Malteasers

We departed Mgarr harbour on Gozo, and headed to a bay with some shelter on the mainland (if you can use that for an island about 10 miles long and 5 miles wide). St Paul's bay proved to be a good anchorage even though the wind is still blowing about 20 knots.

St Paul's bay

Spit found a good docking spot on the beach

We caught up with some cruising friends in the bay, Samanta and Wind Pony, both of whom wintered in Licata. It was easy to tender into the beach, and we caught a bus into Sliema, just outside of Valletta. Malta has a great bus system, making it very easy to get about the island. We're revelling in the freedom of being at anchor again, after being stuck in a marina for 7 months. 

So after a few days at St. Pauls, we were feeling adventurous and thought we'd try anchoring in St Julian's bay, in the centre of the posh area of Malta. The Hilton hotel has a very exclusive marina there, we checked it out and they charged 118 Euro a night, and only 'considered' allowing us to dock there. So it made it so much sweeter that we could anchor safely in the small bay. It was rather rolly, but it was an easy bus ride into Valletta.

St Julian's bay

That's the Hilton hotel just off St Julian's bay

St Julian's bay

Hilton Hotel ... 

... and its ridiculously expensive marina

Here kitty!

We caught the bus into Valletta, and we were quite floored by this city. It's striking, architecturally imposing, clean and modern, while having some amazing ancient buildings. We spent a day wandering around its lanes and checking out its harbour. We managed to see a rather intriguing small bay off the Grand Harbour, so we ear-marked that for later exploration.

Keepie Uppie expert.

Amazing modern restorations of the ancient city

This was a city built for war!

Large public spaces, this is Freedom Square

Typical street-scape

Lots of classical architecture

... and lots of British Imperialism... thats Queen Vic.

After two day's of exploring Valletta on foot, we were exhausted, so decided to let Pavlov do the work. We left St Julian's bay and took a trip by water around Manoel Island in Gzira harbour, and then into Grand Harbour. It was a thrill to navigate these impressive waterways.

Old fashions die hard .... imperialism lives on!

No doubt about the purpose of this town! That's a lot of gun ports.

Old WW2 gun emplacement overlooking Grand Harbour entrance

Delightful architecture

Entrance to the Grand Harbour

Looking out to sea

WW2 memorial, still tolls at midday for the fallen.

We had planned to go into Msida Creek marina (at 70 Euro's per night) but we found this wonderful little bay just inside the entrance to the Grand Harbour. We had thought that anchoring was prohibited here, and it probably is, but there was another small yacht swinging in Rinella bay, so we dropped our hook in there. What an ideal anchorage, right off the Grand Harbour with all the heavy duty shipping and huge ferries funnelling in and out, here we were in a protected cove with a sandy bottom, cafe on shore with wifi!! All mod cons!

Grand Harbour, Valletta 

More battlements

Great public sculptures

Heading to Manoel Island

Traditional Maltese smack

Super yachts in Msida

A couple of elegant beauties

Floating fuel bunker

Leaving Manoel Island bay

Entering the Grand Harbour

The traffic here was FAST and furious, this guy's doing over 30 knots.

Our little cosy hole, just off the Grand Harbour. Rinella Bay.

We have some weather on the way in, a low with 40 knot winds. We had planned to head south to Marsaxlokk Harbour, but now we love our little hidey hole in the Grand Harbour, we'll probably sit it out here. So we are now confirmed Malteasers, and love this place. We promise not to roll them down the aisle in the theatre!