Hi, I plan on traveling to Malta for the first time this June and am concerned about anti-american sentiment due to the war. A couple of friends who have recently returned from various countries have attested to rudeness and feeling unwelcomed. How do the Maltese feel about americans right now? Am I safe?

I can't speak for Malta, but I just got home from Sicily today and there was 0 anti-american sentiment. None. The few that broached the subject felt that this war was inevitable. Many of the people we encountered considered moving to America their dream, and still idealized the US despite the current situation. I felt cut-off from the world somewhat, and I needed it! The only obvious signs of war was the news coverage and the "pace" (peace) flags hanging out all the apartment windows.

The Maltese love the USA. <BR>We saved their bacon in WWII and they never forgot it (unlike other countries). Be sure to see the cathedral in Valetta (there are dozens of them) that has the &quot;unexploded&quot; bomb the Germans dropped but did not explode due to a miracle. Such a lovely country, clean, sort of No. African-Spanish. Great history!

You shouldn't have any problems in Malta. <BR>I'm not sure about the comment that they love the Americans for saving them in WW2 - you will actually find that there are a lot of ex-british servicemen living in Malta. It's an extremely friendly place - even to the point of claustrophobia (we had people open up bars specially for us to watch the World Cup in 94 - and then we couldn't walk past the bar without being dragged in!!)<BR><BR>Try to visit all 365 churches (yep, one for every day of the year). Go on, I challenge you!! ;-)<BR><BR>Also, Gozo is beautiful. Take a boat trip while you are there - and don't forget your camera!

I think Deloris may find that it's precisely that kind of bragging that is unwelcome. In Europe it's seen as coming only from (a hopefully limited) number of Americans and English (not Scottish or any other kind of British) football hooligans. If that's the kind of company you want to keep.....<BR><BR>As far as as Malta is concerned it's - shall we say - far from the whole truth, and, more to the point, over half a century ago. Most of my childhood and young adulthood, my country (the UK) spent in learning that whatever my father's generation did in WW2 doesn't mean that the world owes my country now - still less me as an individual - anything. Nada. Zilch. Any respect, courtesy or kindness I'm owed comes from the way I treat other people.

to: JamesLondon<BR><BR>... and any respect/gratitude owed in relation to WW2 is owed to your father's (my grandfather's) generation, and no-one else.<BR><BR>But lets not turn this political! <BR><BR>When you are in Malta Adelline67 try to find Calypso's Cave. It's high an a cliff, with spectacular views, and was the find of our trip (probably more for the weird old man that showed us around with stubby bits of candles, than anything else though)<BR><BR>There's also a fantastic light &amp; sound show in Valetta in the summer (I missed it because I fell down the hotel steps and sprained my ankle! Ended up going home in a wheelchair - but it was still one of my best holidays ever!)<BR><BR>Lucky thing. Wish I was going to Malta!

Dear adelline67. You can come when ever you like to our beautiful and historical islands. Here, you're safe than anyother country in the world. Hope that it continues like this. So, most welcome.