A Maltese Christmas

I didn't really get a chance whilst I was in Malta to describe all the wonderful and strange events that happened (too many buffets to attend), so here is a little sum up...

23rd December 2005

Went to Mdina 'The Silent City' which was fairly quiet. Went to the Mdina Dungeons, The Mdina Experience , Palazzo Falzon (an medieval Building - very well kept) and The Knights of Malta Experience after which I was VERY aware that there was an earthquake in 1693 and that Mdina was invaded several times by Turkey (sore point I guess). In the evening I went to buffets number One at my Uncle Tony's house. Discovered a new alcoholic drink - Red Vermouth...

24th December 2005

Taken to some shops - then dropped off in Valletta. Gerald (My big Bro), Sharon (his girlfriend) and myself all decided to eat outside. Big mistake - the place we chose to eat at took 45 minutes to bring our food out which was cold and I received some carbonized chicken which was so hard I could have knocked out the waiter with it! Then went on to a much nicer cafe with tasty food. Returned to my parents place by Malta's fantastic bus service (only costs 20 cents to go anywhere on the Island!)... Then went to the Park with all the cats - see pictures. In the evening we all took my dad out for dinner - I had an amazing green dessert :-)

25th December 2005

Yay! Christmas day! My Dad made a lush Xmas dinner. Watched Ghostbusters 2 - didn't watch the Queen's speech! In the evening went to Buffet number two.

26th December 2005

Helped my parents prepare Buffet number three for their Christmas party. It was quite hard on Ged, Sharon and myself to smell all the tasty food but not be able to eat it. Whilst we were all out trying to by our parents pencils (for a quiz my Dad had organised for the party) we popped into McDonalds. Another poor choice of food - it was grim so we packaged it up and fed it to the cats in the park. They liked it...

Buffet number three and the quiz went down well with the family members (40+ of them) - mass cheating took place which was very amusing. There was uproar about one question which they were asked to name all of the reindeer mentioned in the poem T'was the Night Before Christmas (use of the internet was banned).

Unfortunately for me my Dad had told all my family that I can read palms so I spent the later part of the evening reading palms... Oh well it got me out of the washing up ;-)

27th December 2005

After a long lie in went to Dingli Cliffs - which had some stunning views. My dad then drove us around the villas which used to be the army camp he was posted in. We had lunch in Paceville which is the local clubbing area - was amused by a long step of steps which were covered in broken glass, rubbish, vomit and cigarette butts - apparently its cleaned once a week.

In the evening went to buffet number four - was very tired and full.

28th December 2005

Got up at 5am to drop my brother and his girlfriend at the airport for their flight home. Spent the rest of the day exploring places my parents hadn't been to before in Malta (have no idea how to spell or say these places - too many Q's and X's in them) - also went to two Markets where everything was shockingly cheap (we are soooo ripped off in England!). In the evening finally buffet free my mum made me my favourite Maltese Dish - Baked Rice/Ross Il-Forn - I ate it all!

29th December 2005

Once again was disgusted by English prices for stuff as I got a gorgeous pair of leather lace up boots for £20!!! Then sadly it was my turn for the airport. Was quite tough leaving as my mum got weepy and I hate seeing her upset - I do hope the leaving will get easier with time!

So thats a Maltese Christmas for you it was much lessreligiouss than I expected - although when ever I walked around I was freaked out by the number of evil doll babies in windows (probably supposed to be Christ!). However as mentioned above - I was over buffeted if there is such a word or condition.

And I was once again given the chance to deal my extreme hatred/emotional problems with doillies - as I was surrounded by them practically all the time - as they were in every house I went to and sold everywhere. I was good - I did not burn them...