5th Scape - July 11, 1995 - Sonny Hockey email: shockey@ansa.com
After many years of absence from Malta, I and my Canadian born wife and step-daughter visited the Islands in September of 1988. Because we live in Vancouver, where trees are everywhere, I was concerned that they would find the terrain in Malta too barren. I was wrong. They loved the Islands. Reasons? Because it is so unique a country, the historical interest, the variety of sightseeing, different culture, and as my wife says, because of my connection to it.
I remember pointing out the bastions surrounding the Grand harbour as the plane started its descent into the airport. The last time I saw that view was when I was flying off to Canada in 1957 as a fifteen year old.
We had no hotel planned, so from the airport and using an unfamiliar and archiac phone system we managed to get a room in a hotel on the waterfront in Sliema. When we arrived we also hired a car. Driving a car in Malta was an experience all on its own. But, we did get around, albeit we got lost several times and must have circumnavigated the Island unintenionally several times. We found the people there very helpful and the fact that they could converse in English very handy since I have almost forgotten how to speak Maltese.
We visited the churches, museums and probably every store in Valletta. We also visited Mosta, Mdina (my wife's favorite shopping area), the catacombs, Buskett gardens, Marsaxlokk, Ghar Dallam, Tarxien (the Roman ruins); we swam at Mellieha and Ghar Lapsi. We took a boat ride to the Blue Grotto and visited the Neolithic temples. We also went to Gozo and visited Vittoria (more shopping) and swam at Xlendi. Of course we went to Zejtun and I showed them my grandparents house where I had lived.
We all throughly enjoyed the food and especially the bread. But their favorite snacks were the pastizzi. Unfortunately, there aren't any available in Vancouver, so when we visit Toronto we take some back with us.
We are looking forward to revisiting the Islands hopefully very soon. At least that is what I have been told by my wife and daughter.