Malta

Ms Janoski, my friend who works in Student Health, was in Malta over Christmas break. Once again, a wonderful report from her, as well as her marvelous pictures. Thanks Kathleen, Malta is now definitely on my list!

As I was flying into the island of Malta in the Mediterranean over the Christmas holidays, I was thinking whether I can just chuck everything – job, house and car – and sell everything I own and run away to Malta.  Even at my age – old enough to know better – I still harbor dreams of running away from home.

Why Malta?  I consider this lovely country to be the “poor man’s Riviera.”  Malta consists of three islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino – and is approximately 90 miles off the coast of Sicily.  The main island, Malta, is about 10 x 18 miles in landmass.  The native language is Maltese, but everyone speaks English and all signs are in English.  The county is part of the European Union and is on the euro.

Malta has a diverse history.  The Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs and the British contributed to its rich and varied culture.  Malta received independence from the British in 1964 and became a republic in 1974.  Malta’s part in World War II showed the bravery of its citizens.  Essentially under siege for two years, Malta was bombed by the Germans almost daily.  At one point, its citizens were on starvation rations until the ship SS Ohio, suffering heavy damage, limped into port carrying needed supplies.  The country was awarded the George Cross for bravery by the King George VI of Britain.
My most recent trip was my sixth visit. I find traveling in Malta extremely easy.  I can ride the bus for .47 euro (approximately 70 cents in US currency) and the bus will take me everywhere on the island I need to go.  Some of the buses are the old fashioned ones – rickety and colorful – but great fun to ride.

On this trip I stayed in the capital city of Valletta.  The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage site which means that a site is so important in historical, architectural or cultural significance, that it must be recognized and preserved.  I rented a luxury apartment which cost about $121 per day.  The price was a little more than I normally spend on accommodations but it was nice to pretend to be a resident in a regular neighborhood.
What did I do on this trip?  Well, I did a whole lot of goofing off.  Because I had been there several times before and hit all the “high points,” there was no real pressure to be on a whirlwind tour.  Oftentimes, I just sat in café daydreaming about being a runaway from my adult life.  Other times, I would sit in Valletta’s main square soaking up the sunshine because I was fully aware that my friends in Pittsburgh were freezing and shoveling snow.  Everyday the weather was sunny, 65 degrees and no rain in sight.  Each morning I awoke and declared it was just another day in paradise.

Practical information:  There are no direct flights to Malta from the United States.  I flew United Airlines into Frankfurt, Germany and then Lufthansa into Malta.  Ticket prices are normally pretty high – over $1,000.  However, I had enough miles on United to get a frequent flyer ticket.   I had to pay $105 in taxes on the ticket.

Movies to watch:  “The Malta Story” – this is an excellent black and white movie on the bravery of the Maltese population during the World War II. Movies with film sites in Malta:  “Gladiator,” “The Da Vinci Code” and “Troy.”