Malta Now

A small trio of populated islands, just south of Italy, comprises the country of Malta. Surrounded by the Mediterranean, it makes for a very lovely setting, receiving millions of tourists every summer to enjoy the beaches, cliffs, and warm weather. But there is so much more to Malta. This strategic location, nestled between Italy to the North, Libya to the South, and Arabia to the East, has been a focal point for not just 100's, but 1000's of years. In visiting Malta you see layers upon layers of history, and then beyond, into prehistoric remains that can make your head swim. So how do we go about sharing a trip to a country that has more phases than the rungs on a ladder? In this post, we'll experience Malta as she is today.

Map of Malta

The largest Maltese Island is called Malta. It holds most of the population, the capital, an international airport, and measures roughly 18-19 miles long. Gozo is smaller, only 8 miles in length, and is very laid-back and pastoral. Comino is sandwiched between the two, and is only a nub of land, with 4 residents, and boasts some of the finest beaches to be found anywhere. The islands are primarily composed of limestone, so our first impression upon landing at the airport in February is that we felt warmer (temps in the high 50's to low 60's), there was green grass, flowers, palm trees, prickly pear cactus, and that everything else was in shades of beige limestone. I'm not a geologist, but limestone does come in a few types, and the buildings are obviously made with the hard kind. When you see the softer kind, around the coast, it looks crumbly and often forms fancy shapes or even caves from the effects of wind and the oceans waves.

We spent our first three days on Malta with a car, driving on the right had side, zooming around traffic circles, crisscrossing the island with the 100% necessity of a GPS. Valletta, the capital, is a coastal walled city and fun to meander around, as was Mdina in the center of the island. You couldn't help but notice the magnificent churches because there are 360 of them in Malta. That's a lot of prayer and structural adoration for a populace that is over 90% Catholic. The food was quite yummy, and included a lot of seafood options as the Maltese are quite skilled at fishing the surrounding waters. We got around quite a bit in three days, ate a bit too much as usual, and thoroughly enjoyed the sites, most of which we will share in upcoming posts.

Part two involved a short 30-40 minute ferry ride taking us to Gozo, where we had arranged for a bike tour. This meant that a tour representative was picking us up on Malta, and taking us to the ferry, onwards to Gozo, and then to our first hotel. A bike was waiting, and each daily route was printed for us, generally along easy going roads that transected the little island, ending at a new hotel and our waiting luggage. The riding was self-guided, sort of like a road rally, to be done at your own pace and with endless options to vary your way. It was awesome. I loved Gozo. There is only one real traffic signal, and all of the towns and villages are relatively small. From just about anywhere you could see the ocean on the horizon, and it was so quiet we often peddled our bikes down the center of the road for hours. Six days on Gozo with a bike will give you just enough time to understand why you have been bewitched at first sight.

But the most important measure of any "place" is its people. The Maltese are welcoming, and kind. Because of their history, their native language sounds Italian with an Arabic flair. Fortunately for the visitor, English is also spoken everywhere. That's a big plus! Many times in the past we've been in phenomenal locations with a wee bit of frustration because we couldn't communicate very well with the locals. Not so in Malta and Gozo!

In the photo gallery I've uploaded a small collection of pictures that will give you a reminder of what we saw. But so far, this account has been very superficial. In future posts we will peel this onion and look a bit more deeply into our experiences, and why this country has such a unique array of treasures. Will there be a movie? My crystal ball says YES!