Our vacation in Malta started with… an adventure! WizzAir decided that time is a relative concept, so instead of 4:15 PM, we didn’t take off until just before 6:00 PM. On top of that, the plane was so late that we only arrived at 9:00 PM. Fortunately, the car rental was still open – otherwise, we might have been stuck at the airport with our suitcases like real tourists, instead of making it to our dream villa.
Driving the wrong way
Driving in Malta is a whole other story – as a passenger, I sweated every turn, while the driver tested his skills driving against traffic. After all that, we made it to our villa, where the pool and jacuzzi became our new best friends. We finally went to bed after 2 AM, because why rush, right? It’s a vacation!
The next day brought a test of endurance – 1.5 kilometers uphill, in 40-degree heat in the shade, I felt like I’d run a half marathon. After that hike, we were ready for any adventure!
And then came Popeye Village, a place where live scenes from the show play out right in front of you. The views are wonderful, there’s something for everyone, and at the end, you can chill by the pool so you don’t have to think about spinach.
After a full day of relaxing, we drove across the whole island to see St Peter’s Pool; everyone said it was a must-see. I hadn’t checked online to see what it looked like and pictured it completely differently. But I have to admit, the place is nice, even if calling it a “beach” might be a bit of a stretch – it’s just rock upon rock. Out of our 6-and-a-half-person crew, 3 people jumped in, so we didn’t come for nothing!
A cruise around Malta
For the next day, we planned a cruise – we sailed around Malta, visiting caves carved by the sea into the Maltese limestone, and even sailed inside some of them. On Comino, the beach was nice, but it was the Blue Lagoon that really blew us away – crystal-clear water and fish swimming right next to you, a paradise for anyone with a snorkel mask! To make things easier, the ship had its own private swimming area around it, and you could get in by jumping or politely taking the platform from the boat.
Finally, we hit Valletta – full of stairs, but the views made every step worth it. Both the Lower Barrakka Gardens (which were less crowded) and the Upper Barrakka Gardens are worth a visit. But the Triton Fountain made the biggest impression anyway, thanks to which I found out that a mermaid can have a guy – who would’ve thought! We headed back to the airport, and the return trip went without a hitch. And just like that, our action-packed Maltese journey came to an end!