Events of Saturday 24th November 2012
Much of Malta's coastline is rocky but Golden Bay, where our hotel is located, is the northernmost of three sandy beaches on Malta's north-west coast.
Fortunately, the weather was shaping up to be a dry, warm day - the two weeks prior to our arrival had been wet. Shortly after 7.0 a.m. I decided to walk to the watch tower visible from the hotel - Ghajn Tuffieha Tower. Once outside the hotel, I took the long straight road to a T-junction where the road to Valetta formed the left turn and the entrance to Ghajn Tuffieha car park the right turn. I walked past a large derelict building (predictably constructed from limestone blocks) to reach the tower itself (also limestone but clearly having had a modern restoration).
I returned to the hotel the same way I came out. When I was last in Malta, Malta Bus ran a very unpredictable service with a fleet of aging buses. All swept away now, of course. The buses which stop a short walk from the hotel are pale blue and operated by Arriva. Their website is here.
I was back in time to have breakfast with Ann and Dean in Flavours Restaurant. Later in the morning, Ann had an appointment in the Myoka spa and Dean and I went for a walk. Dean showed me the cliff path to Ghajn Tuffieha Tower, then we descended the concrete steps leading to the pretty beach of Ghajn Tuffieha. The sun was now very warm, so I couldn't resist the opportunity to paddle in the clear sea. I decided the sea hadn't warmed up enough for total immersion.
In the afternoon, we all went by car to Bugibba, on the eastern coast, where Ann had arranged to meet a friend.
Bugibba has a promenade but no beach, just rocks. Nontheless, it has become popular as a tourist destination. Following Ann's meeting, we took ice cream in a small seafront cafe before driving back to Golden Bay and an excellent dinner in Flavours Restaurant.
Photographs
Malta.
