INTRODUCTION My relationship with the Kasbah du Toubkal goes back several years when I was there to lead groups up Mt Toubkal (4167m), North Africa's highest mountain. In 2018, on a Toubkal ascent, our guide Mohamed, asked if I could provide some internationally accredited training for the local mountain guides. I discussed this with Mike McHugo at the Kasbah and this culminated in late 2018 with me going out to deliver Rescue Emergency Care (REC) First Aid Training. Covid-19 prevented further training until now when Helen Menhinick and I travelled there to deliver a UIAA Mountain Skills Course and two REC First Aid Courses as volunteers. Helen and I delivered this training through our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies which meant the local mountain guides received the training without cost to them. Many thanks to Discover Limited for facilitating this training. JANUARY 11th: Travel to LHR and overnight at the Garden Inn Hotel at T2 Helen travelled down to Cardiff to stay the night before but had arrived in sufficient time for us to drive over to Cowbridge to visit the Rohan Designs shop where we both decided on a few new items for the trip to Morocco. We left Cardiff after lunch and had a drive up to LHR in appalling weather conditions with heavy rain throughout the journey which made for challenging driving conditions. Arriving at T5 we dropped the car off with Purple Parking and checked in for our flights the next day before taking the Heathrow Express over to T2/T3 and the Garden Inn Hotel, by Hilton. Unknown to me there are now two Garden Inn Hotels by Hilton and I'd booked the wrong one. The front desk staff said it was happening all the time and not made clear for online bookings. The very efficient Duty Manager phoned the other hotel and cancelled our reservation and arranged for a full refund whilst we checked into the hotel where I thought I'd made our reservation. Dinner was very good before we both retired for an early night due to an early start the following morning. JANUARY 12th: Flight to Marrakech on BA 0668 at 0925 for onward travel to the Kasbah du Toubkal The 0530hrs Heathrow Express took us back to T5 where we were soon through formalities and into the departure lounge for breakfast before our 0925hrs flight which was slightly delayed and we took off at about 1000. The flight was smooth and service very good all the way to Marrakech. Landing on time though, we passed through formalities with our 5 checked bags which weighed in at 111kg. The training we were to deliver required a large amount of equipment. A driver from the Kasbah du Toubkal met us and we had checked into our rooms at the Kasbah du Toubkal by 1700hrs. Before and after dinner, we unpacked our luggage/training equipment and set up the Conference Room ready for the courses to follow. Helen's thoughts for the day: The start of a big adventure and an amazing experience. Thanks to Alan I had been invited to be involved in this voluntary training program for the Kasbah. To have the opportunity to deliver highly reputable and accredited courses, UIAA and REC, in the Atlas Mountains to very experienced mountain guides and the Kasbah staff was one that I wasn't going to let pass - we had waited 2 years for this trip! It was a long day but all went without hitch. The staff at the Kasbah are always friendly, welcoming and obliging and the food and facilities there are fantastic. JANUARY 13th: UIAA Mountain Skills - Conference room based theory followed by an afternoon cultural walk The morning introduction to UIAA Mountain Skills went well with an enjoyable lunch up on the roof terrace. The participants were 5 males and two female local mountain guides who were all a pleasure to work with. After lunch Helen and I with seven local mountain guides left the Kasbah for an afternoon of practical skills coupled with a cultural walk of the area to the south. Throughout the course, Helen delivered most of the course content and the course participants hung on her every word and learnt so much from Helen with only some minimal content from myself. Helen's thoughts for the day: It was great to meet all the participants - amazing people. Mostly, their first language is Berber, then Arabic, French and lastly English, but their English is pretty much faultless. They spend much of their time trekking between 1800m - 4167m altitude in snowy conditions with groups of clients from all over the world. We shared lots of stories and experiences. The guides are extremely grateful to get internationally accredited certification. Much of the course content they know and is their everyday skills - it was mostly map and compass work and navigational skills which they were very eager to learn. UIAA Mountain Skills Syllabus: Mountain Skills Scheme & Representative Bodies - Mountain Hazards - Mountain Environment - Maps - Navigation - Route Planning - Personal Equipment - Emergency Procedures - Movement on Steeper Terrain and broken ground Maps: Adventure Map 5 - Toubkal 1:25000 (Imlil, Mizane Valley and the Toubkal Massif) by the Oxford Alpine Club/GeoGraphics ranger Map 4 - Toubkal 1:50000 (Imlil, Oukaimeden, Toubkal Massif and Jebel Iferouane by the Oxford Alpine Club/GeoGraphics Participants: Sara Chakir - Latifa Asselouf - Lahcen Amerda - Abdelatif Aztat - El Houssain Ait Lmouden - Abdelaziz Aouzal - Mohamed Aziam Route: Kasbah du Toubkal - Aremd - Kasbah du Toubkal JANUARY 14th: UIAA Mountain Skills - Day 1 of "Trekking in Style" Our group set out from the Kasbah du Toubkal and made frequent training stops for practical skills as we climbed away from Imlil and it's western smaller villages. The small settlement of Arhrene was so named because it means "warmth" as it was where the sun hits first as it climbed over the mountains from the south. Reaching the Tizi n'Mzik in the heat of the day for lunch, an area was set out with ground coverings and mattressses with cushions and a delicious and lengthy lunch followed. It was all downhill from the Tizi n'Mzik after lunch with some narrow sections of trail but nothing too serious for the group or clients from the Kasbah who might opt for the "Trekking in Style" itinerary. We paused at the Cimitiere Sidi Oussem Refallene before descending into the large village of Tizi Ouseem with it's narrow streets and having to duck under low arches which linked houses to each other. Beyond the village was the mettalled road which we followed to Ait Aissa for the short climb up to the Azzenden Trekking Lodge where Helen and I were soon settled in to our nice warm en-suite bedrooms for the next two nights. The itinerary called for the next day for us to visit the Cascades d'Irhoulidene which would have meant a long day, back along the mettalled road to Tizi Ouseem (1836m) and beyond, up to the small settlement at Azib Tamsault (2225m) and then a further steep climb up to the waterfalls where falling water would be minimal as the snow hadn't melted. The paths would be icy and slippery in places too. With our seven local mountain guides, Helen and I agreed it simply wouldn't be worth the effort so opted for an exploration of the nearby, local villages. Helen's thoughts for the day: Fantastic mountainous scenery! The route up to the tizi (pass/col/bwlch) was ideal for ticking off features and allowing the candidates to know where they were on the map. The lunch of course was amazing and set us up for the long downhill. The valleys are so deep, just when you think you've come down along way, there is a whole lot more to go. Compass skills were taught and put into practice to be sure the right path was taken. The accommodation at the lodge is perfect and very relaxed. Route: Kasbah du Toubkal - Tizi n'Mzik (2479m) Pass - Cimitiere Sidi Oussem Refallene - Tizi Ouseem Village- Ait Aissa - Azzenden Trekking Lodge JANUARY 15th: UIAA Mountain Skills - Day 2 of "Trekking in Style" A long morning with our team was spent exploring the local villages with plenty of steep climbs and descents on local paths. We walked northwards through Agouinane before descending to Tahaliuine with it's quirky red walled very narrow passageways and more arches to duck under before crossing the valley stream where we rested. Throughout this walk, Helen delivered exceptional mountain training skills to our participants, always eager to learn from her. Climbing up to the next village we then contoured southwards to Tizi Zougoart which was a larger village where Sara talked to the many children before we were taken into a local house with a very large, carpeted terrace where very enjoyable refreshments were served. We must have spent an hour on the terrace before heading back to our lodge with yet another steep descent and the following ensuing steep climb. Lunch at the lodge was served soon after. A late afternoon Mountain Skills theory session on the terrace was enjoyed by all and this was followed by a day into night navigation excercise which was completed by about 2000 when dinner was served. The stars were crystal clear and I pointed out some of the ones which I could name and Helen explained the moon phases and how to identify them - essential when needing to know how it light/dark it might be at night. Dinner turned out to be a very special dinner as our participants had clubbed together to purchase and slaughter a goat for dinner. A very tasty chicken dish was also served and the evening culminated with a very enjoyable Berber song and dance routine which Helen and I enjoyed immensely apart from having to contribute to the dancing session. The chef brought out his kitchen pans to make improvised instruments and a water drum was used as a bass drum. Helen's thoughts for the day: A welcomed relaxed day after quite a tiring day the day before. The exploration through the houses on bedrock paths and sometimes loose footings wasn't a breeze and care was needed sometimes. It was so interesting to see the culture, people and the way they lived. The road section was ideal for introducing 'pacing' and further practices of 'setting the map' followed. On return to the lodge we layed out the maps outside on the veranda and studied map features, scales and contours. The atmosphere at dinner was a wonderful experience. Lahcen (Front Desk Manager) from the Kasbah had driven round to join us and the cooks/muleteers were there too. It was an honour to be treated in such a special way - for them the purchase and slaughter of the goat is rare and the singing and dancing only happens for very special occasions. What an experience!! Route: Azzenden Trekking Lodge - Agouinane - Tahaliouine - Tizi Zougouart - Azzenden Trekking Lodge JANUARY 16th: UIAA Mountain Skills - Day 3 of "Trekking in Style" Our final day of practical Mountain Skills training using day 3 of the "Trekking in Style" itinerary saw us leave the Azzenden Trekking Lodge after breakfast. Climbing high above the lodge with our participants navigating all the way, we passed through a small alpine-like area where crops were growing before entering a wooded area which led us up to the Tizi Oudite (2221m). The area around the pass had remnants of ancient settlements which we looked at whilst enjoying a rest. Beyond the pass we descended through woodland before joining the new 5Km Precipice Path which had been constructed by local communities which included the local mountain guides. To be told that this impressive path had been constructed in 3 months was hard to believe but is was part of a number of path improve schemes led by the local mountain guides to improve trekking opportunities in the area. I think that this 5Km Precipice Path was my most enjoyable walk for a number of years. Lunch was on a spur overlooking Tadert across the valley and as always, was a generous and enjoyable experience. Southwards the views were of Imlil and Mt Toubkal beyond. Before leaving we thanked our two cooks and after consulting with Sara and Lahcen, Helen and I gave them a tip. The group split up as we arrived in Imlil as Helen wanted to browse the shops so Sara and I accompanied her before climbing back up to the Kasbah. Several of us enjoyed a coffee before the shop browsing trip commenced. The shop browsing trip was enjoyable and resulted in Helen making a few purchases and familiarising herself with a couple of good shops before she returns with her Bryn Walking for Women group next month. Back at the Kasbah that night, Helen and I enjoyed a bottle of Tuareg white wine with dinner kindly given to us by Mike the owner. Helen's thoughts for the day: Another amazing day. We left the lodge fairly early so that we could incorporate lots of teaching and learning on our route. We had split the group into two teams on the very first day - this worked really well which gave a relaxed competitive spirit, all in good humour. From the lodge to the tizi we did several timing exercises and compass work. The path from the tizi needed care at times - either narrow or loose, but in general nothing worse than a UK coastal path. Back in Imlil, going round the small shops with Sara was fun. She is well respected, well known and liked and an asset to the community. JANUARY 17th: UIAA/REC Essential Outdoor First Aid (8hrs) for local mountain guides Our seven Mountain Skills participants were joined by four other local mountain guides for this First Aid course which Helen and I jointly delivered over the course of the day: 6hrs of Basic First Aid followed by 2hrs of High Altitude First Aid which included an introduction to the use of a Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC). With 2% - 5% of trekkers at the high lodges suffering from altitude related illnesses then perhaps consideration should be given to having a Portable Altitude Chamber and O2 being located up there along with some basic First Aid equipment. Helen's thoughts for the day: A great fun day with lots of participation from the group. Alan makes the course dynamic and interesting so it's very enjoyable for me to assist and be part of it. JANUARY 18th: UIAA Mountain Skills Administration//REC Life Saver First Aid (4hrs) for Kasbah staff The morning was intended for UIAA post-course administration and the online graduation and certification process and this was completed by about 1300hrs with five of the participants being able to become registered and complete the online course elements. Unfortunately two participants were unable to receive the UIAA invitation to register for Mountain Skills completion at all so I'll need to discuss this with Steve Long of UIAA on my return home (this has now been resolved and all participants have completed the course). The afternoon REC Life Saver First Aid course was intended for twelve staff from the Kasbah but only seven were able to attend. Because of language details, Helen and I thought it might be best if we abandoned the formal Powerpoint presentation and go for an ad lib approach to the syllabus combining the normal course content with specific items requested by the seven participants. This wouldn't have been possible without Sara's excellent translation skills and the teamwork which she and Helen delivered to great effect during the course including the very realistic outdoor scenarios and evacuation by stretcher back into the Conference Room. Helen and I also managed a walk down into Imlil for a last browse of the shops which resulted in me carrying her new carpet back up to the Kasbah! I arranged a special dinner for Helen on this last night at the Kasbah du Toubkal: Lemon Chicken with Olives and Couscous with the rest of the Tuareg white wine. Helen's thoughts for the day: The first couscous all week - thanks Alan!! At the end of the course for the mountain guides, lunch time, Alan and I were presented with gifts to show their gratification. It was so heartfelt I completely welled up and I am as I write this. A wonderful group of people. The afternoon course for the Kasbah staff was great fun and again Sara shone with her many skills - translating and delivering. Although I used some of the power point slide it was mainly for photographs and it was great to deliver and teach exactly what they need for their environments. FEEDBACK:
JANUARY 19th: Return to Marrakech for one night at the Riad Les Yeux Bleus We were ready to leave the Kasbah soon after 0900hrs and walked down to the office in Imlil where we were soon approached by our driver. We'd arranged with reception in the Kasbah to stop off at the Menara Gardens on our way to the riad but this was difficult for the driver to comprehend although we did manage to achieve this for a brief walk around the lake. The main lakeside building there provides a "stunning" example of Islamic architecture which required us both to pay £5 in order to use the free toilets urgently required after our drive to Marrakech - an expensive relief! We were soon close to the Riad Les Yeux Bleu and after being dropped off by our car, a porter with trolley transported our bags a distance of less than 100m to charge us the equivelent of £4 and we were soon checked in. The check in process was brief to say the least with no normal briefing about facilities on site. My room was available so we dumped the bags in there before heading out into the Medina. Room 12 was compact with no walking space either side of the bed so access and exiting the very comfortable bed was via the base of the bed. The bathroom was well equipped so room 12 I considered adequate for just the one night. Helen's bigger room was available later and her's even had a heater which I hadn't had in Room 12. Room 12 was next to the small pool whilst Helen was upstairs. Music was playing constantly in all areas which wasn't necessary late at night. On our walk into Jemaa el-Fna, the main square and market place of Marrakech we both enjoyed the various suqs we walked through and enjoyed an excellant pasta lunch on the rooftop terrace at the Restauraunt Taj Medina. The Taj Medina might make an excellent dinner venue one night next month when Helen and her group are in Marrakech after their trek. After visiting Jemma el-Fna and the nearby Koutoubia Mosque, we returned to the riad with a brief pause for a shave at a local barbers before getting back into the riad for Helen to get into her room which hadn't been ready earlier. For the evening, we walked back to Jemmaa el-fna to watch the night food markets being set up before the cold evening air set in and we sought a suitable venue for dinner. We'd looked at several venues before decidng on the very pleasantly appointed La Table de la Koutoubia which looked out directly and very closely to the Koutoubia Mosque. We enjoyed a pleasant dinner and evening before walking back into the Jemaa el-Fna for Helen to hire a Tok Tok to get us back to the riad. After a bouncing and swerving journey through some of the night suqs, only narrowly missing people out to explore this part of the city we arrived back. Back at the riad we sat by the pool for a short while trying to use the very poor wifi on offer before retiring for the night. Helen's thoughts for the day: A very worthwhile trip to Marrakesh as I'll be here next month with 8 women - another trip we have waited 2 years for. The suqs are good fun but you mustn't look at anything for more than a second or catch a stall holder's eye - otherwise you'll soon be spent out. JANUARY 20th: Flight to LHR T5 for the onward drive to Cardiff Our 1735hrs BA 0669 flight meant we had the morning for a final walk into the Jemaa el-fna for morning coffee. Breakfast supposedly started at 0800hrs but it was more like 0820hrs before we saw any coffee although some of the breakfast food was on the table. It was so cold in the breakfast area which was alongside reception that Helen asked for heater's to be lit which we sat around in our duvet jackets but I thought the quality of breakast was to my liking. I enjoyed this last morning in Marrakech with a light lunch before being back in the riad ready for our porter and trolley £5 for the very short distance to our vehicle and airport transfer. Check in and formalities were effortless and we were soon in the Royal Air Maroc Lounge which was one of the worst lounges I've ever been in. Our access was because we were BA passengers and both airlines are in the One World Alliance which I'm a member of because of my frequent Qatar Airways flights who are also in the same alliance. The flight back was good with no delays at LHR T5 for immigration and luggage and with my car ready and waiting for us, We arrived back in Cardiff before midnight. Helen's thoughts for the day: The start of our last day wasn't really as I thought it would be - the facilities at the riad I thought were confusing and completly lacking in instruction. It was perishingly cold and nowhere to eat breakfast without being more or less outside. It was dark, cold and late on arrival. The evening before was also cold and there was nowhere communal to sit where it was warm. I hope next month will be warmer. We had a light lunch with great views (another place I've earmarked) and we had good fun exploring the suqs once more and coffee in the main square. So all in all worthwhile. Final thoughts: Alan - Another enjoyable CSR training trip to the fabulous Kasbah du Toubkal with Helen whose excellent skills were highly enjoyed and appreciated by our "Magnificent Seven" group of local mountain guides. A highly rewarding trip for Helen and I and it was a pleasure to work with Helen in Morocco - many thanks.
Final thoughts: Helen - I hope that this opportunity arises again. There is nothing more satisfying than feeling really appreciated and knowing that your work is really worthwhile in this remote Berber community. Working with Alan is easy and without difficulty especially in situations that could be challenging otherwise. We plan and discuss everything together every step of the way - We make a good professional team and I think the participants appreciate the relaxed and fun environment that we create to learn the important and lifesaving skills in the mountains.
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INTRODUCTION: This Menhinick Outdoors Limited (Bryn Walking) 5-day "Walking in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park" was based at a pleasant and well furnished farmhouse on the northern slopes of the Preselli Hills. I assisted Helen Menhinick of Bryn Walking with the event and I always enjoy visits to the area. The 2023 event with different walks will be April 24th - 28th using the same accommodation - please contact me for details. October 24th: Arrivals at the accommodation and briefing of the week ahead October 25th: The Golden Road across the Preseli Hills The Golden Road, running along the spine of the Preseli Hills (Mynydd Preseli), is one of the finest high ground walking ways in Wales. This gently undulating route, with views as far as Ireland, deep into South Wales, and north up the majestic arc of Cardigan Bay towards Snowdonia, links ancient monuments and burial places, cairns and rocky tors. Its star features are two of the possible quarries from which stones are believed to have been taken to Stonehenge 4000 years ago. Helen drove the group to Bwlch-gwynt (Alt. 404m) where we parked and met three more of our group who were fairly local and didn't require accommodation. It was a wet day with no views until later in the day. The route was very easy to follow on this misty morning and quite wet underfoot until we reached the ancient cairn at Foel Feddau (Alt. 467m). The boulder strewn landscape at Cerrigmarchogian could have been the source of the Blue Stones used at the Stonehenge and was interesting to walk through. We reached Carn Breseb after a easy descent and decided to have lunch here as the views were better from this lower altitude. Rejoining the main route east at Carn Gwr we continued eastwards before leaving the Golden Road at Carn Gaseg to head north to the Foel Drygarn ancient hill fort within which are three ancient bronze age burial cairns. The hill, the furthest east of the Preseli Hills can be seen from miles around, and the fort was probably an important centre in its time. An inner defence on the summit encloses 1.2 hectares (3.0 acres); outside this are defences built at later stages on the north and east side. Each are single ramparts of dry stone and earth; there are traces of a ditch outside the inner rampart. Descending norhwards from the summit we soon found there were issues with the local Public Rights of Way network and this resulted in a crossing of open and rough ground over to Mirianog-ganol. From there we made better progress back to our accommodation near Crosswell. October 26th: Pembrokeshire Coast Path around Point St. John and St Davids We should have visited Ramsey Island today but the ferry boat operator had advised us there would be no sailings due to bad weather so we utilsed our back up plan which was to do a walk from the ferry car park around Pont St. John and then visit St Davids. As rounded Point St. John care was needed with foot placement due to the very strong winds. We ended the walk back at the RNLI lifeboat base and visited the new lifeboat shed which was open to the public. A short drive took us into St Davids where everyone had a couple of hours to explore. Dinner was the usual event BBQ hosted by Helen. October 27th: Pembrokeshire Coast Path across disused WW2 airfields to Solva This was a walk I was looking forward to and which exceeded my expetations for an enjoyable walk day. We started at the Upper Solva Mill where Helen had arranged for us to park and use the facilities, Then it was over to the abandoned WW2 airfields and downto the Wales Coastal Path into Solva for lunch at the harbour cafe which should have been closed but Helen had kindly arranged for it to be open for us. After lunch we walked back up the Solva Inlet to the cars and several of us made purchases at the Mill. Dinner was at a nearby pub. October 28th: Waun Mawr Standing Stones and the Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber Helen had done a lot of research about this mornings walk and ending up at the Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber was a treat as I'd never been there before. The event finished at arund midday. Conclusion: I enjoy these Bryn Walking events with Helen and there are three residential walking breaks planned for 2023 which I'm looking forward to......
April 24th - 28th: Walks in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park using the same accommodation as referred to above. July 3rd - 7th: Walks around the Elan Valley in the Southern Cambrian Mountains with an excellent bunkhouse just outside Rhayder. Whilst it is a bunkhouse it is very well equipped and all the rooms are en-suite. October 2nd - 6th: Southern Snowdonia to summit Rhinog Fach and Rhinog Fawr December 4th: Flight to Copenhagen with BA from LHR T5 on a BA Holidays package holiday 9 years ago we'd gone to Copenhagen for a city break as Yolande had particularly wanted to visit Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest and most visited theme parks in the world, operating since 1843. Two days into that trip we'd had to return to Cardiff as Yolande's father was in hospital following an acute stroke. This trip, last month, was to finally get Yolande into Tivoli Gardens which hadn't been possible back in 2013. We drove to LHR and dropped the car off with Purple Parking, were soon checked in and enjoying the BA lounge which was included in our package. The flight was short and under 2hrs and we were soon in Copenhagen trying to figure out how to book our train tickets into the city centre for the very short walk to our centrally located Scandic Palace Hotel. After checking in to the hotel and unpacking we headed out into the city centre for a walk but is was cold, wet and very dark. We visited the fabulous and nearby Torvehallerne Food Market which is definitely worth a visit and close to numerous high quality, but very expensive, outdoor equipment shops. December 5th: At leisure in Copenhagen After breakfast we set off out in to the cold and wet city centre to firstly visit The Round Tower where we had coffee as well before climbing up to the observation level at the top. This 17th Century tower and observatory is one of Copenhagen's most iconic buildings. Located on one of the city's busy shopping streets it's easy to escape the crowds and walk up the wide spiral path to the top. It's rumoured that a Russian Tsar once rode to the top. Continuing onwards through the streets we headed to Nyhaven to try to find another restaurant we'd enjoyed from 9 years ago and were successful in our search. Colourful, captivating Nyhavn is one of Copenhagen’s most iconic sights and one of the locals’ favourite places to sink a cold beer on a hot day. Nyhavn's buildings aren't the only colourful thing about the area – its history is colourful too. Originally it was a commercial port where ships from all over the world would dock, and it was packed with sailors visiting its pubs, alehouses and ladies of pleasure. The restaurant was as good as previously although perhaps not quite as efficient with GF offerings for Yolande. We said we'd previously been there and searched for it so we were rewarded with complimentary desserts which was nice. We called into a lego shop on the way back to the hotel to buy gifts for our grandchildren back home. For dinner we returned to another restaurant we'd visited 9 years previously but it wasn't quite as good and the fabulous ribs we'd enjoyed were no longer on the menu. They did brew their own Christmas beer though which I enjoyed. We had our photos taken with Hans Christian Anderson on the way back to the hotel. December 6th: By train to Roskilde to visit the Viking Ship Museum. On most of our city breaks we try to get out of the city to visit an outlying town or city and we'd thought the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde might be worth the effort on this snowy and cold day. Dinner at Wagamamas as they provide good GF food for Yolande. December 7th: At leisure in Copenhagen Yolande was determined to use as much public transport as possible so we took the Metro out to the north of the city and walked to The Little Mermaid. Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen. The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and sits in the water at Langelinie Pier. It was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairytale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land. We then headed in the general direction of the city centre, passing the Seaplane Base where I spoke to two pilots about their twin Otter Floatplane before enjoying a coffee in a nearby delicatesen. We looked at our maps and decided that the adjacent Kastellet Fortress would be worthy of a visit, even on such a cold and snowy day as this. It was an enjoyable visit with many interesting buildings to look at on one of Northern Europe's finest and best preserved fortifications. Kastellet is today used as a military barracks and is a busy workplace for several hundred employees. Kastellet is also a beautiful cultural gem and a peaceful green oasis – right in the middle of the busy city. Dinner was in the Dubrovnik Restaurant close to the hotel as we're going to Croatia next summer so thought we'd better see if we like the food. December 8th: A day trip to Malmo in Sweden Another trip out of Copenhagen, by rail across The Bridge which was perhaps made famous by a Scandic tV series dating back to 2011. The trains are below road level on the bridge so views are not really possible but we were soon over in Malmo. The weather was wonderful, cold and sunny for our walk around Malmo with a light lunch in a lovely coffee shop near the Turning Torso building. Construction started in the summer of 2001. One reason for building Turning Torso was to re-establish a recognisable skyline for Malmö since the removal in 2002 of the Kockums Crane, which was located less than one kilometre from Turning Torso. The local politicians deemed it important for the inhabitants to have a new symbol for Malmö in lieu of the crane that had been used for shipbuilding and somewhat symbolised the city's blue collar roots. We also enjoyed visiting Malmöhus Castle, Scandinavia´s oldest surviving Renaissance castle. Here Denmark´s coins were minted in the Middle Ages and here Crown Prince Frederick held wild parties in the 16th century. Prisoners were beheaded in the courtyard in the 19th century. Trains back over the bridge to Copenhagen were every 20 minutes and we went back to our hotel for a late cocktail hour before heading out to Tivoli Gardens. Tivoli has opened throughout the year with a variety of themed attractions. Halloween, Christmas, winter and summer, where the gardens are redecorated to convey the cosy winter vibes, the hearty Christmas feeling, and the nostalgic long summer days and scary Halloween. The Christmas lights were spectacular as we walked around the gardens. December 9th: BA flight to London and drive home to Cardiff.
October 17th: Drive to York from Cardiff About a 5hr drive saw us arrive at the centrally located Novotel Hotel. After checking in we spent the rest of the day exploring York before enjoying dinner and returning to our hotel having looked at: Clifford's Tower from the outside, The Shambles, Petergate and the home of Guy Fawkes. I was born in York many years ago so this was a trip to explore my birthplace. Normally we'd stay with my brother over in Wetwang but on this occasion it wasn't possible. The Novotel Hotel was comfortable with a good breakfast and just a short walk into the city centre. October 18th: At leisure in York We explored Clifford's Tower which was a main feature of York Castle and walked the entire length of the city walls which I'd never done before. Along the way we used our National Trust memberships to visit the Treasurer's House, explored The Shambles once more, and walked through the site of the old Roman Fort on our way back to the hotel. October 19th: A day to visit my brother and his family over in Wetwang as, due to Covid-19, we'd not seen them for quite a time. October 20th: At leisure in York Our objectives today were to visit the National Railway Museum and York Minster and we reached the museum in a heavy rain shower which led to flooding on our way back into the city centre afterwards. York Minster was equally enjoyable after lunch. October 21st: Drive home to Cardiff
February 9th: Travel to London Heathrow and overnight accommodation Due to an 0800 flight departure the next morning we’d decided to stay at the Garden Inn by Hilton after dropping the car off at Purple Parking. Next stop was into Terminal 5 where we checked in and dropped our bags off. Taking the free Paddington Express over to the Terminal 2/3 Station I was able to get us to the wrong hotel before making good and eventually checking in to the Garden Inn Hilton. Early evening drinks up at the Runway Bar and then down to the restaurant for an excellent chicken Piri Piri. Early to bed ready for an 0430 wake-up call the next morning. February 10th: Early morning departure (0800) on BA894 to Reykjavik We were awake and checked out by about 0500 and the Paddington Express returned us to Terminal 5 where we passed through formalities with ease and went up to the lounge for breakfast. Not having flown for two years I was somewhat apprehensive about all the Covid-19 formalities but our paperwork was hardly looked at. Access to the T5 lounge was part of our BA Holidays package and the bacon rolls and coffee were very enjoyable. The flight boarded but was slightly delayed in taking off but the lost time was made up and I believe we landed more or less on time at Keflavik Internatonal Airport. Our airport transfer was waiting for us and delivered us to the canopy Hotel in Reykjavic City Centre. Having visited Iceland twice before I was able to offer Yolande a personalised city tour in the freezing temperatures which were prevailing. February 11th: Day at leisure in Reykjavik We walked from the hotel to the Europcar depot over near to the container terminal which was 5.5km mostly on snow covered pavements which made for slow progress in freezing temperatures. The first couple of kilometers were along the Sculpture & Shore Walk which passed the Sun Voyager and Höfơi House sites. We had a coffee in a petrol station cafe which was opposite the Cabin Hotel where I'd stayed previously. The second half of the walk was along Laugarasvegur, lined with some very expensive looking properties. Picking up the car was easy enough with a very comprehensive handover briefing. I’d booked a Kia Sportage as I have one at home but had opted for an 4WD version because of the winter conditions. The car we were given was a Suzuki Across 4WD which was very well equipped and easy to drive. I found driving in the area to be quite stress free with little traffic on our routes. We drove to the Grandi Harbour District to climb the Pufa mound but the path was too icy to risk so we drove on to the excellent Grandi Matholl Food Court where we enjoyed a great lunch. Yolande had lamb skewers from the Fjarhusid counter whilst I opted for plaice and chips from the Frystihusid counter. After lunch we drove over to the Grotta Fridland – Nature Reserve for a look around and to where we returned one cold night to look at the Northern Lights. On the way back into the city centre we visited the Maritime Museum. Dinner was at the nearby Hard Rock Cafe which was very good but we'd enjoyed a M&S Margerita Cocktail (highly recommended) in our room before that. February 12th: Self-drive Golden Circle Tour This was to be a big day out on one of Iceland's classic tours and I was glad we had 4WD capability as it was very wintery. We were soon out of the city centre headed north on Highway 1 before leaving that and turning eastwards onto Highway 36, for Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Springs and the Gullfoss Waterfall. Thingvellir National Park: No single place epitomizes the history of Iceland and the Icelandic nation better than Þingvellir by the river Öxará. At Þingvellir - literally "Assembly Plains" - the Alþing general assembly was established around 930 and continued to convene there until 1798. Major events in the history of Iceland have taken place at Þingvellir and therefore the place is held in high esteem by all Icelanders. Today Þingvellir is a protected national shrine. According to the law, passed in 1928, the protected area shall always be the property of the Icelandic nation, under the preservation of the Alþing. There is a small visitor centre here with gift shop and a small cafe - pay and display parking. Geysir Hot Springs: A favorite stop along the Golden Circle is the highly active Geysir Hot Spring Area with boiling mud pits, exploding geysers. A favourite is lively Strokkur geyser, which spouts water 30 metres (100 ft) into the air every few minutes. There is a good gift shop within the visitor centre and a large cafe and free parking - take care crossing the road to the geyser area though! Gullfoss Waterfall: In volume, Gullfoss is the largest waterfall in Europe. The average water flow is around 49,441 ft³/s during its peak season of summer and only 2,825 ft³/s during the winter season. Gullfoss is fed from the wide Hvítá river as it travels from Langjökull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. During a flood of the Hvítá river, Gullfoss broke records at a water flow of 70,629.33 ft³/s. There is a very large visitor centre here with plenty of food options and an equally large gift shop and plenty of free parking. Kerid Volcanic Crater: Geological Aspect of Kerið Crater - With distinctive volcanic red rock slopes, the crater measures approximately 558 feet (170 meters) in width with a circumference of 886 feet (270 meters) and it is 180 feet (55 meters) deep. Kerið Crater in South Iceland is a volcanic crater that is believed to be 3,000-year-old, which seems to be approximately half of the age of other volcanic calderas found in Iceland. We returned to Reykjavik after the Kerid Volcanic Crater and the south coast highway. For dinner we went back to the Grandi Matholl Food Court for another great meal and then drove over to the Grotta Fridland – Nature Reserve, to view the Northern Lights but it was very cold and it took some time for them to appear and it wasn't the greatest display. Locals we talked to said it was the first sighting for a long time. February 13th: Self-drive tour of the Reykjanes Peninsular Reykjanes is a small headland on the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland, giving the main peninsula its name. The region is about nine kilometres from Iceland's international airport. Driving out of the city centre was easy enough from the multi-story car park next to our hotel as our route would take us past the main interational airport. We arrived at Suðurnesjabær where we enjoyed a coffee in the nearby motel as the lighthouse cafe was closed. This would be a great spot for viewing the northern lights. We continued southwards, stopping briefly to see some Icelandic Ponies before continuing to follow the coasline eastwards. The peninsula’s surrounding steam and the natural Reykjanes hot springs is a good indicator of the immense natural energy found in the area. Covering the whole of the peninsula is rough and outlandish dark lava with mossy tops. The colours of the peninsula are truly fascinating and are in an array from dark grey to red to turquoise blue, although most of the lanscape was snow covered. We reached the very quiet fishing village of Grindavik where we found the Café Bryggjan on the dockside so went in for lunch. The lobster soup was amazing with a second helping included in the price - big lumps of lobster too if you stirred the pot! Yolande was lucky enough to order Gluten Free food but the choice was limited. I'd watched a large fishing boat tie up next to the Café Bryggjan so went over to take some photos and the crew, busy offloading their catch, came over to talk to me. They'd landed 50 tons of cod the day before and were a happy bunch. We returned to Reykjavik to drop the car off at the domestic airport and get a taxi back to our hotel as heavy snow started to fall and we later walked through blizzard like conditions to find a restaurant for dinner. February 14th: Day at leisure in Reykjavik Without a car we'd decided to further explore Reykjavik on foot for the day before a Valentine's Day dinner in the hotel restaurant. Our Rohan clothing kept us warm and dry from the continuous snow which fell all day. Yolande led us to a nice warm coffee shop before we returned for a picnic lunch in our hotel room. After lunch we went for our final walk around the city centre and at one stage I had to pull her to safety as the snow plough clearing the pavement wasn't even slowing down for us so we ended up in two feet of snow. Down at the Viking Ship the wind was so strong it was difficult to stay upright. We later took the lift to the top of the Hallgrímskirkja (“Church of Hallgrímur” in English), one of Reykjavík’s main landmarks. The impressive church towers over the city’s skyline, rising out of the capital’s center like a concrete geyser. Dinner in the hotel was excellent - best Cod and Chips I've ever eaten. February 15th: BA flight back to the UK.
Our airport transfer was a bit delayed because BA Holidays had sent the driver to a different hotel. The flight back to LHR was comfortable (after the aircraft was de-iced) with bangers and mash on offer which was really good and a tasty GF meal for Yolande too. January 11th - 19th: A week in Jakarta with my friends at the Hafar Group of Companies helping them with some ISO decisions in order to remain compliant with ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management System) and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System). Additionally, we started to raise awareness of two other standards: ISO 31000 (Risk Management Guidelines) and ISO 37001 (Anti-bribery Management System) within the company. After two and a half years absence from the office I received a warm welcome from everyone but saddened that the company had lost personnel due to Covid-19. My flight arrangements were with Qatar Airways with my arrival into Jakarta late on the Saturday night giving me Sunday to catch up on lost sleep before Monday morning. I stayed in the Mercure Gatot Subroto Hotel which is just a 5-minute walk from the office, across the road. I don't know if the hotel food is expensive, but motorcycle couriers are always out-front meeting guests with meals. Images below show the airport facilities in Doha which are quite impressive but when I ordered a toasted sandwich an open sandwich arrived which wasn't as expected. The McLaren supercar was one of the regular raffle prizes which are a feature of most Middle East airports these days. Flight time was 6.5hrs to Doha with a 4hr transit time and then on to Jakarta in about 8hrs. Immigration officials were impressed with my Bahasa Indonesia language skills, so I didn't have any problems getting into the country. I wish Qatar Airways would return to Cardiff......... Extremely tired after the long flight I slept in for a while but catching up on sleep after a 20hr journey across 7 time zones is never easy. I went into one of the large shopping malls for a wander and for lunch and Porsche even had a showroom on the ground floor. I opted for tempura and sashimi for lunch but without sake, as pictured below. The final image is from my hotel room looking across at the blue-faced building, which is where the company offices are located, reached after I cross the bridge from my hotel. Wednesday evening dinner with the Board of Directors following a visit to Pic Chinatown with my good friend and colleague Mrs Sisilia Kho. The final picture is with the President of the company with his wife Tess, whom I've know from many years ago when Emier and I both worked for Conoco Indonesia. Friday, my last day in the office with my work completed. and a view of the Mercure Gatot Subroto taken from the 5-minute walk to/from the office. Saturday, the long flight home with Qatar Airways via Doha into LHR T4 for the drive home to Cardiff. And it was a long flight home with 8.5hrs to Doha for a 4hr transit (and a shower) then 6.5hrs to LHR T4 for the 2.5hr drive home using the services of MET Executive Travel.
After take-off from Jakarta there were a couple of times when the crew were strapped in, but I didn't find the turbulence to be too severe. Service and food on both sectors were good but overall, I thought Qatar Airways were better pre-Covid, particularly because I could fly from Cardiff. Food and drink wasted on me during the second sector as I was just too tired to enjoy the offerings, even the fabulous curry. I slept throughout the transfer back to Cardiff from LHR T4. The final images below are from the airport in Jakarta (where the fire extinguishers are concealed behind interesting artwork!) and the flights home. INTRODUCTION Earlier in the year I saw an advertisement from ECC Adventures (based in Fujairah, UAE) for UK Mountain Leaders to work for them over the winter months which is peak season in Fujairah for mountain activities. I contacted Chris Craver at ECC Adventures to see if he required any training support and he immediately expressed an interest in this. Over the summer we discussed the possibility of delivering the following courses in Fujairah in November:
Chris worked very hard to facilitate the required approvals for me and it was agreed that my initial visit to Sharjah and Fujairah would be to deliver a REC L2 Outdoor First Aid course at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah on November 5th/6th. One of seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates, Sharjah is an attractive and safe destination, rich in history and culture with friendly people and year-round sunshine. With a varied landscape, ranging from the majestic Hajar Mountains, sand dunes and pristine beaches, Sharjah is an attractive destination. Many thanks to Rohan Designs Limited for providing some very appropriate clothing for this desert trip to the wilder and more remote parts of Sharjah. On November 2nd my wife Yolande, and I left the UK for the UAE. NOVEMBER 2nd Having chosen Swiss Air for our flights from LHR T2 at 0850, it meant a very early start from home with a departure at 0315. With the ongoing round of rail strikes we'd booked a transfer with MET Executive Travel which proved to be very effective in a vehicle with plenty of luggage space as we had 4 large kitbags for the huge amount of training equipment required. Our Swiss A320Neo departed late but the crew reassured us that the flight would still arrive on time for our B777-300ER flight to Dubai. Zurich was a new airport for us, but we found our way to E42 for the flight without any difficulties. The flight of just under 6 hours was comfortable with fairly average food and Yolande's GF/non-seafood catering request not fully complied with. The Swiss chocolates were excellent, however. Formalities after arrival in Dubai were without any problems and Chris and Karen were there to meet us and transfer us over to the Ibis Styles Hotel in Sharjah. Room 1404 was very comfortable and spacious but after unpacking at around midnight we realised that the fridge wasn't working so it was a quick room reallocation down to 1104. NOVEMBER 3rd This morning, we drove over to the east coast. The drive had been quite interesting as we left the sprawling west coast development to see camels in quite large numbers before, we crossed the Hajar Mountains and down to the coastal city of Fujairah. We'd lived in Dubai many years ago whilst employed by Dubai Petroleum Company and were amazed by development of all the main cities in the northern UAE. We visited Fujairah Fort and the Fujairah Adventure Park where there are numerous hiking trails and mountain bike activities. The 16th Century fort is part of a complex with several old houses and a mosque. It is guarded by three round watchtowers and a square watchtower. The watchtowers and main building are connected by the walls, and there is a central hall surrounded by these towers and wall. The irregular shape of the castle is due to the uneven surface of the rock it sits on. The building is built of local materials, mostly rocks, gravels, mud, hay and plasters. Radiocarbon dating has identified the date of the construction as around 1500–1550. It was then renovated during 1650–1700. The British Navy destroyed three of the towers in 1925 during an action enforcing British anti-slavery policy. The bombardment was by HMIS Lawrence, resulting in the recovery of a fine of 1,500 rupees from the Sheikh. HMIS Lawrence (L83) was a sloop, commissioned in 1919 into the Royal Indian Marine (RIM). The fort was restored by the Fujairah Administration of Antiquity and Heritage during 1997/2000 using the same materials with which it was built. After visiting Fujairah Fort, we looked at the Fujairah Adventure Park before enjoying lunch at a Lebanese Restaurant and then returned to our hotel in Sharjah. NOVEMBER 4th Chris picked us up just before 1100 and we drove to the Mleiha Archaeological Centre which is operated by Shurooq which is a Sharjah government run centre and which would be the venue for the REC Outdoor First Aid Course over the weekend. A senior manager from Shurooq showed us the small conference room and the outdoor training area which was exclusively for our course. The outside area was spacious with a large Arabic tent for us to use and perfect for our needs. We discussed potential training for our March proposed visit and this will be held over on the east coast of Sharjah at Kalba where a new environmental centre is being constructed. After looking around the facilities we visited the Wadi Caves site for a quick look at the area before returning to Sharjah. Mleiha is about an hour inland from Sharjah and contains a rich collection of archaeological sites with burial mounds and the structural remnants of ancient settlements where recent discoveries of 125,000-year-old stone hand axes provide an insight into ancient lifestyles in this area. The centre is worth a visit and Yolande enjoyed a VIP tour of the museum whilst Chris and I were inspecting the training venue. NOVEMBER 5th REC L5 Outdoor First Aid course at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah with 12 participants - Day 1. Following on from the inspection visit on Friday, it was agreed that the entire two day course would be outdoor based in the arabic tent and surrounding area. The tent was duly equipped with a very large tv for some theoretical elements of the course which are delivered using Powerpoint. Yolande and I later enjoyed dinner at Jones the Butcher Restaurant on Flag Island in Sharjah Lagoon. NOVEMBER 6th REC L5 Outdoor First Aid course at the Mleiha Archaeological Centre in Sharjah with 12 participants - Day 2. Day 1 had worked very well with 12 participants from 8 nationalities. The course feedback was very satisfying to read: What did you like best about your experience? Team work - The learning, lovely group, great instructor - The variety of materials and equipment - The way Alan teaches - The actual training! - Learned new things, variety of new skills - The course was really engaging (and fun!) for all participants - It’s been years since my last first aid certification and I learned a lot of new things! - Course dynamic, lots of practical sessions and application on the theories in place after each theory makes practice session more streamline and efficient - The scenario and the analogies - New learnings that can be applied anywhere to anyone to provide help and scenarios that made us show what we have learned - The practical outdoor part was very good and skillful - The way they demo the practical things What did you like least about your experience? Bit of a long drive (not really a problem) and the heat sometimes (again, not really a problem) - Maybe a little bit more focused in mountains - The actual task - Heat the first day - The brevity in handling serious illnesses (only due to the amount of course time) - Toilet is a bit far. It gets hot sometimes while handling the indoor session (it felt a bit harder to focus) - Wish there will be more theory books Other comments, suggestions, areas of improvement, etc. Best of luck to all! - Not really - Actually going on a hike to see real hazards - Develop the course in Arabic - Provide detailed information for those interested (maybe in video format?) - Location, less sandy classroom would be better for next time - Great energy and enjoy/appreciate the patience - Indeed a very meaningful event! - Change location, more practical - Everything is nice. Enjoyed a lot Mleiha Archaeological Centre was an excellent venue for the course and many thanks to the staff there for being so friendly and helpful. Yolande and I again enjoyed dinner at Jones the Butcher Restaurant on Flag Island in Sharjah Lagoon for a second night. NOVEMBER 7th After some post-course administration and sorting/packing equipment Yolande and I enjoyed a long (and hot) walk on the Sharjah Corniche with lunch at the Ushna Indian Restaurant on the Al Majaz Waterfront which was very good. Chris and Karen picked us up late afternoon and we enjoyed a local meal at the Al Khayama Heritage Restaurant after which, we toured the souk before being dropped off at the airport. NOVEMBER 8th
Our Swiss B777-300ER took off on time I think for the 6 hour flight to Zurich where we transferred to the flight to LHR T2 where Martin from MET Executive Travel was there to meet us and drive us home. Only on one out of four flight sectors did Swiss catter properly in respect of catering for Yolande's GF and non-seafood allergies. Helen Menhinick (ML) of Bryn Walking giving her presentation about how she "Planned, Managed and Reviewed" her recent high altitude trek in Ladakh. Brecon: October 12th/13th 2022
Six outdoor professionals completed this course to an exceptionally high standard - well done everyone!!! Feedback included: 1. The course should be part of the ML syllabus. 2. Great tempo with great interaction - great. 3. Excellent tutor. 4. Relevent to outdoor work with groups. 5. Good visual aids, Powerpoint and group tasks. 6. Very useful in my work where I run lots of off site events. 7. Great - very interactive - great Powerpoint. 8. Tutor was above and beyond - absolutely super. 9. Good range of information and support. 10. Relaxed and informative. Good visual aids. Plenty of opportunity for questions. 11. Very useful for running events. 12. Lots of delegate input, Powerpoint good, humour good. 13. More examples of UK based activities where things have gone wrong would have been useful. 14. Good balance of presentations. 15. Alan creates an excellent learning environment. 16. Excellent course. October 1st: As we'd stayed overnight in Newbury it wasn't more than an hour's drive to LHR T4 and the car was soon dropped off with Purple Parking, a company we've used for many years for airport parking. Air Malta check in was open three hours before the flight departure so we wandered through the shops and enjoyed a lounge breakfast, courtesy of Air Malta. Boarding was on time and the seating in the A320 NEO was 3x3 with a friendly crew on board. Sadly Yolande's GF meal wasn't on board but she managed to eat some of what was offered but the Purser took it very personally and apologised profusely whilst messaging his head office to complain. The flight was comfortable and we landed in Malta ahead of schedule, passing through non-Shengen immigration with ease before collecting our luggage and meeting our driver for the transfer to the centrally located Cumberland Hotel in Valletta on St. John's Street. The Cumberland Hotel occupies an old palace building almost right next to the St John's Co-Cathedral. It is managed by the NEU Hotel Group of Malta. Room 205 was fabulous but I can't remember if I'd booked such a room or if we'd been upgraded. The room was split level with the main level being the sleeping area, office desk and bathroom whilst the upper level was a spacious and comfortable lounge area with fridge and brew facilities. The main level even had a traditional Maltese enclosed balcony with seating area. Whilst exploring Valletta we found the Valletta Food Market with a useful basement supermarket so picked up a few items for dinner in our room. The main level in the Valletta Food Market contains lots of interesting food outlets which we used during the week. October 2nd : After a good breakfast we walked to the Barrakka Gardens and the Barrakka Lift to descend almost 60m to the waterfront to catch a tradional Dghajsa (a small colourful gondola-like boat) across the Grand Harbour to the Maritime Museum in Vittoriosa. The museum was closed but our primary objective was the impressive Fort St. Angelo which overlooks the Grand Harbour so we walked along the waterfront and spent about two hours exploring the fort which is well worth the visit. Vittoriosa (Birgu) is so named as a reminder of the First Great Siege in 1565 where the Grand Master La Valette and his troops had their last line of defense against the Ottoman Turks. The fort visit was followed by a walk around the town and then out along the busy yacht moorings to the western ond of the Senglea Peninsula where, just around the corner, we found Le Regatta Restaurant. This restaurant was a hidden gem and we enjoyed a light lunch with drinks looking out over the Grand Harbour towards the cruise terminal. Another Dghajsa took us back to Valletta where we prelaxed in our room until an evening walk with a sushi dinner at the Valletta Food Market October 3rd: After breakfast we caught the Gozo Fast Ferry which was an exciting 45 minute ride through Force 5 waves with some passengers being quite unwell. After realising the deck/cabin crew were Indonesian I spoke at length with then in Bahasa Indonesia which they really enjoyed and my langauge skills weren't too bad considering I hadn't been in Indonesia since just before Covid struck. After disembarking from the ferry we caught a crowded bus into Gozo's capital, Ir-Rabat Victoria to visit the Cittadella fortress complex which sat majestically on a hill overlooking most of the island. The Cittadella dates back to pre-Roman times but was destroyed during the Ottoman invasion of 1551 but later rebuilt by the Knights of St John at the end of 16th century. After lunch at a pleasant cafe adjacent to the bus station we caught the bus back to the ferry terminal but decided on a different route back to Valleta by using the slow car ferry over to Cirkewwa Port and the bus back to Valletta which was a tiresome hour and a half. Dinner was /Nepalli/Indian food back at the Valletta Food Market which was very good. October 4th: More utilisation of our bus passes followed after breakfast with a visit to Marsaxlokk Bay which was filled with colourful fishing boats and seafront cafes and restaurants. We didn't stay for lunch so an hour or so was long enough there but finding the right bus stop to get us back to Valletta was a bit troublesome and it appeared that the regular (every 20mins) buses take lengthy breaks at around midday. October 5th: Another bus ride after breakfast but this time to the western central area of Malta to visit Mdina where our guidebook referred to car-free streets in a "Fantastic location known as the Silent City where are few prettier places in which to escape the sress of modern-day life". I guess the author of our guidebook wasn't aware that the MSC Seaview was in port today and I think most of the 5331 passengers had chosen to visit Mdina today. The narrow streets were pleasant enough though and were familiar from the Game of Thrones series. We didn't stay as long as the suggested 2 hours before catching a bus back to Valletta for an onward bus to Sliema where we had an excellent lunch at a restaurant called Tommy's where we both chose salads and accompanying drinks. After lunch we caught the Three Cities Ferry back over to Valletta for a hotel siesta. I'd found out that the MSC Seaview woulld sail at 5pm so we walked over to the Lower Barrakka Garden to watch this huge cruise liner sail. It was delayed whilst an Italian frigate entrered port assisted by two tugs but the MSC Seaview simply moved away from the cruise terminal with no tugs and sailed right past us, squeezing between the St Elmo Lighthouse and Ricasoli Point with not much room to spare. October 6th: No buses after breakfast but a pleasant walk down to Fort St Elmo at the tip of the Sciberras Peninsula instead. The star-shaped fort location dates back to Phoenicians but was later taken over by the Romans. The Knights of St John extended the fort to protect the entrance to the Grand Harbour although it was overwhelmed by the Ottoman Turks in 1565. The meticulously restored Fort St Elmo houses the National War Museum which tells the story of Malta during World War 2, a story enhanced by the excellent range of exhibits and interpretation. We sat for a long time on the benches above the Fast Ferry Terminal watching some smaller marine traffic using the Grand Harbour before enjoying a sushi lunch at the Valletta Food Market and this was followed by another siesta period in our hotel room. I wrote much of this blog during the afternoon and we didn't really need dinner so enjoyed a Haagen Daas treat before spending an hour or so watching over the Grand Harbour from the Upper Barrakka Gardens as the small French liner, Le Jacques-Cartier (up to 184 guests in 92 staterooms and suites with 118 crew members on board) came in and squeezed alongside in between The World and the Azure. The World is an interesting vessel and the only residential type of this vessel in the world. With only 165 private residences aboard The World, an international community of residents can spend as much time on board as they like as the vessel cruises the world. The Azure is a more typical type of cruise vessel with up to 3737 passengers on board. We waited for its 2100 departure but it didn't depart on schedule so we walked back to the hotel. October 7th: With breakfast over we walked over to the Barrakka Lift and descended to catch a Dghajsa over to the Maritime Museum only to find it was closed for refurbishment as was the Grand Master's Palace at Valletta yesterday. We spent the rest of the morning exploring Senglea and walking along the fortified ramparts to the pretty Gardjola Gardens on the tip of Cabo Isla with great views over the Grand Harbour towards the Barrakka Lift and the cruise terminal. All that was needed in the gardens was a bar serving cold drinks as it was quite a relaxing place to enjoy the sunshine and views. We crossed back over to Valletta for lunch at the Valletta Food Market before heading back to the hotel. For our last night on Malta we took the bus over to Sliema for dinner where we'd enjoyed a really good lunch there yesterday at a restaurant called Tiffany's. Our final dinner in Malta was excellent and Tiifany's is to be highly recommended. We caught a very over crowded bus back to Valletta and a final stroll through the Upper Barrakka Gardens watching a small Italian RoRo vessel sail out to sea. October 8th: With checkout time at midday we had our last wander around Valletta before going back to the hotel to collect our bags for our transfer to the airport which the hotel had arranged for us.
One last stroll around the Upper Barrakka Gardens before visiting St. John's Co-Cathedral which dates back to 1572 with the most striking interior and I often wonder how such artwork on high curved ceilings was ever achieved. The Cumberland Hotel had been a good choice with an excellent room for the week and good breakfasts included although there was only one type of cereal available which was a bit repetetive. We were early at the airport so popped down to the very good basement Food Court which was quite good. After checking in we still had time to wait until boarding which was a bit manic but we eventually boarded but were late taking off for the uneventful flight back to LHR. |
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2021 OnwardsFollowing on from retirement, more time will be available for hill and mountain walking on a personal basis with friends. Categories |