Some forty or
fifty friends came on board and amused themselves looking at our
curiosities and photographs until long past the dinner hour. We had to
hurry on shore to dine, and go afterwards to the Opera Manoel. The new
Grand Opera House is not to be opened until next October. It had been
blowing fresh and strong from the westward all day, but to-night, as
we rowed across the harbour, the breeze had dropped to a flat calm,
and Tom is most anxious to be off at daybreak.
_Thursday, May 10th_.--I was up before sunrise. A fresh fair wind was
blowing, and as soon as the children could be got ready we all went
ashore to the market, which was crowded with people, and full of fish,
meat, and all spring vegetables and fruit. We were to start at 6.30,
so there was no time to lose, and laden with lovely bouquets of
flowers we hastened on board; but it was nine o'clock, after all our
haste, before we were fairly off, through some mistake about the bill
of health.
Malta is certainly the most delightful place for yachting winter
quarters, with its fine healthy harbour, charming society, very cheap
living, and abundance of everything good. It is in proximity to many
pleasant places, and most interesting excursions can easily be made to
Sicily and Italy, or the coast of Africa.
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