Emirates cruise...Valletta Malta and preparing to repel boarders!!!!

Day 8

Docked in Valletta 7am. Seems this is the expected time at every port. This time light enough to take a few photos.

Any car you want so long as it's white.

Not sure why this flag is hosted or what it means.

 After breakfast it was off the ship and a walk round the city. Unfortunately it happened to be a Sunday so nothing was open!!!. Walked towards the East of the Island to see the Fort St Elmo........closed!!! War rooms..........closed National War Museum....closed! St Johns co- Cathedral the most magnificently decorated interior, mostly of gilt.......closed because of Sunday Worship!!! Me thinks Fred Olsen didn't plan this stop very well. Anyway the Grand Master Presidential Palace was open so we went in to see the armory and state rooms. Although the sun was out it was very chilly in the shade but we wanted to to watch the changing of the guard at Midday and the musical fountains so put up with the chill.

And you think we have problems attaching our mooring ropes!

After stopping for a light lunch consisting of one of the Maltese delicacy spicy sausage (which I think was rabbit as this seems to be staple meat diet in Malta) nestling inside a large croissant and with nothing else to see or do we headed back to Balmoral.

Fuel ship alongside

 We were back in plenty of time for the sail away party at 16.30pm where Pimms flowed freely during the party. Balmoral left it's moorings at 17.00 with music blaring from the back deck and people dancing and waving to the onlookers on the quayside. I expect the locals were glad to see the back of us. ☺

Did have a few concerns just before we set sail. Saw some of the crew get all kitted up with their safety harness ready to go over the side with a huge roll of Razor wire. Apparently after leaving Aqaba and once clear of the Red Sea we are to be sailing in waters renowned for Somalian bandits boarding ships and taking hostages.