drron29

The Monastery.

Can't help being a little overwhelmed visiting a war cemetery and noting how young most were. Now off up the mountain to the Agia Triada monastery.

The next day we were in Souda Bay. I slept in and only had half an hour to showere,get dressed, have a very quick breakfast and head out on excursion. We started off heading to the Commonwealth War Cemetery. The Australians and New Zealanders were heavily involved in the battle for Crete in WW2. Once again let down by the British Command. Even though they knew the German plan they left a lot of the force at the harbours Thus giving the German paratroopers a better chance of securing airfields which they did although they had a large number of casualties. First some scenery on the way. And the cemetary. What I didn't know was that there were more than twice the number of New Zealanders that died here than Australians. This next picture is about a third of the NZ section of the cemetery.

The next day was a sea day. We won at trivia and I began my new putting technigue of drinking a G&T during the game. It works a treat. I did also do 24 laps around the deck. Two sessions of 12 laps. Trying to keep my steps up. Lunch at the grill and I had the steak dish which is thinly cut. After all that excitement it was back to Atlantide for dinner. As usual new specials of the day. Rojaan had the scallops entreefrom the main menu and I was very happy with my tuna Nikkei. I then had a salad. For Mains Rojaan went for the Spencer gulf prawns whilst I had the glazed duck. We passed on desserts.

Dinner again at Atlantide. Now when we go into the restaurant the Asst. Maitre'D comes out, takes Rojaan by the arm and leads us to Table 35 which is served by her favourite waiter. Already a pillow on the couch where she sits. As well whenever I order a steak dish now I'm not asked how I want but it just comes rare. So the night's specials. Karolina comes over with a glass of wine she thinks I would like but first I have to tell her what it is. I said well it is obviously a South american wine with one of my favourite types of grape. She knows I like my carmenere and indeed that is what it was. We both had the teriyaki glazed chicken thigh to start. Beautiful. I then had the tomato soup but you have had enough photos of that. Rojaan then had the salmon from the everyday menu and I had the veal chop just as I like it.

The last of Valletta. Some smoke from the MSC funnels backing up the feeling that the problem is due to the engines. Her sister ship had engine problems last year.

Back to the Moon.

There were more flowers in the Lower Baracka gardens.

Not much of a garden but the views are great.

And back on the bus for the third garden - the Upper Baracka Gardens where the garden is definitelynot the major attraction. Past a vineyard in Valetta.

A tree used in the dence of Malta in ancient times. Quite difficult to climb. And it's fruit.

A greenhouse including some orchids. Now back to the bus to go off to the second garden. A lot of the houses have this outside the front door. So the second garden. The orinal palace is now the President's home. Sadly we miss this event.

An overgrown grove of olive trees. but it is no longer a part of the property.

The wing that has been sold off. Now we go outside.

I obviously made an impression as nearly everyone left in Athens. Only 20 left for the next segment.

Now views of the garden..

The original owner. He was a banker and owned Malta's brewery. The church from the Palace. They were having a wedding later that day and this was one of many tables.

The original family still owns this place but has sold off a part of the Pace and some land. They also owned another palace at the port. It was sold to become acasino.

So just across the road from the church in the last post is the Palazzo Parisio where the first garden is. They were having a big wedding later that day and obviously we were interfering with their schedule so we toured the building first;

Well running hot on the Moon. Just extended our winning run at Trivia to 6 with a perfect 20 today and double points. I have improved my putting with the simple change of consuming a gin and tonic whilst putting. Started this 6 days ago but missed 1 day. Have won 4 times and once second. Last 2 days have won by 6 shots. Two holes in one each day helped.

Now we are in the Grand Harbour Valletta.Looks like a naval ship and The MSC Seaview. which went into dry dock 3 weeks before for an expected 2 week job Not expected out for another 2 weeks. Suspected to be due to engine problems. And off we go on a Gardens of Malta tour. This was not part of the tour but merely from the bus.

So an update on the entertainment on the Moon. The current Voices of Silversea will be the last on the Moon. They will be leaving the Moon on August 17th. The replacement will be a group of 2 singers, 6 dancers and a backing band -they were unsure of the numbers in the backing. Thought to be called the Silversea Ensemble. They are already on the smaller ships and the Muse now or in the next couple of weeks. Then the Moon. A new Voices of Silversea is due to start very soon on the Dawn and the usual contract is 6 months but might be shorter this time. So on the Moon in June it will be the current Voices of Silversea. However I rate them as the best I have heard on Silversea. Their Queen show was excellent.