Wednesday 28 March 2018

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

13 comments:

  1. Wow it looks so lovely! I've never been to Malta but it looks like such a nice interesting place to visit :) x

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    1. Hi Chloe, thanks for reading and yes, Malta is a really interesting place to explore. Just remember to book an accommodation with air conditioning if you plan to head there during summer ;P

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  2. Wow! Malta sounds like an amazing place!
    Absolutely love that picture of Marsaxlokk! :)

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    1. Hi Priya, thanks for stopping by! Malta is indeed a beautiful place, stay tune to the next few posts where I will share about other regions that I managed to explore during my trip there :)
      Cheers!

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  3. I have read about Malta and particularly about Valetta. It is indeed an exotic country. But Marsaxlokk comes as a revelation. I was not aware of this town. It sounds so tranquil and charming. Your description of the serene sunset had me riveted.

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    1. Hi Sandy and Vyjay, thanks for reading :) Marsaxlokk is a small fishing village, usually overlooked by many who travel to Malta. However, to me, the sunset scene at its habour is certainly worth the travel there :)

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  4. Your beautiful pics are making me fall in love with Malta. Marsaxlokk harbour looks so beautiful with teh colourful boats and the Clams Spaghetti looks so yummy.

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    1. Hi Sindhu, thanks for reading and for the wonderful comments. Malta is indeed very beautiful and it is with a sincere heart that I wish to share its beauty with readers just like you :)

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  5. I would love to go to Malta, my best friend's family is from there. it looks amazing. interesting post!

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    1. Hi Janna, thanks for stopping by! Hope you will get to visit Malta and enjoy its beauty soon!
      Cheers!

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  6. I have only heard about Malta. This is the first time I've come across a blog post on the country. The place does look quite beautiful, and the seafood looks delectable. I should probably add Malta to my never ending wish list.

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    1. Hi Denny, thanks for reading and I am glad that my post has triggered your interest in this beautiful place :)

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  7. I've been considering a visit to Malta for nearly two decades and somehow always other destinations on the wishlist win out. I really must go, the photos show me it's definitely a place I would enjoy!

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