Good morning from Maaalta!

Said my goodbyes to Fraser and Katta as they cycled off to do their own thing, saying they might see me at the hostel to get a good nights sleep coz it was so cheap. Walked into Valetta, the capital, and was amazed at how there were signs to Valetta everywhere, like someone had mapped it all out in English, just for me! I got to a sign where it pointed both ways to Valetta, but the one to the right said 'Quickest walk to Valetta centre' so I took that one!

Valetta is like a big castle, turned into a city. Lots of old light-coloured buildings, and lots of stairs and hills which were unbearable! Bumped into Nancy and Robert again, getting out of their taxi to their hotel and their taxi driver helped me find the town centre. Eventually found the bus station and paid a wonderful 47 cents for my 15-20 minute bus ride to Sliema.

 Couldn't keep my eyes open on the bus but woke up at my stop, thankfully, and ran off. Found my new hostel, the NSTS Hibernian Residence and Hotel and checked in, which took ages as their computer systems were down. Found my room and met two French-Canadian girls there. But I apologised and said I had to sleep and they were just leaving anyway.

A few hours later I woke up and went for a walk round Balluta Bay. The reception here was shut so no interenet access or laundry access. Eeeew. Bought a Company magazine (my favouriteee magazine!) from a small shop run by a not so small lady. When I went to pay, she answered her mobile and started screetching in Maltese. There were another two people in the que behind me but she continued her phonecall, hurting my ears with her pitch! Went for dinner in a small cafe looking out to the sea, with a nice friendly waiter.

There's a public pool right there, in an enclosed section right at the sea. I love how everyone speaks English here!

The hostel itself is lovley, it's like an apartment! There's a huge dining area and kitchen, a few bedrooms filled with bunkbeds, a big shower room and a row of toilets. Then you can get on to the roof, where there's a laundry room and some sofas and a tv. But the best part is you can sit outside in the sun, on the roof, in total privacy. Love it!

I phoned my mum then retired back to the hostel, updating my diary on the last few hectic days and reading till I fell asleep. The girls in my room were going out on the town, wish I could have joined them but not interested in drinking just now at all really, it's too hot!

Another note on Malta....Valetta has a Dorothy Perkins, Claires Accesories, Marks and Spencers and a Zara! All the plug points are the same as back home too. I think I'm gonna like it here :)

So once I upload my photos I'm gonna take a bus into Valetta to spend the day there. There's some nice parks I could take a sandwich into with a magazine or something, just relax! I'll also maybe look into jobs too. Feeling quite rejected that my bar job lady hasn't contacted me back yet.

Cya!