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A swift glance at a map of Malta will be enough for you to see that the majority of the major settlements are on the northern side or towards the middle of the island. You’ll see very little in the way of serious towns on the southern edge … and there’s a good reason for that – cliffs!
More than 20-plus years ago (when I first went) Valletta was a city crying out for facilities that really took advantage of the view. Sure, there were plenty of excellent cafés and bars but these were in the middle of town. If only someone would build a development on the side of the Grand Harbour – on the Valletta Waterfront.
Hotter than the bottom of a boiling vindaloo curry pan and dryer than a sachet of silicia gel, in a camera bag, in a tumble dryer, in a Saharan laundrette – that’s the way the weather is in a typical Maltese summer. That being the case, rolling lawns, ponds, fountains and blooming flowerbeds are not common but they do exist if you know where to look – so try looking at San Anton Gardens!
When it comes to religion in Malta there’s really only one player in the game. The island is staunchly Catholic with roughly 98% of the people here answering, effectively, to Rome and the Pope. Now, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that if nearly everyone is Christian then they’re going to need lots of churches.
In the late 19 th century, when Queen Victoria was on the British throne, her Government decided to build four state-of-the-art gun batteries - complete with enormous 100-ton Armstrong guns. They would protect the harbours in the colonies of Malta and Gibraltar. One of them - Fort Rinella – was built close to Valletta and you can still visit it today.
You find Blue Grottos all over the Mediterranean! It’s no massive surprise though when you have a sea that appears so brightly and brilliantly blue under the perpetual blazing sun, then any old grotto that sits on its edge is going to be vaguely blue!
Sun, sea, beach, sights, eat, out, drink, sleep, sun, sea beach, sights, eat, out, drink, sleep. This familiar, pleasant though exhausting routine can soon take its toll on the unwary traveller. So, if you suffer tourist fatigue, recharge your batteries with a visit to the Chinese Garden of Serenity in Santa Lucija.
This is not an article advising you to watch a dodgy ‘coming-of-age’ film from the 1980s – the one that earned notoriety for the divine Brooke Shields swimming topless. We certainly would never recommend that! This is about the Maltese Blue Lagoon – an enjoyable experience that does not require you to fast-forward through an hour of dull nonsense before anything interesting happens!
Children’s TV has always been and remains baffling – as anyone who has watched the Teletubbies or In The Night Garden will tell you! When I grew up in the UK, the choices included a black and white drama about Robinson Crusoe, Laurel and Hardy films, an odd Yugoslavian production called White Horses, or French diving documentaries featuring a chap called Jacques Cousteau.
Tourists have a well-earned reputation for shunning the century-old traditional crafts when on a Mediterranean holiday and snapping up some unbelievably crass tat as a memento of their trip. The Ta’ Qali Craft Village is hell bent on ending that trend when it comes to visitors.
Places To Go in Malta
There’s a vast range of things to see on this terrific island so let’s take a whistle-stop tour to give you an idea of how diverse the choice is. Starting in the south with Marsaxlokk, a quaint and historic fishing village. Up the coast there’s bustling Valletta - capital city - with immense history and charm. Next-door is trendy Sliema with marina, designer shops and fine restaurants. Round the bay is Paceville, home to Malta’s liveliest bars and clubs. West is lofty Mdina, medieval fortress town. North from here are the sandy beaches of Mellieha Bay and the stunning cyan waters of the Blue Lagoon. Enough? That’s not even scratched the surface!
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You find Blue Grottos all over the Mediterranean! It’s no massive surprise though when you have a sea that appears so brightly and brilliantly blue under the perpetual blazing sun, then any old grotto that sits on its edge is going to be vaguely blue! READ MORE
This is not an article advising you to watch a dodgy ‘coming-of-age’ film from the 1980s – the one that earned notoriety for the divine Brooke Shields swimming topless. We certainly would never recommend that! This is about the Maltese Blue Lagoon – an enjoyable experience that does not require you to fast-forward through an hour of dull...READ MORE
Sun, sea, beach, sights, eat, out, drink, sleep, sun, sea beach, sights, eat, out, drink, sleep. This familiar, pleasant though exhausting routine can soon take its toll on the unwary traveller. So, if you suffer tourist fatigue, recharge your batteries with a visit to the Chinese Garden of Serenity in Santa Lucija. READ MORE
A swift glance at a map of Malta will be enough for you to see that the majority of the major settlements are on the northern side or towards the middle of the island. You’ll see very little in the way of serious towns on the southern edge … and there’s a good reason for that – cliffs! READ MORE
In the late 19 th century, when Queen Victoria was on the British throne, her Government decided to build four state-of-the-art gun batteries - complete with enormous 100-ton Armstrong guns. They would protect the harbours in the colonies of Malta and Gibraltar. One of them - Fort Rinella – was built close to Valletta and you can still visit it today. READ MORE
Children’s TV has always been and remains baffling – as anyone who has watched the Teletubbies or In The Night Garden will tell you! When I grew up in the UK, the choices included a black and white drama about Robinson Crusoe, Laurel and Hardy films, an odd Yugoslavian production called White Horses, or French diving documentaries featuring a chap...READ MORE
When it comes to religion in Malta there’s really only one player in the game. The island is staunchly Catholic with roughly 98% of the people here answering, effectively, to Rome and the Pope. Now, you don’t have to be a genius to figure out that if nearly everyone is Christian then they’re going to need lots of churches. READ MORE
Hotter than the bottom of a boiling vindaloo curry pan and dryer than a sachet of silicia gel, in a camera bag, in a tumble dryer, in a Saharan laundrette – that’s the way the weather is in a typical Maltese summer. That being the case, rolling lawns, ponds, fountains and blooming flowerbeds are not common but they do exist if you know where to look...READ MORE
Tourists have a well-earned reputation for shunning the century-old traditional crafts when on a Mediterranean holiday and snapping up some unbelievably crass tat as a memento of their trip. The Ta’ Qali Craft Village is hell bent on ending that trend when it comes to visitors. READ MORE
More than 20-plus years ago (when I first went) Valletta was a city crying out for facilities that really took advantage of the view. Sure, there were plenty of excellent cafés and bars but these were in the middle of town. If only someone would build a development on the side of the Grand Harbour – on the Valletta Waterfront. READ MORE