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This page just contains my thoughts about Malta & our trip there.

I've got to open this page by thanking my wife, Kathy and two kiddiewinkies, Daniel & Rosie, for secretly arranging our holiday trip to Malta, without which I would not have had a reason to write this story on our site. Yet at least. How on earth Rosie kept herself from spilling the beans I will never know.

Lets face it, it is the bestest birthday present I could have wished for. I have, after all always wanted to go to Malta someday, if only to see where I was born as well as to see where my Mum, Dad, Brother and me lived for a while. By always, I mean about 47 years, (at time of writing), but now I don't have that to look forward to. What I do have instead is a real memory of what Malta is like and not just images conjured up by stories and my own imagination.

I've not been many places on this earth, outside of Europe actually, but I think I will never find a place I like more than Malta. There are probably many places with various attributes that are better, but I think overall Malta has many in one place, especially for us English. I will try to explain them all as I see them below.

I now think that in all honesty I can say that I am proud to have been born there, (not that I had much to do with it), and the Maltese people have a lot to be proud of themselves. ( That's not that I was born there, I suspect that they really don't give a . . . . ) Hehe ! But proud of their history, their Islands and all that they have and achieved.

 

Climate.

Maybe it's because I was born there and that somhow that is why I feel as though it's in my blood. The moment we stepped off the plane it just felt right. Yes it does, at first, look a very dry and dusty place, but once you get out and about it's not really, it's just not what we are used to. It was certainly warm, at least by English standards, but not too warm. With an annual average temperature of 18°C and monthly average temperatures from 12°c to 31°C, it seems ideal to me. Just like what we would call a good English summer? I suspect that temperatures do occasionally get too hot, (apparently in August 1999 it reached 44°C in the shade at Luqa Airport), but hey they got pools, air conditioning and Bars. I can cope with that, Hehe. It does however have a relatively high humidity, rarely falling below 44% which of course could be a bit uncomfortable during the warmest parts of summer. I didn't really notice this in June, but that was probably offset by an almost constant sea breeze wherever we went. It was a bit warm at nights, but not something I couldn't get used to.

You can find more detail about the weather and climate in Malta at www.maltaweather.com.

 

The Maltese People.

They are the most hospitable and accommodating people I have met, unusually, towards us foreigners (and I suppose to their own). I suppose in a way it is in their interest as us foreigners are a big chunk of their livelyhood but I am more inclined to think it just comes naturally. They seem to just have a knack of leaving you alone until you show a bit of uncertainty or ask even, then they can't do enough for you. All that we met spoke english very well, again a huge bonus for us 'lazy at learning languages' Brits. Mind you I did learn a bit of French at school many years ago, which wasn't bad if you put your mind to it, but I had a brief look via the internet at the Maltese language and it does not look too easy, a sort of Arabic?. They also seem to be pretty keen on football, their own, european as well as a big interest in the English Premiership.
Interestingly, nowhere and at no point during our holiday, did we ever feel intimidated by groups of 'yobbos' or indeed anyone. During the evening at Zebbug, the streets were absolutely packed with people and you just did not feel any unease whatsoever.

 

The Island Physical.

I suppose when you are used some of the scenery around the British Isles, it is difficult at first impressions to see where Malta and indeed Gozo can compete. Also much is in the eye of the beholder. What I found with Malta is that it grows on you. Most of it's scenic beauty is, in my opinion, in it's coastline, that's not forgetting some of the architechture. The older cities such as Valetta and Mdina as well as the many churches are in a league of their own as far as architectural beauty goes. The Blue Grotto in Malta and the Azure Window at Qawra on Gozo are just two places that naturally warm you to the dry and sometimes 'bleak' looking landscapes. I think that the 'bleakness' in some places is the very thing that makes it so easy on the eye.
The south, almost plateau like part of Malta complements the northern part with it's terraced hill slopes outlined almost graphically with their Cactus 'hedges' and sand stone walls. Mainly, I think that it's better to just go out and let the sights find you rather than to actually try to search them out.
Finally, of course one of Malta's most picturesque attributes is the Meditteranean Sea and it's frequent appearances in that lovely blue or tourqoise colour.

 

Transport & Getting Around.

Well, before we went, I did the usual research, mostly on the internet which returned a general concensus that you are better off not driving yourself? This is actually as bit of an over statement. I would say that if you are up for it then get yourself a motor and get in there. It's worth pointing out that the bus network is brilliant even if some of the buses take you back a few years along with where you are going. They are frequent, go almost anywhere except the most remote places and are very cheap by our standards. You should take a bus ride somewhere, just for the experience, even if you hire a car, epecially if you wish to visit places like Valetta and Sliema.
One major advantage, at least to us English, is that they drive on the left side of the road. Well they are supposed to but thay do stray from time to time, mainly to stay in the shade, so pay attention. Also be warned, the locals take no prisoners and if you see a bus coming, GET OUT OF THE WAY Hehe ! One problem we found is that the road signs, although abundant, are positioned to give you very little time to adjust your lane on the bigger roads. We just went with the flow in those situations and sorted it once clear of the chaos. Parking never seemed to be a problem and in the built up areas was basically 'Pay wht you want' to the attendant.
The quality, or rather lack of it, of some of the road surfaces, in the more rural ares does tend to be a bit poor. This does of course make you slow down out of respct for both passengers and car, however, beware, it has no effect on the locals, probably due to the age of some of their cars. Just let them pass. I found the abundance of older cars interesting, mostly old british cars like Hilman Hunters etc.
All in all I would suggest you get a car to access the 'out of town' places but for all else, use a bus.

 

Would I ?

Would I go there on holiday again?

Absolutely. For me Malta has everthing I would ever wish for on holiday. Warm weather, friendly & helpful locals, decent clean beaches and plenty of history. I think the rest of my family enjoyed it too, though I think Rosie was particularly blinded by the amount of swimming pools she had access to. Kathy enjoys the history and the architecture, especially the churches, though she is not totally against to loafing around on the beach. So I think generally everyone was happy.

Would I like to live there ?

Absolutely. I'd go now if they would have us and Kathy, Rosie and DAniel were willing. There would be, of course, problems to overcome or even that would prevent it right now. For one, Daniel is of an age just coming up to exams at secondary school and it would be foolish to interrupt that process. He also has a lot of friends that he would have to leave behind. Rosie is just about to move up to secondary school, so it maybe could work for her. She says she would like to, though her thoughts, I think are swayed slightly by the pools and food we had on holiday. Then there is me and Kathy. We are both of working age and would therefore need to find employment. So overall, nothing that couldn't be overcome but never the less a lot of things to come together, if it were to work properly.

Maybe in retirement ?

That's it. That's all. At Least for now. Bye Bye !