I caught the bus (public transport) into Valletta this morning (Malta's capital). Thought I'd better pay the city a visit! I headed straight for St John's Co-Cathedral because I was told it was worth seeing. The church still belongs to the Knights of Malta (Knights of St John - Hospitallers). The very plain façade did not prepare me for the over-the-top baroque interior. Baroque in all its glory! What is it with the marble tombstones that cover the floor being decorated with skeletons and skulls? According to Eyewitness Travel guide, "The entire floor of the church is a sea of multi-coloured marble, where 400 Knights are buried beneath dazzling tombstones. Each is adorned with the coat of arms of its aristocratic occupant, along with symbols reminding onlookers of the inevitability of death."

I took a ride on the Fun Train (trackless train) that takes you around (up and down) Valletta and along the waterfront of its two harbours . It was actually a good way to see the city and it stopped at strategic points along the waterfront for photo opportunities. Valletta was built by the Knights of St John after the Great Siege of 1565. It is a fortress city contained behind a massive ring of impenetrable walls and bastions. Valletta is like what I imagine San Francisco to be - very steep streets. In a nutshell, Valletta is a lot of shops, balconies and churches with a picturesque harbour.

I found a book shop and bought Meg a Maltese cookbook because it had the recipe for Beef Olives in it and I want her to make them for me when I get home.
 
By 3.00pm I'd had enough of Valletta. I then had a dilemma. Do I revisit the craft village (with the hop-on / hop-off bus) that I fell in love with because they had door knobs but didn't have time to explore last Tuesday? Do I redo the hop-on / hop-off Red Tour (as per yesterday) and visit the megalithic temples that I missed due to running out of time? Do I take a cruise of the two harbours to get photos from a different viewpoint? Or do I just go back to the hotel for some much needed R & R? The hotel won out, primarily because I had missed the last hop on / hop off bus. I slept for 2 hours!

I haven't heard a single Australian accent my whole time in Malta.