The Smell of Spring is in the Air

As May approaches in Malta, the changing season once again brings anticipation of being out on the sea, basking in the sun and swimming in the clear, blue, warm Mediterranean waters. There is excitement but it is bittersweet. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here in Malta. There has been so much to see and do here.

We met up with friends from Bistari, Ken and Lynn, and enjoyed hearing about their adventures and telling of of ours, over dinner and wine. We swapped stories of playing the Schengen shuffle, and riding the fine line between being able to stay and getting kicked out. We have found that if you genuinely try to do the right thing, even if it isn’t, asking for forgiveness goes a long way.

We have made it over to the old city of Valletta a handful of times, and it never fails to amaze us. As with most of the old towns, cars are not allowed inside its boundaries. And that’s ok, because this is a town that is best seen and experienced on foot. The beautiful architecture of the ancient buildings and statues create scenery that you would think was straight out of a movie.

We attended a couple of concerts while in Malta. One was called Rockestra. A symphony orchestra played rock music while very talented singers performed. It was truly spectacular. Then there was the symphony orchestra performance of Mozart’s 5th Requiem, performed at the St. Joe’s Co-Cathedral. The inside of the cathedral was adorned with gold inlays and incredible art. It was truly a spectacular scene.

Closer to our marina there are any number of restaurants from around the world. We discovered Wolt, a delivery service that will deliver anything right to our dock. I never had to set foot in a grocery store and very few restaurants. It really made life so much more enjoyable, especially on those cold and windy days when you really didn’t want to leave the comfort and warmth of home.

Stella was constantly amused and entertained by the marina boys, endlessly roaming the docks on foot or in their dinghy. They were so helpful in getting work done on the boat or with helping with lines as we docked or left the dock.

I was even able to find a CrossFit gym to workout at for a month. It felt so amazing to work on some strength and endurance again. And I have found some workouts I can even still do right here on the boat, along with the peloton, of course.

The day has come, however, when we must say goodbye to Malta and set sails for new adventures in Italy. I’m very excited because in a few short weeks, my mom and sister will be joining us for 3 weeks as we make our way up the west coast of Italy. It will be a once in a lifetime trip.