54 Days on the Moon

[drron]

Now we are in the Grand Harbour Valletta.Looks like a naval ship and The MSC Seaview. which went into dry dock 3 weeks before for an expected 2 week job Not expected out for another 2 weeks. Suspected to be due to engine problems.








And off we go on a Gardens of Malta tour. This was not part of the tour but merely from the bus.

 

[drron]

So just across the road from the church in the last post is the Palazzo Parisio where the first garden is. They were having a big wedding later that day and obviously we were interfering with their schedule so we toured the building first;

 

[drron]

The original family still owns this place but has sold off a part of the Pace and some land. They also owned another palace at the port. It was sold to become acasino.

 

[drron]

The original owner. He was a banker and owned Malta's brewery.






The church from the Palace.




They were having a wedding later that day and this was one of many tables.

 

[drron]

Now views of the garden..

 

[drron]

The wing that has been sold off.












Now we go outside.

 

[drron]

An overgrown grove of olive trees. but it is no longer a part of the property.

 

[drron]

A greenhouse including some orchids.



Now back to the bus to go off to the second garden. A lot of the houses have this outside the front door.






So the second garden. The orinal palace is now the President's home.


Sadly we miss this event.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

A tree used in the defence of Malta in ancient times. Quite difficult to climb.



And it's fruit.

 

[drron]

And back on the bus for the third garden - the Upper Baracka Gardens where the garden is definitelynot the major attraction.



Past a vineyard in Valetta.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

Not much of a garden but the views are great.

 

[drron]

 

[drron]

There were more flowers in the Lower Baracka gardens.

 

[drron]

Back to the Moon.

 

[drron]

The last of Valletta.




Some smoke from the MSC funnels backing up the feeling that the problem is due to the engines. Her sister ship had engine problems last year.

 

[drron]

Dinner again at Atlantide. Now when we go into the restaurant the Asst. Maitre'D comes out, takes Mrsdrronn by the arm and leads us to Table 35 which is served by her favourite waiter. Already a pillow on the couch where she sits. As well whenever I order a steak dish now I'm not asked how I want but it just comes rare.
So the night's specials.



Karolina comes over with a glass of wine she thinks I would like but first I have to tell her what it is. I said well it is obviously a South american wine with one of my favourite types of grape. She knows I like my carmenere and indeed that is what it was.


We both had the teriyaki glazed chicken thigh to start. Beautiful.


I then had the tomato soup but you have had enough photos of that.
Mrsdrronn then had the salmon from the everyday menu and I had the veal chop just as I like it.

 

[drron]

The next day was a sea day. We won at trivia and I began my new putting technigue of drinking a G&T during the game. It works a treat.
I did also do 24 laps around the deck. Two sessions of 12 laps. Trying to keep my steps up. Lunch at the grill and I had the steak dish which is thinly cut.


After all that excitement it was back to Atlantide for dinner. As usual new specials of the day.


Mrsdrron had the scallops entree from the main menu and I was very happy with my tuna Nikkei.



I then had a salad.


For Mains Mrsdrron went for the Spencer gulf prawns whilst I had the glazed duck.



We passed on desserts.

 

[RooFlyer]

They stood at the edge of the crater and counted Ein, Zwei, drei and on the count of 3 they all threw a rock into the crater..

Just catching up. I like it better when the crater throws rocks out (hopefully with no-one in range).

Did you see the cannons going off?