Still on the lookout for a shoe

 The search for that hiking boots is ongoing, and nearing desperation. Don't think I've been constantly searching non-stop though, I haven't! I had exams to think about.

The thing is that there aren't a lot of options when it comes to hiking boots, or shoes in Malta, especially if you have feet problems! As far as I know only one single shop would import a specific brand. For instance, Mochika get Solomon, Surplus and Adventure get Hi-Tec and Lowa, SportsDirect get Karrimor, Gelert, Merrell, and some others. To be fair, I think Solomon is amongst the few brands found across separate outlets. I saw it at Mochika, SportsDirect and Decathlon too, unless I am not mistaken.

I also came across two very cheap hiking boots from SportsDirect and Decathlon, which were selling for 17 euro. The one from SportsDirect honestly had a lot of potential, however I wear my shoes with a special insole, which unfortunately tends to be ticker than most soles that come with the shoe. Sometimes it takes up more space and results in odd creases with each step.

Donnay walking boots

The other 'bargain' was a Quechua shoe, also selling at the grand price of 17 euro or so. However, they run narrow and squeak most irritably! Oh well...

NH100 Walking Boots

Buying a hiking boots can be tricky, as this isn't any shoe where an uncomfortable spot can be tolerated. Spending hours walking in it means that an irritation becomes a blister, swelling, etc. I did, unfortunately, make one bad buy. The first, very first hiking shoe I put my foot into was a Hi-Tec - I just love Hi-Tec shoes. I was a bit hesitant about this one, and turned towards other shoes throughout my search, however, eventually returned to buy it. 

The Hi-Tec boots

Looking back, the fit was obviously small on my feet, and despite spending literally an hour, if not more, walking around with it in the shop I seemed to have overlooked this fact. It was just so wonderful I must have deluded myself into believing the size was right. Fortunately, my mother wears a size smaller than I do and needed a hiking boots too, so at least that's one problem sorted now!

An updated map of Gozo public transport

 This blog is Malta on a map, but er, it’s Gozo that will be getting a map this time. More specifically, an updated map of its public transport. 

My version

I came across a map of Malta and Gozo I had bought a couple of years ago. It isn’t that top notch detailed map to be used while driving, but does include the basics, like the main connecting roads between the towns and village and tourist attractions. This map is, in fact, mainly meant for tourists, and has sections translated in German, Italian, French, and so on.  

Big Map! Packet of Tissues for reference

In one section are two maps of the islands’ public transport. One for Malta, and a smaller map for Gozo. The Gozo one was quite simple, so I decided to make a more detailed, and now updated one!

Tallinja transportation links

I next plan to work on one covering Malta… however, this may be more challenging. There have been more changes to routes and new routes were added. Additionally, main routes ending in Valletta will be trickier to map in terms space comparing to those ending in Victoria, which would be at the centre of the page, and therefore space. I may split them…and have a map with routes serving to and from Valletta and routes between towns themselves. Thoughts?

P.S. I know the new map is looking bare, but I plan to make a copy of it and use water colouring to make it more 3D like the original one! 

Enid Blyton Locations pt. 1

After finishing reading L. M. Montgomery's 'The Blue Castle' last week I got a sudden urge to look up are re-read a book by Enid Blyton that is set in a place called Penrhyndendraith. This is actually a real place in Wales, but we'll get back to that later.

After a bit of searching, I found which book this was - and read The Ragamuffin Mystery within the day. 

As I child I basically grew up reading and re-reading Enid Blyton books, but I hadn't touched them in a while. Now, I read through the story with new perspective.

The beginning of the story in short: With Mr Lynton away in America, his wife and children Roger and Diana set off in a caravan and car, and invite their friend Miss Pepper with them. However, an accident to their aunt alters their plans. Mrs Lynton takes the car and goes to see her sister, and in the meantime Barney and his father who were touring Scotland travelled south to help the others (now stranded without a car). They end up staying at an inn at Penrhyndendraith, and are soon joined by their energetic, if not a bit crazy, cousin Snubby and dog Loony who was meant to be staying at his aunt for the holidays. 

Penrhyndendraith 

Here is Penrhyndendraith on the map- it on the coast in the North of Wales. Way above is Scotland... so Barney and his father must have had quite a journey to reach the others. I'm not sure where Roger, Diana & Co were touring in the beginning, I may have missed it if is in the book. However, they had planned a 3 week holiday and were apparently traversing several counties. The place Yesterley is mentioned, but a quick search on the map will show this to be factious. 

Just a mile or so from Penrhyndendraith is Portmeiron, which is perhaps the main attraction of the area nowadays. This little village will appear quite out of place and as if it's a part of Italy. Indeed, the architecture is remarkably different compared to similar buildings in North Wales. 

Don't mind the alarmy stock photo, but you can assume which one is Portmeiron. The buildigns are just so colourful!

Back to the book - Penrhyndendraith supposedly has Merlin's Cove where the children go swimming, and have part of their adventure here. However, there seems to be no real such Cove - Blyton may have gotten the idea from a Merlin's Cave which is way down south in Cornwall, near Tintagel. 

Merlin's CAVE, Tintagel

Snubby ends up playing 'ragamuffin' and accidentally gets himself, and the others, involved in a mystery-adventure. As is common in many of the Enid Blyton story plots, the 'scourges' end up being fellow guests at the same place the others were staying in. Awkward! Needless to say, Miss Pepper is left completely ignorant of the dramatic happenings that unfold throughout the book. 

Despite trying to hide from these 2 men staying at the same inn, they are recognised. So Snubby makes a hasty escape halfway through breakfast and spends a day away in Dilcarmock. Barney accompanies him. Again, here is Blyton being creative, as there seems to be no such place.

They return and soon after the story quickly unfolds. The owner of the inn, Mr Jones, ends up being involved in the bad works and all 3 men are taken away. The story ends with his wife, Mrs Jones, apparently begging Miss Pepper to stay a while longer, to which Miss Pepper agrees. Her son Dayfdd and goose Waddle start to get along with the others and the lot spend their days at the beach. 

So it is a seemingly 'all's well that end's well' ending, but as a mature reader, I can't help feeling it a bit emotionally detached. After all, Mrs Jones' husband and Dayfdd's father has just been taken away and his family members appear to be left none the worse. They couldn't have been too close to start off with! Whatever their relationship was, they certainly showed resilience and adapted quickly!