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.