# data[].attributes.body
Big Thank You Erasmus+ programme to bife and Easy Job for giving me this opportunity to experience the placement and enjoy every single of my journey. I met people from different nationality and learned alot, so much about history and life, gained skills too. Lastly I made new friends whom until now I kept contact with which I really appreciate everything.

Even tho the flight was hectic due tò delayed and it was ver late at night that in the morning we had to leave the apartment.

Overall Thank You so much ♥︎

# data[].attributes.body
For couple of hours before my flight Myself and quentin went to visit the 2 museum and went out for a lovely lunch together. We really enjoy the last day in malta. In my opinion if someone reading my blog and you like visiting places i mentioned which other than museum there's st julian, villa etc malta is cheap but need extra money with you everything was worth to visit.

# data[].attributes.body
As a tourism student I am really interested on aviation and history. As i mentioned on my last padlet about being invited to last event in maritime this are the few souvenirs i bought for friends and family. I really enjoy my last day in maritime and spend time with everyone for the last time ♥︎

# data[].attributes.body
Big Thank You to the EJT for everything and to this lovely breakfast for us. After breakfast I went back to maritime museum where I work to say goodbye to everyone I work with properly and had lunch with them. I also got invited to their last show event which I bought some souvenirs for friends back to ireland.

I really appreciate everything that the ejt specially to ruella for being a big help throughout our stay. ♡

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Last Day of work, Magic show, and Dinner.

# data[].attributes.headline
Last day of work, Magic Show and Dinner 

# data[].attributes.subject
Last day of work, Magic Show and Dinner 

# data[].attributes.body
Last day of work was sad as I really enjoy working at museum and got really close to people I work with for such a short time our big bosses even made a goodbye party for me and maryanne but unfortunately we cant come tho in the other hand during the night I enjoy the dinner that was prepared by ejt for and also the magic show was so much fun to watch with everyone.

# data[].attributes.headline
Sharing my experience on my favourite place in malta.

# data[].attributes.subject
Sharing my experience on my favourite place in malta.

# data[].attributes.body
Coming in, first thing that welcomed us in this museum is the lottle figurine of planes and map which already caught my attention whom really love travelling and planes. As going inside the museum 2nd thing that amaze me was all different type of big planes that was used during war and also those 1st invention plane. In the 2nd warehouse it show all the small plane that was used to save people during war too and lastly at the 3rd warehouse myself and my friend experienced being a pilot through coming inside the plane and with virtual. It is so much to enjoy and worth it to visit.

# data[].attributes.body
I visited St Angelo, St. Elmo, Archeology, Mdina, Aviation, Underground, and Ĝhqr dalm cave. Everything was amazing to experience. I learned so much and got me more interested on my own study wich tourism. My favourite one is the aviation and underground museum specially visiting it with friend. ♡

# data[].attributes.body
Everyone was very competitive but over all after a long day of work we all enjoy this lazer tag. ♡

# data[].attributes.body
I did the same thing talk to tourist but this time I am working with our humbly alvin one of the nicest co- worker I had.

# data[].attributes.body
We organise (ruby) a trip to camino island to experience the blue lagoon the weather are incredible hot 30°c, advice put some waterproof sunscreen. We all enjoy the weather, food and of course the place.

# data[].attributes.body
This was one of the day where they start putting more exhibit in the place. They gave me the job to take care of the tourist who will might get confuse with the direction due to few doors that are open at that moment of time. I also get off of work late but i still did enjoy it. The boss liam also gave me wine to relax a bit while workin.

# data[].attributes.body
Everyone at work keep suggesting about st angelo to visit so I visited it and was enjoying everything that i am reading as i am also learning about the place and history of malta itself. The next day theh gave me a chance to work in st angelo for a day to gain more experience on what it was like being inside of excluded areas and also sharing what my thoughts and opinions are about the designs of the place and the audio of each stories.

# data[].attributes.body
Today I got the chance to talk to the big bosses i got to share idea on how to improve the museum more since it is still in refurbishment. During lunch time collumn the chef invited me to his kitchen and ask for my opinion about the food which he will use for the event in museum, I feel welcome and included in everything with the staff and everyone.

# data[].attributes.body
Today I still do talk to tourist of work and guide them through places and explain what the emersive experience was about. After work i went to valleta city to wall around and get some souvenir. Everything are so beautiful along with the people i met throughout my sight seeing.

# data[].attributes.body
One of the good trip in malta with everyone to see the other side of malta afte working. Enjoyed it with everyone. ♡

# data[].attributes.body
Doing the same thing form 4th day and 5th day But a little challenging from taking care of kids and few tourists.

# data[].attributes.body
Today was the last day of the placement, as we had to leave our apartment early as they were cleaning it, a few of us went to the aquarium and a strawberry festival to kill time until our pick up at 7 pm.
This placement has taught me many new skills such as patience and empathy, and it helped me expand my own skills like communication and improving my independence and confidence!

# data[].attributes.body
the whole experience was absolutely amazing, i’ve made some friends for life. from start to finish i enjoyed every second of malta. the accommodation was amazing and i really enjoyed all the trips

# data[].attributes.body
We all went for a lovely fancy brunch for our closing meeting instead of meeting at the host company’s building! Which was a really really nice idea! We all got to chat and enjoy our morning while also getting lovely food and some last of the nice and sunny weather!

Afterwards we wandered around Valletta together, admiring the views and the atmosphere of the city. We went back to our apparents to chill for a bit before Belle and myself went to the pool for the rest of the evening.

That night me and Belle went for a fancy Indian dinner for our anniversary in Valletta and wandered the streets and looked at the views. It was such a lovely night and one of my favourite days in Malta :)

The next day we went for another little breakfast in Valletta and went for a lovely meal in the evening with everyone.

Our final day was so relaxing and chill, we went for another breakfast as we had to be out of our apartments early enough! We just wandered around for most of the day before heading back to the appartement for pickup for the airport. The flight was so quick but we were back so late!

I was so sad to leave Malta and all the lovely memories I have made here. It was truly such an adventure and I cannot see myself ever forgetting this trip or a single day I spent in Malta :)

# data[].attributes.body
My experience in Malta was so unbelievably special and it really felt like it flew by so quickly. I made so many amazing friends and had so many wonderful experiences with everyone. I have to say I really REALLY miss it and would 100% go back on holidays to experience it all again because it truly was that special. It was all just so perfectly organised and we were so well taken care of, I’d go back again in a heartbeat <3

# data[].attributes.body
On Friday we had our closing meeting with Easy Job Bridge! We went to the most amazing brunch place and I had a lovely coffee (very helpful because I didn’t feel very awake!!) but it was so nice to get our certificates! We all then wandered around Valletta for a little bit and got our souvenirs for family members and later on in the day some of us headed to Aqualuna and had a nice day by the pool. Tom and I then went out that evening for dinner in a lovely Indian place! It was such a nice day that I’ll always look back on really fondly.

# data[].attributes.body
On Thursday we had our final day in work which was so strange to think as it felt like we had just gotten there! It was so weird to think our time was almost over but I was really excited because we had dinner and a magic show that evening! It was such a wonderful night and we had a lovely dinner with everyone which was completely paid for which was nice. The magic show was amazing too!! I’m still trying to figure out how they did all of those things (how did he get her ring in that thing??) but it really was just so much fun! Tom also got brought up which was really funny because he did NOT want to sit in the front but I made him!! It was overall just such a great night!

# data[].attributes.body
Thursday was our final day of work and it was sad to say goodbye to our co worker but walking out that door on the final day really felt like a great accomplishment!!!

Luckily to celebrate we had a dinner and a magic show planned for the evening!!! We all got dressed up and showed after work before getting dropped to the restaurant. The meal was so lovely and it was really nice to have one big meal with everyone on one of our last days together before heading home.

The magic show afterwards was so funny, practically everyone got participate in one way or another! Belle made me sit at the VERY front with her which I did not want at all hahahaha but it was so worth it! Predictably I was called up and assisted in a card trick and it was very funny. Altogether the show was incredible and I could tell everyone enjoyed themselves which was really really nice :)

# data[].attributes.body
Tuesday evening’s activity was lazer tag in an abandoned prison!!! It was so so so SO much fun! Our group joined up with another Erasmus group from German and we were all mixed and split into too teams! It was neck and neck and very competitive and in the end we drew!! It was really really fun but exhausting!

I eliminated Belle the most and I don’t thinks she’s was very happy with that hahahab. But afterwards we went and got Burritos and nachos for dinner before heading to bed >:)

# data[].attributes.body
In the morning on Friday we had a closing meeting with our whole group and EasyJobBridge where they presented us with certificates for our placements. It was great to get together as a group to talk about how every found their work experience and all the new skills we've gained. We spent the rest of Friday exploring more of Valletta and getting one last swim in at the pool.
On Saturday I spent most of the day packing and making sure that everything was ready for leaving on Sunday. We had one last dinner together as a group at a great Thai restaurant near the marina.
On Sunday we all had to be out of our apartments quite early so that they could be cleaned for the next group coming in. Myself and two others spent the morning in St Paul's Bay where there was a car meet on right beside the aquarium, I didn't realise before I went just how big the car culture in Malta is! We then went to the aquarium followed by a trip to Imgarr to a huge strawberry festival called Festa Rawli that was recommended to me by one of my colleagues at my placement. We finished off the day with one final trip to Valletta for lunch before heading to the airport.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience, it helped me develop and expand on so many skills for future work and academic endeavours. I was incredibly lucky to have such great support from my college for the whole mobility and such an amazing group of people to experience it with.

# data[].attributes.body
On the last Wednesday I got a visit in work from one of the teachers from my college who came to have a look at my work and chat to my supervisor. It was great to get to talk about the placement and get feedback from my supervisor.
On Thursday I had my last day of work which was a little bittersweet. I really enjoyed my placement and all the lovely people that worked there but I was definitely looking forward to going home too! In the evening we had one last group activity which was a dinner and a magic show. The dinner was a great experience as we got to try some more traditional Maltese food such as rabbit sauce and the Maltese version of beef stew. I thought the magic show was brilliant and I'm still trying to figure out how he did some of the tricks!

# data[].attributes.body
On Monday and Tuesday I continued with the same data entry tasks in work. I find that the longer I spend on the task the easier and more efficient the work is, which is great experience to take with me into any future work.

On Tuesday evening we had laser tag in an abandoned prison, which was one of my favourite activities of the whole trip. We were joined again by three German students and it was really fun to get to do a group activity with them. It ended in a tie after four rounds and I loved getting to do something competitive as a group, I think it helped us get to know eachother even better.

# data[].attributes.body
A playful manta ray at the National Acquarium in Malta.

# data[].attributes.body
We are currently at the Airport and my personal level of sadness is over 9000 😭😭 it's strange because I never felt so sad at the end of a trip, usually at the end of a holiday I'm a bit melancholic but not this kind of sad. I'm literally one minute from crying. We just had our last meal in Malta and waiting for a flight that keeps being delayed more and more every passing minute. I'm very tired,  my eyes can barely stay half open, this morning we had to wake up early because the cleaners were coming to tidy up the apartment and we didn't want to be in their way and delay their work. They came perfectly on time at 10am, so we took a taxi and went to the North of the island to visit the Acquarium. It was a very fun and interesting visit, there were so many species of fishes,  small and big, even some little sharks, but also spiders, beatles, snakes, frogs, gekos and marine slugs (I don't know the correct name). My favourite was a little white manta ray that popped out of the water and splashed some water on the people! She's a total mood, honestly. I made a little video of her. We got some nice breakfast and then headed to the strawberry festival. It was a festival with music, food, and lots of strawberries in different forms, from cakes to drinks to jams. It was packed with people, apparently it's very very popular here in Malta. We roamed around for a while then went to Valletta to meet the rest of the group. It was our last time in Valletta and I felt very sad and gloomy. We got back to the apartment to grab our luggage and wait to be picked up by the van. So it's officially the end of this adventure. It's been so nice to discover this island, as I said I would have never come here if it wasn't for this project, I knew Malta because my auntie came here in holiday like 20 years ago and brought me a photo book and some bracelets, but honestly Malta wasn't really in my foreseeable plans. I already convinced my Italian friends we need to come here for holidays next year 😍 and maybe next time I will really stay here and never leave...
Farewell for now, Malta! 🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹

# data[].attributes.body
Can’t believe the 3 weeks have ended… it has flown by! I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity, I loved every minute of it.
On Saturday myself, Orla and Alannah got tattoos.. it had to be done. In the evening we decided to have one last dinner together at Jungle Joy! They served Thai dishes so I chose Pad Thai which was delicious!

Stress packing started at 8:30 this morning🥹 a breakfast was needed after this so a few of us headed into Valetta and went to a lovely cafe called Manouche Craft Bakery. I’m really going to miss waking up to the sunshine everyday but at the same time I’m looking forward to seeing my family and my dogs🐶

I will be back to Malta in the future!

# data[].attributes.body
My experience in Malta was a new one and I'm truly grateful I got to attend this trip in the end. We met in elephant shoe a brunch place based in Valletta  that had the best banana pancakes ever! After our closing meeting a group of us explored Valletta more in depth learning about it's unique history.

# data[].attributes.body
The magic show was amazing! I've never been so amused from a magic show in all my life (and I've been to my handful of shows!) my favourite trick was the ball trick genuinely so curious as to how it was done, but that's magic isn't it? 😂 It was put on in an old castle and we had an amazing three course meal before hand. My favourite meal was the pasta and the mushroom sauce I got, it was rich and creamy and not over powering. I would love to watch this magician again sometime again in the future!

# data[].attributes.body
On Thursday we had a dinner and Magic show organised for us which was a great way to meet the group! We all had a laugh! It’s so nice that we’ve all got on really well and can expeirence these events together.

On Friday our closing meeting was organised at Elephant Shoe in Valetta which was one of the nicest brunch spots I’ve been to. I’m a coeliac so they were very accommodating for my dietary requirements. I’d also like to note that Ryan and Ruella our mentors from Easy Bridge were so lovely in terms of my dietary requirements and made sure any places we had organised for food were able to accommodate for me! I think the meeting highlighted how close we are to going home… safe to say we’re all going to miss Malta😢

After the closing meeting some of us explored Valetta and then went to Aqualuna to hang out at the pool. Strawberry Daiquiri's were a good shout!

# data[].attributes.body
The ruins of the temple of Hal Tarxien.

# data[].attributes.body
Today was our last day in Malta and I feel sooo sad 😭 Well, technically our last day is tomorrow but it will actually be only half day since we will get picked up at around 7pm. I will be even more sad tomorrow. I'm not ready to go back to the real life! I don't want to go back to work and I'm freaking out about the upcoming exams at college. I will need a lot of Bach flowers drops to manage the stress, like, A LOT. The entire factory probably. Anyway, this morning I decided not to get up at the usual early time, I fell asleep again and again a third time until I woke up at about 11am, which is something that happens really really rarely. I filled the Erasmus survey, hopefully my answers will be useful, and then I went out to catch the bus: I had already planned to go see the historical site of the temples of Hal Tarxien, one of the most ancient and well preserved archaeological complex of Malta. It was found by mistake in 1921 by some farmers who were trying to plant some vegetables and kept crashing their spades into some giant stones. It is very well preserved, it's protected by a giant tent and has a long ramp which passes in between the ruins to allow the visitors to see the stones at a very close proximity but without ruining the pavement (which is still the original one). It's really suggestive, walking around this ruins and think that they survived 3000 years of history and came to us intact: who built them? And what was their purpose? Did the temple have a roof, or some statues, and where are they now? How did the roof fall down and when? Why nobody fixed it? So many questions that will never have an answer. The objects that were found into the temple are now saved and exhibited in the Archeological Museum of Malta, which I have visited last week. Most of them were perfectly preserved and show the way those people lived their lives and the way they saw themselves; they carved some anthropomorphic little statues which showed that the first original Maltese people were short (barely reached 140cm) and chubby. Hey, looks like I might be a Maltese after all!! 🤣🤣
I returned to the apartment around 6pm and got ready for the last dinner with the group, we got some nice Thai food and a beer, I tried the Guinness, let's say I'm very happy I will be able to get a real one from Monday. This was really a fantastic experience, I feel like there was still soooo much to do, so much to see, to learn, so many places to go, I feel like I didn't do enough, I could have travelled more, I could have wasted less time at the apartment, but now it's late, what is done is done, tomorrow we will head back to Ireland and Malta will be just a wonderful memory. My friends from Italy said "If you lived in Malta we could see each other more often, and we will have an excuse to spend the holidays there!" and I told them not to put ideas into my head because I need to finish college first.

# data[].attributes.body
A typical Maltese building in the Three Cities.

# data[].attributes.body
The view of Valletta and The Three Cities from the balcony of the Upper Barrakka gardens in Valletta.

# data[].attributes.body
"Adieu, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!" 🤧 This morning we had the closing meeting with Ruella and Ryan from Easy Job, they planned an early meeting+ breakfast so we could have the rest of the day for ourselves to enjoy, how lovely of them. We met in this amazing place called "Elephant shoe" which has over the top reviews online. They had some interesting choices for brunch, I got a bagel with salmon and poached eggs (I felt fancy) and 2 coffees because I was still half asleep. We chatted a bit, they they took us to the Upper Barrakka gardens, where I had been twice already, to take a picture of all of us with our certificates (that we will receive when we get back to Bife). It was a lovely morning, Ruella and Ryan are very nice and genuine people. I didn't know what to do for the day so Ryan kindly suggested me to go see The three cities, which is the island just in front of Valletta harbour: he explained me how to get to the harbour, which ferry to take etc. So I followed his advice and off I went! To get to the harbour I had two choices: I could get the elevator for just 1 euro or I could get the stairs for free. Now, I'm a cheap person with around 12000 extra calories to burn, so the choice was pretty inevitable: I got the stairs. The view from the top of the stairs was absolutely breathtaking, I went down without any rush. In total there were 400 stairs but it was very easy to get to the bottom. The harbour was right on the other side of the street. I bought a ticket for the ferry and waited the next one. I enjoyed the wind on the ferry, it was nice since the day was very hot. The Three Cities is called like that because there are 3 villages, each of them with a beautiful church. I went to each of the 3 cathedrals because I wanted to visit them and they were all closed. How disappointing!! What's the point of having a church if you keep it closed? One of the best things when you're a tourist and the weather is so hot is to have a break and sit in a chill, dark church for a few minutes and enjoy the shadow and the silence. Also, I thought catholic priests liked money, so how are the tourists supposed to leave some offertories if you keep the church closed? That's basic business 101. Anyway, even if I couldn't see the cathedral, I went for a long stroll around the villages, soooo many stairs! Billions and billions of stairs, now I understand how Maltese people are all so in perfect shape, they constantly go up and down the stairs all day! It was really beautiful. I stopped to get a drink because I was very thirsty. I went to the Museum of WWll (which Malta fought as part of the British Empire, they weren't a Republic yet) but I didn't realise it was so late so I was very sad when the lady at the desk told me they were closing in half an hour. She said I could go back the next day because they are open 7 days per week, but I don't think I will go there again, I have other plans already. Such a pity. I went to catch the ferry back to Valletta and took a stroll around the city before getting the bus to Msida. In the evening I wanted to go to this restaurant I had seen passing by in Sliema, it had amazing reviews online, 5/5, so I went there for dinner. It was busy but not full so I got a table very quickly. I got octopus spaghetti and a small portion of their famous rabbit, everything was delicious, I'm officially rolling. I'm so sad tomorrow it's the last day 😭😭 and some of the guys said that there is a storm going on in Ireland right now, which will probably welcome us back home on Monday morning... We should definitely stay here another week or two, for our own safety *wink wink*.

# data[].attributes.body
Today was the last meeting with our curators, it was sad to realize that all good things must come to an end, but there is no need to be upset, because one good thing will definitely be replaced by another, if you deserve it, we had a very cool time with our curators, I think we remain in their memory, just as they remain in ours

# data[].attributes.body
We had our closing meeting in Valletta with Ryan and Ruella. We received our internship certs today and then we had brunch in the elephant’s shoe very nice cafe where we said our goodbyes and thank yous to Ryan and Ruella for all the hard work there team put into for us very helpful. We then went for a walk around Valletta for a bit of shopping then got back to our apartments. Just chilled them for the rest of the evening beautiful day overall 😊

# data[].attributes.body
The beautiful venue of the magic show.

# data[].attributes.body
The gardens and stunning view all around the campus.

# data[].attributes.body
Last day at work 😭 This morning I cried a bit when I woke up, I do not desire to leave Malta, I'm going back to Ireland but it's absolutely against my will, let that be clear. My manager said she is very happy with the work we've done together, it was very sad to say goodbye but she said when I'm in Malta next time I can contact her and she will find me a room with a great view and a nice price *wink wink*. She sent me home earlier because it was the last day and I previously told her that there were still a lot of places I wanted to see before I go, so she said go and enjoy these few days left, how nice. I went for a last stroll around Saint Jullian, got some focaccia for lunch and then headed back to Msida, briefly at the apartment and then I went to see the University which is literally 3 minutes walking from our apartment. I wanted to go see the temples but we had a dinner at 7pm and I was scared I would be late so I just walked around the campus. It's a huge campus, with many faculties, the students dorms, there is even a little shopping centre in the middle for any students' needs. It reminded me of my university in Italy, I hope this one in Malta is a bit better organised though (it couldn't be worse anyway). After, I went for a walk on the seaside, I adventured inside the alleys of Sliema, the sun was blinding so it was nice to walk in the shadow of the buildings for a while. At 5:30pm I went back to the apartment to get ready for the dinner + magic show, which I was really looking forward because I love magic shows and I hadn't seen one since I was a child (the dream is to go see Le Cirque du Soleil but I'm poor ha ha ha 😭). They brought us to this lovely restaurant which was set in a very ancient building, it looked like a castle or a fortress, with thick walls and wooden tables. The food was amazing, which is not a news anymore, the food has been amazing for 3 weeks, I'm up 10 kilogrammes, they will probably ask me to pay an extra for the return flight! I got the rabbit spaghetti, the chicken and mushrooms and the Maltese trifle (a cake similar to tiramisu but with almonds on top), yum! After we moved upstairs where we saw the show, it was honestly hilarious, the magicians' names were Bryan and Lola and they performed some tricks, some of them were quite classics (objects disappearing and reappearing in different places, the cards, etc.) some others were very original and fun. They picked some of the guys of my group and some from a group of American tourists that were there with us. Bryan told a lot of jokes, it was really funny and enjoyable and an hour passed in the blink of an eye. My shoes were absolutely uncomfortable so I was happy the car dropped us straight in front of the apartment and not where they previously picked us up (a few minutes walking from the apartment). Tomorrow morning we will have the breakfast with Ruella and Ryan to say thank you and farewell 😭

# data[].attributes.body
This was actually such an amazing experience and was so much fun. I was terrified at one point though because the man on stage started looking at me and then called me on stage, but it was a lovely and amazing night!

# data[].attributes.body
Today we said goodbye to our work placements. It was really nice meeting new people and all the staff there were welcoming the entire time, it was actually a bit sad to say goodbye but it was also a lovely experience.

# data[].attributes.body
Today we went to laser tag after work and it was so fun, we ended up tied with the other team. We had german interns that joined us for the day too, so it was nice to meet new people out too!

# data[].attributes.body
This morning we had our closing meeting with Easy Job Bridge. They usually hold these in their offices but Michelle, Ryan, and Ruella decided to do something different so we met for breakfast instead. We went to Elephant Shoe in Valetta. This is beside a beautiful gardens with a lovely view. We took pictures with our Erasmus+ internship certificates here.
The food in Elephant Shoe was delicious. It’s the perfect place for brunch. Ryan printed off pictures of all of us from the second day in Malta. We passed them around the table to sign them so we can remember this experience. This was a really thoughtful of Ryan. We said our goodbyes to Ryan and Ruella. They were always a pleasure to be around and we are very grateful for their hard work.
We then decided to walk around Valetta to get a few souvenirs to bring home. Lauren and I got braids in our hair, which reminds me of when I was younger. We are now at the pool in Aqualuna relaxing. The weather is amazing.

# data[].attributes.body
Last night, we all went to a meal and magic show at the chamber of mysteries. The dinner consisted of a 3 course meal with complimentary wine, beer, water, and soft drinks. I had vegetable soup, stuffed peppers, and Maltese ice cream.
The magic show was really good. The magician was amazing and blew our minds. Bohdan, Deco, Maryanne, and Tom were called up on stage. The show was really inclusive which was very entertaining. Once the show was finished we were all wrecked so we had an early night. The end of the Erasmus is very soon and we don’t want to leave.

# data[].attributes.body
On Wednesday, we did our usual duties in work. Cleaning pens, getting bedding ready, feeding, and walking the dogs. A vet also came out to give some of the dogs their vaccines, and they also took a blood sample from one that is very overweight for testing. They think this could either be cancer or some sort of thyroid problem. We assisted with the handling of these dogs. Myself and Ruby also did a tour of the shelter for two people who are interested in volunteering there. As this was our second last day there we stayed back a little later to spend time with the dogs.
Thursday was our last day in work. We were able to take it easy and spend lots of time with the dogs. We helped the other volunteers cleaning the inside pens. We then took Pippa, Mia, and Shadow for a walk in the park nearby. We were all very emotional leaving. We made some great friends in the other volunteers, and Rosa, our mentor was amazing. Rosa has set this whole sanctuary up herself. The work she does is incredible - she never has a day off! We all admire her so much. Saying goodbye to the dogs was really hard. They are all so lovely and just want affection. We do have our favourites though ( Alannahs being Mia a staffie, Rubys is Charlie a doodle, and mine is Malcom a fox terrier ). All 3 of us plan on coming out again in the next few months, or next year, to volunteer here. I will miss AAA Sanctuary so much!

# data[].attributes.body
On Tuesday we all went to this amazing abandoned prison to do laser tag!! It was absolutely amazing and so much fun to run around with everyone. It was definitely very competitive which I loved, but I definitely learned from the statistics that I have absolutely shocking aim. I died at least 40 times it was not ideal but I still had so much fun regardless!! Our team won 2/4 games which was so cool and we really had so much fun. It was such an amazing experience!

# data[].attributes.body
laser tag on tuesday was unbelievable, it was in an abandoned prison. myself and deco were team captains and it was very competitive. so fun much fun would highly recommend. the last day of work was very emotional. leaving all the dogs was so hard to do. i have enjoyed every single second of being there. i even want to return to malta to work there. our mentor was such a lovely woman and i really appreciated her support throughout 🐾

# data[].attributes.body
A view of Valletta from the top of a fortress.

# data[].attributes.body
A cute cat in Valletta.

# data[].attributes.body
I can't believe we're leaving Malta in 4 days nooo I don't want to 😭😭😭 I don't want to go back to the constant rain, the cold, working only to be able to pay rent and nothing else... Please let me stay here, I will find a job as a waitress, buy a tiny ivory house and adopt a cat or maybe seven! But I know I have to finish college first, I started and it would be unfair to give up now, we're almost at the end of the year, I've gone this far so I have to finish. It has been a very long, stressful year but I'm happy I did it. Today at work it was super busy, the manager left me a long list of tasks to do and I barely finished everything by 4pm. She said she's very happy with my work, and that's very important to me because I wanted to do a good impression and a nice job, even if only for 3 weeks. She filled my supervisor report and said she was going to give me high scores. After work I went to grab some lunch at "Dolce Sicilia" and I got two huge arancini, one with Bolognese sauce and the other with spinach. Fun fact about arancini: depending on which part of Sicily you are, they are called with a different gender, in some parts are called arancinO/arancinI (masculine form) and in some other parts are called arancinA/arancinE (feminine form) and there is a little "war" between cities about this difference and if you say it wrong they're going to be very offended 😁 Arancini can be oval shaped or piramidal shape and have several fillings. To digest them I went to Valletta and I just took a long, long walk through the hundreds of tiny alleys, no Google maps, no particular places to go, just a wander around enjoying the warmth and the sun (as long as I still can). Actually, getting lost in Valletta is almost impossible since the city is built with the classic Roman scheme, a bigger main street in the middle and then all the narrow alleys that convey towards it, with the sea on both sides, so basically you always have a general idea of where you're going (towards the sea or towards the main street). It was a lovely walk, there are already many more tourists compared to 3 weeks ago, I can already see the summer season unfolding and bringing the chaos of the tourists that will spend the holidays here. There are so many stray cats in this island, they are very friendly and well fed. I bought more imqaret and pastizzi for dinner, I really need to stop eating I'm basically rolling around at this point!

# data[].attributes.body
Today was our last day at the shelter and I’m so sad to leave all the dogs. They all had different personalities but simply just wanted love and cuddles from everyone. I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to work here and learn about the workings of a shelter. Rosa was an amazing mentor and I cannot admire her enough for the work she does for the dogs. Working at the shelter has made me want to do more voluntary work back home and hopefully I can put everything that I learnt from Rosa into practice!

I will be back to Malta soon and will definitely visit the shelter again. Hopefully some of the dogs that are currently there now will find a good home in the future. They all deserve one❤️

# data[].attributes.body
1. More kitties I found outside our house! I've seen at least 3 different breeds
2. Cinema to see Kung Fu panda 4!
3. I only found out recently that churches in Malta have more than one clock on them so the devil won't know when mass is taking place
4. The views from the top deck of the pool
5. I still want to know why I see the danish flag now and again
6. Views from the Gozo ferry

# data[].attributes.body
On Tuesday we went to laser tag in an abonded prison. It was super cool to explore the prison by itself. I'd love to learn more about the prisons history. To say the least I didn't too well during the laser tag! Work has been nothing different however I am terribly upset to leave the kids as I've grew such a bond with them, however it's onto the chapter after! We're going to a magic show tonight and it seems seriously cool! I can't wait (thanks Michelle for the photo even though under that flag I'm covered in jelly and sugar) 😭

# data[].attributes.body
On Sunday we all went on a trip to the blue lagoon. The trip cost €30 per person which is so worth it. The boat left Sliema at 9:45. A few of us felt a bit sick but it was a short journey. It’s absolutely stunning out there, the water and sky were both crystal blue. We had cocktails that were in a pineapple and then found a spot to sit down at. Everyone (except for me) got in for a swim. The boat then collected us at 3:45 to bring us back. We were all wrecked and went to bed very early.
On Tuesday we played laser tag in an abandoned prison. Alannah and Deco were the team captains. It got very competitive but we had a great time and thankfully we’re all still friends. The yellow team won ☹️

# data[].attributes.body
Yesterday we done lazer tag which was held in an old prison. We were split into two teams I was a team leader for my team the end result ended in a draw unfortunately but was great fun. Today was my last day in my work place really enjoyed my time here iv learned tough and valuable lessons personally and learned a lot about cabinet making and the process and hard work that goes into it. Gonna miss the work colleges iv started to get on with very well. Id like to thank my Supervisor Pierre for all the help gonna miss his funny banter and comments lovely man. I’m just now gonna relax and enjoy my last few days in this beautiful country 💪🏼

# data[].attributes.body
On Sunday we all got up early to catch a little boat to the Blue Lagloon! The weather was SO hot that day so it was perfect. The boat was so much fun, admittedly too rocky that early in the morning but I loved it! The trip up was just over an hour but honestly I didn’t feel it because the views were so breathtaking!

When we arrived it was so insane! The colour of the water can’t really be captured in photos! It was so shiny and crystal blue!  The place was rammed but the atmosphere was great. We found a lovely little sunny spot on the rock face and we went for a swim. The water was a LITTLE cold but compared to home it was boiling.

We got cocktails in a pineapple!!! And lovely greasy food! We had a solid 3 hours on the island but it flew by! The trip back was sooo nice we had a lovely nap on the boat hahah.

Everyone was wrecked after the day and wanted to rest up before work! But myself and Belle wanted to go for dinner because it was Easter Sunday!!! So we popped into Valletta and had this LOVELY creamy pasta and a drink and a little milkshake and walked around the place! Valletta has such a lovely atmosphere, especially at night! We got a quick taxi home and I passed out in my bed ready for my last week of work!

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
The water was absolutely stunning! I’ve never seen anything like it :)

# data[].attributes.body
On Sunday we went to Comino to see the Blue Lagoon!! We all got up early and caught the boat at 10 from Sliema. The journey there definitely felt a bit bumpy but I really love the feeling of being on a boat!! I think we got there at around 12 and I genuinely couldn’t believe how clear and stunning the water was. We got so lucky with the weather too as it literally felt close to 30°. I definitely found myself having to be so careful on the cliff edges though because it was rocky and absolutely packed full of people!

The water was cold but not too bad, especially once you got used to it and it was really lovely after boiling in the sun! After an hour and a bit of swimming Tom and I went to get food and some cocktails (which were served in a pineapple!!) and it was just the most beautiful day. I felt very hot and tired getting on the boat so I slept the entire way home but it was so nice feeling the breeze on my face through the window beside us. That evening Tom and I went for dinner in Valletta again and it was lovely being out for Easter!! One of the best Easters I’ve ever had, though I’m definitely missing my family quite a lot now! I can’t wait to see them in a few days

# data[].attributes.body
Tuesday was quite a busy day in the shelter! Orla and I were in charge of feeding all the dogs in the isolated rooms which includes the dogs under going medication and the Puppys. We also had to feed the dogs who are kept in quarantine. Cooper to the left was left with a broken leg for 3 weeks in another sanctuary prior to coming to AAA💔

The vet came to the sanctuary to give some of the dogs vaccines and check their microchips. The dog to the right is unusually obese, which the vet reckons is due to cancer but it’s still unknown so bloods had to be taken!
Every day we leave work covered in dirt… we’re so use to it now that we’re unbothered but we do get some odd looks on the way home..

Then we did Laser Tag in an abandoned prison organised by Easy Bridge - it was fun and everyone can get involved!

# data[].attributes.body
Not much going on in these last two days. Monday it was still holiday, unofficially, it's not a bank holiday like in Ireland and it's not "little Easter" like in Italy so every place can decide to be open or closed for the day. My manager kindly sent me a text in the morning telling me there would be no work and to enjoy my day off. I was still tired from the trip the day before so I took it very easy, I stayed home in the morning, made laundry and cooked some pasta (a smaller portion compared to the Maltese restaurant ones, I still can't believe someone eats more pasta than me!!). In the afternoon I went for a walk on the seaside, I had a big gelato, I bought some souvenirs for my friends in Italy and for my housemate in Ireland: four tote bags (plus one for me), a dozen magnets, two little purses, a leather bracelet for my best friend and a little ceramic owl for my friend Rita who has a collection of owls from around the world. I bought some typical Maltese sweets called "imqaret" and some "pastizzi" which are very similar to Napolitan "sfogliatelle", yum! It was quite cold when the sun went down, and I didn't have any jacket or jumper with me so I walked  back home as quick as possible. Not quick enough, apparently, since on Tuesday morning I woke up with my throat on fire 🔥 and a strong cold, I went to work earlier because I had to catch up with the work from the day before but my throat was very souring all day and I was afraid I was going to have fever and miss the last few days at work. I had to skip the laser tag, which is a pity because the guys had a lot of fun, but I didn't want to risk feeling worse and missing work, it's the last 3 days and I want to get the best of them and see as much as I can. I don't want to leave Malta!! 😭 I just want to live here, have a tiny house on my own, going to work, eating seafood and pastizzi every day and get fat and happy 🥺 is it too much to ask?

# data[].attributes.body
Today I was given the opportunity to try my hand at laser tag for the first time. To be honest, my expectations were lower than they actually turned out to be, I didn’t think that I would like it so much, the feeling of the presence of friendly competition lit a fire in me, and I gave my all that day for our victory, which, unfortunately, did not help. And also I met two guys from Germany, and they fell into my soul, very good guys, fit perfectly into our activities

# data[].attributes.body
On Friday a group of us headed to Mdina in the morning!! It was my first time there and it was absolutely beautiful. We spent a good while just walking around Mdina and taking loads of photos of the buildings, I genuinely can’t get over how beautiful Maltese architecture is and I can see why so many films and shows are made here!! We then went into Rabat and walked up the main street which was absolutely packed but a lot of fun to look down! I got some souvenirs for my friends while I was there too. We then had lunch (breakfast really) in a lovely little restaurant and I had carbonara which was delicious! Though I’m a little carbonara’d out at this point I can’t lie.

After that, we split up as some of the others headed home but Tom and I walked around for a few more hours around Rabat and Mdina and got icepops! It really feels like summer to me here so it was just beautiful. After that I headed home to the apartment for a little rest before dinner!

We all went out together to Valletta and I got a lovely burger! Tom, Lauren and I had planned to go to the cinema to see Kung Fu Panda 4 which we did! Really fancy cinema but not a good movie (I had fun regardless!!). After the cinema, Tom and I went to St Julians with the others and we had such a fun time!! I’m always a little bit nervous around there but it’s much easier with a group and we had such a great time!

# data[].attributes.body
We were in Comino, Blue Lagoon, one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen in my life, everywhere you look there are beautiful views and crystal water, the temperature is no colder than in Ireland, so you can already say it’s warm, we managed to eat there, the food is very good delicious, although not in comfortable conditions, I bought a souvenir from there so as not to forget this miracle

# data[].attributes.body
Can I just mention my work place loves giving out cakes!? I had an amazing cheese cake today with strawberry jam on top 😭❤️

# data[].attributes.body
On Sunday we went to the blue lagoon! It was absolutely stunning. I've never seen water so blue in my life?? I couldn't do much that though as I pulled a muscle in my back so I laid down on the beach and enjoyed the cool water (and say getting a sunburn in my back too) we got back pretty late so I couldn't go to the pharmacy as it was Easter Sunday meaning all the stores closed early! I'd love to go back around on the boat, the waves were seriously relaxing just to stare at for hours.

# data[].attributes.body
The Blue Lagoon on Comino Island.

# data[].attributes.body
Today it's Easter and we headed to the Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino. We got the ferry booked several days ago, luckily because it was all fully booked and we wouldn't be able to just walk in and sail (as you can do most days). The trip on the ferry took about 40 minutes, and the voice over on the boat explained us everything we were seeing from the windows (some towers that were used as signals for incoming attacks, popular seasides and harbours, the statue of Saint Paul who passed by in Malta before being executed). The island of Comino is so small that there is only one house inhabited by a couple of farmers, literally life goal! Where do I sign to live on a desert island without having to work and without any neighbours? 😍 That's the dream, honestly. The nature on the island is pristine and savage, rocks all around and a few tiny sandy beaches which were particularly busy yesterday, I can only imagine how packed with people it's usually in the summer, I wouldn't like it, I need my personal space when I swim. The colour of the water is a dark blue where it's deeper, and transparent white near the shore, it looks like a pool, you can see everything underneath the surface. There were no jellyfish as someone warned us, I guess the water is still too cold for them, they usually prefer warmer waters.
I didn't take many pictures because I had to focus all my attention on literally not to die or fall face first into a spiky rock. At some stage I stopped following the rest of the group and went on the top of the island where there were some trucks that sold drinks, food and souvenirs. I got one of the pineapple with a drink in it, very refreshing, and I sat down in the shadow because the sun was very strong, especially after 12pm, it was super hot and I didn't want to risk a sunstroke. There were so many lizards, and some of them were a beautiful emerald green, they looked like tiny dragons. Here's a fun fact about lizards: when a predator grabs their tail, the lizard's defensive strategy is to let the tail detatch from the body so she can run away and save itself; the tail remains alive for at least 5 minutes after being detached (it keeps moving) and the lizard grows a brand new tail in the following days. I think it's fascinating, they managed to survive since the dinosaurs and can grow their missing body parts back! I wish it worked for humans too, but then we wouldn't need surgeons anymore. Anyway, it was a wonderful day, we went back to the apartment at about 5:30pm, I took a shower and a nap and then we ordered burgers and chips because we were starving. I wanted to go for a walk in the evening but I was too knackered to even leave my bed. The second week passed in the blink of an eye, tomorrow is the beginning of week 3 and I can't believe we're going to leave Malta already!! 😭 I wish this Erasmus would last 6 months. I think I will definitely go back here for holidays, not in summer because it's too hot for me but definitely in Spring or Fall.

# data[].attributes.body
the visit to the blue lagoon was incredible. the water was amazing so clear and so refreshing. the weather was unbelievable and i would highly recommend going. bringing the dogs for a walk and chilling on the bench is great, trying my best not to sneak a few home is so hard as they are so loveable and adorable being here makes my day 10x better 🫶

# data[].attributes.body
On Thursday Tom and I went back into Valletta after work! I’ve been really loving the evenings after work because we finish quite early and it has given us such a good opportunity to explore more of the city and the area around it! We had some lunch and then just walked around a lot of the side streets in Valletta which are absolutely beautiful (but weirdly slippy? wearing Vans is maybe not the shout because I almost fell on those steps like three times)

We had some drinks in a really nice Japanese cocktail bar and then walked back towards one of the main squares where they had loads of candles laid out in the shape of a cross for holy week which looked amazing. A lot of the churches were open too so we had a little look through the doors at people praying and there was just a really calm vibe around the whole city which was beautiful! We were also really excited for our long weekend and trip to Comino so it just made it all the more special for us

# data[].attributes.body
Today a group of us visited the surroundings of Mdina and Rabat since we had the day off work. There was so many beautiful fortresses and churches to explore and everything was decorated for good Friday.
We ended up also doing a bit of souvenir shopping and saw some of the local cuisine in the markets.

# data[].attributes.body
Reality of living in an all girls apartment… doing each others brows.. it has to be done for the new week.
Today Orla and I were asked to teach new Belgian students how to carry out the duties with the dogs who are kept in separate pens. This includes cleaning the kennels, changing bedding, cleaning their outside area and feeding them! We then brought Pippa, Mia and Shadow for a walk.
Shadow was hit by a car so he’s on the road of recovery which means he only requires slow walks. We tried to take some nice photos of him for the Sanctuary’s Instagram but Shadow had other ideas… 😂
It’s our last week and I know I'm really going to miss the sanctuary and all the dogs. Because I can’t rescue a dog, I thought a donation would help as there are over 70 dogs to be feed and many of them require vet visits and medication daily❤️‍🩹

It was super hot again today so I went to Aqualuna which is a beach pool club where you can pay €10 for a half day from 2 to 6 which includes a sun bed, towels and free access to the pool!

# data[].attributes.body
I was a bit sad not to be spending Easter at home with my family but I ended up having the most amazing day with all the new friends I've made.
We got a ferry in the morning to the nearby island of Comino to visit the gorgeous Blue Lagoon that they have there.
It was very busy with other boatloads of visitors from ferries but we managed to find a nice spot to relax and swim for a few hours.
The water was definitely colder than I expected but was still so nice to swim in, definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
We also got really lucky with the weather but I think I need to invest in some water proof suncream before the next swim because I did manage to get a nice sunburn!
Bit sad to be going back to work after such an incredible weekend but I'm excited to learn more.

# data[].attributes.body
Took a trip on Saturday out to the other side of Malta to visit one of their most famous beaches with a few of the other girls. It's called the Golden Bay and it was absolutely stunning, it was so nice to finally find a proper sandy beach to go for a swim. We finished the evening off with most of the group together to have a few drinks and a catch up which was lovely.
Also good to have a relaxing day after a long week, with even more planned tomorrow!

# data[].attributes.body
We went to the Blue Lagoon on Comino yesterday this was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to the sea was so clear and weather was great it was to warm to not have a swim which was very refreshing. The pineapple cocktails are a must try when visiting very tasty recommended big time! 🍍

# data[].attributes.body
We didn’t have work on Good Friday so myself and Belle got up early enough and headed to the Mdina for the morning!!!
The weather was beautiful and atmosphere in the Mdina and the city was unreal. It was just such a lovely place to walk around and chat!
After we explored we met up with some of the others nearby and we had a lovely lunch (breakfast haha). It was great to talk to people after our week at work!

Afterwards we split up again and Belle and I went to a little cafe and got a refreshing ice coffee and a treat! We then went back to the Mdina again but this time wandered the gardens and looked at the views! It was really really nice to wander around!

We were a bit tired so we headed back to our apartments and rested for a while before meeting everyone for dinner in Valletta!! Three of us had booked the cinema to see king fu Panda 4 for that evening so we were a bit tight for time but we managed to have a tasty burger and a nice drink before we went!

After the film (it was so bad omg ahhaha) we went to meet the others in St.Julian’s! We had so so so much fun and myself, Belle and Alannah were there all night!!!
It was so so so much fun and I had an unforgettable night! (And a lovvvvvely sleep in)

# data[].attributes.body
On Saturday the girls and I went to Golden Bay where we sunbathed for a bit and then went for lunch. I tried Sangria for the first time, not too sure about it.. but I love giving new things a try whilst I’m away.
Today we all booked a boat to the Blue Lagoon. It has to be one of the prettiest places I’ve visited! The colour of the water was unbelievable! Cocktails in a pineapple was also a highlight of the day🍍
It was approx 25 degrees so a swim was needed.. pretty cold at first but worth it! On the way back the boat brought us around the caves in the comino. Both areas are a must see whilst in Malta!

# data[].attributes.body
Today I didn't really have any plans so I decided to go to the shopping mall in Sliema, it's called The Point and it doesn't look like a shopping mall from the outside, more like a Roman temple, but when you get inside you find 4 floors of shops and restaurants. So much chaos! I wandered around for about two hours, I didn't buy anything because honestly everything looked like very expensive rags, if I want something cheap and easily replaceable I'll go to Pennyes. I went for a long walk around the Sliema seaside, it was less windy than last time, then I grabbed the bus and went to Valletta. Finally I went to a typical Maltese restaurant! It's called "La Pira Maltese" and it's set in a 300 years old building (according to the owner). They have tables only outside because inside it's really tiny, I went to the restroom and it was on top of a spiral staircase without handrail, I literally risked my life!! 😅🤭 The food was amazing though, I got the traditional Maltese sausages and pasta with rabbit Ragu, delicious. Next time I'll go for the fish. I walked around the city for a bit until it got very cold and I went to get the bus back to the apartment. I found this hilarious Maltese shop with a little Maltese dictionary, picture following. Tomorrow we'll head to the Blue Lagoon, I'm ready to get another sunstroke! Yeee!

# data[].attributes.body
On Wednesday, Ruby and I met up with Megan in Valetta. We walked around the streets and had a look in some of the shops. We then headed to Ta’ Xiebx and had Indian for dinner.
On Friday, we met up with most of the group in Valetta. We took a picture and the fountain and went for a meal. After dinner we headed into St Julians for a few drinks.
Ruby, Alannah, Megan, and myself are currently at the beach in Golden Bay. It’s quite windy but still warm. Alannah and Megan couldn’t resist a swim. 🌻

# data[].attributes.body
A group of us spent the morning exploring the older towns of Mdina and Rabat, we got really lucky with incredible weather. We got to see the old fortress of Mdina and all the old churches in Rabat that were beautifully decorated for Good Friday.
We finished the evening as a group in Valletta where we had dinner while watching a Good Friday parade that included a marching band!

# data[].attributes.body
currently at the golden bay beach seen in the photo on the top left, the water is beautiful, myself and megan couldn’t resist a swim. the food here is to die for so filling and extra tasty. pippa and mia are the two lovely dogs. getting to walk and spend time with them is the best. work experience is so good, being able to experience a shelter and seeing all the dogs makes me want to bring them home. can’t wait for the laser tag and our trip to the blue lagoon

# data[].attributes.body
In my placement on Wednesday I continued with the data entry that I started on Monday and Tuesday. I'm really enjoying getting to find out more about the company that I'm working for and getting to know my colleagues a bit more. On Wednesday evening we went into Valletta which was gorgeous, I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the history of Malta.
On Thursday I was given some different work in my placement where they had me analysing their website and compile a short piece of feedback as they're hoping to redesign it in the next few months.
I'm so happy that we have a three day weekend with good Friday and can spend some time as a group exploring other parts of the island.

# data[].attributes.body
We are getting very used to our routine in work and we are loving it. We start at 7:30 every morning and go straight to the pens outside. These are dogs that can’t be mixed with the others. There are other interns in the shelter at the moment so they do most of the work inside. We start by taking all bedding out and cleaning the floor of the pens, we then take the dirty food bowls out, and replace the bedding. We then clean the outside part of their pens and give the dogs some pets while we do this. We feed the dogs (once a week they get a big bowl of meat - 5th picture is Ruby getting it ready for them). Once the dogs have eaten their breakfast we take Mia and Pippa to the park up the road for a walk. They have lots of energy so need an hours walk each day. It’s always so sunny and warm in the park so we take a break at the benches. A volunteer from Germany brought shadow, a dog that is injured as he was hit by a car, to the park with us yesterday. He did not walk much as he’s not able for it but this is to build up the strength in his legs. Once we come back from the walk we can head to the dogs that are kept inside together. We play with them and give them lots of love. We also stop any fights they get in😅 we love work so much but it’s very sad to see such lovely dogs without homes, some of them have been there for years. Everyone that works in the shelter are amazing and really care for the welfare of these animals.

# data[].attributes.body
Stayed a lil bit longer to play with the dogs in the shelter as it was so nice out! Friday treat was ham from the butchers so had to distribute it evenly for all the dogs.
Before we left, a French Bulldog was surrendered to the shelter… he was so underweight and had never received a vaccine in his life😭 he will have to spend a while at the shelter to help him for his future family!
Later on, I went for a walk around Sliema port before heading out with the group in Valetta for dinner and drinks.

# data[].attributes.body
Typical Maltese sweets for Easter. Yum!

# data[].attributes.body
Find the intruder 🐞

# data[].attributes.body
Today it was Good Friday, I didn't have any plan for the day so I followed the rest of the group to Rabat where there were some big celebrations. We waited for a bus for half an hour but considering it was holiday there were very few buses operating so we decided to call a taxi, it was the best decision,  we were in front of Mdina gates in 20 minutes (and he had air-con!). I had already been to Mdina last Sunday but I enjoyed being there another day, it was beautiful and there were less cars around this time, probably because they were expecting a bigger flow of tourists and wanted to give them priority. The cathedral was open but incredibly full of people so we didn't get inside. After taking a good stroll around Mdina and see the breathtaking view from the top of the wall, we walked to Rabat were there was a little market with all the traditional sweets and cakes they do for Easter: there were these giant loafs of bread shaped like wheels, very similar to the ones we make in Italy (we put salami and boiled eggs in it, I don't know what was in these ones because I didn't buy one, they were too big), some sweets had the shape of a bell with white sugar frosting and a chocolate egg in the middle, other sweets had dates and figs as filling (these ones I saw them in a lot ot places so far but didn't try them yet, I want to try them before I go back to Ireland). For lunch we went in a nice restaurant, I didn't want a pizza or any pasta so I got a focaccia with tomatoes and Parma ham. After lunch we took a stroll in the park, made a picture (a kind boy took the picture for us) and then headed back to Msida for a nap. In the evening we went to Valletta, it was the first time we were all together there as a group, we took a picture in front of the giant fountain at the gates and then we had dinner in the centre of the main Street, it was a bit cold but not that much. I got a burger even if I wasn't hungry (I was still full from lunch) and a strawberry drink. After dinner we went to Saint Jullian to see the (in)famous night live, it's only March and it was already full of people, I can't imagine how it is in July and August! We went to a couple of places that had nice music, it was all very chill, then we got a taxi back to Msida. I feel like I've been in a taxi more in the last two weeks than in my whole life! But I didn't want to force anyone to wait for the bus with me so I just tagged along. It was overall a very nice day, no plans for tomorrow, I still want to go see the university but I'll wait until they open back on Monday. I can't wait to go to the Blue Lagoon on Sunday 😍

# data[].attributes.body
Today the weather was super hot, I woke up and put on a long sleeve shirt but then got changed last second and opted for a simple cotton t-shirt, less formal maybe but definitely more appropriate to the high temperatures. At work l finished the brochures for the new properties, I worked on some emails and finally got to meet the owner of the apart-hotel, he owns a lot of properties around Malta that's why I hadn't met him yet. He needed the office to work so he sent me home a bit earlier.  I didn't want to go home straight away so I went to grab a milkshake and I went to the seaside for a walk, there were already a lot of people on the beach, it looked like June already! I should have brought my swimsuit. In the evening I went to the cinema to watch "Dune" since I didn't have the chance to go before we left Ireland and I really wanted to watch it on the big screen. Tomorrow is Good Friday, it's a big holiday here and most of the supermarket and shops will be closed so I made sure to buy water, milk and other groceries today. Not much going on, I feel like the second week has flown away in the blink of an eye, much quicker than the first one.

# data[].attributes.body
Well today was a relaxing good Friday! As it was good Friday I had the day off work and opted for a well deserved sleep in (no bank holiday Monday however 😭) we as a group went out for a bite to eat and Belle, Tom and Myself went out to see Kung Fu panda 4 (which had an ad break half way through it...? First time I've ever seen that!) I had so much food I was ready for bed and went home fairly early after we watched the movie 🥰

# data[].attributes.body
Today I found out that tattoos in Malta are often more expensive than in Ireland, but I found a place where it’s cheaper, I left a reminder about this country on my body, but haircuts anywhere are half the price than in Ireland, I didn’t refuse that, in a nutshell I changed my image a little, this country knows how to push for such decisions, I’m really looking forward to a trip to the blue lagoon

# data[].attributes.body
Beautiful morning to Mdina the views are stunning 😮

# data[].attributes.body
The morning started off with Ruby taking the bedding whilst I was trying to make it! You have to be careful with him as he resource guards everything and isn’t afraid to bite..
A few new dogs have joined the shelter over the past few days so a lot of fights have been happening, one leading to 2 of the dogs escaping yesterday! It’s go go go in the shelter sometimes😅 still love every minute of it though.
I was also asked to give some new volunteers a tour of the shelter which I was glad I got asked as I’m starting to get so familiar with the area and workings of the shelter.
Finished the day with homemade veggie pizza - 10/10 from Orla🤪🍕

# data[].attributes.body
Interesting in work experience today one of the workers was using an iron to iron taped wood on the top of the wood never seen this before done by hand. In Ireland we have machines for this interesting to see it being done by hand 🪵

# data[].attributes.body
A glimpse of Rabat.