Malta
Il-Birgu

Discover travel destinations of travelers writing a travel journal on FindPenguins.
Travelers at this place
    • Day 7

      A quick visit to the 3 cities

      October 24, 2022 in Malta ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

      After crossing from Valletta we mused an hour or two in the streets of Birgu, one of the 3 Cities.
      After some phone calls placed on the occasion of birthdays (3 of them on the same day, October 24th, just in our family!) We went up to the end of the city, to the garden Il-Gardjola, also with an incredible view on Valletta right across another similar garden in the Valletta city.
      We loved the view a lot, the numerous stairways a bit less, but in any case we ensured we took care of crossing ducks...
      Read more

    • Day 1

      Hafen von Valletta

      August 19, 2022 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Nach einem Vierteljahundert wieder auf Malta....ich kann sagen: Malta ist sich treu geblieben und emsig am Bauen...all die Baustellen...

      Bild 1: Blick auf Valetta

      Bild 2- 4: Ruderer auf einem traditionellen Malta-boot namens Dghajsa.Read more

    • Day 8

      Kreatives Duett

      September 20, 2019 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

      Ein Bekannter hatte uns schon „vorgewarnt“, dass das Housekeeping in der Regel Handtücher und Bettwäsche zu Figuren formt.

      Und, tatsächlich: von Herzen (am ersten Abend) über Boote, Rosen und Muscheln war schon Einiges dabei. Aber heute haben sich unsere beiden Stewards, Nielzon & Harry, selbst übertroffen: die Bettwäsche formt einen Kraken. Und die Augen? Die Kaffeekapseln, die wir jeden Tag bekommen. 😄Read more

    • Day 8

      Elefantenballett

      September 20, 2019 in Malta ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      Was die anderen Kreuzfahrer heute Morgen konnten, holen wir heute Abend nach: unseren – im Vergleich zum Hafenbecken – riesigen „Pott“ beinahe auf der Stelle zu drehen, um den Hafen verlassen zu können.

      Punkt 17:00 Uhr erbebt das Schiff unter den anlaufenden Schiffsmaschinen und die Mein Schiff 5 beginnt ihre Pirouette.
      Und nur eine Viertelstunde später heißt es „Good bye, Malta“.
      Read more

    • Day 9

      Three for the price of one

      December 8, 2022 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

      Besides the layout of Valletta defining its history, it allows some fine day excursions. The so-called Three Cities Birgu, Isla and Bormla, while accessible by bus from central Valletta, are better reached by a ten-minute ferry ride. Birgu is seen at its best in late afternoon sunlight, just after a heavy shower. And around every corner there's a new perspective to be enjoyed, such as at St. Lawrence's Church.

      The 8th December is a public holiday, celebrating the Immaculate Conception. Cue for flags, cameras and marching bands.
      Read more

    • Day 7

      Malta | Valletta

      August 2, 2022 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      ... heute sind wir auf Malta. Einfahrt in den Hafen bei Sonnenaufgang, Frühstück und dann von Bord, solange es noch etwas kühler ist. Die Hafenmitarbeiter sind sehr unfreundlich, schicken uns 10m vor einem offenen Tor zurück zum offiziellen Ausgang, bei dem auch keiner irgend etwas macht ...? Wir fahren mit einem Taxi zu den "Upper Barrakka Gardens", weiter in die Stadt kann ich nicht, zu "bergig" ... wir trinken etwas in sehr lauschiger Umgebung, dann zurück zum Hafen, ein paar Souvenirs kaufen und ins Hard Rock Cafe.Read more

    • Day 15

      We have arrived

      May 25, 2017 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

      It has taken two very enjoyable weeks. The only problem with the car was two punctures.
      Now we will relax for a few days. Wash all the clothes and order the new tubes for the car.
      It feels good to have arrived.
      I checked the mileage. We have traveled a little over 2200 miles or 3500 kilometres. I've used about 2.5 litres of oil and 1.5 litres of water and lots of petrol which varied from €1.46 to 1.75 per litre.
      Mostly our speed was about 55 miles per hour except in the many hilly areas. Faster than this and the thin cross ply tyres made the steering uncomfortable and it was harder to see the pot holes and undulating surface coming.

      Our idea to not book accommodation in advance changed as we traveled because if we left it until about 5pm it was often too late and smaller places would not accept our booking so we started booking place at about 2pm when we knew where we could get to by the end of our day.
      Read more

    • Day 19

      Technical update

      May 29, 2017 in Malta ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

      I ordered the tubes and rim tapes on Friday morning from Longstone tyres in England. They arrived at 10.30 this morning via DHL. Great service! I took the tubes to a Vincent owner who has a tyre shop not far from here and he replaced three tubes and balanced five wheels and wanted only €25 so I have him €30 and said the extra 5 is a deposit on his Black Shadow.
      I now have 2 new spare tubes and 5 good tubes on the car.
      I also opened the ignition points gap which had closed to six thou and went around the whole car checking the tightness of nuts and bolts. The car is ready for the trip home.
      Read more

    • Day 28

      Etna and the ferry to Malta

      June 8, 2019 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

      I waited until almost 3pm before setting off from that idilic farmhouse in the hills just outside Spadafora Sicily. It was very hot so I abandoned my plan of a stroll round Noto and opted instead for a ride up mount Etna which I thought might be cooler. And what a ride it turned out to be. Everything was going just great until I reached the base then my sat nav decided it was time for another adventure so it took me up a road which became narrower and strewn with dumped rubbish until my way was blocked by two burnt out cars so I turned around and asked the sat nav to behave so it then took me for 45 minutes up one of the best roads of the trip. Perfect road surface with a mixture of fast and slow sweeping bends and many hairpins. The road had in several places been cut through the lava and not long ago. It was about 4.30 as I started the assent and the road was completely empty. Just me, it was incredible. At the top the tourists had all gone and everything was closed except the cafe bar where I met some Italian bikers who were not very chatty so I left them alone and just had a quick latte coffee and set off for another uninterrupted ride back down.
      I stopped for fuel just after 6.30 and didn't have time to waste to get to the ferry for 8.30 one motorway toll had a cue over a kilometre long so I turned into an Italian bikers and jumped it. The fee was 1.20 euros, hardly worth collecting.
      I boarded the new ferry to Malta at 8.20. it is called Saint John Paul ll Google it, it is not cheap but quite impressive. It was very full with no room for any more bikes or cars when we sailed.
      I love arriving in Malta so the drive at midnight from the port to the house was great. I couldn't settle once I arrived so I did all my clothes washing and had something to eat thanks to Laurie for getting me some milk and bread.
      It's funny how I don't get hungry when I'm on the bike. There have been several days when I have had only one meal.
      So now I relax for a while. I hear there is a classic car show in Valletta tomorrow and I'm just about to go and buy a ticket for a concert next Friday which features the man who sang the part of Freddy Mercury in the film Bohemian Rhapsody. He is singing at Fort At Angelo which is a five minute walk from the house.
      I will make an occasional post while here but not so frequent as while traveling.
      When I do travel back to the UK I'm thinking of going via Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, rather than ride up Italy. Stay tuned.
      Read more

    • Day 29

      Valletta and the car show

      June 9, 2019 in Malta ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

      Malta is experiencing a heat wave. 34c today dropping tomorrow.
      I love the ferry ride to Valletta. I have a card like the London Oyster card which I use to travel on the bus or the ferry or to rent a electric assist bicycle. As I'm over 60 traveling this way is very cheap.
      As you see in one of the photos the American university of Malta is now up and running in Cospicua.
      I went to see the classic car show in Valletta opposite parliament buildings. The standard was as expected very high.
      Not many tourists today, only one cruise ship so it was nice to walk around despite the heat.
      I read in today's paper Ryanair are starting a new airline based in Malta called Malta Air. Ten new planes and 60 destinations.
      Malta just gets better and better, every time I come there are improvements.
      Read more

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Il-Birgu, Birgu

    Join us:

    FindPenguins for iOSFindPenguins for Android