In spite of the weather report calling for thunderstorms in the afternoon, sunny morning skies were all it took to get us on a bus to Valletta – the capital city of Malta.  We got a little touring in before the skies opened up on schedule, with a little hail bonus.

These 2 were guarding “Buckingham Palace”.  Periodically they would do a little marching routine and exchange posts.  We came by later when it was raining hard, and they were in their little houses.

All of Valletta is on a peninsula.  This waterway, the Grand Harbor, is on the southeast side of the city.  Across the harbor, about five fingers of land poke out into the waterway.  This freighter was coming into port.  Note the yacht that likely couldn’t find a slip big enough! Ancient fortress walls are everywhere.

Following the freighter further into the harbor, a cruise ship was spotted.  Hope their shore excursions include indoor options.

It’s an old yet modern city.

This street scene was a deja vu –  we both remembered it from 2004.  The sidewalk is steps.

Who said “It’s later than you think”?  This cool watch collection was in the Art Museum.

The national art museum had mostly old religious (and gory) works, with a handful of modern pieces.  The ground floor of the 4 story building  included this courtyard open to the sky.   So these pieces are covered where they hang, but are open to the outside.

The mouth of the harbor, and our weather 🙂  When the downpour hit, we found a cafe for coffee and a sweet.  It did hail.  After the brunt of it passed, we hi-tailed it to the bus terminal.  Will be back another day for the remaining museums.

By design or not, the streets leading to Valletta channeled the runoff, and we truly were in a river for the first 15 minutes of our ride.  I felt like a salmon.  Water was to the top of some curbs, and cars stayed off the street. The following photo doesn’t do it justice.  By the lack of reaction from the other riders, it wasn’t unusual. – gawking tourist Laura