Malta day 2

Today has been a bit hectic.
We got up early, and made the most of the hotel  breakfast- which was very weird. But I like olives so I'm happy to eat them at 8am.

We were told that you could hire paddle boards at the next town over in the marina.
So after breakfast we walked alllll the way there only to find out you can't.
So that was disappointing.

But, we did get £3 off at the aquarium with some vouchers we were given in the walk back so we made the most of those! At 10.30am the aquarium was pretty quiet. By the time we were leaving it was crazy busy!
The aquarium was pretty good to be fair. A nice way to see all the fish we'll miss out on my not diving or snorkeling.

We had a moochy afternoon in the hotel pool before heading out for another mystery tour adventure. We went to the craft village and I bought some  Maltese glass Christmas tree ornaments  for my parents and Nan as holiday presents. Traff  found some cats  to pet so he was occupied whilst I shopped. Then we went to Rabat and El Medina, had drinks at a cute rooftop cafe and then had a very fancy dinner.
Once we were fed we headed to football- the Malta national team Vs Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan fans brought flares into the stadium and were arrested. It was rather dramatic.

Malta Day 1

Ok. Some life advice here:. If you're hiring a car, remember to take your sat nav.

We have been everywhere today! Don't get me wrong, it was really interesting. It was just also very time consuming.

We picked the car up from the airport. And that was a debacle in itself. The car we were supposed to take had a completely flat tyre which they tried to tell us would be fine with pumping up... Or it's a slow puncture and we get charged. The second car had two completely bald tyres. As in they were smooth to touch.
I couldn't find anything wrong with the 3rd car they offered us so we're driving about in it.

We accidentally went the wrong way out of the airport somehow and ended up in Iz-Zurrieq. We had a mooch around and looked at their very festive cathedral. We also had traditional pastries from a little kiosk thing. (Not much open in the smaller towns on a Sunday. Very Catholic).
Next we finally set off in the right direction and got to see the blue grotto, then Dingli cliffs. Then the view from Film Ir-rih bay. Then we got lost again and found a really Mexican looking church on a hill. Eventually we made it to Qawra.

Qawra is the old people holiday capital of the world.
I advise finding a nice air BnB as far from here as possible.
As I type this the hotel has a performance of well known songs from the 40s and 50s played extremely loudly on an electronic keyboard. With a croony singer. It's so loud!
And bad.
But mostly excessively loud.

That said, the hotel is fancy. I'll get some pics tomorrow. But they know their target market is 40 years my senior.

We had a sunbathe on the roof terrace and a walk around the touristy sea front.
Ice cream for tea!

Packing

Packing today was made a little tricky...

Night paddle through Bristol

Yesterday SJ, Tracey and I paddled through Bristol with the SUP group from Bath.
It was ace, but definitely cold enough for a wetsuit by 11pm.
We got really close to the SS Great Britain. It's very imposing.

Sunrise over Swindon

Sunrise over Swindon. It was really cold this morning- the roads were gritted and everything.
But I think it's gonna be a hot day! At least 20 degrees anyway which isn't bad for September.

I think this time of year is so pretty,I love the light when the sun is low, especially in the early morning and evening.

Bike adventure

The nap cycle

The Nap cycle.
Stage 1)curl up for a nap.
Stage 2) get cold. Find a blanket and move as little as possible.
Stage 3) after about an hour, STRETCH and test the outside of nap area temperature.
Stage 4) get back under blanket and repeat steps 2,3 and 4 until food arrives.

Pullman train!

I finished work really late today, but on the up side I got to see the fancy Pullman train!
I thought I could smell burning!

Healthy September

So, we agreed that September was going to be a gym month.
Today Tracey and I started running again.
Only 2.5k but not bad for 3 months off!!

The walk to the gym was good too. Stormy looking!
And the trees are looking autumnal!

Geocache race horse!

We found a tiny horse in a geocache in Bath!!
So cool!

Bath

On Sunday Tats and I went to take in the delights of Bath.
We visited everything.

We started with the typo shop and the high street, then the assembly rooms cafe (highly recommend!) And the assembly rooms.
Next we did the East Asian Museum, which was interesting but quite small (£5 entry), then a sit down in the Georgian gardens behind the circle.

Once recovered, we did the Victoria art gallery, bought paninis on the bridge and walked along the canal past the deep lock. We came back into central Bath through the station.
Then found a geocache.
And had a mooch around the cathedral.

See, that is everything.

Roman adventures! And a jaunt around Gloucester cathedral

On Saturday, Tats and I went to Chedworth Roman villa. This was a bit of a weird throwback for me because I used to go there every Easter to spend the day with my Aunt Marion and Uncle Ray (no relation, they were my mum's housemates when she was 17..)

I was convinced it was a huge site. I guess I've just got taller.

Still very impressive though and definitely worth a visit.

After that we went to the Roman Villa in Birdlip again. I'm going to try to go back in a few weeks when the trees are all colourful as I bet it'll look incredible.

We went to Gloucester cathedral and met with Ray.
We ate Thai food. Gloucester is so good for Thai food!

BBQ & cards against humanity

On Friday night Tats arrived so we had a BBQ with Tracey and new roomie Jenni.
Then cards against humanity.