Sapienza's Bookshop is small by Australian standards but nevertheless manages to stock an astonishing range of books, both in English and Maltese. There is one book, The House of God, which is a cult book among medical students and doctors and which in Western Australia is only available in specialist medical bookshops; I was amazed to see a copy in Sapienza's.

It was one of the places on my "must see" list and I had been requested by a friend to go there and buy two books for him, consequently it was one of the first places which I located after I arrived. It was very conveniently located close to my hotel and was a great place to browse.

On the Waterfront

The shopping in Valletta was mixed bag. I bought myself some very nice long linen skirts and trousers and a couple of hats, something which I had neglected to pack.

There were a number of interesting underwear and swimwear shops and my daughter, after eyeing off some of the more mature Maltese women decided that these shops might stock sizes which she found difficult to get in Australia. I left her to do her own thing and she acquired several sets of beautiful matching bras and briefs in a quite extraordinary size; ever since she got home she has been bemoaning the fact that she didn't buy more while she was there.

I didn't buy any shoes but there was an abundance of shoe shops which contained everything from joggers for the tourists to the most amazing high-heeled sandals. It beggars belief that anybody could walk in something like that but I saw a great number of women and girls wearing them even on the steep and slippery streets of Valletta.

There were gift shops and souvenir shops throughout the city, most of which sold the same kitsch but the Mdina glass was beautiful. I didn't buy any - it looked heavy and I was having trouble enough transporting my suitcase and laptop computer without adding to the weight with glassware. The best souvenir shops were at the Manoel Theatre, at the Malta Experience and at the Great Siege Experience. At those places there were books on the history of Malta as well as CDs of the music of the country. At the Manoel Gift Shop I bought an obligitory T-shirt for myself but the T-shirts I bought for my grandson came from the kitsch shops which sold icons such as toy buses - my grandson is into all things wheeled.

the Auberge de Castile

Dotted around the city there were small general stores and opposite the Armoury was a small shopping centre containing butchers shops and greengrocers. It supplied those doing their own catering. Every morning there was a street market in Triq il-Merkanti which sold clothes, toys, CDs and lace - anything which could be packed and unpacked easily. A lot of the clothes were very pretty but there did not appear to be any way of trying them on and I decided not to chance my arm on any of them. Anybody sure of her size could have a lot of fun there.

The only other souvenir which I bought besides the T-shirt was a very small silver Maltese Cross which I wear on a silver chain to remind me of the wonderful holiday I had.

Balconies opposite the Opera House