After setting two alarms on my iPhone and iPad for 6:30 AM I still did not sleep soundly, worried that I would not hear the alarm and miss my ride to the port. |
| Port of Pozzallo |
Needless to say I was awake early and, my driver arrived early so I checked in 70 minutes before departure.
The ferry, MV Jean de Vallette, is quote sizable and besides passengers and cars also carries SUV's (some towing trailers, tractor trailer rigs and even a few motorcycles.
We departed on time and are now approximately a mile offshore heading South-West in a slight swell. It is a beautiful day and we will be in Malta in one and a half hours.
I was able to test my new Bad Elf GPS in conjunction with my iPad and it worked like a charm. It was as if I was on the bridge and looking at their navigation display. The ferry moved at a good pace, 26.7 knots or 30 Miles per Hour.
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| Bad Elf GPS Pro |
I discovered this morning on the way to the port that most of the employment in Pozzallo is provided by the local government and many men, as it used to be in the Cayman Islands, go to sea serving on ships around the world. I was also informed by the owner of the B & B that he normally spends his winters in Barbados.
Disembarkation in Malta was quick and painless. No formalities, walk down the gangplank, collect your suitcase and walk out and get a taki.
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| Osborne Hotel |
The hotel that I chose, the
Osborne is very nice, very centrally located in an old building. My room is overlooking the street in front of the hotel, which is all decorated for New Year. I strolled around briefly before sunset and took a few pictures as well as bought myself a pre-paid data SIM so I can get online while I am here, my only complaint is the hotel does not have free WiFi. With internet service today being so inexpensive I feel that it is shortsighted not to supply it free to guests. I understand why they do it; it is cheaper and less trouble to contract the whole thing out to a third party, but from a customer service perspective it is not the right approach.
Tomorrow I will go off and start exploring. Velletta on first impression looks extremly interesting. There are so many old fortifications, in fact so much of the construction is very familiar to me from Bermuda and the numerous fortifications the british build there.
I also want to go and see the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni and The Tarxien Temples. There will be lots to do over the next week.
