Between christmas and new year the bugibba bus was back in front of the waterfall. The rest of them were a bit further down at an official bus stance.

We went to Marssalokk (sp) for the day got bus to Valetta and bus back out again, took about 1.5 hrs but theres no real rush when you're on holiday.

We will only be there for 5 nights and we land at Luqa airport at 1.30pm from Cyprus so don't have too much time to "research" the timetables.

BUT, I've passed that little job over to my parents as they will have been there for 3 weeks by the time we arrive

Just got to hope the weather bucks up for when we get there now. Got 4 weeks or so to go yet so there's every chance it will throw some sunshine at us!

Shell
Limassol, Cyprus

It looks like my nephew will be getting married in the summer, in a mansion house in the UK. How likely is it that I will be able to find a suitable outfit in Valletta, when we visit at Easter? Is it any good for clothes shopping, or am I better off getting something in this country?

Hi Helen

I have never been one for wearing a frock so can't help specifically however there are branches of Next, Miss Selfridge, M&S, Tommy Hilfiger, BHS, Dorothy Perkins and also many local shops (or at least names that are not familiar to me) selling fashion clothing, mainly of Italian style.

I just had a quick look on Google and came across these also in Valletta

Naracamicie

Promod

Josmel Fashion

Mango available in Britannia Centre http://shop.mango.com/MT/mango

http://www.embassycomplex.com.mt/embassy/ShoppingOverview.aspx?view=Fashion

http://vallettaalive.com/find/shopping.htm

Thanks Graham - I'll take a look at the links in a mo. I was thinking along the lines of smallish shops, rather than chain stores which are easily accesible in this country.

well thanks for all the info folks, don't know yet how much we will get round, off tonight [taxi at 3 am] by this time tomorrow i should have at least sampled the local brews

Have a nice time Brian and enjoy the Cisk & Farsons

Looking forward to your report when you get back Brian enjoy

not much of a report so far only had 1/2 day wandering biggabi ???? and a day out on the blue rout bus [that was good] apart from that havent left hotel weather all-full

brian

You mean Bugibba ?

I hope the weather improves over the next few weeks Brian - sorry it hasn't been very good for you!

biggabi ????... weather all-full

Bigabbi was he not some tin pot dictator all-full??? Brian are you sure it's not you that's all full of Mr Farsons finest hopleaf or Cisk

I hope it picks up Brian and you can get out and about, if it is any consolation the weather in the whole of Europe is terrible and our friends in Egypt are saying it is very cold.

ok a few local brandy's made the whole experience we managed just over half day on the hop on hop off blue route which gave us a little taste of the island [but too wet to sit on top] and a couple of mornings in Bugibba, we were most surprised at the prices once we arrived, local spirit with a dash was coming in at 2 to 21/5 euro local beer from 1 euro pint and even Wells Bombardier only 3 euro pint now that's cheaper than in town where its brewed and around £3.25 pint in most pubs, food prices and public transport were also extremely reasonable, The pendlewitch wants to go back again in a year or two more in season so we can look round, but will probably go to a better hotel [rather liked the look of the San Antonio but it dose look expensive], on my list to see id the Hurricane 11b at the aircraft museum, the old cars and bikes, and several of the archaeological sites wanted to get a pic of a working TK Bedford saw several but they were moving a bit quick.. got the tl Bedford though...

all in all nice break shame about the weather..

ps the local wine is terrible, it took most of the week to get use to

Hi Brian

It was unfortunate that you chose what is probably the worst month to go to Malta weather wise, even just a few weeks later would have made a difference, May is nice with lush green countryside full of flowers.

I am a big fan of the Avaition Museum and go everytime we are there, if you are an aviation fan you should time your next visit for the Malta Airshow which is held every September, a nice sunny month to go. Some pictures from the show http://rides.webshots.com/slideshow/580712291nobgLd

There are some very nice local wines, next time look out for 'Medina' wines and try them

Ahh the old Bedford TK, now that takes me back a bit, that is what I learned in for my HGV to drive fire engines, that wasn't yesterday
Here is a fine Maltese example

Are there any traditional Maltese meals please?

Hi Helen

There are a lot of Maltese dishes, these are mainly based on rabbit & fish although there are lots of dishes made from all types of meat and vegetables, there is a bit of Italian and Sicilian influence to the cooking.

My favorite is possibly Bragioli which is something similar to our beef olives, soak up the sauce with the tradional Hobz bread.

Take a look at this for more info http://www.aboutmalta.com/grazio/cuisine.html

Carb alert but I love the pasta pie can't remember it's real name it's penne pasta bolognese sauce with a pie crust

Thank you both - I'l take a look - any good buys out there?

Just remembered I had this in a favourites folder http://www.angelfire.com/mt2/bernice/tradition.html

I love the pasta pie can't remember it's real name it's penne pasta bolognese sauce with a pie crust

I think that will be Timpana which is usually made with Macaroni