Finding the Great Maltese Falcon

As occurs on all holidays of mine, I have developed a cold. Apparently this is something to do with coming down from the stresses of termtime, though I suspect it is yet another punishment for my unashamedly rabid bisexuality. I have a sunburnt nose as well now, which you'd think would exacerbate my self-pity, but truth be told it actually leaves me one step closer to being the lovable glowing reindeer that I've always wanted to be, so I can't complain.

I was on the plane for a considerable period  yesterday night, which meant that I had enough time to come up with three whole jokes about Malta, as you can see:
1. What is the most popular food in Malta? Maltesers.
2. What is the most popular food in Malta? Malt Loaf.
3. What is the most popular food in Malta? Gammon.
I hope to take these jokes on tour in the near future. Perhaps I will tie this in with my reindeer project; anyway, I know that the jokes will *sleigh* my audiences (!!).

It is lavishly warm in Malta, and Valletta is beautiful. Most things seem beautiful under the sun, I think, but this city is really something special - dusty brown stone all raised up in sheer alleyways and harbourfronts, glinting with the light that skims off the Mediterranean and up towards the buildings that surround it on every side. It was the first planned city in Europe, so my guidebook informs me, which only goes to show that they don't make 'em like they used to (Exhibit A: Harlow, near me).

This is not Malta
Anyway, Valletta's beauty has made for a very relaxing day, though me mam (with whom I am happily sharing this trip) has spent most of her waking hours desperate to spot a Maltese Falcon. I don't know what these look like, but as I write this she is telling me that they are usually found around the full-moon phase in March. This is probably because the full-moon tide makes it harder for the falcons to swim, so then they have to fly, which makes it easier for one to see them. I think.

Could this be the Great Maltese Falcon?

Our searches for this elusive bird took us right across the harbour, to the 'three cities' region of Valletta. Here it became apparent that the Maltese are extraordinarily friendly, always say hello and are obsessed with cannons. They also build great forts, one of which (the San Angelo) I visited, and definitely passable maritime museums. We had two brilliant meals out as well, and all in all we've managed to pack a huge amount into just this one day, too much to do justice to here.

Crazy Maltese residents

I am sitting in the room now feeling very relaxed. Have started reading a new book - 'The Watchmaker of Filigree Street' - and am thankful to have escaped the history stuff for a bit. This trip has been a great way of switching off from term time, though as ever I miss my friends from uni. You spend the whole of term wanting to get out of Cambridge and then forgot how lovely it is having everyone around!

More falcon searching tomorrow.

RJLF

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All Revision and No Cats Makes Bob a Dull Boy

Image
BBC News informs me today that the Marshall Library in Cambridge has adopted a three-legged cat in order to relieve exam stress (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-39526457). Because it finds it quite hard to stay upright on three legs, it apparently only ever moves around very, very quickly, which undoubtedly must make for a single ray of light in the otherwise hellish lives of economics students. I for one think that this cat policy should be extended to all libraries in Cambridge, although perhaps they ought to vary up the animals a bit (a Polar Bear for the Scott Polar Research Institute? A Yale for the library at Christ's? A Sloth for the English library? etc.). Christ's does, in fact, have a college cat, who I'm told migrated from her old home at Jesus. Her name is Rocket, and she seems to have become less timid over time, for where once she would flee whenever she saw me she know invites me out to tea, formal and walks to Grantchester. My friend Be
Read more

Where You Can See My Sky - Justifying Writing

I've wanted to write a blog for years. Lots of my friends keep diaries, something I've always shied away from, partly because they seem too introspective for someone as unashamedly performative as myself and partly because they take so long to write - and, as my friend James observed to me the other day, there's not much romanticism in typing up a diary! Blogs are different, but I've never bothered to actually set one up until now. Why the change of heart? 1) It's a Monday out of term, and I am both bored and anxious about my inability to relax constructively. 2) Several of my friends write excellent blogs, and I am obviously jealous of this. 3) Cynicism about writing is a bad thing. When I was doing research for my coursework (I am a nerd, and proud) I came across this quite encouraging passage from The Worst Journey in the World , a brilliant account of polar exploration coming ever closer to its 100th birthday and written by a man with the silliest name ev
Read more

Franklin goes to China(town)

Image
I initially planned to write this blog every other day rather than every day, and that might still happen, but for now it seems to have become a daily affair. Ellie asked if I actually did interesting things every single day, which offended me deeply, but I suppose you can tell if I've had a fairly boring day if I just copy and paste one of my history essays in here, or if I start raving about Honeymoon in Vegas . Yesterday was not a boring day because we were all getting together to celebrate me mam. I'm a slightly biased source, but after years of reflection I have decided that my mum is *objectively* one of the best mums in the world. She is certainly one of the kindest and most approachable: fingers and toes are not enough to count the number of people I know who have relied on my mum for help, or who have thought of her as a dear and close friend. She did a brilliant job with all of us growing up (right now she has just refused my help with the washing, which speaks for
Read more