I can't believe I agreed to an 8.00am flight out of Sicily to Malta. However, the connection in Rome meant that I didn't have long to wait.

The hotel is on the waterfront (hence the name) with a great esplanade to walk along that stretches for miles. I have a room with a harbour view - very nice. The hotel won me over with its in-room coffee making facilities and retractable clothesline over the bath.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I took a long walk to get my bearings. It was very, very windy but not cold. The ferry across the harbour between Sliema and Valletta was cancelled due to bad weather conditions.. I know it was windy but the harbour looked fairly calm - must have had something to do with the fact that the ferry goes around the headland to the ferry stop in Valletta.

Malta had a number of surprises in store for me - probably because I wasn't expecting them after a month in Italy. The first thing that came to my notice was that they drive on the same side of the road as us. Secondly, cars stop at pedestrian crossings for people to cross. It makes a nice change to be clearly understood, and to understand when speaking to the locals. Coffee! I can get a great cup of coffee here, and it's hot. Food! Oh my god, choices; variety. Lots of variety. Beats nothing but pasta, pizza or fish. Had the best meal since leaving the boat. The final surprise was all the familiar English store names, including Marks and Spencer.