After a very full-on couple of weeks at home, I’m off again seeking heat, so it’s back to the Mediterranean for me. 

Again, the Qantas FC lounge was excellent. It really is the best on offer in Australia, even Emirates doesn’t come close. The airport was crazy busy, but I suppose that’s what happens when you let the children out of school! Somehow (again) I scored a free spa appointment just in time for my flight, this time a vigorous hot stone massage to soothe my aching lower back. Yes, I appreciate I lead a very charmed life! 

It was my first long haul flight on Cathay and I was excited to try it (especially after the disappointment with Singapore Air)… I’m already three champagnes in so breaking all my usual flying rules. It’s been a crazy fortnight at home so this flight is my first chance to really unwind and draw breath since… my last flight! 

My holiday buddies are flying Emirates (a much more convenient route) so I will meet them in Malta tomorrow. Now, to find us some live music for the weekend… help please Mario! In true fashion, Mario (my point man in Malta, lol) sorted us some excellent music, (everyday) jazz at the Bridge Bar on Friday and Italian musical prodigy Francesco Cavestri at the Teatru Manoel on Sunday. This beautiful building is Malta’s national theatre, one of the finest examples of baroque architecture and one of the oldest working theatres in Europe (officially opened in 1732). So we probably would have gone to see anything there, but Cavestri is a bonus. It was definitely not everyday jazz, and wow! 

But first, we squeezed in some actual sightseeing. So off to Gozo, Malta’s second island, for our first full day. Like Malta proper, it’s full of sandstone, dry stone walls (and I mean everywhere!), prickly pear, rugged hills, lush agriculture - we’re talking cabbages the size of beach balls. I guess it must rain here sometime.

It’s a long weekend to celebrate one of the many “feast” days and the height of summer so every boat owner seemed to be out on the water. 

Gozo was interesting but mostly a conduit for us to visit the Blue Lagoon on nearby Comino. My first swim in the Mediterranean was glorious - the water was crystal clear and super salty, you could see little fish beneath us, but the crowds were shocking. I swam over to the little island across the way, but resolved to find a way to swim in the ocean again - minus the crowds. 

Sunday was a relaxed day strolling the old capital Mdina, a long lazy lunch on the waterfront at Marsaxlokk, but best of all, I finally made it to the Blue Grotto and associated caves; the sea was too rough to do that last time. The water was just stunning and the caves so beautiful to explore.