MALTA - A BEAUTIFUL CONTRADICTION!

I got my first sight of the island like I saw it from a documentary film. And as soon as I set foot for the first time in Malta, my brain was instantly populated with the things I have to do, people I have to meet, problems I have to solve, etc.. Life is not as easy as we think, but its always a matter of perspective. 😉

Out from my business world and in to another (insert dreamy sound effects).

I always appreciate the beauty of every place, and as I always do, I take pictures of them.

One word screams in my head, HOLIDAY! Yes, I think this place was made for holidays.

This small country is located between Africa and Italy. Wherever you go, the sea is always on your visual reach. The capital city is Valletta and the most convenient way of transport can be through the ferries. Being a British colony from 1813, English language is not a problem.

My hotel was out of Valletta (which is not really that far) and on a city called Cospicua, it’s on a hill right in the middle of a residential neighborhood that is not the easiest to find but is walking distance to the harbor. It’s a part of what they call the area of the “Three Cities”.

Got a nice view from my balcony.

It was a super busy first day and everything around me almost went unnoticed. Next morning when my stress plummeted down, I realized how pretty the place was. It was rustic, chic …and was colorful. 💕

This country is a subtle contradiction. Buildings are built from limestones indigenous to the place. It brings a monochromatic look to its landscape making you think like you are somewhere in the middle east but the opposing colorful wooden balconies, doors, and walls knit in the lively vibe!

So, I was walking down a street in the evening, that particular moment where households are preparing for dinner and in the silence of the twilight, I heard a woman shout from probably her kitchen in Tagalog language asking for “asin” (salt). 😋 See, we Filipinos are all over the globe. 😁

This place dates back to the medieval ages but the area was developed from the 16th century with a strong religious background. From what I observed, it has a long history of devotion to Mother Mary. The houses had names of saints and Mama Mary on them and you see statues and pictures of religious influence everywhere. There are about 359 churches in Malta in general and you see them towering all over.

It is rustic but so neat and pretty. It is quiet too. The locals were nice and have been helpful. I finished my meeting late in the evening, came home and forgot all about my electronic access and kept using my keys to open it. (Yeah, silly me!). The lady next door nicely asked me to use my passcode. 😅 When I had the time to walk around, everyone I met greeted me hello with a welcoming smile. You don’t get that everywhere. Simple gestures that are very much appreciated.

Piret, who manages everything for the guests in the hotel had also been very kind and helpful throughout my stay, she prepared me breakfast and even left me some snacks when I was not arriving at the hotel in time for check-in with her note for me written on a postcard.

(My travel scenario: Left Sunday night Manila, arrived in Malta after almost 20 hours of travel [with 6-hr time difference], went directly for a series of meetings, had lunch at 4pm and was free to go to the hotel at 5pm in time for another meeting by 7:30pm 😁. Add up my bad decision of trying on that new mascara I bought in Rome a few weeks back before getting out of the airport in the morning. And guess what? I cluelessly faced a very long, challenging and hot day in front of a lot of people with panda eyes!!! 🐼 - Of all the days of the year, I chose this one for a make-up experiment - I don’t really know what got into my brain when in reality I never really wear mascara! 😫)

As usual, it’s a short stay. No touristy adventures on the beach or anything at all, but the sea is so pretty from any direction, while the city is bustling, the panorama is calming, . Malta is indeed a beautiful contradiction!

Ta-tah! ‘Til next time! 😘