Beauty | Rodial Dragon's Blood Hyaluronic Mask

I have one last holiday related topic that I need to tell you about, and by "one-last" I mean: there could be more, I just can't think what they are right now.

I am in love with this product!

It's absolutely perfect for taking away with you on holiday as it's super hydrating; great for skin that has been parched on the plane and stripped of moisture from the effects of sun, sea and AC.

I think the "mask" part is a little misleading in the sense that it's not a mask that you put on and remove. You simply pop it onto freshly cleansed skin and let it work it's magic, and the effect is pretty much instantaneous, although using it as your night time hydrator and waking up to plumped up smooth skin the following morning is great too.

I have no idea what "Hyaluronic" or "Dragon's Blood" are so here's an explanation from Red Online:

"Hyaluronic acid, or sodium hyaluronate as it’s also known, has become a serious skincare staple. It’s the body’s own hydrating molecule, able to absorb up to 1000 times its own weight in water and responsible for keeping our skin plump, smooth and supple."

And more info on Dragon's Blood from the Rodial website:

"Dragon’s blood hyaluronic mask contains the Dragon's Blood ingredient. Dragons Blood is sourced from the red sap of the ‘sangre de drago’ tree & works to form a second skin-like protective film on the skin. This  super soothing ingredient protects against environmental damage and contains anti-inflammatory properties to calm stressed skin."

So, there's the science bit sorted. This product is now a firm staple for when my skin is dehydrated and needs a little pick-me-up.

Travel | Mdina, Malta

For our last adventure, we drove inland to the Citadel of Mdina, Malta's ancient walled capital.

The citadel dates back as long ago as 1000 BC and has obviously changed a great deal since those times. In the 9th century Arabs arrived and built these big strong walls and deep moat that we see today. Medina in Arabic means "walled city".

The moat has been landscaped but the big stone walls remain and give the Mdina a very peaceful atmosphere.

Similarly to Valletta, there is a huge Cathedral (St. Pauls). 

Whilst we were here, we took some time to understand the rich history of Malta and the Knights of St John. It really is quite amazing and whether you follow religion or not, The Knights fought to protect Malta because they believed in Jesus' Commandment to "love one another as I have loved you". 

Make of that what you will, but you cannot escape a visit to Malta without noting the strong Catholic Faith. 

With the sun beating at our heels and one last afternoon by the pool beckoning we said our goodbyes to the Mdina.

As we were leaving I found our new home....I wish, but seriously. She's a beauty, no?

Travel | Gozo & Comino

After an amazing day strolling around beautiful Valletta, we were ready to head further away from home and took to the open-seas. We went to explore the smaller islands of Gozo and Comino.

This is Mgarr Harbour, where the ferry point is on Gozo.

From here we decided to drive "up-high" so we could get a birds-eye view of pretty Gozo. First stop was the small town of Nadur, and another ornate building, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. There are beautiful Churches scattered all over the island.

The view from Nadur is amazing, you can see for miles. 

Next up, we wanted some beach time. Malta & Gozo are not known for their beaches, but there are a few that are worth a visit. We went to Ramla Bay. The sand is so different here, the colour is a pale terracotta, and the waters edge is scattered with large pebbles. The water was so warm and clear. We relaxed for a while, swam and clambered around on the rocks. 

When our tummy's started rumbling we went in search of food. I would not recommend eating at Ramla Bay, the food is aimed purely at tourists and completely un-imaginative with not a fresh fish in site. 

We headed to the pretty bay of Marsalforn, and a great little bistro called Otters. We ordered Octopus Arrabiata and Fresh Tuna with salad and fries! The food was delicious, Dan and I both agree the Octopus was the dish of the holiday. Whilst the food was incredibly tasty, it didn't look so pretty, hence no photo's! It was kind of just plopped onto the plate, and the tuna looked sad and grey....the presentation just didn't do the flavour justice. So you can admire the view instead....we'll save the food-porn for another time.

You can't move two-feet in Malta without hearing about the Blue Lagoon at Comino (the smaller island located between Malta and Gozo). We'd heard that it gets over-crowded with tourists during the day so we caught the last boat over to see what all the fuss was about.

Well, it is pretty spectacular. The water is so clear and the most perfect shade of aqua.

Sailing boats passing through the Med anchor-up for the day, and unload their passengers into the water. It has quite a party-vibe to it, and even though it was late in the day it was still pretty busy.

On our way back to shore, we were taken past some caves.

And then it was time to go back to our hotel, although we managed to squeeze in another pretty bay and photo opportunity on the way back. 

Malta, we're both completely smitten with you.

Travel | Valletta, Malta

On Sunday, we caught the ferry over to Valletta, Malta's Capital.

The streets were sleepy and calm, and we were able to roam around without any crowds.

First on the sight-seeing hit list was St John's Co-Cathedral. The outside does not do the inside justice! Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to photograph inside as there was a service in progress but it is breath-taking; every inch of wall, floor, ceiling is covered in a baroque-style masterpiece. You can feel the history as you stand there taking it all in.

We wandered around the elegant and tranquil streets some more.....

Before too long, we stumbled across The Grand Masters Palace. Another beautiful building where the inside is even prettier than the outside. It was once the residence of the Knights of St John (you get to learn a lot about these very famous Knights, more on that in another post), but it is now the official residence of the Maltese president.

After leaving the palace, we walked towards the sea and the Lower Barrakka Gardens.

Not only do you get fabulous views but there is also this little temple commemorating Sir Alexander Ball, the naval captain who took Malta back from the French in 1800.

After doing the culture-piece, we were of course ready to sample some food! Unfortunately, the heat meant that our appetites were not their usual selves but we came across a lovely little restaurant with seating shaded by big parasols and thought we could definitely manage a bite or two.

We ordered a local cheese-board and some bruschetta, kicked off our shoes and dug in.

If you visit D'Office, you must also visit the bathroom whilst you're there. One of the best decorated facilities I have ever come across....think Audrey Hepburn and typewriters.

On our way back to the ferry we continued to admire the streets and buildings, everywhere you look there is something that catches and holds your attention.

 

From the water we noticed this rather sad looking building (on the left), and daydreamed about turning it into a lovely little boutique B&B....one day.

Back on dry land it was time for gelato....of course.