Sliema, Malta

We had booked well in advance for our trip to Malta as both Clare and I had already signed up to the Vodafone Malta Marathon and Half Marathon.  Thankfully, we also had babysitters on hand to cheers us in in the guise of my Ma n PA (who had only just arrived back on terra firma from their last jaunt).  Whilst on the way to the airport, my Pa was telling us that he had been sat up until 4am trying to secure us another apartment as the one we had booked had cancelled on him a mere 12 hours before our flight.  Thankfully, all was now sorted and we had a new place to check into on arrival in Sliema.

Our transfer mini bus was waiting for us at the airport as planned, but as soon as we gained internet connection a frightful email arrived.  Our new apartment had cancelled our accommodation, we were homeless in a foreign country.  As I had been only a couple of years earlier, I knew of a superb donut shop that we could sit down, re-assess and find a new, new base.

After searching high and low we decided to romp across town and edge our bets at a small student hotel a short walk from the finish line of the marathon.  The staff here could not be faulted, they listened to our plight and offered us everything they had (and even at a discounted rate).  The rooms were nothing like what we had initially booked, but we were glad of a bed to rest our weary legs.

This purely was a whistle stop visit to the tiny island and we had convinced (although much convincing is never necessary) our great friends the Beewells to partake in a little jaunt as well.

On Saturday we took a trip to the stunning city of Valletta via ferry, sampled rabbit pie and local spirits, had a good old mooch and then headed back to Sliema for a hearty carb loaded evening meal before early to bed ready to cover most of the island in the morning on legs.

To find out how we did in the run, you will have to read the post dedicated to that one, but it was a bloody hot day again.

We headed back home with medals round our necks, one less toenail than we had arrived with and my ma had sustained bruising after diving off a high kerb under a bus!

With only three days away, there was enough happening to make this weekend break one to remember.