MDINA– Old capital of Malta, from antiquity to the Medieval period. Nick named the Silent city, when Valletta became the capital in 1571.
Mdina, the fortified old cityIn an area that would have been a ” moat ‘ below the entrance.Brunch with a view.
Gozo – Malta’s 2nd inhabited island. 14kms in length. The islands are serviced by the Gozo Channel ferry line. Cost for visitors is Euro 15.70 car and driver.
Jenna-wade and AveryTyler, Jennie and Sergio- on our wayTa Pinua – Basilica of the Blessed Virgin(National Shrine)Tal Mixta caves – Don’t go too close to the edge?????
Leaving Malta for France.
First time ever, driving a rental, left hand drive and then driving in the right hand lanes. Daunting at first, but after awhile it becomes second nature. Reims- Champagne capital of France.Notre Dame Cathedral. For more than 1000 years French Kings were crowned here. Known for its stained glass windows and Gothic carved portals.Jennie and Gayle with the one day old retiree, mother of the Champagne establishment.
BRUSSELS- BELGIUM Capital city of Belgium, and the Administrative centre of the European Union
Grand Place- market square surrounded by guild halls.
Town Hall
Manneken Pis- 17th century bronze statue.The Brussels quartet.St Michaels and St Gudula cathedral. The dude in front. Was he taking a selfie or were we both taking shots of each other?????Belgium Royal Palace.Yours truly outside the entrance to the European Union.What Belgium is famous for.Also famous for its beer. Not all are shown here. Alcohol content up to 12% . 304 active breweries in Belgium.Testing the strong stuff.
Atomium – symbol of Belgium and Brussels
Built for the World trade fair in 1958. Offers a 360 degree panoramic view from a height of 102 metres. Each sphere is 18m in diameter, and the tubes are 3.30 metres wide. We were able to visit 5 of the 9 spheres.Restaurant on the top floor
BRUGGE – Venice of the north. Flanders region of N.W Belgium. Famous for it’s canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings.
Burg square. 14th century city hall.
JABBEKA- Belgium
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Just about 10pm, beautiful sunset.
DUNKIRK in northern France.
1940 Operation Dynamo, the WW2 evacuation of Allied soldiers from the city beaches.
Base lodging in Chepy northern France in the Somme region. Places visited included- EU (pronounced OO), St Valery-Sur- Somme, Aberville and Sur Le Treport.
EU- Louis Philippe castleRiver Somme and walkway.Le Treport- chalk hills like in Dover
Lunch- far too much to eat. Very tasty mussels.
Summary of my travels: Almost everything in villages, towns and cities work.
Public transport systems are very efficient.
Even with the Ukraine war some 2000kms away, most people seem ‘happy, talking, eating and drinking- mainly drinking.
Wind turbines everywhere in Belgium and France. Huge agricultural tracts of land under crop.
Fuel price lowest seen e1.91to e2.15 (R35.00) which is what I paid.
