Dear Diary.....Marsaxlokk (Malta)

Dear Diary,

Don’t you feel that the winter season this time round is longer and much colder? Well it does to me! Brrr.... This cold winter is really making me miss my summer travels, in particular, the trip to Malta!

Prior to my visit to Europe, I have never heard of Malta. It was only when my husband suggested to head there for a summer holiday that I took notice of this place. Malta is one of the largest islands in an archipelago (cluster of islands) in the central Mediterranean between Sicily and the North African Coast. The country comprises of five islands, with only the three largest ones being inhabited. With its typically Mediterranean climate (mild winters and warm summer), awe-inspiring landscapes (such as the prehistoric temples and fortresses) as well as a distinct Maltese society created as a result of centuries of foreign rule by various powers, Malta is indeed a very unique place to visit!

Bearing in mind all the considerations for the mode of transport to Malta as well as considering its geographical position, we reckon flying into Malta would be the most straightforward method. With regards to transportation within the island, there is no railway or metro system in place and the inexpensive public transport system includes bus services on land and ferry services to and fro the different islands.

To pay for the public transport rides, there were two options that we could choose from - either paying in cash for each individual trip or purchasing one of the several versions of the tallinja card which could be used to tap in and out each time we board the public transport. We eventually settled for the ExplorePlus tallinja card which allowed us to have 7 days of unlimited travel on the public transports (including transport to and fro the airport), 2 trips on the Valletta ferry as well as a choice of either a full-day tour on the hop-on, hop-off buses in Malta or a boat trip to Comino island. (Note: The bus system in Malta can be quite confusing and it might be good to buy a map indicating the bus routes. Alternatively, you can download the “tallinja app” on your smart phone, which will give you the best bus routes to travel on when you type in the departure and arrival points.)

As for accommodation, we chose to stay in an Airbnb apartment in Valletta, the capital city of Malta. With most buses passing through Valletta, it is definitely a convenient point to access the various tourist sites situated all over the island. 

After putting down our luggage, we decided to head to Marsaxlokk, a colourful fishing village in Malta.

Marsaxlokk

We have heard that Malta is a popular place for holiday-makers to visit during the summer and had expected to see tons of them in Marsaxlokk. However, surprisingly, it was rather peaceful and quiet there, with only a few locals sitting around and enjoying the beautiful sunset. It was a small village but my husband and I really enjoyed walking along the harbour bay and taking in the picturesque view of the colourful boats with the backdrop of a gorgeous sunset! Such is life indeed! It was also here that we had the best seafood ever! It was indeed a wise choice to head to a fishing village for a nice seafood meal!

The delicious clam spaghetti

Seafood platter :)

After dinner, as the sun has set and the streets were poorly lit, it was literally impossible to explore the place further and we decided to take the 40 minutes bus ride back to Valletta. We had wanted to have an early night rest when we were back at our accommodation but the hot summer sun had warmed up the house quite a bit and we felt like we were being baked in a hot oven. It certainly did not help having four fans in the house as they were all blowing hot air at us. It was a nightmare! Reminder to self: always choose our travel accommodation carefully!

Parish Church of Our Lady of Pompei, Marsaxlokk

However, despite not getting enough rest for this trip, the beautiful scenery that Malta had to offer on this first day of our trip was enough to let us look forward to the rest of the trip....

Yours Truly,

Claire


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What are your considerations when it comes to choosing accommodations for your travels?