Sliema, Malta
Thursday. Time for a day of relaxation and doing not very much. Seeing as how we are in a city surrounded by water, it seems only appropriate that we explore the waterways. In fact, this is something we try to do whenever we are in a place located on a major waterway or harbour. And it doesn't het much more major than the Mediterranean itself. Besides, the sun is shining, sky is blue, the water sparkling. So a harbour cruise it is.
A harbour cruise affords you the opportunity to see a city from a completely new perspective. As enjoyable as wandering the narrow streets is, your view is limited by the walls of its buildings. On the harbour however, you get to see the city in its entirety. You get some perspective of how buildings and streets fit together. You see the relationship between harbour and city, old and new. 
The first half of the cruise gave us a view of Valletta in all its glory. From its fortified walls to the church basilicas, the city was laid bare as the boat sailed serenely along the harbour. Rounding the outermost tip of the harbour revealed the second harbour, the commercial part. It is here where business is done.
From super tankers to naval ships to cruise liners. This is where they come to. This part of the harbour served as a place for the British navy during WW2. A place to which they entered for repair and refits. It was also bombed by the German airforce, inflicting damage on both the harbour and the city.
As luck would have it, as we were returning to the first harbour, a cruise liner was coming in to dock. Seen from the water as it passes by its size is magnified manyfold.
Finishing the cruise, we headed down to our favourite bar/bistro - the Tre Angeli. A top spot to finish the day with a couple of drinks and a snack. Did I mention before that Julie has discovered the virtues of Happy Hour and 2 for 1 cocktails? Who would have thought?
2025-05-23