Valletta at dusk
As you might have noticed if you’ve been following me on Instagram, for the last few days I’ve been spending my time in the beautiful country of Malta at the invitation of the Maltese Tourism Authority. When they contacted me, I jumped at the chance to go as I’ve been wanting to visit the archipelago for quite a few years, but somehow never got around to do it. Myself and three other people flew Emirates from Dubai to Malta via Larnaca in Cyprus. That makes for a bit of a longer flight than what you would expect as the plane is on the runway in Cyprus for over an hour, but we arrived early afternoon which is nice as it allows you to either enjoy a bit of pool time at the hotel or go out straight away to discover what’s around you.
Although an important location in the Mediterranean for thousands of years, Malta is a relatively new kid on the block when it comes to tourism, particularly for non-European tourists. Even though tourists don’t know so much about it, because of its location only 90 kilometers from Sicily and 250 kilometers from Tunisia, Malta is right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea and it has constantly attracted the attention of various conquerers over the millennia. To name just a few, the Phoenicians, the Moors, the Romans, the Spanish, the French and the British, they all have ruled Malta at some point in history. In fact, a total of 14 civilisations have passed through this small island until it got its independence in 1964 leaving their mark on the country.
Corinthia St.George Hotel
Our base for the 4 days was the Corinthia St.George Hotel, a beautifully located beach property with a couple of big pools and lots of restaurants to choose from. The rooms are fairly standard with a big balcony overlooking the tranquil bay of St. George. Located on what’s called “The Golden Mile”, the hotel is a short walk away from lots of restaurants and bars and whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or dance the night away, you’re never too far from the action. There’s even a casino close by if you’re feeling lucky. An interesting side note about casinos and gaming, Malta’s gaming industry makes for 12% of its economy.
Dragonara Casino
I spent the first few hours after arriving at the hotel walking towards Spinola Bay, a picturesque bay full of restaurants and coffee shops. Boats of all sizes and shapes float lazily in the crystal blue waters and without even realising it, you slowly start to wind down and adapt to that oh so famous Mediterranean lifestyle. And if you’re after something delicious to eat in this area, my favourite place was Wiji’s Kitchen – try the roasted Mediterranean Meagre (Gurbell) fish. It’s spectacular!
Spinola Bay
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