With a population of less than 500 000, Malta is the tenth smallest and fifth most densely populated sovereign country in the world at only 17 miles across. You can cross the whole country in an hour (or 45 minutes if you’re a taxi driver). I’ve been a little obsessed with going to Malta for a couple years since my friend and colleague went with her family and I saw the photos. Not frequently visited by Canadians, it’s a very popular destination amongst Brits, and most of the people I know have been.
If you went to Malta, and wanted to go to a different church every single day of the year, you absolutely could. The country has 365 churches on its island; one for every day of the year unless it’s a leap year… then you’re out of luck on December 31st.
Last October half term, Jonny and I headed to St Paul’s Bay to an all-inclusive resort for our last week of sun before the winter really sets in. And were we ever lucky with the weather, the perfect temperature for a little winter sun. It was 25-28 degrees every day, and sunny the whole time.
The hotel we stayed in was all-inclusive with both an indoor and outdoor pool. We truly embraced our relaxation lifestyle, with an all-you-can-eat buffet and unlimited drinks (wine on tap!). We woke up, put on our bathing suits and went down to the pool to enjoy the sunshine and bevvies.
Our trip wasn’t all R&R, as I’d never been to Malta before. Jonny and I took the bus for a day trip to Valetta. Valetta is the capital of Malta, and we enjoyed eating al fresco in a beautiful square and ice cream in the sunshine. We wandered through the little streets and took pictures of the beautiful buildings. Jonny and I went to the St. John’s Co-Cathedral, built between 1572 and 1577. It was unbelievable; it was covered in gold, paintings and was filled to the hilt with ornate treasures. We wandered through the Roman Catholic cathedral, and listened to the music inside. We also spent time overlooking the Grand Harbour from the Barrakka Gardens, looking at locations that various films had been shot in. It was a lovely day.
The next day, we went to Mdina and Marksaloxx. Mdina was an original set for Game of Thrones. The walled city was established in the 8thcentury BC, and is absolutely breathtaking. It’s very tiny, and it didn’t take long for us to wander its streets. We had dinner in a restaurant in the wall, and then walked the perimeter of the city. There wasn’t much to do in Mdina, but I think it was a highlight for both of us.
Because we had another half-day left, we followed the recommendation of Jonny’s mum and dad and went to a seaside village called Marksaloxx. Marksaloxx is a fishing village, with restaurants serving the day’s latest catch on small water-side tables. Jonny and I walked the seafront, taking pictures of the beautiful boats dotted in the water. We stopped for a drink, Jonny had a beer, and I had an Aperol Spritz (of course!). We enjoyed the last of the sunshine from the day. We then called a taxi and made our way back to our hotel in time for dinner. Now let me tell you, taxis in Malta are wild! They drive so fast, and swerve like their life depends on it (sometimes it does). It was a wild ride back to our hotel, and considering Jonny and I both suffer from motion sickness… a bit unpleasant.
Most nights, Jonny and I frequented the bar downstairs in the hotel. On one of these nights, where the drinks were ¾ alcohol and ¼ mix, we sat on the beautiful sofas in the lobby and played the newlywed game. I have to say, if you’re ever at a loss of something to do on a holiday, it was absolutely hilarious. We learned so much about each other and had a good laugh.
Our last adventure was a trip to Gozo and Camino, and we tried to go to the Blue Lagoon to swim. Honestly, I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about it, because the day was just okay. Gozo was quite nice, but the seas were SO rough. The water was so rough that the boat rocked up and down and side to side. As previously mentioned, Jonny and I both struggle with seasickness, so it was a bit of a difficult day for us. Since the seas were so choppy, it was not possible for us to swim in the Blue Lagoon, the reason we wanted to go on this trip in the first place. The day wasn’t a complete bust, and we watched a beautiful sunset over the water and had a gorgeous walk through the island of Comino.
Malta was a wonderful holiday. One that I hope to repeat for many years to come.
Love from,
Taylor