MALTA, anyone?

Old Feb 14th, 1999, 03:15 PM
  #1  
Chris A.
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MALTA, anyone?

Haven't noticed many postings regarding Malta here. Please share any great stories about your trip to Malta and "must sees". Any recommendations on places to stay? Does anyone have info about ferries from Sicily? Any info would be appreciated! THANKS!
 
Old Jul 28th, 1999, 09:07 AM
  #2  
Gail
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Your message was posted in February but I just began looking at the Fodor's site. Must reply to your request for Malta stories. My husband and I went in February 1998. Had the best time we've ever had. Exclusively used the buses (each one adorned with religious and soccer ornaments by the individual drivers) to go all over the island incredibly cheaply. The people were wonderful. We never stopped to look at a map without having someone politely volunteer, unasked, if he could assist us. The drivers are seriously dangerous. My husband was hit by a speeding car in crosswalk in Sliema. It was upsetting but we were treated very sympathetically by the hotel staff, the cab driver who took us to the medical center and then the hospital and waited for us for hours so we'd have a ride, an optician who wouldn't charge us for fixing his glasses, etc. Even with bruised ribs and a black eye, my husband said it was a great trip! If you want to know any more about Malta, e-mail me directly.
 
Old Jul 28th, 1999, 09:24 AM
  #3  
kristi
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We were in Malta just for a day in May, 1999. Valletta, the capital city, is worth a day. There are several places that shows 1-2 hour movies about Malta in Valletta. We caught the one on the war experience and found it to be interesting as we didn't really know what role Malta played in WWII. There's also a war museum that my husband, a history buff, found interesting and the St John co-cathedral which has a painting by Caravaggio (wasn't on display when we were there-I think it was coming back from being restored).

The buses, which look like they were last updated around 1940, are the best way to get around. Malta is quite small and the buses are very cheap (11-13 cents in Maltese lira, around 30 cents US). We took the bus out to Mdina which was worth a few hour visit.
 
Old Jul 28th, 1999, 09:38 AM
  #4  
elvira
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thanks to gail for bringing this up; I was in Milan when Chris posted, so missed it altogether:

Malta is quite an experience; it's a mixed culture of Middle Eastern and European. The pace in Malta is certainly not frenetic EXCEPT, as Gail pointed out, for the driving. Worst looking cars I've ever seen in my life, which makes me think the brakes, gears, suspension, etc. are in just as deplorable condition.
Now, for the fun stuff: Malta is wonderful! Delightful people, good food, incredible history, and very inexpensive. I have saved the best for last...THE BUSES. Describing them does not do them justice. They must be experienced.
Be prepared for haphazard ways; for example, the Knights of Malta Museum is full of great stuff...but no souvenir shop to buy a book or postcards or ANYTHING. The exhibits may or may not be labelled, so without a guidebook, you have to guess what the stuff is. Ditto the prehistoric ruins. The casino has to be visited just for the experience.
There are really nice beaches away from Valetta and Sliema (along the north coast). Take the ferry to Gozo for a day trip. Do a lot of research BEFORE you go; there aren't many signs to point you in the right direction (no Vous etes ici) and lots of stuff that's difficult to find without explicit directions.
Stuff to buy: CAPERS BIG HONKING FLOWERY TASTING C A P E R S! Sewing accessories like buttons, tassels, fringe, lace. Gold and silver filigree jewelry. On Gozo, hand-knit sweaters (just gorgeous for $15 or so). There's an official craft shop just inside the main gate of Valletta (where the buses mill about - and that is exactly what they do) but it was never open that we could see. Get used to THAT.
My sister aptly named the country Willynillyville...and we just loved it!
 
Old Jul 28th, 1999, 11:01 AM
  #5  
cheryl
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I just had to comment on the Caravaggio painting that Kristi mentioned. The painting is Caravaggio's masterpiece "The beheading of John the Baptist." I haven't been to Malta, but when we were in Florence in May the painting was on display there after having been restored in Florence. This painting was one of the highlights of our trip. I would love to see it in Malta, because apparently he painted it so that the light in the painting appears to come from the light source in the cathedral. As it was, it was an extraorinary experience to see the painting in Santa Maria del Carmine accross from the Brancusi chapel.
 
Old Jul 28th, 1999, 11:45 AM
  #6  
elvira
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The Caravaggios (there are supposed to be two of them, actually) were "being restored" when we visited Malta 3 years ago. I'm afraid that if they never show up again, no one will notice.
 
Old Aug 13th, 1999, 12:59 PM
  #7  
Nadine
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I went to Malta for my honeymoon. What a fabulous trip. We stayed in Sliema at the Crowne Plaza (which was excellent). I would say the highlights of Malta are Valletta, Gozo, Mdina, The Blue Lagoon and St. Paul's Bay. The Drivers are crazy though!! Despite the driving, I always felt safe and the people are great!!!
 
Old May 1st, 2000, 08:28 AM
  #8  
Steve
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I am flying out to malta for weeks holiday next Friday (5 May). Great to hear that they look after their airlines better than their cars and buses!

It sounds great my wife and I don't have loads of dosh to spend on this trip so any tips on cheap great food etc would be welcome. Willynillyville sound a great laugh.

Will post our experiences on returning.
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 02:01 PM
  #9  
Little Miss Indecisive
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Hello All

OK so my feb holiday is proving to be a hard one to decide.

First Sorrento or Tallin in April, canx because of a wedding in April, everyone else in teh dept booking leave around easter first and temperatures of -3 in tallin.

So now Madeira, Malta or Paphos. In FEB 2001.

Anyway... I am having a humdinger job deciding...

Any input on where to base oneself for a 1 week trip to Malta appreciated...

Sliema? Valetta? St Georges or Julians bays?

Should we rent a car?

Etc etc

All answers gratefully received...

kavey
 
Old Aug 14th, 2000, 03:10 PM
  #10  
Jean
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I'd definately recommend doing the prehistoric ruins, Hagar Qim and Tarxian...really great! But don't expect Malta to be a wild, romantically rugged place...it's the Hong Kong of the Mediterranean and is packed with buildings and people. I was disappointed in that respect. But the people are lovely, and the WWII Leland buses are about the coolest things of wheels. And the capers were out of this world...you'll never get used to the anemic little capers in bottles once you've had Maltese capers!
 
Old Aug 15th, 2000, 06:44 AM
  #11  
lola
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I stayed in the big, historic Meredien hotel near Valetta, so could walk to lots of sites and in the byways with the great architecture. My favorites here were the many festivals--each village has a saint's day and you can tell where the festivals are by looking into the night sky and seeing the fireworks. Hotels can clue you in. The village hosting the festival opens its doors, literally. We were invited into many spiffily neat homes, given food and drink and even introduced to an old man in a bed! Lots of fun and lights and games and food and proud people--you won't forget it.
 
Old Aug 15th, 2000, 12:44 PM
  #12  
kavey
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Lola the festivals particularly sounds fabulous, i wonder if there are any in Feb.

Do you know anyway I could find out?

Thanks
Kavey
 
Old Aug 15th, 2000, 01:18 PM
  #13  
elvira
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Check
http://www.visitmalta.com/

Kavey, I'll email you this evening
 

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