Next Surprise Stop!
As we left the apartment, I sent a message to the host to let her know we were checking out. It was then that I saw we had to leave the hotel tax on the table in the entry. We only had large Euro bills so I left US dollars. Writing to Martina to let her know the situation, she responded quickly thankful that we actually followed through. She was fine with the currency! We were off for a little coffee and then to use the free baggage check. Backpacks are not allowed inside the Duomo. For a mere $15, we got to skip the line and the free baggage hold. Once inside, we admired the ornate decor.
Included with our ticket was a self-guided tour of the crypt. Underneath the cathedral is the Crypt of Santa Reparata. This is the remains of the original basilica. Full of ancient Roman mosaics, the geometric patterns are fascinating. Several tombs, including the architect of the Duomo, can be found in the crypt. We got to see a 12th century crucifix and parts of frescos. In one corner is a small, modern chapel.
A quick walk back to the tram/train station, we purchased the tickets from a kiosk. It was a quick trip to the airport. Arriving quite early, we stopped outside security for a little cappuccino. Once finished, we headed for our first of two lets. The first leg was to Barcelona… this got Barry’s imagination running. Where could our final destination be? He guessed Malaga, but then changed his mind since we have spent so much time there. This would be a new location for both of us. By the time we landed at BCN, we had about an hour to boarding. He checked out the flight board and based on times… he guessed. At first I pretended to know nothing about the location and he shared a bit of World War 2 info… when we got in line for that flight, he was actually surprised because he thought I really wasn’t familiar with it.
Booking.com had sent me an offer of a free taxi ride from the airport to our hotel. Of course, I accepted! Our driver, Sam, met us outside of customs and took us the 25 minutes to our hotel. The photo above was our first view of…. Valletta… Malta. We will be spending a few days on the island of Malta. It was an intriguing city that I was anxious to explore.
Sam drove us from the town of Luqa, where the airport is located, to the capitol city of Valletta. Population on the island of Malta is about 470,000. Valletta has only 6,000… a small percentage. We were dropped off about a half block from our accommodations because the alleyways were quite narrow. It was easy to find and we were set up with a self-check in. It was very convenient….
Located on the fourth floor, we took an elevator up one level. There were clear instructions to stay in the middle of the small elevator. Do not touch the walls. Accidentally, I leaned back and the elevator stopped. We realized, there wasn’t a contained elevator, it had a door and the building walls made up the enclosure. Our suite is called Barakka on the fourth floor. The only room down a small hallway, it is very private. It’s a very nice open space with everything we need… except a regular shower! The water pressure is great, but it comes out of a hand held shower head. The mount for it is below knee level. That makes showering a bit of a challenge! But it is a slight inconvenience for such a well located accommodation.
Outside our window, we can see the top of this church. Every fifteen minutes, the church bells ring. Someone mentioned in a review that the bells were annoying. For me, it is enjoyable, but I find it odd that they ring on the fifteen-minute and forty-five-minute mark.
Our first order of business was to drop off the backpacks and search for food. One of the gluten-free restaurants I had found online, happened to be right around the corner. So, we headed out to find it. The first area that caught our eye was the Pjazza Jean de la Valletta. Named after the founder of Valletta, he actually spelled his name with one “L”… Our accommodations are also named after him… it didn’t click until I saw the pjazza.
Tribe, the nearby restaurant that fits my needs, is on a pedestrian street. My favorite! We sat outside, ordered a wine and a beer. Relaxing in the nice, warm weather, it was a perfect introduction to Malta. Within minutes, I began planning a return. This is the kind of place where I feel safe and at peace. Gluten-free buns made it possible for me to have a special burger. It had bacon jam, smoked cheddar and a unique mayonnaise. It was such a treat to enjoy a burger!!!
Our outdoor restaurant was bordered by partially destroyed pillars and walls. We took a closer look on our way to feed Barry some gelato. This area is called Pjazza Teatru Rjal. Currently used as an outdoor theater, it was once the Royal Operal House. Built in 1860, it replaced the Manoel Theater which had become to small with a growing interest in opera. I will find out more about it when I see during daylight. What I do know is that it was destroyed on Tuesday, April 7, 1942, by Stuka dive bombers. Coincidentally, that is the same date that Barry’s Dad was shot down over Antwerp.
This very hilly island has narrow roads. There are narrow sidewalks, many with steps to make it easier to climb around town. This road leads down to the water. We will check that out tomorrow. Until then… it’s sleepy time!
