{"id":1628,"date":"2020-10-06T18:29:24","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T18:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wenomadwehappy.com\/?p=1628"},"modified":"2020-10-06T18:29:24","modified_gmt":"2020-10-06T18:29:24","slug":"bucket-list-items","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wenomadwehappy.com\/index.php\/2020\/10\/06\/bucket-list-items\/","title":{"rendered":"Bucket List Items"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This last weekend was an incredible experience! We’ve settled into a (not very exciting) routine at home in Kalkara, so we really look forward to the weekend adventures. And, although Malta is not very big (if there was a non stop highway the length of the island – is that north\/south? I don’t know, I’m directionally challenged – it would be about 22 miles) we like to treat these weekend excursions as mini vacations. We stayed at a resort in Buggiba, which was great fun. The town itself isn’t much to speak of – it pretty much exists for tourism – and I’m certain under normal circumstances it would have been packed with people! Once again we had the ability to enjoy ourselves without the hordes. The reason we stayed here was that it was a excellent base for our two events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First of all, we stayed at the Dolmen Hotel. Any hotel that has it’s own prehistoric temple gets my vote!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Yep, right on the hotel grounds- 5,000 year old temple<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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It’s even prettier at night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of the many pools (and yes, that is a swim up bar on the left). My favorite, that I didn’t get a photo of, is the infinity edge pool right at the edge of the Mediterranean!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Husband’s apple tart for dessert on our last night at the hotel. Cute and yummy!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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We were super confused by this – Italian ice cream the American way. I threatened to go in and ask for an explanation but there were too many people in there!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We also might have found a gelateria (gelato shop) that surpasses Fior di Latte in Mdina. Sottozero was absolutely delicious and creamy. Good thing we’re going back to Mdina so we can verify the data…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We arrived in Buggiba Saturday morning as we had a boat to catch. Yep, boat. Ugh. The trip was scheduled for last week but bad weather had us reschedule (the boat company cancelled the excursion anyway). After calm winds all week the weather gods decided it should be windy again! Double ugh. Like 23 MPH winds. Take a dramamine you say. Negative. Can’t take anything like that. It’s a good thing I really really wanted to go on this trip! We were going to the Blue Lagoon. Bucket list item #1 this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Across the harbor in Buggiba is St Paul’s Island. The very one where the shipwrecked passengers and crew swam to for safety in 60 AD. The only things on the island are a huge statue of St Paul and ruins of a very old chapel. I’m guessing the statue wasn’t there when he shipwrecked…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A crazy lone church along the cliff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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One of the arches Malta has. The most famous one, the Azure Window, collapsed a few years ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Quite the cliffs they have here<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Close up of some of the many sea caves<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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And more cliffs!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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No wonder pirates loved to hide here. More caves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then we arrived at the first stop – the Crystal Lagoon. Unfortunately the waves were pretty bad. It made it hard to enjoy being in the water\ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sand is very white, combined with the clear water gives the incredible color.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We won’t talk about the time on the boat with it sitting there, rocking back and forth…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the end of Comino and we were in the Blue Lagoon. Oh Lordy. It’s breathtaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It would have been even better without the overcast skies. And the wind (waves).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Looking across at Gozo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Our boat had glass underwater. The Husband took this…I couldn’t get off the boat fast enough!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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There were still a fair number of people there. We arrived early in the day so were able to find a spot away from others, but by afternoon I was kind of appalled at how lax people were being.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Evil boat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The trip back on the boat was rough. Really rough. I was very very happy to be back on solid ground again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday brought us to Bucket List item #2. Right near Buggiba is the Mediterraneo Marine Park. I was going going to swim with dolphins\ud83e\udd88\ud83e\udd88\ud83e\udd88\ud83e\udd88<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were several of us from an assortment of countries. We all donned wet suits (it’s been a really long time since I’ve worn one of those!), received our instructions and headed over to the dolphin pool!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is my friend Melita<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jumping in tandem<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Impressively high jump<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was an incredible, humbling experience. Melita allowed us to touch her many times, threw water at me, and really showed her personality. These dolphins are not made to do things like let humans stand on them, they are allowed to do dolphin things. All of them were born in captivity – which is sad, but they also would not likely survive in the wild. The staff at the park also use this time to educate the participants on marine life and the state of our oceans and other waters. It was an outstanding reminder that we are not being good stewards of our planet. I am incredibly grateful to have had this opportunity! Thank you to the Husband for my Christmas present, Mother’s Day present and birthday present \ud83d\udc9e<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We also spent some time with the macaws. What beautiful birds they are!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Scarlet macaws – this perch was right behind us<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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This is Mac. He is 42 years old! Such a character! I love birds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was most assuredly a weekend to remember. Malta is such an amazing combination of rugged beauty, serene beauty, history and lively culture of today. Incredible place\u2764\ud83e\udd0d\u2764\ud83e\udd0d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This last weekend was an incredible experience! We’ve settled into a (not very exciting) routine at home in Kalkara, so we really look forward to the weekend adventures. And, although Malta is not very big (if there was a non stop highway the length of the island – is that north\/south? I don’t know, I’m … <\/p>\n

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