Malta, Tiny Country in the Sea

Without a doubt, Sicily is the most endearing country we have visited yet.  I cannot count the times people have asked us, “Of all your travels, what is your favorite?”  That continues to be a complicated question for us.  We’ve had amazing and educational experiences in what are often considered some of the world’s greatest cities.  We have had exciting adventures doing things we never dreamed we’d do, like snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, jumping off a mountain with a jump master, of course, paragliding over the green range of Colombia.  We’ve witnessed mother elephants teach their babies to enjoy playing in the mud along a river and watched lions grow bloated, consuming a Cape Buffalo kill.  We’ve sailed up both the Nile and the Amazon.  And then, there are places where people enjoy and practice cultures and religions distinctly different from ours, but that touched our hearts with acceptance, kindness, and warm welcomes.  How can there be a favorite place?

Still, Sicily is a sweetheart. 

We are in Malta now, and what a surprise.  Which of you has ever visited this tiny country?  Who among you has ever even heard of this country? Many guess that Malta is one of the Italian islands. Malta is an independent country, formerly part of the British Commonwealth.

Formerly part of the British Commonwealth, Malta is an independent country of five small islands in the Mediterranean Sea, just 60 miles from the southernmost tip of Sicily.  Only three of the five islands are inhabited. Ninety-five percent of the 400,000 people living here are Maltese; however, we met residents from Italy, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Nepal, and Tunisia, so we rarely heard any English on the street. Though natives can speak English, they prefer to use their native Maltese language, rooted in Arabic.

Malta is a sparkling jewel. It is a small, relatively flat country of yellow, bubbly-porous rock, with clean, clear, inviting waters, some of the prettiest we’ve ever seen.  The luminous Blue Lagoon and its ancient rocky setting alone are worth a visit here. We were surprised to learn that this seemingly obscure ancient island country is a favorite destination among European tourists, and it is a busy cruise port. Over 13,000 tourists visit the country daily, filling the shops, restaurants, tour buses, and just about every crack and cranny.

The weather here is ideal. Even during late October and November, daytime highs are in the mid-70s, and nighttime temperatures are breezy and cool.  Not every day, but on odd days, it seems, the wind shows itself with gusts of 40 mph.  It makes the sea angry, whips our skirts, and makes our hair stand on end.

There is, however a dark cloud here. Despite having few natural resources, Malta has an advanced service-based economy dependent on tourism, gaming and foreign investment. It is a home for off-shore banking and the usual unsavory element on the fringes of that sector. According to locals and sources on the web, a bunch of organized international crime groups operate trafficing through Malta and engage in money laundering and fraud schemes. Yikes! We did not see any of that, but then again, we weren’t look for anything.

We like this place, though, and are really glad to be here.   Stan and I must have an angel who taps us on the shoulder to tell us where we must visit next. 

Part of the delight of being here is that Shea spent the first five full days with us.  We three! 

When we three are together, it is always a power-chat fest; most assuredly, there is lots of laughter and fun.  We shopped.  We walked miles exploring. We learned to take the bus, at just 2 euros per ride to towns like Mdina, Valletta, and anywhere else we chose. We ate, boy did we!  Stan introduced us to a version of G&T’s using gin and Elderflower tonic. It was purely refreshing and delicious! We listened to music and even danced. We became voyeurs watching the chimp and our fascinating neighbors in the spacious 4th-floor apartment across the street.  Mostly, however, our time was spent eating and power chatting.  It was a happy time!

At Shea’s tearful departure, alone again, Stan and I warmly repeated a phrase we always use after saying good-bye to family or friends, “It’s you and me, kid.”  It soothes us. 

Next up, back to Italia! A la Roma! 

We love this happy life.