4 a.m. Flight to Bulgaria...and Parting Shots of Malta

St. Dominic's Festival in Malta. 

Malta was for the most part a positive experience. I am happy that I went there. I am even Happier that I went Scuba Diving there twice.

My second dive was an exciting open water dive near The HMS Maori a Tribal-class destroyer.

Maori was attacked by enemy German aircraft and sank at her moorings in the Malta Grand Harbour on February 12, 1942. She was raised and scuttled and re-sank on July 15, 1945.

Located a little over a 1000 feet from the shore in Valletta, Malta's Capitol.
My dive and swim around the Maori was like being in a dream and a movie at the same time. I am ready for more.

There are two Islands that make up Malta. There is Malta and Gozo. I did visit them both I saw a lot and I know there is more to be seen.

My last days in Malta I walked a great deal around Malta. Malta is a bridge between Africa and Europe. It is mostly a European Culture with a surprisingly large Africa population too.

On my last night in Malta, Mario the owner of the Grand Harbour hotel invited me for drinks in the hotel bar. He had been so nice and friendly with me that I decided to say Yes. I had sparkling mineral water and he had wine. Some friends I had made, Anita from Australia and Nicholas from Germany showed up and we talked and drank until after 10p.m. when I had to say Good bye and Good night because I wanted to get a little sleep before my early morning flight...very little sleep.

Mario left a 1 a.m. wake-up call for me. His brother Raymond was there at 2am with his son Joesph to take me to the airport. Good bye Malta.

I quickly checked in for my flight to Sofia.
All is well. Then heading for my gate I have to go through the security check. The guy doing the ex-ray sees some thing in my bag that look like scissors.
He is right. I have scissors AND my Swiss army knife that my sister Tami gave me almost 30 years ago tucked in my carry on bag. I had forgot to pack them in my luggage.

The security are very nice to me BUT they tell me that I can not take those things through that I would have to check them. I know that there is not enough time to go back and come through screening again. I sadly release the knife and scissors which my sister also gave me. I mention to the air port security guy whose name is also Mario that I would have to let the knife that I had for 30 years go.

I quickly made peace with it in my mind. The security guy Mario calls me back goes and talks with other agents there and then he filled out forms to make this a "Checked Security Item". He got my name and flight. I was sure I would never see that stuff again.

At the gate when getting ready to board my flight I see Mario hand a bag to one of the attendants then he sees me and says "It's on the plane". Wow. Can you believe that?

After an uneventful two hour flight to Sofia, Bulgaria, I arrive safely at 7a.m. I go through immigration and I get my luggage and my Swiss Army knife and my scissors arrive too.
Thanks Mario.

Good Bye Malta and Hello Bulgaria.

Now to Find a Hotel in Sofia...