Where to buy ... ?

For running shoes:

It will be difficult to find a knowledgeable shopkeeper who can tell you which shoes fit your running style.
(Do you know if you are a pronator or supronator?) But there is the outdoor shop http://www.thebowline.com/, which sells running insoles for correction. I think they also have some running shoes.

Otherwise, I can recommend a physiotherapist who is a runner, he will be able to guide you (costs 25€ for a consult, well worth it rather than injuring yourself with the wrong shoes). In that case, find out what size you need for a given brand, and then find the shoes online.

A final way to solve the problem is to go for a barefoot running shoe, there it does not matter what your feet do during running.

I used to do a lot of long distance running and I always bought my shoes online after doing the wet foot test etc.
I found I got VERY good shoes at very reduced prices.
I must have done it correctly as I never had an injury associated with my choice of footwear.
I won't insult your intelligence by explaining the wet test but for others details are here:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/shoes/cho … s/481.html

more info

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/general/r … /6236.html

Other info here:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/reviews/shoes/1.html

Trainers are also ‘fashion’ items (within the running fraternity) and bargains are to be had as you can buy last year’s colours etc. There are some really good online bargains to be had on really good trainers.

I found this site as being the most informative for all to do with running:

http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/

Thanks guys. I didn't know what the wet foot test is, so instead of being insulted, I will learn.
However, i don't think i will ever buy shoes online (I would if i could, would make my life a LOT easier), but even in the shops it's really hard for me to get the right sizes .... I'm quite sure i'm a pronator though.

I don't understand why you cannot buy online.
If you do find a good sports outfitters here, with staff who are experienced and know what they are talking about, please let me know, thanks.

Leaf tea - any turkish shop
Runner - Adidas (in ThePoint, for example) or online (smartfitness.co.uk)

I cannot buy online, 'cause i need to try the shoes on first, i have fickle feet, not the same size, anything between 43 and 45, quite wide too. Even when I try them on in the shop, i often find afterwards that they are not quite right.

Tea in bulk: I'm not sure if this still exists, you'd better phone them first. They were in Birkirkara.
http://allmaltaonline.com/infusioni/
For top quality goods, Mariage Freres in Paris will ship internationally.There's a discount on orders of 500gr/1kg of any one reference.
http://www.mariagefreres.com/boutique/U … tions.htmlhttp://www.mariagefreres.com/boutique/U … e-tea.html
They have hundreds of different teas from all parts of the world, from cheap to expensive.

nilonilonilo wrote:

I cannot buy online, 'cause i need to try the shoes on first, i have fickle feet, not the same size, anything between 43 and 45, quite wide too. Even when I try them on in the shop, i often find afterwards that they are not quite right.

Hmm, understood that is difficult. 'Fickle feet' I like it 

Djinn, thanks for the tea suggestions. Will have a look at that shop in B'Kara, is really close to where I live.

And I love the Mariages Frères stuff, but shipping it over from Paris is perhaps a bit over the top. Will pick up some stuff when I go back to Brussels in January then.

where to buy firecrackers and sparklers?

Duxx wrote:

where to buy firecrackers and sparklers?

In Malta they are usually home-made. So - in every village

nilonilonilo,

did u find any tea at that place ?
does it still exist?
am asking cos i need to find anyone who stocks white tea (silver needles)...

its fantastic stuff... one cup is like 12oranges, or so i was led to believe... when i first drank it last winter in central-eastern europe, i felt a decent amount of energy from it for a couple of hours... which is fantastic during the later arvo winter doldrums... however i guess that never happens in malta... not with the sunshine... although its an antioxidant... premium of white teas which r premium of green teas, or something like that... so its good stuff :-))

I'm sorry, I haven't been yet to that tea shop...

Also, the bowline, an excellent shop cited above, has unexpectedly closed. (Bought some hiking shoes there just before Christmas, but then they closed on the 4th of January). A new, similar shop is opening a bit further up the road though.

There is a new place opening for running shoes: Mochika - Outdoor Life in Qormi

They advertise to even have a physiotherapist on site (better call ahead for that) and they
have insoles, so that you might be able to get a neutral running shoe and use insoles to correct
(only works for mild pronation).

Yep, that's the shop that's replacing the Bowline.
Either way, I was in Belgium for the weekend, picked up at pair of New Balance with 50% off, I'm all set again