Wicked Travels Fall, 2013 | Page 46

Malta

is a magnificent country that most visitors fall in love with, once they walk the beautiful little streets of Valletta, Mdina, Vitorioso or any other little town or village. Each of them is filled with history, magnetism and Mediterranean spirit! Almost all exhibit buildings in shades of yellow, making streets look nicer and brighter. The architecture is a mixture of varying styles, which somewhat reminds me of Sicily.

Malta was once a British colony, which has affected its culture. English language is one of the official languages, along with Maltese, which is really similar to Arabic. The island is quaint and small. You can easily hire a car or use the public transport for touring, and either is not at all expensive – you can buy a one-day card for all the buses for 2,60 Euro or a 7-day card for 12 Euro.

If you want your trip around Malta to be as convenient as possible, it's a good idea to stay in Valletta, because all buses leave from there. But if you want to be closer to the beaches, you might want to stay in the Northern part of the island. Actually Malta is not a prized beach destination as the beaches tend to be rocky, but are usually uncrowded.

There is much to see in Malta. I recommend you start in Valletta, where the small streets and beautiful architecture will fascinate you. It is also the capital of Malta so you'll see some very interesting buildings. You should also make it a point to visit the Barakka Gardens.

Another interesting city of interest is the old capital Mdina, which is also called “The Silent city” as it is surrounded by defensive walls. It is amazing that people are still living in those old buildings. Every evening the city becomes enchanting as it is dramatically illuminated by night lamps.