ok, so on to Valletta.
In total we spent three days visiting this city, just across the channel from where we stayed. We took the ferry or the bus to town where we walked the labyrinthine streets, before going back to the apartment for dinner and drinks in Sliema.
Valletta is a beautiful city, with lots of architectural gems crammed into one peninsular. The streets are narrow and the buildings built high.
As you can imagine the place is very touristy and very popular with people. Some days the narrow streets were thick with people.
Perhaps the most ostentatious building was the co-cathedral.
Gold leaf, ornate paintings splashed on every available space, the oratory covered in Caravaggios better than any at the National Gallery in London. It was truly spectacular, and over the top, but hard to take in on one visit especially amongst all the crowds.
One afternoon we took a boat trip around the various channels and inlets had good views of the town from the water and was able to take decent photos.
While we had lunch one day a busker played the kazoo. One of the worst musical instruments to play, he didn't get many tips.
Unlike the UK there were lots of restaurants and cafes springing out onto the streets, rather than huddled inside away from the cold. It added a lot to the atmosphere of the place, making it feel more alive. It is something I miss back in Ipswich.
Next blog will be out tomorrow, a look at the island of Gozo
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