St. Julian’s, Malta

Malta was a very interesting stay. It is a wonderful melting pot of many different cultures and this is definitely apparent in the written language. I always love to learn some of the lingo before travelling, but learning Maltese seemed like it would be virtually impossible as it looked so incomprehensible to me, given its Arabic influence. Maltese also has some Italian legacy given that Sicily is just next door. If you take a look at some common Maltese phrases such as ‘grazzi’ (thank you) or ‘jiddispjaċini‘ (I’m sorry) you will notice that these seem partially reminiscent of Italian – ‘grazie’ (thank you) and ‘mi dispiace’ (I’m sorry). Thankfully, English is a second national language in Malta and virtually everything is printed in both languages. Phew! So onto the nitty gritty details..

Its vibe is certainly different from the UK with the disparities in health and safety very apparent! Let’s say I tripped up on the broken pavements a fair few times and the toilets seem to double up with gaping holes and DIY in what could only be labelled as a dungeon.. Although I must admit that some of the dilapidated buildings and doorways are very photogenic.

Although there were certainly areas of great beauty, I found that where I stayed was littered with, well.. litter. The bucket of rubbish below is what I collected from the rock beach in St. Julian’s (P.S. I did not buy the tub, I found it discarded somewhere – don’t want to contribute to plastic waste!) Naturally, this was a disappointment to see such a fantastic beach strewn with litter and glass. There was so much glass, it would be a mosaic artist’s dream, although this did not make for a very safe or comfortable beach. I couldn’t physically collect the glass – there was way too much and it’s also important to stay safe whilst litter picking and not obtain any cuts or injuries. I sorted out what I could from this tub in order to recycle it, but even if you just pick up one item, you’ve made a difference. It could be that one piece of litter than an animal doesn’t eat or doesn’t get entangled in.

And on the note of animals – of course there were cats everywhere! Malta is infamous for its cats and community “cat village” where food and offerings are left. I had read that it was soon to be demolished, unsure if I would get a glimpse for myself but, fret not, it remains! The cats are cared for by a local lady who purchases food with the help of donations. In addition, many people leave tubs, pots and bowls of food out for the ferals, dotted all over the island. Although initially I did worry about their welfare, it seems that locals and tourists alike to try to help where they can.

On a brighter note, the cats were the focus of some of my favourite photos I took whilst in Malta. A touching moment where I saw a cat hanging around a local fisherman, waiting for his catch! I asked the fisherman if he would share with the cat, to which he said yes. This scenario is reflected in a very sweet statue by Spinola Bay. It seems that the cats are part of the culture and I like to envisage them as ‘guardians’ of the city as they are everywhere you turn. You will even see them wandering around by the rock beach at Saint Julian’s (aka San Giljan). So without much ado, here are some photos:

Aside from Malta itself, the opportunities to see fantastic land and seascapes are brilliant! With Gozo and Comino only a stone’s throw away, there are frequent boat rides by companies offering day trips or round trips to see both islands. It would be a shame to miss out on these islands whilst in Malta so I’d definitely recommend going. On your way to the islands, you will see some stunning caves and the popular ‘Blue Lagoon,’ depending on which package you opt for.

So, what can you get up to in Malta? All of the following (and more!)

1. Visit the historic city centre of Valletta

Here, there is history aplenty! I have never wandered such gorgeous little streets with doorways so old and rustic that the flaking paint adds to the charm. In addition, I noticed so many beautiful wall statues of religious figures hidden on street corners and little walkways – a delight to see. Valletta is also home to the Embassy Shopping Centre and Triton Fountain.

2. San Giljan (St. Julian’s), Paceville Rock Beach

San Giljan is the area in which my hotel was located. Not only is it home to a local rock beach, but also has a sand beach (St. George’s Bay) and shopping centre (Bay Street Complex) with loads of bars and eateries nearby.

3. Visit the coastal town of Sliema

The weather was beautiful, so I decided to take a walk along the beautiful coast from Spinola Bay to Sliema. Although longer than I’d anticipated, the walkway is dotted with benches to sit, relax and watch the water. I’d say that Sliema is where the majority of hotels are located and it seemed more touristic than where I stayed. There are many buses to different areas of the island which will cost you a meagre ‎€1.50 in winter and ‎€2 in summer! Again, more shopping located here – The Point and The Plaza.

4. Take a ferry trip to Gozo & Comino

As mentioned above, this is well worth it, just for the experience. You will take in some stunning scenery, but remember that (despite the wind!) you can still catch a tan, so take your sun cream!

Places To Eat & Drink

• Pastaus – located in Valletta, this pasta house offers a wide variety of pasta with vegan options clearly labelled. I opted for the aglio & olio spirulina spaghetti with its vivid green colour.
• Theobroma – another Valletta-based company offering raw vegan treats including chocolate, caramel and all the goodies.
• Badass Burgers – a chain burger joint offering a vegan ‘Bean There, Ate That’ burger with wedges that was absolutely humongous! I could not eat it all in one sitting!
• Just Burger – located inside The Plaza, Sliema, you will find a vegan sweet potato burger on offer here if needing a quick pit-stop lunch.
• NapolEat – offering a vegan marinara pizza, fresh from the oven. Simple but beautiful!
• The Health Hub – vegan pancaaaaaakes! I was so worried about missing out on pancake day, being away from home. But this place offers a gigantic portion for €8.50 with peanut butter and fruit.
• Estilo – spaghetti al pomodoro as pictured below; simple and tasty.
• Eeetwell – offering a wide range of wraps, I opted for classic humous.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Useful Information

• Malta is part of Europe and uses the currency euro (€)
• I used the TD2 bus from the airport to St. Julian’s, which also stops in Sliema. The bus services are run by Malta Public Transport and details can be found here.
• Here is a handy map which details the main tourist attractions of Malta. Unfortunately I didn’t even get to see half of them!