Malta: so much history and flashes of beautiful sea

By Luca, Sabrina and Federico

 

Finally leaving for Malta, and I say finally not because it is a long period elapsed since the trip (not even two months), but for the simple reason that if they spoke for a long time now (at least two years) and since last summer the was chosen as the destination, and then fall back to the last moment, on Formentera. Throughout time we have mentioned so many times the names of the islands that make up the small archipelago off the coast of Sicily that Frederick has come to learn by heart.
Heedless of superstitions take off at 20:45 for a warm Friday evening, thus ignoring the warnings made by a famous proverb. The "Blue Point", on which we are Sabrina and I, makes its way to the camper on board with Federico and grandparents, of course. All this may seem strange, but the purpose is to stay near the airport of Malpensa in order to avoid a very uncomfortable levataccia otherwise required to be able to take a flight departing in the morning.
The unique and unusual caravan crosses now dusk, the toll of Faenza, continuing on the A14, heading north. The traffic seems now very intense, and it is only the "head" of the imagination "Serpentona of vehicles on the roads planned for this weekend, better known as controesodo summer. Even before the Bologna us, practically, still in the queue: proceed almost at walking pace, and after an hour plentiful, being able, finally, to get away from the capital of Emilia, take the A1 towards Milan.
The three-lane carriageway, which form the north traveling constantly full, making the trip slow and boring: Sabrina blessed that does not lose the opportunity to crack a nice nap.
Barrier to the south of Milan, while the clock midnight mark now, we expect, then, another inevitable queue.

Walk across the ring road west of Milan and continue in the direction of Varese. The traffic is significantly decreased and is now almost nonexistent, so we approximate to Malpensa airport, and despite the late hour, Sabrina phone home to let people know of our imminent arrival.
All '1:00 transiting in front of the "Terminal 2" and follow the directions to Somma Lombardo, then for parking Panicucci, where we leave the car and where to spend the remaining hours of this long night.
Reached the area to stop me getting ready to download the suitcases, and while I do so, for the one you just break the neck: I can not escape some imprecation on the system and the camper, then parking the car and I'm preparing, together with others, to benefit from a few hours of sleep which, now, we have remained.
As soon begins to dawn, however, a bloody rooster began to sing, until at 7:15 o'clock, from the first plane, and literally shaking the bed. Shortly after we get up a little 'dazed, we do breakfast, we, fortunately, to fix the broken suitcase and get ready to board the shuttle that will accompany us to the airport.
We welcome the grandparents, kindly accompanied us to this point and a handful of minutes later we are facing the "Terminal 1", with the luggage on the trolley and Federico eccitatissimo and proud to carry the backpack full of games on the shoulders which combines with the fixed smile on his lips make him extremely likeable.
Cerchiamo monitor the flight on Air Malta km629, and when we find it, we note with pleasure that there are no delays, embark luggage and we put ourselves waiting around next to a bar where there are some games for kids: the best that can claim to deceive the time in our conditions. We move unhurriedly, and then, towards the door B11 that, later, cross in perfect time. We lose, however, at least ten minutes because of the shuttle that we must accompany the plane, the door does not want to know quit. Thus the Air Malta Boeing 737 detaches from the ground more or less with the same delay: 10:37 a.m. to depart to the north and then immediately turn and reverse the route.
In short we are above the Ligurian Sea, and then sull'Argentario and the Island of Giglio, but there is a lot of fog and the landscape is not the best. Flying over the Tyrrhenian Sea and reappears when the earth below us we see Sicily, with, in the distance, the unmistakable volcanic cone of Etna, the sea and again, until now in the full process of landing, here runs under Our eyes first Gozo, Comino and Malta, and finally, in practice the entire archipelago, which stretches for 70 kilometers in the Mediterranean Sea, 95 km from Sicily and 290 from Tunisia. Landed at 12:18 p.m., collect your luggage first and then the rental car, a white Peugeot 306 (labeled BAK 658). It makes a hot hellish placed his bags in the trunk and immediately turn the air conditioning.
I put the steering wheel, which, unlike Italy, is located on the right, and childbirth on the left side of the road, in fact here is Judas to English and the rest of Malta was British possession until 1964. The state consists of three inhabited islands plus a handful of rocks: the island of Malta, where we find ourselves, is the largest (27 km long and 14.5 wide) and we are staying at the Residence "La Vallette ", which is located in St. Julian's, at the center of the north coast and a short walk from Valletta, the capital of this small republic.
In short we arrive at the destination but do not find the residence for a long time you turn around but did not see it then, finally, emerge in front of the room and so I go immediately to request information. Rest surprised when I say that we are staying somewhere else: at St. George's Park, but is in practice around the corner. There are works in progress and to do it one hundred meters walk at least a thousand, but in the end we come to the right place.
We assign a room number 610A and go up the elevator and the heat becomes unbearable! We support the bags, wear the costume and we rushed to the pool where, in short, we regain the clarity and good humor. Spend an enjoyable afternoon with Richard again in water, until the (crazy!) Closed: 18:00. Let's go back in the room to make a shower and then we go to dinner. The child is tired: barely able to eat and it is clear that sleep, also try to make a tour through the center of St. Julian's, where among other things, there is a party, but soon I may find on the shoulders.
Let's go back there in the room and located on the terrace in the sky shine fireworks despite Federico collapses under the blows of sleep, makes a warm and excessive wear only the pants, we do not have air conditioning and we have to settle for a fan attached to the ceiling, the bed (which has fallen to me) is not a bed but a sofa in imitation leather with a cloth over and gives me some concern, despite all, we are happy and will try later, we too, to sleep.

We spent a very hot night for as long as the window was wide open and the fan on, but without much results. Sleep was not the best and sound the alarm seemed like a liberation.
We go to breakfast, and took everything with Federico to taste cheeses, meats and jams, we gone too, so, when, finally, we are ready to leave for the first day of visit to the island of Malta, the hands of ' clock mark almost 10:00.
We follow the road that runs along the coast north-west and, in the home of St. Paul's Bay, we stop to buy an indispensable umbrella, then we arrive at the nearby Golden Bay, according to the guide one of the best beaches on the island . Maybe the hot, almost unbearable, or perhaps are the pearls of sweat that run along the face early in his eyes, making them burn, but at first glance, the beach is anything but beautiful, crowded and dominated dall'inquietante gauge a large hotel. The desire to sea, however, is too large and there systemic equally among the other bathers. The sand is dark, slightly reddish, and certainly does not help the water to look like that in reality we would be in closer to shore floats placidly a good amount of algae. We are a little 'disappointed and if it were not for the temperature, which is now close to forty degrees, maybe we would not have made even the bathroom, but, given the situation, get in the water becomes almost a necessity, so we somewhat' meters towards the deep and, with pleasure, we see at every turn an ever greater transparency, which added to the temperature of the body, returned to more acceptable levels, it makes the place more beautiful than it was at first sight.
It is noon and dates back to the car park overlooking the beach for lunch in a nearby pizzeria, and that is where we see two old trams and characteristic, the typical means of transport in Malta: there are lots of fun and it's easy to meet them while arrancar along the rough roads of the island, but these two, one beside the other, seem placed there to be photographed and, of course, they take advantage.
After lunch, eager to change the beach, we move a few hundred meters to go and park on the headland that divides Golden Bay dall'attigua Ghajn Tuffieha Bay, where we descend through a long stairway. The cove, surrounded by a stretch of coast from uncontaminated nature, is very beautiful, the sand is reddish, as in Golden Bay, but the water is clean and inviting, only swimmers are perhaps too many.
Umbrella plant and put the shade cloth so as to allow Frederick to crush a nap: is tired and unable to take a short sleep despite the heat. I'm going exploring on the left of the beach, until you reach the big rock that the boundary, called "Il-Karraba" warship that is, by its strange shape like a battleship from its summit panoramas on Ghajn Tuffieha and on the next bay are really interesting. To return from a short trip in a bath of sweat, so I just throw in the water and when she wakes up Federico us back, indeed, we all come back and remain there long, since it seems the only way to combat the heat. Pure water is very hot, and also to Sabrina, who is usually very cold, but above all, is clear and at a temperature lower than that of air.
Ghajn Tuffieha to remain until the evening and when, around 19:00, we are preparing to leave is the best time and is divinely good, but we have to return for dinner and we do not want to be late, we offer one more step to a lady that we leave in Bugibba, on the road to St. Julian's, and we lose a little 'time, so when we arrived at St. George's Park is almost dark. In doing a quick shower and go to dinner, then spend the whole evening at the hotel, cheered, for the joy of Frederick, a small show of magic. In the meantime, the air seems to have cooled slightly, and so, when we withdraw in the room, we do so with the hope of being able to spend a night better than the previous one.

Nothing to be done, not by the heat truce, in most of our rooms are facing the sunrise and before 8:00 of the temperature inside becomes unbearable. I open my eyes and I see Federico already awake in his bed. We begin to prepare to go out and the phone rings: The reception is in charge of Orizzonti (tour operator) for the validation of tickets, the reach and take this opportunity to express my complaints about ' infamous bed, but he smiles making understand that it can not do anything to change things, then come back in the room where I find Sabrina and Federico ready to go down and have breakfast and an hour later we sat in the car directly to the south.
Cross the entire island and arrived at the sea close to Zurrieq, but our goal is not the beach. Malta is a place rich in history and the first human settlements date back even to prehistoric times. Explorers had arrived from Sicily first colonists who settled here to create, over time, a well-organized civilization and progress. Were obvious signs of that civilization and witness the many megalithic temples scattered somewhat 'anywhere in the territory. One of these is the temple of Hagar Qim, which we are about to visit, and that goes back to the period between 3600 and 2500 BC, was discovered in 1839 but brought fully to light only in 1910. Its huge stones arranged in a circle and topped with each other to form the imposing entrance and the altar inside, they perceive the degree of development reached by the people involved in the construction of these extraordinary monuments.
Only one particular does not make the visit very pleasant: the usual warm hallucinating, that becomes unbearable when we are about to reach on foot, near the Temple of Mnajdra. The building is located a few hundred meters from the first and in a place of great fascination to dominate the view from above sull'immenso blue sea. Strangely, unlike Hagar Qim, here you can wander undisturbed among the ruins and you can visit the most secret gorges, to the happiness of which Federico becomes uncontainable and s'intrufola everywhere. On the way back, however, I must take it, understandably, on his shoulders, while the sun does not give truce and our shirts are completely wet. The visit has been of great interest, even if they appreciate more the value once at home, comfortably seated in a cool and not soaked in sweat.
Exhausted we seek refuge in the car to look cool, and then we reach the nearby port of Wied iz-Zurrieq, picturesque, situated on the bottom of a narrow rocky cove filled with colorful boats, the same boats that accompany tourists to visit a stretch of coast and high impervious, in which stands the famous Blue Grotto.
Incredible, but the heat is oppressive even in the middle of the sea, and it is a relief every time the little boat into a cave, away from sunlight. The trip is nice, but it becomes beautiful when, suddenly, si para before our eyes the impressive natural arch of the Blue Grotto. We pass through the large opening in the rock and look at the wonderful shades of his feet, then, without hurry, we return to square one.
It 'almost noon and does not disdain a refreshing bath before lunch, but in this stretch of coast is almost impossible to find a beach. We climb on our cars, we breath in air conditioning, and we start looking for a place that can satisfy our desires.
The only option is to descend to the village of Ghar Lapsi, where, of course, we do not find the sand, but in return, a delicious and inviting natural swimming pool among the rocks, with, behind it, a cave where they can repair sun. There, we stop and eat a very long and nice bathroom with Federico anything but frightened, even amused, by the amount of water on which floats quietly with his inseparable armrests.
Lunch inside the cave, surrounded by not too pleasant smell and the presence of many Maltese who always seems to be celebrating, considering the present day. There is no need to spend the rest of the day at Ghar Lapsi: the place is beautiful, the Maltese does not give us some discomfort, but the smell is unpleasant and accommodation, among the rocks, rather uncomfortable. We decided then to return to St. George's Park and spend the rest of the afternoon in the pool.
Along the way back we find a church all decorated with colorful festoons and we stop to take a picture, then, just before the village of Zebbug the unpredictable happens, the car suddenly loses strokes, the engine switches off and make a mala penalty in time to pull over in an area reserved for bus stops. I try several times to return it in motion but without success, and think that only a few kilometers we had the first half due to our air-conditioned, with "hell" over the glass, with a hand from the nose. I can not go to some imprecation when I realize that he had left the rental contract in the safe in the hotel, but fortunately objects inside the door we find a road map on which are printed the phone numbers of Thrifty (the company car), and yet fortunately, we have a phone, so I compose the figures on the keyboard and, thank God, I answer in Italian, exposing the problem and the first thing I ask if there is gas in tank ... certain that there is, I'm not an expert on mechanics, but at least the gauge of fuel I think I know him, plus we did the full in the morning, and unless there is a loss somewhere ... Do my position and I understand that they will send someone. They spend only forty minutes, forty minutes long, on the edge of the road, and with the hot water running, then finally reaches a mechanic. Investigates a 'and immediately draws conclusions: the fuel pump stopped working and the car will be towed. But the first to be towed us, and the same mechanic in the workshop of us Qormi, a village on the outskirts of the capital, where, presumably, we will substitute a car. We are sitting in a room and tell us to wait, so I'm going to find a bar and then a bottle of water is very essential. Meanwhile arrive to tow, the Peugeot 306, and soon after, finally, we are delivering a new and shiny white Kia Avella (CAK labeled 815) with which we resume, after a couple of hours dall'accaduto the road toward the St. George's Park and then to the pool now that it seemed like a distant mirage.
We relax at the edge until the closing, then later we go to prepare for dinner. We conclude, finally, an evening walk along the harbor of St. Julian's, with Federico slipping, falling and dirty ... for the "joy" of immense Sabrina can not help but get angry.

The merciless sun beat on our window at 8:00 and already the heat is unbearable. Completely sweaty we have breakfast, then go up on our "new" car and we start towards the middle of Assigned Mosta, a quiet city dominated dall'immensa mole of parish of St. Mary, better known as the Rotunda. It was built in the central of the 1800s, funded solely by donations and money collected for the parishioners and is distinguished by its imposing dome, the third largest in Europe after St. Peter's in Rome and St. Sophia in Istanbul, from which it derives its name precisely Rotunda. Two bell towers flank the front and on each of these is a clock. It 'a constant peculiarity of Maltese religious buildings to have not one but two watches: one real and one fake. All this serves, according to an old belief, to disorient the devil, that that will not be able to calculate the moment of last breath of the deceased and then to capture his soul.
We are moving towards the entrance of the church and we are preparing to visit the sumptuous interior: Sabrina, with a towel on his shoulders, and Frederick, as a child, obtain the authorization to enter, I, bathing clothes, not have it in rule the canons of decency and Christian are stopped a few meters beyond the door. Engages as a polemic discussion with the stewards that I suggest taking some photos but remain rigid in their positions and I will not grant further moves towards the interior. The steps to do them to the outside and ruefully conclude my visit.
Let us return to self and take the road towards the north-west of the island, past the town of Mellieha and turn left following signs for Anchor Bay and the Popeye Village (the village of Iron Arm). Yes, that arm of iron, and is not a joke: the most famous sailor in the world of the cartoon, it seems, has lived in Malta, and not in the form of an animated picture, but in flesh and bones! It was January 23 of 1980 when the first "ciak" gave the green light to shoot the film dedicated to him. The film was set in a village built for the occasion: the Popeye Village, precisely. In that regard were employed 165 workers in just over seven months to complete their construction, using something like eight tons of nails. The place of the muscular and eats spinach was interpreted by none other than Robin Williams, but the film, if I remember correctly, was not a great success. A witness of the work remains the village, now transformed into a nice park, especially appreciated by children.
Vague for a while 'among the hovels of wood, really well done, and then a short boat trip watching, so the prospect of the village by the sea, never to watch a show in English, unfortunately for us, incomprehensible, but we want to entertain Federico and climb on the roofs of the houses, made available by the presence of some vertiginous stairs, at the end, however, again, the heat to take the upper hand, stifling any other feeling, and, in practice it requires to leave the park to the desperate search of a beach and a po 'of refreshment.
It 'almost noon when we come to Armier Bay, at the far northern tip of the island, but the beach is overflowing of bathers and we do not know where to put the umbrella in the sea more than dirt, does not meet our expectations, thus climb in the car and start looking for a better place.
Few kilometers and we arrive at Paradise Bay, considered one of the best beaches in Malta, but the name must not be misleading: far from being a paradise, the place is acceptable, so let's fix it by the sea crop, fatigue, our living space among the many people already present.
Federico has a crisis of heat and drag him by force into the water while it is in the grip of a hysterical crying, then, finally, is calm and lunch, however, besieged by a number of wasps present who wish to participate in the banquet and give us no respite. Later Sabrina and Frederick shall grant a nap. I'm going to make a turn: shooting some photos and immediately back to the base going to try, once again, among the cool waves. I system and give shade, like the others, the temptation to close your eyes and rest.
In the late afternoon we are, again, all awake: the temperature is lowered and is significantly better. Let's make a beautiful bathroom and we extend our stay until 19:00. The beach was cleared and now the water seems even more beautiful, everything is more beautiful without the oppressive heat during the day does not give a moment of breath.
Let Paradise Bay, climb in the car and we leave, but not the direction we go to the point of departure for ferries to the island of Gozo and will inform on the timetable, as we will have to move at the end of the week, then finally turn the bow in the direction of St. Julian's and St. George's Park. Along the way we receive the call of the grandparents, but we refer to the conversation later. We call around 20:00, once arrived at the hotel, and Frederick does not lose the opportunity to tell the car had a mishap in need of repair. Let's go to dinner and then go back into the room to write postcards, it is late and so we conclude another torrid day.

Finally a cooler night, or maybe it's better to say less hot: it's almost a shame to have to raise bed earlier than usual, but we must necessarily do so in anticipation of the visit to Valletta, Malta's capital and a city full of history and works of ' art.
Our aim is to avoid the hottest hours of the day, and so shortly after 8:00 we are already in the street. The trip is short and just a few tens of minutes to gather in front of the City Gate, the main access to the historic center.
Parking and, in short, we arrive at Republic Street, the main road, teeming with life, which is facing numerous shops. The facades of the buildings stand out characteristic balconies closed, the so-called Gallarijas, which at first glance may appear similar to the British bowindows but at the same time, some architectural details reminiscent of homes typical Turkish and are therefore a unique feature of the Maltese case. Perfectly preserved, the Gallarijas, give a particular charm to the ancient buildings that overlook the streets of the city.
Malta was the home of the legendary Knights of St. John arrived on the island in 1530, fleeing to Rhodes conquered by the Turks, and remained there for over three hundred years, until 1834, when it moved its headquarters to Rome. They were a sort of mercenary, defenders of the Catholic faith as the last Christian stronghold on the borders of the Ottoman Empire and, from the most diverse regions of Europe, lived by nationality, in so-called Auberge, comparable to modern homes college English. One of these, the Auberge de Provence, is just the beginning of Republic Street and houses the interesting National Museum of Archeology, which houses the most significant pieces of archeology local, from, rather, by the many megalithic temples Malta and Gozo, among which stand out in some beautiful terracotta statuettes of valuable. In no time, however, complete the visit, and it is a shame because the little people were enjoying, but the museum, unfortunately limited to a handful of rooms, it's really tiny, and despite the disappointment of Frederick, we go back on the street and continue along the main street in search of the Co-Cathedral of St. John.
The church is located in St. John's Street, a side of Republic Street, and was built by the knights at the end of 1500, in order to worthily represent the power, glory and wealth of the Order. Presents un'austera facade characterized by extreme simplicity of the architectural elements, adapted to the military vocation, as well as religious, of knights, and was the unusual high level of Co-Cathedral to make them share the role with St. Pawl at Mdina (l 'ancient capital).
Easy exterior contrasts an extraordinarily lavish decoration of the interiors, achieved by a variety of materials, colors and styles that have followed over time and stratified. The floor is an uninterrupted sequence of more than four hundred tombstones in marble, of knights from the most representative European nobility from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. This time, however, is the fruit of the sublime art painted by Mattia Preti, who was in the course of five years of work, 18 episodes from the life of St. John the Baptist. In the side chapels are the funeral monuments of the Grand Masters who ruled the island for nearly three centuries, while nell'attiguo museum you can witness sacred vestments and relics related to the history of the cathedral, as well as a magnificent painting ( "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist "), masterful work of Caravaggio, a master of chiaroscuro and brightness, appointed Knight of Grace for artistic merit during his brief stay Maltese.
Emerge from the cathedral and reach the nearby Palace of the Grand Master, now the seat of parliament and the offices of the President of the Republic and for that reason, in large part to the public. You can visit only a few rooms of representation, in addition to those that were once the stables of the palace, where he was an interesting set Armory Museum, including a large collection of armor and arms, as well as numerous pieces of artillery. All this stimulates, of course, the curiosity of Frederick, which sfodera, as a result, an impressive amount of questions. And 'beautiful to see so interested in the visit and was pleased we had to withhold more than trying to satisfy his thirst for knowledge.
We leave the palace of the Grand Master and, after a brief walk, we enter a building seemingly anonymous, located in Old Street Theater: The outward appearance makes it, in fact, the unsuspected presence of a theater in it, and more specifically the Manoel Theater, built in 1731 by Grand Master Antonio Manoel de Vilhena and considered, among those still in operation, the third oldest in Europe and the first in the Commonwealth. The visit, in part guided us to lose more time than expected and at its conclusion we are approaching the Upper Barraca Gardens with the intention to consume a snack providential, in view of scanned dall'orologio well as the rumbling of our empty bellies. The gardens, located on the ramparts of the port domain and sublime view over the city of Senglea and Vittoriosa, is the culmination of an intense morning satisfactory in every respect, full of art and history, surprisingly tolerable with respect to the heat and, above all, extremely fun to Federico, always interested in every little detail.
Retrieve your car, take a panoramic tour of the ramparts and then return to St. George's Park. There we go into a rest room and remain there until almost 17:00 when, prey to relax more fully, we transfer the edges of the pool. At 18:00 o'clock, but as always, invite us to remove the noise, quickly closed the bar and put beds all around ... Maltese these incredible! ... should take some lessons in hospitality from the Italians, learn to have more respect for the tourists, unfounded, are their greatest source of wealth. Then we come back in the room waiting for dinner time and meanwhile Sabrina called home: the weather has changed and there are days of twenty degrees, while at night the temperature is lowered further and covered all sleep well ... if we send a little 'cool us, willingly, to send in return, a little' hot!
Let's go to dinner at 20:30 at the earliest, however, that he had seen in TV, the whole program of "Tom and Jerry" and certainly not my intention or Sabrina, then conclude the evening walk, spensieratamente, for St . Julian's.

After an entire day dedicated to the culture we decide to spend in a relaxing, so we start with good hours, looking for a beach that meets our desires. We need to find a beautiful beach and this is our main problem: Malta, we were able to ascertain so far, has not many beaches, but, more importantly, does not have a lot of beautiful. Of course it is useless to attempt here the white beaches that have white in the eye and that both will be seen, but we knew this already: we are not in Sardinia or Formentera, it, much less, to the Caribbean or in Polynesia and it is unlikely we will find those features with . The fact remains, however, that we will see other, still beautiful, perhaps in other respects, and there certainly resign to stay in the pool all day!
On board of our Kia Avella follow the road that runs along the coast towards the north-west of the island and past the village of St. Paul's Bay, turn right following the signs to Mistra Bay. In short we reach the bay, but the beach is almost non-existent and not very inviting. Immediately turn and walk the heels, back, a good stretch of road, then descend to the sea in the direction of Golden Bay.
We have already visited extensively the stretch of coast to which we are, but to the lack of a beach: the Gnejna Bay, and we decide to go there. The beach of reddish sand, sloping gently toward the water blue and transparent, emphasizing the background of a harsh rocky landscape. The place we like, and finally satisfied, we'll fix it in the sea. Later we rent a "pedalone" and sail to the nearby bay, sand and even more red in sharp contrast to the steep and clear that the boundary wall. Consume an unforgettable bath in the company of only one boat and then return to Gnejna Bay. We arrive a little 'tired after traveling all the way back against, but satisfied. We are also somewhat 'accaldati and come back to dive into the water before you grant us a deserved lunch.
It is really good: the beach is not crowded and the temperature is mitigated by sustained winds blowing from the south-west ... is not that cold for charity ... Indeed, on several occasions in the central hours of the day, let cool in water, but the heat today is not comparable to that of recent days. The air is clear and, off, there is clearly the severe rocky silhouette of the island of Gozo, which landed three days.
The afternoon slipped away quiet in an instant is almost evening and we are sorry to leave the beach, but the clock mark already 19:00 and we must include, in addition, along the road, we stop to visit a small outside the program, with ruins of the Temple Skorba, and end up arriving at St. George's Park with the lights on and just in time to go to dinner. Later, to end the day we be content to stay at the hotel and attend a performance of dance: nothing extraordinary, but all in all, enjoyable.

That strange feeling to be on vacation until September, when, usually, you return to work. It 'the first time that we understand and believe that, in future, we will repeat the experience. As for the program today we expect, on paper a day and already we are at 9:00 in the street. Proceed quickly towards the south-east, beyond the capital and arrived at Tarxien, a bustling town known for its megalithic temples. The main problem is to find them, without too many directions and, hidden as they are among an intricate maze of narrow streets all the same. Proceed to trial and at the end we come near a stone fence beyond which is the site, unfortunately in a tight grip of residential buildings that surround it from all sides. Only half a century ago the site was in open country and was discovered by chance by a peasant, whose plow incocciava frequently large boulders. We enter through a gate and visit the temples there are in an excellent state of preservation, although not the most tender age dating, in fact, age and copper were built at different times between 3000 and 2500 BC. Some vague 'between the great and enigmatic stones on which Frederick would both rise, but are carefully fenced and therefore inaccessible. All around are numerous spherical boulders, used to handle the megaliths, but probably even considered having a ritual or magical significance.
Complete a brief visit and we prepare to the next. We move from Tarxien nearby town of Paola to visit the Hypogeum Hal Saflieni, a large monument of the Copper underground, covering three floors to a depth of ten meters and a development of about 2500 square meters. It was found, naturally, by chance in 1902 during the excavation of foundation of a building, and still is under that building in a district of Paola. Thanks, once again, to find little difficulty with the entrance and soon the cross with the intention of the visit but, alas, a bitter surprise awaits us: the access is allowed only a limited number (ten people at a time and only four times a day) and only by appointment. This, unfortunately, the guide does not provided and reservations up to seven in September, when we, unfortunately, we are already in Gozo. We could visit the underground during the last day of vacation, but we should do it with all the suitcases in the car on the way back to the airport, and frankly do not feel after the recent theft immediately to Mexico. With a bit of anger and we must abandon the regret that it seems Federico probably was especially fascinated by the idea of coming back to earth and comes from the almost cry. Portfolios' We have to console him another visit as interesting and "adventurous."
We move a few kilometers towards the south and we stop on the outskirts of the village of Birzebbuga, the cave of Ghar Dalam. And 'This is the oldest archaeological area of the archipelago and dates back to Neozoico (unmilione and ten thousand years ago). Within this deep natural cavities were found human remains but also of animals very curious about dating centottantamila years ago: to elephants, hippos, bears and deer, all in very small proportions. Malta, during the ice age, was linked to Africa and Europe, but then the ice began to melt and, in time, became an island, so the animals were literally trapped in a piece of land, were forced to genetic mutations that made them smaller and smaller. All the skeletons discovered at Ghar Dalam were then collected and composed in a small and interesting museum at the spot of the cave. The whole experience has undoubtedly met and in some way to quiet the anger for not visiting dell'ipogeo.
It 'almost noon and we move towards the sea, past the village of Marsaxlokk and we will venture to the nearby peninsula in search of Peter's Pool (natural swimming pools among the rocks), but we almost lost in a maze of dusty streets and rough, failing to take the right one. And we strive to desist Marsaskala, little further north. Then we reach the nearby St. Thomas Bay, where you will find a beach that does not satisfy us. E 'completely unnecessary to continue to look for other beaches in the area: There are! ... Then we stop in St. Thomas Bay, take a bath and lunch, then we start to St. Julian's. We arrive at St. George's Park and, after a welcome rest in the room, we are going to spend the rest of the afternoon on the poolside.
After dinner, we try to reach Sliema, the most tourist Malta: To tell the truth, nothing exceptional. Walk around the promenade without even get off the car and go back to the hotel. There we put tables in the bar listening to some 'of music that someone is recommended to keep low, and we are to laugh because the local area to keep the volume up all late at night and our room every night , looks more like a nightclub than a hotel room.

In the morning of the day spent in Malta are starting to see what is left and, after a few kilometers, we stop to make a full tank of fuel, so we can verify the capacity of the reservoir of Kia, which is exactly half that Peugeot, and this does not make us particularly happy, given that in replacing the car we called more than twenty liters of petrol, which, after all, have a good sum of money and then, after all, in addition to the damage, We also suffered the prank.
We try to fly over this incident and we continue to walk the road that divides us from the city of Mdina, the ancient capital, situated on the hills of the midwest. Its medieval urban fabric and the best preserved of all Malta and is also the city with the fewest people are around a thousand in all those who live in the old.
We enter through the lavish and baroque Main Gate, the same door through which came a new Grand Master, and arrived in a procession from Valletta, to symbolically take possession of the keys of the city. We will venture between the narrow and winding alleys, in the shadow of well-preserved historic buildings, remained virtually intact after the slow decline due to the transfer of the role of capital. Aristocratic and isolated in its history, Mdina, thus earned the nickname of "silent city". From its ramparts you can enjoy a panorama that spans almost the entire island, while his monument of interest is, without doubt, the Cathedral St. Pawl, fine example of Maltese Baroque influences and synthesis of Roman, Sicilian and Italian Renaissance. Inside, sumptuously decorated, stand out the beautiful frescoes by Mattia Preti.
Emerge from Mdina and we come across a small park with some games: despite the scorching sun Federico wants to try them all and let him do before continuing on cultural visit.
We move a few hundred meters to the nearby town of Rabat, built in practice, just outside the walls of Mdina. Parking and we suffered the Catacombs of St. Paul, a complex of underground tombs used from the third to the fourth century AD. Federico, indolent, and initially full of excuses for not walking, then you let loose inside the labyrinth of tunnels, which stretches for over 2200 square meters, and, again full of energy, is enthusiastically preparing to examine the following: all those St. Agatha, which is located a short distance. In a few minutes to arrive but, unlike the first, you can explore only with a guided tour and the small shall, by force, kept more in check. The intricate underground maze that is presumed to be expanded in origin, over 4,000 square meters is only partly open, and its most interesting aspect is in a cycle of frescoes in the Italian-Byzantine style, which is dedicated to episodes from the life of Sant ' agate that, apparently, spent in this place, a period of his life. Some graves are still visible remains of human bones that did not frighten Federico ... rather, the adventure seems to be of his own liking. Less pleasing, however, the raspberry leaves that escape in the presence of the whole group and in a particularly cramped and oppressive, thus, prey to a silent ghigno, enrich the nose and we are, with others, towards' exit.
Arrive at the St. Paul's Church and go for a quick visit to the grotto of St. Paul. Tradition gives the site a reputation for having hosted the saint during his brief stay on the island and recently was also a destination for pilgrimage by Pope John Paul II.
We leave Rabat and follow the road that runs towards the south coast and the Dingli Cliffs, some dizzying cliffs overlooking the sea, but the ribbon of asphalt passes too far away and everything is a little disappointing, better to go in search of a beach.
We would like to reach a new inlet and Fommir-Rih, which on a map is a few inches away, it seems to do the job, but we almost lost in an attempt to find and so on Gnejna folded Bay, which, among ' others, not more than two days ago, there was also swimming. In the meantime, however, the sea was slightly moved and the water, now filled with algae, it does not seem even distant relative of that remained in our eyes. Jam 13:00: Federico has also hungry and decide to stop in the place, but we remain there throughout the afternoon, as the alternative to this do not seem better.
And 'Saturday and it shows in the evening the beach is full of Maltese literally so, when we go there, despite the late hour, it is more crowded than when we arrived and it seems to many a camp are the barbecue and lit table for dinner.
Let's go back to the dinner and we, as a waitress, given our imminent departure, it points out, gently, a beach in Gozo. Thank you and we go in the room to prepare the bags.

Even last night's sleep on the sofa is gone ... ce l'ho fatta! The torment is over, and maybe tonight I will have the grace to be able to sleep on a real bed! We do breakfast, put luggage in the car and left for Gozo. Heading in the whole coast to the north-western tip of Malta where the tiny village of Cirkewwa, from where ferries leave the port that will take us a destination. The ship is moored with the door open and it seems we're almost waiting to take off, so, immediately, climb on board and soon we are in the open sea. Sail along the island of Comino, which lies exactly in the middle of the route and at the center of the narrow stretch of sea that divides the two main islands of the archipelago. The crossing takes about twenty minutes and, even before the 11:00, landing at Mgarr, the main port of Gozo. We did not rush and before we take to search the information about the excursion on the island of Comino, which from this port shortly, will start.
We move towards the center of the island: everywhere around us, there is peace and tranquility and the feeling is to be capitati in a world and a reality completely different from Malta, whose chaos, sometimes nerve-wracking, seems, now, light years away, the rest Gozo, as a surface, is about one third compared to his older sister and measuring just 14.5 kilometers long and 7.2 wide, residents are less than tenth of over 350,000 of Malta, so the population density appears much lower and all of this enough to explain this feeling of peace and tranquility, a feeling, however, extremely pleasant.
Cross the whole island and arrive in Marsalforn on the north coast, where we remain, for one week, housed all'Atlantis Hotel. Almost immediately we find the hotel but the room is still occupied and we put on hold on the edges of the "new" pool that immediately excites Federico, who are locked up and down the stairs and nell'idromassaggio, plus makes friends with Carlotta, a girl of her age of Cinisello Balsamo, and it is a problem to convince them to go in the room when, finally, we will deliver.
The room (number 501) is very wide, with air conditioning and, above all, is equipped with three beds! ... I take this opportunity to take a nap later, at 16:00, wake up the little back in the pool to spend the rest of the afternoon and makes us smile when, all naked and lying between two beds, says: "... I put in the queue fissure. " Enjoy the two-way exit to the open air: amazing, in heaven there is some cloud, wind and pull is not hot.
At the end of the day we return to settle in the room and then we go to dinner: the quality of the cuisine is much higher than that of St. George's and we can finally eat a good plate of pasta. Later we give a walk in the promenade of Marsalforn. Large waves breaking on the shoreline, the sea is rough and this sconvolgerà our plans for the next day. The center is nice, but within minutes the whole turn, then go back to the hotel and we seek refuge in the room. While Sabrina and Federico playing opportunity for them to follow, on TV, the second time the football match Hungary-Italy (2-2), then we all go to sleep.

We start to discover Gozo, but not towards the sea and, above all, not towards the north, fought the wind and waves.
Travel towards the center of the island and we reach what is its capital: Victoria, so called, since the end of the last century, in honor after the British queen. The conurbation, with its six thousand inhabitants, is the most populous of Gozo, and is dominated by the massive silhouette of the Citadel, which is visible from most parts of the island.
Enter inside the walls through a stone arch, open only in 1956 to allow access to the statue of the Virgin carried in procession. Enter the portal directly into the square on which raises the Cathedral of Santa Maria, located on the summit of a steep staircase. The interiors are richly decorated, and this seems to be a common feature of almost all the religious buildings of Malta.
We climb a long staircase adjacent to the cathedral since the ramparts and walk the entire patrol walkway, enjoying the panorama that sweeps over a large part of the island. Federico appear enthusiastic about the visit and struggling to keep it in check and run up and down the ancient walls.
Let's go back inside the Citadel and cross the door of the small Archaeological Museum, where exhibits are on display from the megalithic temples of Gozo as well as Punic and Roman ruins. The small, full of questions, yet once enjoyed, and is one more reason to continue the tour with two other museums included in the ticket price.
Wander along the narrow alleys and characteristics of the Citadel until the Folklore Museum, housed in a beautiful house of the fifteenth century Norman. Inside, in a suggestive, are on display many items of use and culture of the island. The old agricultural tools and working stimulate the imagination of Frederick, at least as minerals and stuffed animals of the small but interesting Natural History Museum.
The morning dedicated to the culture ends with the visit of the old prison: six narrow cells whose walls have recently returned to light during restoration work, some rough graffiti made by prisoners centuries ago.
It 'almost noon: do walking in downtown Victoria and is a curious shop overflowing of Christmas decorations, they do feel a strange sight to the season, and then go back to your starting towards the sea. Descend to the nearby village of Xlendi, but there's almost beach and the water is not the best, dating to Victoria and then we will venture along a narrow and winding road, south-east of the village, up to l 'inlet of Mgarr ix-Xini. The place is very scenic and wild: the sea creeps into the rocky coast, forming a deep fjord on the bottom of which lies a tiny beach stones among which stuck the umbrella. We have only ourselves, as well as some sub intent to place the cylinders to return from a dive, so let's make a nice bath and then have lunch before you restart the search for a po 'of sand to Federico.
We move into the eastern part of the island, past the village of Qala, and descend to the beach at Hondoq ir Rummien. It seems to do the job: the sand, though low, is not lacking in the bay is more sheltered from the winds coming from the north and, consequently, the sea is calm. We go to place a few meters away from the water and invite the child who is visibly tired, to make a nap, but do not want to know, and we must insist for a long time to convince him. Shortly after, off the coast, passing a large boat with waves coming to shore up our bathing towels and Federico, who was almost asleep, she wakes up. Useless to try to convince him again, you better enjoy the place and swimming in a sea, at last, "like God": blue and transparent, through its back clear and the vista that sweeps in front of us, by nearby island of Comino up to the most distant silhouette of Malta on the horizon, all sullied only by the presence of an adjacent unsightly and reinforced concrete pier from which you dive, all the time, the youth of the place.
Remain throughout the afternoon at Hondoq ir Rummien then we return for dinner at the hotel.
Later, during a normal phone call routine, I feel that it is raining in Forlì abundantly, but here are more than five months that water does not descend from heaven ... But better not sing victory at bedtime, from the terrace of the room, towards the north, there are clearly some flashes that tear the sky and do not leave bode well!

At 7:30 the alarm clock rings and I rise from bed full of energy, but I have a strange premonition: I look out the window and almost do not believe my eyes. After all the heat we have had to endure a few days ago it seemed impossible that happens, but ... here's me in front of the big sky full of gray Nuvoloni ... we are fallen from the frying pan into the fire, as they say in these cases usually, so, sadly, back between the sheets and try to resume sleep.
We stand up all at least an hour later and, with calm, let's have breakfast, and out falls a few drops. We have, inevitably, abandoned the planned excursion to Comino island and try to replace it with something alternative, hoping that time does not get any worse.
We start heading south, we leave behind Victoria, before arriving at the village of Ta 'Cenc: nearby you should find a stretch of coast characterized by high cliffs and there are also the ruins of a small dolmen.
Vague in the long, dirt roads and we arrive almost to Mgarr ix-Xini, where we were just over briefcase before: this is how we find the small inlet Kantra Beach, nestling between the rocks and characterized by a beautiful sea. Exit out of the sun and for a while 'we enjoy the place. Would be worthwhile to stay longer but it is a problem for Richard, in fact there is more sand and what else do not understand why the place is called Beach, because in English it means the beach. Let us go then, in search of the cliffs and the dolmen: find it, practically a piles of rocks, but we can not just reach the cliffs, and many times, we must turn back from roads, suddenly become paths.
It 'almost time for lunch, the sky above us is, after all, merciful and decide to go in search of a beach, then in the afternoon, you will see.
Reach in the north-east of the island, Dah Let Qorrot Bay, but the sea is rough and the place does not satisfy us, then we return to Hondoq ir Rummien, in front of Comino. The place we know already: it is beautiful and, most importantly, repairs to the sea is calm and we decide to stop.
We remain on the beach until the evening, despite the time, mid afternoon and our perseverance is rewarded: the cloud thins out, the sky returns to blue and the sun, again unchallenged master, gives us some time to warm warmth.
Return to the hotel and after dinner, we go for a stroll in the company of Marsalforn Carlotta, to the delight of Frederick that, taken away, walk all evening without ever asking to go up in his arms.

The sun shines high in the sky and it seems, finally, the ideal day to go to Comino. Do not miss an opportunity, as the holiday draws to a close, and if the weather were to fail again lose the opportunity to visit the place of the sea's most famous and, presumably, more beautiful than Malta.
We reach the port of Mgarr and we put ourselves in search of a boat that will accompany the discovery of the third island, currently the largest island: just 2.5 kilometers long and 1.5 wide. Located in the center of the narrow stretch of sea that divides Malta from Gozo, Comino, takes its name from the fennel, the cumin, one of the few plants that can grow on its arid soil.
Among the many boats that every day, leaving at a time of Comino choose "Ozzie Cruises One", commanded by a sympathetic emigrant who, to do this every year, in summer, back from the native country. The small boat can not accommodate more than fifteen people, and is a good thing because the low number of participants we will save several times.
We leave the port of Mgarr and, within minutes, we reach the famous Blue Lagoon, and the name, just the blue lagoon, this time it seems really appropriate. The beautiful stretch of sea is located between the west coast of Comino and the tiny island of Cominotto, and is a daily destination for a large amount of tourists. We, fortunately, we arrive early and avoid the crowds bath ... we do not avoid, however, deliberately, an water bath crystal. The wonderful color of the sea contrasts with the bare rocks that close on each side view of the open sea and give the impression of being immersed in the waters of a lake. With a single rotation of the gaze embraces all the islands in the distance and stand out clearly the rocky coast of Malta, on the one hand, and Gozo, on the other. We enjoy long the entire context, then to Frederick is cold and go back on the beach. We warmed to the sun with his eyes always turned to the sea in front of us, until at 11:30, the captain of the "Ozzie One" does not call a meeting of his "crew", then go up, again on board of our boat and we prepare to circumnavigate the island.
In the immediate vicinity of the Blue Lagoon we visit some caves, then go to anchor in a beautiful cove nestling between high cliffs. E 'la Cristal Lagoon and watch the transparency of the sea all around, we realized immediately the origin of toponomio. All descend into the water, including Frederick, who does not show any hesitation, despite the amount of water is considerable, his arms and armed with our mask and snorkel. Scrutinized the seabed which is populated by many fish, not at all intimidated by our presence. There is also a huge jellyfish that elegant, can be carried by the current, and it is unfortunate that the small can not see it.
Let's go back on board and we continue to follow the coast clockwise along the way we look at severe cliffs and caves, to be gently caressed by the sea breeze and land, for lunch at Santa Marija Bay, where the single hotel on the island, as well as a chapel and the command of two police officers, and are more than enough, given that the residents are real three and two cars on the road!
At 14:00, after lunch, back on the engine and complete the tour of the island, then we route on Gozo, just touching the beach Hondoq ir Rummien and climbing slowly up the coast to the port of Mgarr and concluded, thus, a beautiful excursion, alone, may be worth a trip the archipelago of Malta.
It 'too early to return to hotel, so we go to the beach and for a change at Hondoq ir Rummien is the closest and on the north side of the sea is still rough. Frederick was tired after the adventure in the boat and falls asleep on the towel in hand a few sticks of wood. It wakes up around 17:00 and play a little 'with the sand, then it is time to return to Marsalforn and then all'Atlantis Hotel for dinner. Later we try to do a tour by car to Victoria, so as to spend the evening and deceive the time, but along the streets in the center of the lights are dim lamps, silence reigns supreme and there is nothing better to do return to that room to watch television until sleep takes over.

Mi Sabrina wakes up around 5:30 because you hear strange noises over the window and it seems that rain. Indeed so, and I rushed to take away the beach towels laid out on the terrace which they have dried almost completely wet, then back between the sheets and try to sleep again, although the thought for the rain.
When the alarm sounds I immediately rushed to look out the window: Fortunately there is the sun and wake up everyone, so, with optimism, we are preparing to face the new day. And let's start from the port of Marsalforn to observe sea conditions are not exceptional but not a disaster, and pulling a sigh of relief, now that we have remained to be seen only beaches on the north side of the island.
Heading in to Victoria, then follow the road that runs to the western part of Gozo, past the ruins of an old aqueduct and descend to the sea shortly after the village of San Lawrenz, until you reach the scenic bay of Dwejra, surrounded by towering cliffs and closed towards the open sea by an Fungus Rock, a monolith that soars to more than sixty meters on the surface of. On its walls, and only on its steep walls, a legendary mushroom growing (hence the name), the Fucus melitensis, used by the Knights as a remedy for many ills.
There we stopped in a dirt parking lot where, among other things, there is a tram characteristic of Gozo, which is different in color from those of Malta, for the gray instead dell'arancio. We take one photo a folk coach and we are approaching on foot toward the nearby reefs, where there is the famous Azure Window (blue window).
The sight of the amazing natural arch of rock leaves us amazed: the large pillars seem to rise from the sea and are surmounted by a slab of stone, perfectly horizontal, which forms the lintel. Its dimensions are very substantial and stand by it for a long time from the bottom, then Richard and I go up above, while Sabrina is at sea level and we take a memorable photo.
Nearby is also the incredible Inland Sea, the "inland sea": a piece of Mediterranean in the island of Gozo, which it created through the subsidence of a large cave. Sides of the crater to the south are gently sloping, while to the north are high and vertical. At the heart of the latter there is a natural tunnel, traveled by boat, which comes up to the open sea. We put ourselves in a row to show this emotion and an elderly gentleman, returning from a short trip, the boat goes down, it falls sbilancia and the other side of the jetty, fully dressed, backpackers and camera in hand, in a few cm d 'water, enough to wet from head to foot. There is evil and we are thinking to laugh at the scene rather funny and entertaining, at least for us viewers. Then go up on the small boat and, shortly afterwards, we enter the cave, dark and narrow. It seems almost to scrape the walls and the glare of light at the exit of the tunnel, it seems more distant than it is in reality. In short we are in the open sea between high cliffs and at the mercy of the waves. For at least one quarter of an hour we take a pitch in a sea far from quiet, observing, among other things, the Azure Window by a different but no less striking angle. Frederick, who at first seemed worried and frightened by what now seems to really enjoy themselves and leave to go to loud laughter whenever a splash of water will reach. Spend a short period of time for the travel then return the tunnels and back to float in the calm waters dell'Inland Sea, landed, and we are approaching the parking lot to retrieve the car and start over in search of a beach where you can spend the rest the day.
From the village of Ghasri, little further north, we descend along the road that ventures into the narrow valley of Wied il-Ghasri, after which it should be a beach, but go before we end with the dry river bed of a stream and then a sort of path that gets closer to become impassable, so we return on our steps and change our goal.
We follow the coastal road towards Marsalforn and along the way we look at the features excavated in salt rock, dating back to the time of the Knights and, even today, in part, used. Beyond the "our" town and climb to the village of Xaghra, from thence to the beach of Ramla Bay, the largest in Gozo. Turn, mistakenly, a dead end and, if you want, we end up in front of the Calypso's Cave, a humerus, where the legendary Ulysses remained for seven years, captive of the nymph Calypso and its beauty.
We visit the cave with the help of some candles: nothing special, just more than a hole in the rock, on the view on the underlying Ramla Bay is extraordinary. Return the candles made for hire and descend finally to the right path, the beach, which is characterized by a soft, reddish sand. The sea is calm and not encounter some difficulty in convincing Richard to take a bath, but in the end following our advice and does well: it is so much fun playing among the waves, in water, despite everything, beautiful, warm and inviting .
The morning was really intense, and after lunch, we rest in all'ombrellone, indeed, remain at Ramla Bay throughout the afternoon until the wind that blows from the north-east, becomes cold and gray big Nuvoloni accumulate on the horizon, then we collect all our things and we are moving towards the hotel with the hope that the sky once again be free before the sun rise again.
After dinner we return to Xaghra, with Charlotte and the family: there is a religious festival, and our hope is to see the fireworks. The streets of the opulent center are decorated and the country is all in the street, sometimes you hear something pop, but the fire itself is desired. We find a square where they are housed, some turning, but, apparently, the only light in the late evening and, unfortunately, children are tired, so we return all all'Atlantis hotel a little 'disappointed.

The time on the night is far better ... far: we wake up while the rain falls insistently. It was in March that did not happen and it seemed impossible that happens, however this is here, in front of us, the most classic of gray days.
Un po 'disconsolate also starting to make very few visits to the beach alternatives that we have remained, while the rain stops falling but the sky remains cloudy and gloomy abundantly. We go in the westernmost part of the island and near the village of Gharb, we stop to visit the shrine of Ta 'Pinu, a goal of worship and pilgrimage for all the inhabitants of the archipelago. The current church was built fairly recently, in 1920, at the scene of some miraculous events. Inside are kept many ex-voto a testimony of what happened over the years.
After the visit we go to the nearby Dwejra Bay to observe the effect of sea sull'Azure Window: huge waves breaking on the rocks splashing up for several meters, forming large patches of white foam. It 'incredible but also the nearby Inland Sea is, in its way, restless and boats, used daily for walking, swaying all firmly anchored to their moorings.
We are almost in slow motion to pass the time and come back in the car and began to fall a few drops. Ground km without specifying a destination and travel in the south-east of the island, along one of the few roads that were not yet able to walk, with panoramic view on the coast below, then it is noon and we go to the nearby village of Xlendi, where we stop for lunch.
Today, Friday September 8, in Malta, is a national holiday: it commemorates Our Lady of Victories celebrating the defeat of the Turkish armed and the end of the Great Siege of 1565, which is why all shops are closed. Some bars, however, is open, and so we find a pizza to be put under the teeth. Federico, despite the recommendations to eat it gets dirty and breaks out a small tragedy, which, combined with bad weather conditions, from birth to an explosive cocktail that puts a severe test of our nerves.
After lunch we go to Xaghra to visit the archaeological site was last on our list: the Ggantija, but the effects of the national holiday will not allow it and find the gate closed. Disconsolate go back to the hotel and began to rain again.
The afternoon is endless and, despite a bath in the shadows of the pool deck, we drag wearily up at dinner. Later we go, by car, on a trip: you hear the barrels come from Xaghra and the sky lights up every time ... this was an evening of fireworks! We stop along the road to see them, while rain continues to insist, then we return. Also for tomorrow the weather forecast is not good, hopefully it wrong, but the feeling is that the holiday has ended with two days in advance.

He finally stopped raining and between the clouds, which are thin, it sometimes seems the sun. You can not just say that it is a wonderful day, but we must be satisfied since the last holiday itself.
After lunch we reach Victoria, where we stop to change the last lire needed to top the tank and do some shopping, then go up to Xaghra to visit the archaeological site of Ggantija, which has reopened its doors after the public holiday. The excavations have brought to light two temples dating back to the copper and constructed during the period between 3600 and 3200 BC. I am in a good state of preservation and their wall is probably the most impressive: there are carefully aligned and embedded, in the form, many monoliths, some of large size (up to six meters in height and fifty tons of weight!).
Turn far and wide throughout the site and expect to take a picture, that leaves the sun, but the clouds, instead of thinnings, and increase shortly to divert rain. In the end we are rewarded, spend at least an hour for a visit that involved no more than twenty minutes, but there we go, met, only after seeing the sun's rays kissed the enigmatic stones.
The price of the ticket is also the entrance to the old mill Ta Kola, which is a short walk from the site and the center of Xaghra, so let us not miss the opportunity and, on foot, the reach. Inside the building, well restored, are arranged on multiple levels, agricultural tools and furniture of the era in which the blades were in operation and the whole visit turned out to be a little out of the program, after all, an interesting .
The morning is almost completely gone, and with the mill of Ta Kola, we have run out of visits to cultural. We then go to the beach of San Blas, the last remaining on our list. We reach the village of Nadur and descend towards the sea in the north-east of Gozo. The beach is reached, however, just walking along a long path and the side of which is covered by large Nuvoloni. Not feel the risk and have lunch on the roadside waiting for the bad weather passes ... but does not pass. Then we be content to look down and then we go, for a change, on Hondoq ir Rummien that, as usual, is an island within the island happy because there is almost alone and even if it rained the car could be reach in a few moments.
There systemic confident, and on the beach shortly after being awarded: the glimpses of blue sky are becoming wider and the sun returns to her master, so hot on the skin and I have to go by car to take quell'ombrellone that now , I did not think having more than planting. Spend an enjoyable afternoon last at the beach, until 17:00, when we leave Hondoq ir Rummien to do some shopping before returning to the hotel.
After dinner, mindful of the previous evening, we return to Xaghra, but the feast is over and everything is silent. Federico run for a while 'in a playground and then come back in the room to prepare the bags.

We stand up slowly and we dress, then, after breakfast, we still have to spend about an hour in the pool, thanks to the sun is back, in due form, in its place. Between swimming and the other time flies: Sabrina sale to make room in the shower and shortly after we arrive.
Prepare the last things to 11:30 and leave the Altantis Hotel.
In less than half an hour we reach the port of Mgarr, just in time to board the ferry to the south, however, that leaves about thirty minutes late. Landings in Cirkewwa on Maltese shores, and we continue towards the capital to the gates of St. Paul's Bay, then on the right and deviamo reach Golden Bay.
We give a brief stop for lunch and eat a good pizza in the same room where we had already eaten, just two weeks ago, during the first day walking to the island.
Before resuming the road to the airport get to see on television the pizzeria, the departure of the Gran Premio d'Italia di Formula 1: Ferrari takes a command but the other is involved in a carom after a few curves at the start and ending his race ... sin. We too shoot, but not to command, rather, we must be careful, especially at carambola since shortly after noon expired insurance of the car and then, in the last stretch of road, we have no hedge against any claims.
Passing along the highway nearly St. Julian's, passing through the outskirts of Valletta, and we arrive, safely, at the airport. Park your car in the parking lot of Thrifty, and we start with the suitcases on a trolley, deliver the keys. Ne advantage so that we complain about the issue of full gas, but the train is pulling into shoulders, says he is only an employee and that he can not do anything about. We try not to take, gives us expected a response like this, and resigned, there we go to boarding luggage. Together with the suitcases on the conveyor belt system the umbrella ... who knows if they meet again in Milan? We stop at an ATM exchange switch in the Maltese lira remained Italy, then past the customs gate and go to number one, through which, presumably, we board the flight to 16:30 Air Malta km628.
After about an hour open the gates, and while we are in a row, I notice that our tickets carry three numbers printed on different places (6E, 8E, 9B), this means that we will be seated far apart. .. and say that the lady of the check-in we had also asked the age of Frederick! ... It 'incredible! ... Nor had arrived late at the airport! Climb on board and changed everything, we disturb other people and when everyone is sitting ... still three seats left, beside a few times ... even more amazing! We place on "our" new seats, Fasten your seatbelts and get ready to take off.
The Air Malta Boeing 737 detaches from the ground with about twenty minutes late and immediately after overflies Gozo, Comino with its side, seen from the sky that seems, right, little more than a rock. Around Sicily, surrounded by a thick blanket of clouds, then go above the Tyrrhenian Sea and reappears when the earth below us we see the Argentario with Isola del Giglio, then Piombino to Isola d'Elba. Heading in the whole Tuscan coast until the Liguria are clearly visible the white Alps, the Cinque Terre and La Spezia, then begin to decline towards Malpensa, which landed at 18:37, after many turns. The bags are slow to materialize and there spazientiamo a little ', but in the end arrive (including umbrella), and so the parking Panicucci telephone to let us come and take.
Almost 20:00 when, finally, go up on our "Blue Point" and are starting to tackle the stretch of road that divides us from home. Meet some 'of incoming traffic to Milan, but then blatantly set out and then we stop at a busy motorway to Ferrari fans returning from the Grand Prix (won by the Ferrari of Schumacher). I take coffee in and do a full tank of fuel then return to grinding km of asphalt and think the holiday appetizer: beautiful, in many ways, apart from the heat of the early days and the weather degl'ultimi, the historical and art was the highest level, the beach a little 'less (better Gozo Malta), with the exception of Comino (overtime).
Among un'imprecazione and the other, because of the many idiots who travel on the third lane, flashing all the time, we arrive at home around 23:10, with Federico already asleep for some time and that, peaceful and blessed not realize not to be, again, in his bed.