Mosta is a small, somewhat overpopulated city in central Malta. It is an unremarkable place save for "The Rotunda", an enormous basilica topped by one of the largest unsupported domes in the world. It is not a particularly old building, and has nothing to do with the Knights of St John. The first stone was laid 1833. Impressive from the outside and from afar, the inside is beautifully decorated with statues and paintings in typical Catholic style.

The locals are ever happy to relate their very own proof of Devine Protection and the power or miracles...

On 9th April 1942, a group of around 300 worshippers was gathered in the church for the evening Mass when a 500kg German bomb fell through the ceiling, sailed across the inside of the dome, striking the face of Jesus in a painting and falling to the floor.

Miraculously no one was hurt or killed as the bomb did not detonate. The Maltese people still regard this to be a miracle and a sign of divine intervention from God who was protecting the nation during the Second World War.

In total, three bombs were dropped on the church – two deflected without exploding, and one went through the ceiling.

Our visit to Mosta concluded we boarded a bus to somewhere East in pursuit of a late lunch. We eventually found ourselves on Spinola Bay, an attractive boaty inlet buried in the high rise canyons of tourist hotels, apartment blocks, bars, nightclubs and casinos of St Julian's. A shady table and a cold glass (or 2) of Sauvignon Blanc, overlooking boats and water is never a bad thing, but the quayside, even in mid September, was heaving with tourists...less than ideal!

Feeling drained at the thought of more battle with the Maltese bus system we opted to walk off lunch and followed the coastal strip around Spinola Bay and St Julian's Bay to Sliema. At this point we felt we could be in any one of a hundred 'holiday resorts' anywhere across the Mediterranean!

A water taxi ferried us across the harbour to Valletta, and a shuttle bus managed to avoid taking us into the old city, its route followed the coast road and dropped us at the foot of the scenic elevator from the waterfront to the Upper Barrakka Gardens. At least we didn't have to flog up the long steep hill to a very welcome chilled beer.