Malta - October 2012

In October of 2012, Mark and I left the kids at home for a two-week trip to Venice, Milan, and Malta.  Knox was a little over one and I'd just graduated with my Masters in history from UNCW. Our last stop on our trip, Malta was our favourite place.  The Med in October was still warm, and there was so much rich history to discover throughout Malta.  Neolithic ruins, Romans, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Knights Hospitaller (famously remembered for creating the Maltese Cross), even Napoleon all made their home on this small island throughout the centuries.  I've never seen more beautiful water anywhere, and the streets and buildings, completely made of limestone, transported you to another time.  Breathtaking in landscape and beauty, delicious food and somewhat less visited, we can't wait to bring the boys back soon.

Our splurge - Relais & Chateaux in Mdina, old capital of Malta.

view from hotel rooftop in Mdina

ancient streets of Mdina, founded in 8th century AD

typical plaza of homes in Mdina, note the old well

Mdina local Maltese women

rebuilt entrance to Mdina, central city area

walls of Mdina

outside every home was a Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus - the country has strong Catholic ties

unique door colors and handles

Beer Belly Bar

Kinnie - national soda of Malta - tastes a bit like butterscotch if I remember correctly

Roman mosaic floor in the home of a former Roman aristocrat

We drove in our rental down the coast and took a car ferry to the Maltese island of Goza in the north.  On this smaller island we stayed in the small town of Xlendi.

The old "Popeye" movie with Robin Williams was filmed here and can still be visited.

salt pans - Malta has produced salt since ancient times

rocky landscape - most trees were cut down in prehistoric times, leaving the island practically treeless

Our comfortable guesthouse in Xlendi

Mark and I prayed at this cathedral - famous for answered prayers - for our son Knox recently diagnosed with a skin disease

overlooking Ramla Bay, Malta's famous red beach

Fixer upper anyone? Look at that view! It looked like the home had been damaged and abandoned due to earthquake. But what a home and location!

Xlendi was beautiful and romantic and had the most beach pottery I've ever found anywhere!

Xlendi beach

platforms for swimming

Bojangles Pub

fantastic coastline

Malta's famous Azure Window, which collapsed into the sea during a storm in 2017.

Mark and I were lucky enough to see it before it collapsed.

We took a little boat with some other vacationers to a swimming "beach" - mostly a rocky outcropping near a large sandy swimming area.  I've never seen navy blue water before or since, but this water color abounds on the coastline of Malta.

From here we went back to the main island and stayed in Naxxar near Valletta, the capital of Malta.

St. John's Cathedral in Valletta, where the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitaller) ruled for 250 years. The Knights were a Catholic military order.

view from Fort St. Elmo in Valletta

sailboat race

a nasty cruise ship dwarfs historic Valletta

streets of Valletta

quiet streets of Naxxar

In search of a well-known night festival, we accidentally drove to Marsaskala, which ended up being a gorgeous harbour fishing village in the south.  It was actually a happy mistake.

Eventually we did drive up in time for the Birgu Fest celebration in Citta' Vittoriosa - the medieval city is lit up by thousands of candles and locals welcome you inside to tour their ancient homes. Folk singing and dancing competitions are held in the street.  It's popular with locals and tourists alike and was a meaningful send-off for our last night in Malta.