Before and After

It appears that Grappa is an acquired taste.

Malta is cool!

Well, actually its pretty neat. But not cool – it is hot! Whew! I can’t imagine being there in the summer. But – lots to see. We stayed in the fishing village of Marsaxlokk.

Backing up a bit, Wilf and I flew from Victoria to Frankfurt, where we met up with our friends Nan and Greg. From there we flew to Malta. Greg had arranged an apartment rental for us – we had a great place right on the main street into town, short walk down and around the corner to the port.

All along the harbour are fish restaurants. We were impressed by the wide marble esplanade along the shore until we saw it in action on Monday morning – not for the convenience of the tourists strolling by,  it is actually a place for the fishermen to lay out their nets for inspection and repair.

We arrived on a Saturday, and clearly Saturday night is the night to be in town. Everyone was all dressed up for a night out – we were lucky to get a table. Having a table on the walkway meant we had front row seats for the parade of legs and cleavage that went by – wow! I don’t have any pictures from Saturday night – you’ll have to make do with Sunday morning, instead!

Being based in Marsaxlokk was convenient – close to the airport and we could take the bus to Valletta. For further excursions we rented a car. As Malta was under British control for a long time they drive on the left of the road – fortunately for us Greg is Australian and took control of the driving. Good thing – it was rather a combination of crazy Italian driving, on the wrong side of the road with lots and lots of roundabouts thrown in. Greg remained calm, cool and collected throughout, leaving the rest of us to cringe at the antics of the drivers around us.

And best layed plans, yadda yadda

First up - we're having a great time. Malta was hot and fun and interesting. Sicily has been hot until the rain blew in last night. Tonight we are in Piazza Armerina, swathed in fog and light rain. Still warmish, though.

We dropped Nan and Greg at the Catania airport noonish and switched cars. The cars deserve an entire post of their own (with pictures), but let it suffice to say that we went from the lap of luxury this morning to what may be classified as a clown car this afternoon! It got the job done and we are here.

We never did find the internet cafe in our town in Malta, and didn't see one in Syracusa, either. My netbook refuses to turn on, so I may be hooped even if we find wi-fi. Tonight's bed and breakfast has a computer we can use - although the Italian keyboard is a challenge! (I keep losing the @ symbol!) But I'll keep trying - pictures may have to wait.

It is only 5:30 pm, which is insanely early to consider dinner in these parts. But I'm hungry! I feel like we've driven across half of Sicily today and I'm ready. Besides, we want to try pasta alla Norma, so out into the fog we go!

Until later!!!!

This is what happens….

When Someone has a birthday that coincides with International Talk Like a Pirate Day. It begins with cards and the singing of Happy Birthday. Then – out come the pirate hats while during the post brunch visit to the frog prince at The Chalet in Deep Cove:

As the day progresses there are the so necessary pirate jokes, including:

What’s a pirate’s favorite inert gas? Arrrgon!

What’s a pirate’s favorite kind of sock? Arrrrgyle!

What’s a pirate’s favorite kind of cheese? Havarrrrti!

Soon enough comes cake:

And just in time, too, ‘cause this rascally fellow wanted some cake!

Happy birthday, sweetie! And many thanks to Martine for making it fun!

Horses – check. Pipers – check. We have a parade!

Bigfork, Montana is such a cute little town. We’ve been coming here since about 1968. Probably some 300 people lived here then. Geography has not allowed for much expansion of the original town, which has meant that it retains its small town character. The town is a tourist destination, and the tiny little main street has many interesting shops and restaurants to tempt visitors. Lots more people live in Bigfork and the Bigfork area now, but its still a sleepy town in the winter and it bustles all summer long.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience a small town Fourth of July parade this is the place to be. Having a parade here does pose some challenges, though.Grand Drive comes down the hill from the highway and along the bay. It meets Electric Avenue, requiring a right hand turn. Electric Avenue goes along for a bit before it meets a small one way bridge that carries traffic over the river and back up to the highway. The one way bridge can’t handle heavy traffic. This set up makes for two challenges – negotiating the right hand turn at Electric Avenue and the pile up by the bridge as the heavy trucks wait for the parade to end so they can turn around and come back – sort of a two for the price of one parade!

This year was warm but overcast so we neither baked in the sun nor shivered while clutching coffee cups. It was a big cheerful crowd, decked out in red, white and blue.

 

Every year the newest acquisition of the fire department is featured prominently in the festivities. We noted that the new ladder truck. with ‘105 foot ladder’ written right on the side, is passing probably the only building in town taller than two stories – two stories and a roof garden. But if someone builds something tall – they’re ready!

The young ladies from Bigfork High strut their stuff.

As promised – pipers!

And horses! Last year the local tea party gang had an entry in the parade. And they managed to spell Independence wrong. And their float was being pulled by a Japanese made truck. There was an interesting message in all that, but we stayed out of it.

And then there’s Superman!

He was back this year, and he brought his friends:

(note the web spinner action!)

Another year, another parade, another fun celebration!

Are there bees in the garage?

Nope – just a helicopter….

A teeny, tiny helicopter that sounds like a swarm of bees….

And yes, there are two airplanes hanging from the ceiling. And a set of golf clubs on standby.

On rainy, windy days the garage becomes a flying field – Mike, Bill and Dad take turns flying the helicopter. There are an assortment of other craft waiting for the weather to turn – airplanes, floatplanes, other helicopters – all at the ready.

I was looking around the living room the other day and started an inventory of the electronic toys. There are six of us here and we have amongst us:

2 laptops

3 netbooks

2 Internet tablets

5 regular cell phones

1 Blackberry

2 IPod Touch

1 IPod

1 IPod Nano

1 IPod Shuffle

2 mp3 players

6 digital cameras

1 handheld GPS/Nav system

and, a partridge in a pear tree….

Needless to say there is a wireless network in the house – with two routers for maximum coverage. And then there are all the headsets/headphones, chargers and connection cords and cards and so on that accompany all this.

As part of the Stoneman air fleet there also various airplane parts or parts of control systems about. And my knitting projects. And then there’s the books! Every body arrived with books to read and to swap.

Any wonder we fall into bed exhausted every night?

Giganteum update!

Well, we are here and it is there, but fret not, there is an update to the subject of my last posting. As we figured, the giant Himalayan lily bloomed after we left for our Montana visit. To our great relief our friends Kristin and Ken agreed to check up on the lily, and take pictures. And looky here!

I kind of wonder where they were standing to get these close ups, but Wow – aren’t those beautiful flowers?

Kristin also included the following to re-assure us that our white tailed friends haven’t been missing us one bit:

Yep – still wading right in….