Post #4

Hey guys, long time no entry! I haven't been able to make blog entries because I've been working so hard here.*

Here's a picture of Golden Bay. Easily the nicest beach I've ever been to. The water was the perfect temperature, nice and crystal blue. Great sand which you take for granted in the US (most of the beaches here are rock beaches**). And what a view, am I right? On the bottom left of this picture you can spot a building which is a nice restaurant that has really good pizza. Actually reasonably priced too! My only complaint about golden bay is that a crab or something kept pinching at my ankles.

*source not found
**http://akmalta.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-flight-and-rock-beach.html

Here's a selfie of us at golden bay. Panorama selfie. Changing the game.

On Monday, rather than slogging myself out of bed to go to work, it was Victory day in Malta. Victory day, September 8th, celebrates 3 things: 

1. Going way back to 1565, when the Turks of the Ottoman Empire tried to invade Malta, climaxing in what is known as the Great Siege. The Knights of St. John (only 400 men plus 2,000 foot soldiers) defended this great island against the Turks. Voltaire once said "Nothing is better known than the siege of Malta".
2. In September of 1800, there was a large French presence of authority in Malta. This is when Napoleon was doing his thing, conquering Europe. The Maltese said nope, rebelled, and with a little help from the British and Rear Admiral Lord Broski Horatio Nelson... were victorious. 
3. Victory Day in Malta also celebrates September 8th, 1943, when General Eisenhower of the Allied forces announced the surrender of Italy of the Axis powers. The surrender actually took place 5 days earlier when Allied forces went to invade Sicily from Malta. The Cassibile Armistice was signed after the Italian Fleet surrendered on that day. 

Enough history though, here's a cactus:

No shortage of cacti on this island. Particularly prickly pear cacti. They're everywhere! Especially on my walk to work. I have to watch my step to make sure I don't get prickly pear all over my shoes. Huagh! Really cool though, love the cacti. Shout out to the cacti.

Here's a picture of a dog lounging on the beach. Ruff life. Made me miss my dog Gabi, but at least I got to see her last night when I skyped my family for the first time! She had no idea what was going on, but I could see it in her eyes that she missed me.

Here's a picture of the Maltese sunrise! Took this from my roof after getting back from Paceville at 7 AM one morning. Paceville is basically a town of clubs and bars. Haven't been there too much.*

Shout out to my mom (Susan)! Here's a picture of some Black Eye'd Susans and a palm tree.