Back again at Malta  !! ... and delighted about it, too.

Even though we wandered on our own the last time .... we still didn't have time to do everything we wanted.

Soooo ... this time we concentrated on the things 

we missed out on before.

( this was our designated  "tramping  thru  really  old  stuff " visit. ).

This is the  "Grand Harbor" at Valletta

The Great Siege Bell  ... love it !!!

Great idea for this place, too.

( it seems that throughout history ...

invading Malta  was the general pastime  .... for most of Europe  and countries on the Mediterranean  .)

The harbors ... like this one at Marsaxlokk ..

 are delightful places,     full of colorful boats.

And the island is just one enchanting grotto after another ... each more delightful than the last.

Ta' Hagrat  Temple   --  4000 B.C.

Ggantija  Temple  --  3500 B.C.

Mnajdra  Temple  --  3500  B.C.

Tarxien  Temple  --  3100  B.C.

Hagar  Qim  Temple  --  3100  B.C.

Yet again... we thought it would fun to explore on our own  ( sans any tour groups )

Umberto  Bridge

Spent over an hour just hanging around the market.

It was a hoot just to listen to the people shouting at each other & watching the hand signals and body language.

Yummmmm ..... EEL

Aretusa  Spring

Artemis  Fountain

Greek Theatre ... 5th  Century

Tomb  of  Archimedes

Roman  Amphitheatre

The town is famous for the Animated  Cathedral  Clock

Music plays .... Horses & Chariots move across the opening ........

 The Lion moves and roars ........

The Rooster moves and crows

Been to Naples so many times we've lost count ... and taken just about every picture

that can be taken.

So we just bummed around without the camera  & enjoyed the outdoor cafes and shops.

Mt.  Vesuvius

It was another day of exploring on our own.

Also thought if  something  in one of the dress shops 

"called to me", I'd do some shopping.

After all ... This  IS  France , isn't  it ?

Good Grief !!   What happened to the French fashion industry  ??!!!

I'll tell you what  !!! ....  Wal-Mart has better looking stuff !!

Well, at least ... it was a good day for Roy.

The other passengers disembarked here & headed for home.

We got a hotel & stayed on,... because some friends from England decided to fly down & join us for the day.

Barcelona has always been a fun place for us ....

and we've developed a traditional habit 

of strolling along the length of the  Ramblas.        

Always great fun !!

An interesting architectural contrast  of  traditional  vs.  new.                          I'm sure you recognize the one on the right, as one of  Gaudi's structures.

Love these little courtyards .... not visible from the street ...

but always a surprising delight when you enter the dwelling.

We all had dinner at the oldest restaurant in Barcelona....

Los  Caracoles  ( established  in  1835 )

What  a GREAT  Way  to end a trip  !!

But now we had to head for home ... and laundry, mail, and email .

We also had to get in shape for our next trip .... which would begin in 4 weeks......

The trip to Rwanda ... to search for the Mountain Gorillas.

( parts of which turned out to be a test of endurance  ... making us grateful for our physical  preparations )