The two hour bus ride to Valletta in the circa 1960′s bus with the driver with the claw like fingernails was definitely worth every jolt, bump and headlong rush around the winding narrow roads and S pin curves that make Malta’s roads some of the most dangerous ( and yet scenically beautiful) in the Mediterranean.
Arriving in the main bus terminal we attempted to hire a Taxi to take us to Queen Victoria Square, but the dozing yet friendly Maltese driver told us that it we were so close to our destination that it would be better for us to walk.
Walking through the plain and unadorned gate into the main avenue, I immediately was remind of being in the main touristic area of Prague 1, but Zuzana thought this comparison was completely ridiculous.
As we continued up the street I began to agree. Thats the interesting thing about Malta – it comes across as a mix of so many different elements.
On my first day I described Malta to a friend like this: The Count Of Monte Cristo meets post colonial South America meets The Good the Bad and The Ugly. I’m not sure about the last one exactly but there is a strange hint of something like the wild west here – except there are no Braves, and the Cowboys all wear straw hats, golf shorts and have German accents. There are a lot of German tourists here.
We stopped for gelato and coffee.
I’m Canadian so I’m always comparing everything to Timmy’s coffee – but just a sip in and before I could be disappointed, 2 flies started doing the back stroke in my cup. Has anyone else noticed that there are just an obscene number of flies in this country? Weird.
We didn’t have a lot of time to explore before the last bus pulled out of the station, so we set off to explore a little bit off of the beaten track.
I like to stick to the main roads – Zuzana is more of the adventurous type – we wondered away from the shops and the made in China souvenirs and headed down the sloping, narrow side streets making for the edge of the town, where the city meets the sea.
We made it to Victoria Gate just as the sun started to set and were able to take a few snaps along the way. Standing on the edge of the sea overlooking the city and harbour was pretty magical, but before things could get too romantic we had to make a dash back to the bus. It’s a cool feeling to go somewhere completely on the spur of the moment – somewhere you have never been before, and kind of just let it take you where it will. Everything about this place is new and fresh for us, and there are discoveries to be made around every corner.
We will definitely be back to Valletta.
Best,
Frederick
A wonderful narrative,Frederick. Made me feel as if I were there with ya’ll. Other than the “flies” in your coffee, the natural beauty of the village is striking in the photos;and it looks so clean. No graffiti on the walls, no unsightly trash on the sidewalks;just beautiful potted plants and the antiquity of the buildings with their arched doorways is stunning by all those stairsteps that would probably make some people’s calves sore. I’m sure you and Zuzana didn’t have any problems with that. Thanks for sharing your adventure into Valleta.
Nice travel blog :) It sure is good to shake things up a bit and go on an adventure!
Bon Voyage!
I am curious. What made you choose to move to Malta? Had you always wanted to go there? I know the weather was a big draw, but just wondering what other factors influenced you. My wife and I travel quite a bit. Have not hit Malta yet, but the pictures have us thinking.
Would love to hear from you.
It was a dream of ours for a long time – when we looked at pictures from here we always seemed to get a strong feeling about the place. Getting away from the cold winters in Kingston / Prague was also a huge factor. Neither of us had ever actually been here before, so it was a bit random – but that has just added to the sense of adventure.
It is a beautiful place. I love it. Enjoy!
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing!
By the way, how come you don’t accept questions from readers via email? Were you just getting so overflowed with emails you couldn’t handle it?
From the start we wanted questions and comments open to everyone so that everyone could benefit from the discussions and conversations.
Welcome to Malta!!! I couldn’t believe that I saw the name “Valletta” on your site.
I’m a 24 year old from Malta and I’ve been a follower of your site for a few weeks now, great articles and videos that I am sure are motivating everyone to get back on a healthy track or for some to get new and effective ideas for their workouts … you are helping people to be their best version of themselves that they can be. Well done!
Going back to the Malta part, as any country it has the ups and downs but the general feeling of Malta is friendliness, heritage and laid-back atmosphere, not to mention the approximate 300 sunny days a year ;)
Well now autumn is starting but still you can get sunny days even in winter although cold, then next summer, get the suncream lotion ready cause it will be hot!!
Let me know if I can give you some advice on living here in Sunny Malta!
And again, Welcome and Good Luck on your new adventure!
Some street in Vallete looks like Lisbon! Old and Medieval buildings, narrow streets, sun!
I’ll be in an European trip next February and we will visit Prague. I can’t image winter temperatures there LOL Berlin-Dresden-Prague-Krakow by train! so coooold!
Here in Lisbon it varies between 5/15ºC during the winter, but in central Europe…
Living the Dream! Great photo’s, this website just gets better and better!
thanks for the tour and cool narrative. look forward to more
were you able to bring your dogs? must be hard to find a place?
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Ahoj … zaujali ma tvoje videá.. cvičím i podla teba… chcem sa opýtať či máš aj niečo v českej verzije.. Jana
I enjoy your videos so much!
Thanks for all the wonderful workouts and fitness/nutrition tips.
One question though, why is your husband always behind the camera and never in front of it?
Thanks again!!
Definitely does not look like Prague (the second picture from top).
im maltese and i agree with you on all your comments…malta is both magical yet annoying at times, though when you get past the nusences of the place one truly notices that this place is a unique island.
lol, i always heard zuzana talk about malta and that brought up some questions in my head like, is she talking about the same place, is she maltese or used to live there, is the workouts shot in malta and so on.
anywayz, i hope you visit malta once more and truly discover the history behind the island like the temples and ruins, museums and what not.
Congraz on all your vids and ill stay tunes.
Malta seems to be an incredible place to live! The history, culture, location… I’m immensely jealous. Can you describe in a future entry the process of moving to the new country, the reason for choosing it, and possibly the adjustments you have had to face?
I only recently discovered this site and I was shocked to see such a well documented and diverse catalogue of health and fitness videos, advice, and experience (and more) that for all intents and purposes is provided absolutely free. My friends and I are stoic followers of a very successful video-guided exercise program that costs well into the hundreds of dollars – and for us to find almost all the same practices right here for free, makes us kind of regret spending so much money regardless of the benefits of it’s particularly thorough 90 day program. Plus, it is just way more fun to watch the beautiful Zuzana instead of some sweaty guy. But I digress .. Very much enjoy your site, keep up the very informative and positive motivation for the countless viewers of Bodyrock.tv
Hi Tao,
I am glad that you find our blog helpful and fun. We will try to show more from Malta. Thanks for the comment :)
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I like Valleta and the Grand Harbour ;o)