GHOST

We've had a really fantastic time in Malta - Msina marina has all the facilities we need and is reasonably priced, we've got some of the recurring boat problems fixed (fingers crossed), the "Maltesers" are very friendly and we've had a great time with visiting friends. Sadly Jo (+lump) and Dunc left us this morning and the boat now seems very quiet!

We've also taken some time to sail around the neighbouring bays so that we can cool off with a swim - in St Paul's bay we decided to have a go at making a homemade swing but after a leg tangling incident this was soon dismantled (see photo, yes it hurts!).

Yesterday we hired a car and explored inland, including the old capital city Mdina, apparently one of the finest examples of ancient walled cities in Europe. We particularly enjoyed chilling out in the cathedral at midday - it's over 30 degrees here with stifling humidity. It's a good thing Brad has now installed lots of fans on the boat but we wish we'd installed air conditioning!!

The food here is also great and we had a lovely meal in Valetta with J Vo & Chris before they left us on Saturday and also with Jo and Duncan in the Black Pearl (formerly Errol Flynn's boat and the location for the Robin William's film Popeye) which was an old ship used to carry cargo through ice in the Baltic and is now based on land next to Msina marina. Last night we had a barbecue on the breakwater next to where GHOST is moored and enjoyed fat Maltese sausages and champagne.

Today we are getting everything organised for our next journey. We plan to hop back to Sicily and anchor off Siracusa on the East coast for a sleep before we undertake the 3 day passage to Pilos, on the West coast of the Peloponnisos in Greece. We are sad to leave Malta, especially to return, albeit briefly, to the run-down and mosquito infected Sicily!