As I find myself with some time on my hands as a result of a self imposed career sabbatical one of my goals is to try and bring our travel blog back up to speed and keep it up to date. On one trip flying out of East Midlands airport we noticed that there was a flight to
Malta so living close by this airport that sealed our decision as to where we'd go for our late summer holiday 2016. We stayed in
St. Julians Bay Hotel in a large, comfortable spacious room with a small terrace over looking the bay the hotel is named after.
Right in front of the hotel you'll find a bus stop, ideal for catching a bus into the historic capital city of
Valletta. Alternatively you can hop off in Sliema and take a ferry across the bay, a great way to view and arrive at the beautiful city. Malta isn't the ideal destination for a beach holiday unless you head to the islands of Gozo. It is however ideal if you enjoy a sense of history, wandering through beautiful streets dominated by impressive architecture.
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| Valletta |
Valletta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site easily explored by foot. Some of the main points of interest in the city include: St John's Cathedral, the Grand Master's Palace and Fort Elmo. Also well worth a visit is the war rooms which give you a fascinating insight into what the citizen's of Malta went through during WW II.
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| The Grand Master's Palace |
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| Inside St. John's Cathedral |
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| Fort St.Elmo |
If you fancy a break from exploring Valetta do take a trip to the equally stunning old Maltese capital city of Mdina. Steeped in history you'll really enjoy wandering around the maze of streets safe in the knowledge that its very hard to get lost. If you come across Bacchus Restaurant & Bar whilst you're savouring the atmosphere of Mdina and feel a bit peckish, pop in as the food is delicious.
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| Main gate into Mdina |
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| St. Paul's Cathedral |
If you've had enough walking but still want to continue exploring you have to check out Rolling Geeks over in the area know as The Three Cities. You'll be given your own electric car much like a golf buggy which comes complete with a pre-progammed GPS system to guide you round your tour. It's safe and a lot of fun, if you get lost the team back at the office are tracking you and contactable from the car. Do try this, it's something not to miss out on.
Another way to explore the island is the Hop on, Hop off Tour buses, there are two routes both well worth giving a go. Below you'll see a photo taken from the shore of Marsaxlokk, Malta's largest fishing village and one of the Tour Bus stops. You can enjoy a nice walk by the shore line, meander through the street market and enjoy a tasty seafood lunch.
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| Marsaxlokk |
We loved Malta, it's an island full of history, beautiful architecture and lovely food. It's relaxed, the weather is lovely and if you're not great at languages you'll be right at home as English is the main language. So would we recommend it, yes we would!
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