Narration - My childhood in Malta

 You will find this story very interesting as it will you a glimse of what you be experiencing in Malta.  This story is a narration of a grown up who had spent some time in Malta when he was very young.

 I first visited the Maltese islands in the summer of my third birthday. I don’t actually remember the visit, instead my prompt is an old cine camera film of a small me walking off Gozo ferry, holding hands with my mum and waving at my dad.

My mum was born in Malta, to a Maltese mother and an English father and I grew up spending my summer holidays on the island (locals call it The Rock). We’d visit every summer, taking presents for our vast extended family. We were very much the English relatives, gifting huge bars of Cadbury’s chocolate and brightly coloured plastic beads and bracelets.  We’d spend the first few days visiting relative after relative and each time my dad would be given Cisk lager in a bottle and I’d drink ice cold Kinnie (a Maltese soft drink made from a blend of oranges and aromatic herbs) through a straw.

I treasured the whole summers that I’d spend on the island playing in the sun and the blue, crystal-clear sea.  Some days we’d explore beaches, Golden Sands, Għadira, Armier or take boat trips to Gozo, to Comino, to the Blue Lagoon or around the Blue Grotto of Żurrieq.

When the midday sun was too much for us, we’d pile into our battered hire car and explore beautiful sun-bleached countryside spanned with rubble walls, quaint little villages and numerous awe-inspiring churches. The churches, even then, even when I was too small to know my own beliefs, carried a mystery that made me shiver. Other days we’d choose to catch a rusty bus and travel to the capital city Valletta or to Mdina, the medieval, silent, old city next to Rabat.  Then at night, as the temperature cooled, we’d promenade along the sea fronts of Sliema or Bugibba, we’d meet with relatives and walk, chatting and hearing stories that were full of history and folklore. At weekends we’d join in festas (village feasts), buying nougat from street vendors and staying up late to watch firework displays decorating the night sky. People danced in the streets, bedtimes were forgotten. There was no fear, just welcoming arms, open doors and a receiving that made me feel like I belonged, like I was safe.

 General information

You can reach Malta via different destinations in Europe such as in Italy, Germany, Oslo, Dublin, and Barcelona through other airlines like Ryanair, Norwegian Air Shuttle and Click Air.  

At arrivals

You will find the tourist information desk where you can get any information and help from friendly staff. We recommend you take a free city map. There are also other desks in the airport where you can arrange a rental car or book a hotel. You can also exchange your money or withdraw money at an ATM. The airport also has restaurants, VIP lounges, conference and congress rooms, several travel and accommodation agencies and a post office.

Getting to your destination

The cheapest way to travel to your destination is to use the public transport.  There is a bus shelter just outside the departure.  You do not need to purchase bus tickets beforehand.  You will pay the ticket at source. 

If you are visiting Malta the first time, the best approach is to stop at the last station in Valletta, then when in Valletta ask for assistance to catch another bus to your town or city residence.  For ease of reference the following is the public bus schedule that services Malta International Airport.  Bus number 8 leaves Valletta, passing through Floriana, Marsa, Paola, Tarxien, Ghaxaq and Gudja before stopping in front of the air terminal, and vice-versa from MIA to Valetta.  Each trip takes around 25/30 minutes to reach final destination.

For further information and updates please visit the Malta Transport Authority's website - www.maltatransport.com

 Highlights of Malta

Travel through a rich culture and heritage Malta is a blend of different culture and heritage brought by the fact that it has been ruled by different foreigners and groups. As a result, Malta offers a wide range of historical and traditional places and spots where you can treasure the melancholy as you go down the memory lane. Malta vacation is not just about hotels, nightlife, and beaches because it is also about culture and heritage.

You can also relive the past and history by visiting the different historical spots of the island and feeling its magic and nostalgia. You can also tour the near island of Gozo and experience a world-class Gozo accommodation through the Gozo farmhouses, which exude magnificence and splendor. You may also try to visit the Azure window and see the beauty of the island from atop.

The evenings in Malta are very lively with the numerous clubs and wine bars spanning the whole stretch of the island where you get to taste quality wines, beers and liquors. Night is the moment when local & foreign tourist would come in droves.

If partying and interacting with people is your cup of tea, then the nightlife of Malta is for you. There are also several restaurants and dining places to choose from, which offer the best food and cuisine.  There are countless bars, restaurants, discos, clubbing hubs in the name of Paceville. Clubbing hubs plays all genres of music to fill in the tastes of different people and tourists. The possibilities are so endless; one just have to discover what Malta really has to offer.

Travel to the near island of Gozo Spending holidays in Malta allows you to visit the near island of Gozo where you can feel that Gozo accommodation is about serenity, tranquility and wonder. It is a place where you can experience village and rural life coupled with perfect Gozo accommodation through the Gozo farmhouses. You can bring along your family or you loved one and enjoy together the wonder of this island with wonderful sites, beaches and designs. This is an island that certainly feels so near to heaven.

Malta is not just about beaches, nightlife and sights. It is also about sport activities and leisure places. From the beaches, nature to activities that improve our physical well-being, this is the place where you would want to be. There are steep cliffs, mountain biking, para gliding and wall climbing. You can feel nature while not being so isolated from the world. There are pop concerts and historical shows and guess what, you can still watch your favourite sports such as soccer, matches and events on big screen in the open air.

Like Spain which is famous for it's golf holidays, Malta has an excellent climate for Golf. The Historic backdrop at the Royal Malta Golf Club make a round of golf well worth a try.

The islands offer some of the most breath-taking views in the Mediterranean that range from dramatic cliffs and garigue scrubland, to luscious hills and valleys. As you explore, you could come across families working the fields, herds of goat or sheep, cave chapels, old farmhouses or prehistoric sites. There are also areas that make excellent day hikes; such as Mellieha, Dingli, Ghar Lapsi, Fawwara, Wardija, all the North and the various bays, and the southern coast with its fishing villages and Delimara Point.

The sunny skies and relaxed pace of life on Gozo provide a perfect opportunity to slow down and enjoy the countryside. Amongst the most popular areas for walking are Ta’ Dgiebi, Gordan Lighthouse, Hondoq ir-Rummien and San Blas Valley. The island is literally criss-crossed by tracks and lanes and the possibilities are endless. Tiny Comino, which is inhabited by some 15 people, is also ideal for a good day’s hiking and provides the ultimate in solitude and views.

So, simply put on your walking boots, hire a mountain bike and head out from the village squares on the narrow farmers’ tracks. You’ll find yourself in a timeless landscape, quite alone even in peak season. There is plenty to discover, from ancient farmhouses and wayside chapels to spectacular seascapes. It is well worth the effort!

Malta's rural and picturesque countryside make Malta an excellent destination to explore by bicycle.  For this reason, Malta country walks have been established for the tourist who really wishes to get a proper feel of the Maltese landscape and un-urbanised way of life. It is an ideal holiday option for couples, groups of friends and single travelers who love to be one with nature and who would like to leave the mundane life behind for a while…

Country walks are usually overlooked by guidebooks. All you need is a good pair of shoes or a bicycle and you can explore the hidden and secluded areas around the island. Whilst on holiday in Malta you may opt to embark on a Malta walk, such as the Bahrija Walk, Dwejra Walk, Girgenti Walk or Marfa Walk.

The main routes between towns will get busy with car traffic but there are plenty of back roads which are often more scenic and less busy. You could also just start your ride earlier before the heat of the day and when the roads get busier. What could be better than a sunrise over the sea, with the wind in your face and the hum of you wheels on the road below.

If you are looking for a little more horsepower, there are a few companies that offer jeep safaris, a great way to explore to the maximum!

As well as walking the countryside with it's quiet lanes and breathtaking views, Malta is just made to be explored on horseback. There are a number of stables that offer you the chance to go horse riding in Malta.

There are some excellent countryside as well as town walks in Malta, so put on your walking boots and head out to discover small villages, roadside chapels and of course the spectacular coastline.

Away from the resorts and urban life, there is a lovely countryside some of which has been left untouched . The rural part of the island is important for farmers and cultivators because most village life centres on the agricultural and fishing seasons. It is fantastic to see that these Maltese villages still preserve their old way of life, where old women and men work the fields or go out at sea.

Apart from the few cosmopolitan areas on the tiny island of Malta there are many small villages that, although are a stone throw away from one another, are completely different in their character and charm. Each town has its own church, architecture and history and provides interesting getaways from the busy towns or the popular Malta sightseeing sites such as Rabat and Valletta.

Zurrieq is a town with a long history, which has produced remains from the megalithic, Punic and Roman phases. Many of the houses here were built in the 15th and 16th Centuries and thus have some splendid architecture which can be appreciated just by walking along the streets. The importance of the town can be felt from the Bronze Age, where it was guarded by means of small towers. In fact it is now a parish and has been given special importance because of its antiquity! The church that is present in the town was built in the 1630s and survives in perfect condition, save for the two bell-towers that were changed in the 1800s. The church is also important because it serves as somewhat of a museum for the work of the famous artist, Mattia Preti, who also lived in this town at the time when the plague had spread in the capital city of Valletta. Zurrieq was also very important in the setting up of the cotton industry in Malta and by 1647 there were over 1500 people producing and working cotton!

Zebbug is another important town, particularly when it comes to prehistory. There is a very important prehistoric temple known as Skorba Temple which is related to Zebbug. In fact, there is even a phase in Maltese prehistory know as the Zebbug Phase. The temple is made of stone and provided evidence for the whole chronology of Maltese prehistory. In fact there is evidence of human presence in Zebbug which dates back to 6000 years ago! Another important step in history which took place in Zebbug is the introduction of rock-cut burial tombs which remained in use till the Punic period.

Dingli is a unique town which contains a really one-of-a-kind type of site which comes from the Medieval period. The site, known as Simblija is located on extremely fertile land and contains three rooms with medieval ceilings, an old mill, rock-cut chambers, an extremely old chapel and a Medieval piazza. The site is located in the middle of fields and still preserves the feeling of how it must have been originally. For this reason, if you intend to visit this site, try and find a guide who will take you there. In Dingli, there is also a natural spring which was walled around in order to enclose the water for the residents to be able to utilize. Similar natural springs known as Ghajn tal-Hassilin (Spring of the Cleaners) are located right in the middle of several towns across the island, and where used in old times by housewives to wash their laundry.

Mqabba is a town which is often ignored by travellers and tourists. This town is interesting because it contains a number of underground tombs in an area called Tal-Mintna Fost is-Sbieh. The underground tomb complexes contained arched burial chambers similar to Christian catacombs as well as round carved stone tables were rituals and feasts took place. However, it seems that many of the burials were not Christian but pagan. Above ground, Mqabba boasts a large church filled with lavish art and architecture and no less than nine altars.

So, if you want to avoid the crowds, or perhaps would like to do some sightseeing on your next visit to Malta; there are plenty of places to visit that are unlikely to be found in your guidebooks! Hop onto a bus or rent out a taxi and begin to explore the hidden gems that are scattered all over the Islands and find out about Maltese people of days gone by. 

If on the other hand, you are the kind of person you want to be in the crowds and meet the Maltese and enjoy Malta Bargains then these are some tips where you will find the best Malta bargains!

The Valletta market, held from Monday to Friday in Merchant Street (the street parallel to Republic Street) starting early in the morning and lasting till early afternoon is highly recommendable whilst on Sundays Valletta has a flea market.  This market gets very busy so go early! Needless to say the earlier you go the more items you will find.

Marsaxlokk, the small fishing market in the South of Malta also has a daily open-air market. Since this market specialises in fish food one can find in markets, here you can also find a vast array of fresh fish and seafood on sale every day. An early visit is surely recommended to get the freshest catch and a good parking spot. At the Marsaxlokk market you will also be able to find many of the typical Maltese delicacies such as different types of honey and bread among other things.

There are also other open markets where you could bargain and meet people, amongst the most visited open market mostly frequented by locals.  The Cottonera open market that takes place in the fortified city of Vittoriosa known as Birgu to the Maltese and is held every Tuesdays. 

Useful tips for Malta bargain shopping at open-air markets:

   1. Go as early as possible to any market. The earlier you go the more items you will find. Parking can also be difficult around markets which is another good reason to go early.
   2. Take shopping bags with you. Remember you have to pay for plastic bags now.
   3. If you are not sure which stalls are the best for certain items have a look around. The stalls with the most local people will usually be the best ones.
   4. Have a good look around before you buy an item. Usually a particular item will be available at more than one stall at different prices. So shop around for the best bargains.
   5. The same stallers rotate from one open market to the next every day of the week, so once you visited the Valletta, Vittoriosa and Marsaxlokk market you would have encompassed the full experience of the Maltese open markets where you could have the best Malta bargains.
   6. If you are interested in buying an item which is an antique make sure it is authentic. We recommend you to visit the Vittoriosa Fortini car boot sale held every Sundays where you could really find something that would meet your taste at bargain prices.  However, if you know nothing about antiques try do some research before or take someone with you who is knowledgeable in such matters.
   7. If you are buying food items make sure that they have been kept at the appropriate temperature and are not about to expire.
   8. Be aware of fakes and pirated CDs and DVDs. It is illegal to sell such items in Malta but these items can still be found in nearly every market.
   9. Open Markets is an ideal place were you sense the feel of the Maltese people and their typical Meditteranean characteristics.

Some people have a natural talent to sniff out a good bargain however if you do not have this talent we assure you that you still will not regret it.  Follow our tips and enjoy every bit of your stay enjoy it to the full and good look whilst we congratulate you for benefiting from the best Malta bargains!. 

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