Tuesday 8th September -Duomo We got off the bus and headed for the Piazza del Duomo in the centre of the city of Catania. We didn't continue on with the guide from the bus as we were all sick of her incessant chatter and although we had walkie talkies given out we just put them into our back packs and went looking for a coffee. It was meant to rain and the shy looked somewhat threatening so we picked a coffee shop in the Piazza that had big umbrellas ...

Tuesday 8th September - Ruined Catania We can't believe how dilapidated the whole place looks for the bus. There are buildings left in ruins and some have the roof caved it and others all locked up with no one caring for them. The whole area has been devastated about 6 times over the centuries by wars, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions so the building are newer than the last earthquake that flattened the whole town of Catania in1696. There is graffiti ev...

Tuesday 8th September - Catania We had booked a shore excursion from the ship for Panoramic Catania and Coastline that cost us $49.75 each. It turned out to be a bit of a waste as we drove along above the coastline, which we only caught glances of with only one stop to photograph a ruined Norman castle, Castello Ursino, and then on a little bit and then we turned around and came back to the township of Catania where we had 1.5 hours of free time. It turne...

Monday 7th September - Valletta We went on a Cruise supported trip today to Mdina, Mosta and to a handcraft village. We started off in the bus and Olivia was our guide and ended up as a very knowledgable young lady. Malta is over 3000 years old as far as written language goes but dates back to 2000BC when it was first settled. It seems that it has been settled and then conquered by almost everyone except the Germans during the 2nd World War. Malta has a very co...

Monday 7th September - Back at the Ship We had lunch and then headed for the town of Valletta right above the port. There is a lift that takes you up 260 feet but we didn't get to experience it as the taxi driver who tried to sell us a tour of the island told us that the town was closed from 12.00 till 4.00pm and that nothing was open. Back we went and stopped and whilst the ladies had coffee the boys had a local beer. Nothing for it but to head back to o...