for significantly better than UK.

Some things we learned

Just spend a couple of hours in the Blue Lagoon – get a speed boat and do a short trip

Water Taxi over to Valletta is great. couple of Euro’s

Use the local buses, they are very cheap and cheerful, regular and well worth using

Its quite warm

The sea isn’t as warm as I remember

I liked it.

The fabulous cruise to the Blue Lagoon.

Oh, breakfast again, sausages and bacon and crispy potato, and ham and cheese and bread and fruit juice and tea and just everything. Was getting a little sick of it my now, but as I type I would love some of that!

Today was the planned cruise to the Blue Lagoon. What could be better then to be whisked away on a Turkish Gullet across the calm blue ocean to the paradise that is the Blue Lagoon, where the sea is so clear it looks like it isn’t even there (or that it looks blue or something) and the deck chair attendants serenade you with cold beers and ice lollies. It wasn’t really like that unfortunately.

Got there early, got checked, queued. In a real British sort of way, with no pushing and shoving. Some people had yellow bands, we didn’t, we felt perhaps we should have. After some time we got on board. Straight to the prow, on the seats – great. Then it filled up. Most people lay on the deck on mats, we had some room, the boat was only about half full, but that was enough. Then we were away on our magical adventure..

Chug chug chug, oh look there is the blue sea, and some rocky coastline, and some odd looking houses, and a hotel, and a speed boat – oh look there is some blue sea… Bored. A little bit of excitement was when the boat nearly ran over and capsized a small fishing boat – I can imagine that fisherman was quite cross when he stumbled out of his Cisk induced stupor. Then we got to Gozo. Hmm. We then found out that the Yellow band dudes were leaving us there to go for a trip in a mini-bus around Gozo – ha, in your face yellow band.

We left then to find a “secluded cove” for some swimming and then some lunch. We arrived, it was secluded a little, it was lovely and blue and calm, well calmish. We moored, the ship began to roll. I dived in (off the boat I must add, just like tarzan) the swimming was great. Then lunch. Well I could barely walk on the deck it was rolling that much. I dont mind up and down on a boat, i don’t really mind full 360 rolling, but this was rolling side to side – not good. Got a little bit of food, staggered back to my seat, had a touch. Sat there feeling like the world was about to end.

Some time later we left the cove and headed for the main event. We got there and pulled up next to another 100,000 ships. Hardly idyllic. Problem is with places like this is that they were nice once, then they got popular, now they are shit.

The sea was amazingly blue and clear, so we snorkeled, just to get off the boat really. And swam round to where the “beach” was. We got to it and all of a sudden the visibility went completely. There were a million people in a small fenced of space all enjoying this slice of paradise. It was like a human mackerel net, a hungry giant would have loved it. We stayed for the amount of time it takes to read this sentence.

Got back to the boat and Kate jumped in from the deck and we were whisked away back home. Chug Chug, , oh look there is the blue sea, and some rocky coastline, and some odd looking houses, and a hotel, and a speed boat – oh look there is some blue sea… Bored. A bit of excitement when we nearly caught up with our sister ship. I felt bad. Sick and wobbly, like being smashed, but without the pleasure of being smashed.

I sat on the balcony for a while, Kate took Sian to the pool (again). I could barely drink my Cisk, my world was bobbing – and not in a good way. Went to a great place for supper – L’Aroma. Which was the restaurant for a small hotel. Nosh was very good though, I had a mixed grill and the rib eye was the best I had ever tasted (until tomorrow ;o)

Bed.

After some deliberation we decided on Malta for the holiday this year. Arranged by us as a seperate flight and hotel, as this meant we had total control over it and it worked out cheaper than using a company. With the internet today this is very easy and was the same as just booking a few nights away in on he UK. We decided on Sliema as the town, and the Palace as the hotel. Once booked I got flights through Ryanair as they fly from Bristol, then ordered the insurance and the car park booking. Sorted in an afternoon….

So early start on the first day woke at three, out of the house at four and down a quiet motorway to the airport… We managed to arrive about two hrs early so figured we would have plenty of time. Hmmm. First queue was to check the bag in, massive queue which fed 5 counters, and no one was too sure where to stand. On our bit there seemed to be two people but one of them jut seemed to busying himself leafing through a brochure. Anyway lots of time later we got to the counter and had the worrying wait to make sure the bag was not too heavy. Over limit means £100 fine, or a panic restacking of the hand bags.. we were fine, 4 ounces to spare. Next queue was security. We queued, we swayed, we metallic tested we forgot to take all the liquids out of the hand luggage. So we waited to be told off for being a little silly.

Made it through, just a quick wee wee then in the queue for the plane. No time to get a drink and we were still almost at the back. Gates open, we rush forward with another 100 people trying to get a seat. We needed 3 together and were very fortunate to get one of the last ones. Safe and sound we prepared for take off.
Although Kate had been in a plane before the take off it was not something that she actually remembered very well, as you might imagine she loved it. Some food, some tea, some reading, some movies and before we knew it we had landed in Malta – landing is better than take off  Kate tells me. Doors open and into the oven we went…-

We had a man pick us up and in 20 mins we were at the Palace. First impressions were that it was cool, which was nice. And well sorted man. They told us we could not check in until 3:00 so after a weird soft drink called Kinnie we went for a mooch….

The sea was only 5 mins a way and we let Kate lead the way towards the big blue. Once on the promenade we set off to see the sights. It was warm. We walked for a good while until we hit the spot kate had arranged for us to have lunch in. It was about 12:00 so certainly time for drinkies. Discovered very soon that the local beer was  called Cisk, pronounced ch isk. Not bad, and quite cheap (at least at this place)… Kate had some lunch, we had another beer. Once finished, we continued onto St Julians and I found a Macdonalds to get rid of some Cisk and had a weird experience with the door. Long walk back to he k in.

The hotel told us we had an upgrade to a supaerior room, which was nice, but it didn’t have a balcony. Great room, crap view. We moaned. Up to the infnity pool and felt quite conspicuous as the only pinky white dudes there. It was quite obvious we were new as we didn’ t know what to do. We had a swim, i had a doze, we left.

Went to a loverly italian called La Cuccagna in the evening and cos i had not had any food for hours and hours I had a chicken burger. Made with mince chicken in a real burger. Should have tried some pasta but it was nice anyway. Home to bed. Pretty tired. Had some earplugs. Slept.