We’re acclimating to our apartment and feel okay being here now. It’s such a great location for exploring, getting the bus, being near a little market, and within walking distance along the seafront promenade to “downtown” Sliema. Mainly, it’s just too darn noisy due to the street noise.
We went for another swim this morning. We’re having such beautiful weather. Our jellyfish patrol ladies weren’t on the rocks, it must be just a weekend thing for them. Hopefully we’ll see them again before we leave. I didn’t have as difficult a time getting in the sea today. It’s definitely cold, but it is so nice bobbing along in the sea. The water is beautifully clear and you can see a lot of fish. Christine went a long distance down along the bayside in her swim. At one point I lost sight of her, which always scares me, but before long I spotted her. We sat out on the rocks for a while, but the sun is very hot so we have to be very careful about burning. Christine is getting quite a tan, except for her nose, which burns. I just burn, so I’m always covered up.
We had lunch back at the apartment and then walked to the shopping area of “downtown” Sliema on the hunt for the Body Shop store. It is located in a big shopping mall. Because of the sun, we opted for changing our route away from the promenade to some of the shady side streets. I like walking the streets because just a block or two away from the sea, there are not giant condos, just lovely 2-3 story old Maltese limestone houses with lovely balconies. Most of the old house have a step up from the sidewalk, then there’s an outer door and an inner door. Between the doors you typically find beautiful tile. One of the things I have a vivid memory of the first time I came to Malta in 1985 is that early in the morning ladies would be out on the sidewalk scrubbing their steps and the tile between the doors. You don’t see that much anymore. I am also fascinated by the doorknockers. The Maltese word for door striker is il-habbata.
We found the shopping plaza and the Body Shop store. Christine was happy to purchase the size jar of coconut cream she wanted. We then strolled along the Sliema Ferries front. You get a great view across the harbor of Valleta, the fortified capital city of Malta. It was weird seeing St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the very few Anglican churches in Malta, shrouded in scaffolding. It is undergoing a gazillion Euro renovation and I read that the UK’s Prince Charles chaired a committee to fund raise for the project. The large domed church nearby is the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The two churches are the foundation of the the famous Valleta skyline.
We could also see a bit of Fort Manoel which is on a very tiny island called Manoel Island. This fort is supposedly under renovation and there is/was to big a big development of the island, but it didn’t appear that there was much being done.
We walked to an area called Tigne Point. During British rule, Tigne Point, a peninsula, was the location of several barracks and Fort Cambridge was a battery located in the area. After the British left in 1979, all the buildings fell into decay until early in the 2000s a huge development occurred. Tigne Point is now a very exclusive residential area of huge condos and garden apartments and a very, very swanky shopping mall. Some of the architecture of the barracks has been incorporated into the exterior of the mall and part of the battery has been renovated and is a nice walkway overlooking the harbor.
We made our way back to the apartment. I had a nap. I thought I was feeling better, but after all that walking, I felt very tired and rundown, so a nap was just the thing. We went to dinner at Peppi’s, which was too noisy as we had to sit inside rather than on the deck. After dinner we strolled around the area. We watched a dance exercise group working out above the rocks in the park. The leader was fantastic and worked her followers really hard. I would never be able to keep up with the steps as it was fast and furious.
The park above the rocks has a couple of play areas for kids. Lots of families bring their kids in the evening. The promenade is quite an active area especially in the evening. I love strolling along and walking past a bench full of locals have animated conversations with their neighbors in loud Maltese. The park is also home to lots of cats. Cats are rampant all over Malta. Here in Sliema there are several cat villages where locals have created sanctuary space for cats providing sleeping quarters and food. And in the park their is a large cat statue on top of one of the buildings.
So we come to the end of another day in Sliema. So much is familiar and that makes it fun to wander around seeing things that we know and love.
good for you