Malta

We spent a week in Malta.........and thoroughly enjoyed it. To fully appreciate Malta, you may need a little background on the country. I will try to tell you a little about history.

Malta, is a Southern European country consisting of a small group of islands situated in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily and 288 km east of Tunisia.  Only the three largest islands – Malta, Gozo, and Comino – are inhabited.

Malta covers just over 300 km in land area, making it one of the world's smallest and most densely populated countries.  Its capital is Valletta. The main island is made up of many small towns, which together have a population of 368,250 (majority of the population of the country). The country has two official languages – Maltese and English – with Maltese being considered the national language.
Throughout history, Malta's location has given it great strategic importance and a sequence of powers including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Fatimids, Sicilians, Knights of St John, French and the British have ruled the islands. Malta gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1964 and became a republic in 1974.

Malta has a long Christian legacy. It is believed that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on Malta while he was in route to Rome and ministered there.  Catholicism continues to be the official and dominant religion in Malta.  Malta is internationally renowned as a tourist resort, with numerous recreational areas and historical monuments, including nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites^, most prominently the Megalithic Temples which are some of the oldest free-standing structures in the world.

 This is the view from our hotel room.  The Mediterranean Sea was beautiful.

 The weather was cool and quite windy, creating some waves that crashed against the shore.

 These unsuspecting people got wet shortly after the picture was taken. 
They had walked out on the rocks to get a closer look.

 Valletta, the capital city with St John's Co-Cathedral.

 The view from our tour boat.

 The harbors around the capital have a series of forts,
built to withstand the numerous attacks throughout the centuries.

 Fort St. Elmo in Valletta.

 The buildings around the harbor were all built with defense as a primary consideration. 
Most were fortified and looked formidable.

 An outpost/fort on a promontory point on one of the harbors.

 Housing in a small city on one of the harbors. 
Densely populated, living right on top of your neighbors.

 Another fortress.

 The Maltese Cross on the top of a church.

 A street in Sliema, a city next to Valletta.

Malta has the highest road-accident rate in Europe.  It is advised to avoid driving altogether--but if you do get behind the wheel, remember that Maltese drivers don't believe in speed restrictions, using turn signals or giving way.  Expect any courtesy you show to be treated as sign of weakness.