When Kunal and I promised ourselves to each
other – we always knew we are going to keep up with our love for travelling - baby on board or not ! So the first chance we got post baby, when she was
finally fully on formula and now eating solids like she was always meant to
enjoy the good foods of the world, we took off to Malta !
Why Malta, everyone always asks me – We wanted a perfect
beach holiday but some place where there would not only be a bunch of good
restaurants and beaches but also a thriving night
life – I was almost on the brink of forgetting what it was to be awake till 4am
and in high heels ,slightly intoxicated.
Getting there from Mumbai – It’s a long flight … Mumbai –
Dubai-Malta ( with a one hour halt in Larnanca, Cyprus on the latter flight )
It sure did feel super long because it was also the longest I had been away
from my Baby ! All I could think was of when I will get to the hotel room,
connect to the Wi-fi and video chat with her.
Yes, Separation anxiety exists even in the most carefree souls like
mine. Tip to First time Mothers who are travelling without the baby –
Avoid video calling. Its hard on your baby to see her mom on the screen and not
picking her up… but its even harder on you to see her stretch her arms trying
to reach for the screen and you not be able to pick her up and squeeze her. Post video call and a few tears later… We were in the moment ! Alone – yes, without our baby, for
the first time, Kunal and I felt Alone, We are a UNIT !!
But it took a quick shower, a little nap and a walk around
the block onto the promenade where the Blue Azure waters of Sleima Harbour took
our breath away.
Where to Stay ? – St Julians is the heart of the city with
most clubs and bars , but it can get really crowded from June – Sept. Sleima is
the shopping district and also the harbor from where the ferry to Gozo and
Comino start. Either way, this island nation is small and everything is only a
few mins cab ride away. We stayed at the Palace Hotel, Sleima … the rooftop
swimming pool and bar have the most stunning views of the waters on one side
and the city and harbor on the other.
How to get Around ? Taxify is the Uber of Malta ! Cheap and
easily available. It is also recommendable to get a small car to go around, but
the roads are small and parking can be difficult and google maps is tricky
around the city center and Valetta.
We started with the most fantastic meal at Barracuda in St
Julians – we were booked for the chef’s tasting menu, and boy were we impressed
! We thoroughly enjoyed the first of the celebrations for Kunal’s birthday week
!
The next day we walked around Valletta, Malta’s historic capital city. Its incredible beauty, history and culture make it one of the best city break destinations in all of Europe. Throughout history, Malta’s desirable location in the Mediterranean, below Italy and north of Libya, has drawn many nations to stake their claim on this tiny island: First came the Phoenicians, followed by the Romans, Normans, Habsburgs and finally the British from whence it received its independence in 1964 and went on to become a republic in 1974, and finally entered into the European Union in 2004. All of whose influence can be found in some part of the city … each leaving their own mark.
The next day we walked around Valletta, Malta’s historic capital city. Its incredible beauty, history and culture make it one of the best city break destinations in all of Europe. Throughout history, Malta’s desirable location in the Mediterranean, below Italy and north of Libya, has drawn many nations to stake their claim on this tiny island: First came the Phoenicians, followed by the Romans, Normans, Habsburgs and finally the British from whence it received its independence in 1964 and went on to become a republic in 1974, and finally entered into the European Union in 2004. All of whose influence can be found in some part of the city … each leaving their own mark.
One of Valletta’s best attractions is simply its gorgeous landscapes. Walk around the Upper Barracca Gardens and enjoy panoramic views of the city’s charming Grand Harbor. The public park, which sits atop Valletta’s historic fortifications, is an ideal spot for a picnic or a romantic stroll. If you’re looking to extend your scenic walk, the Lower Barracca Gardens are equally stunning.
Whilst Valletta’s natural scenery, the sun-drenched coastline and the sparkling Mediterranean, provide a scenic backdrop, the city’s man-made structures are also worth mentioning. You don’t have to be an architecture enthusiast to enjoy the striking beauty of 16th-century Baroque St. John's Co-Cathedral; the 18th-century Rococo palace—home to the National Museum of Fine Arts; and the many grand, Renaissance-era buildings that line its cobblestone streets. All this can be best enjoyed on foot, or you can zip around the city center like us on the Segway Tour which takes you to the city center and all the way down to the harbor.
Foodies feel right at home in Malta, where the cuisine is a brilliant mix of Italian favourites, North African flavours and age-old recipes unique to Malta’s rich heritage. If you’re dining out in the city, head to one of the many Trattoria on Melita Street. These cosy eateries have attracted many a famous celebrity. We also ate at the Blue Elephant in the Hilton, it is surely a miss, although it came highly recommended to us by several folks.
The following evening we found ourselves in Mdina – the silent city.
About 30 mins inside the mainland - Honey-coloured walls offer some much-needed
shelter from the pervading wind or sun depending on the weather you find yourselves in Malta..It’s such a small city that you won’t get lost
for more than a minute, so you can wander down whichever pretty streets take
your fancy.
You can also get higher up on the walls in Bastion Square –
the main (very attractive) square in the city full of gorgeous Baroque
buildings. You’ll also notice that the street signs are all on ceramic plaques,
which is rather nice.
We reached Mdina as the streetlamps lit up. We’d read that you have to see it at dusk or night to appreciate its eerie silence. We didn’t wait until it was late enough when we got there to appreciate the street lighting at night, but we definitely got the emptiness. We were the only people there, apart from one other couple we passed. We dined at the fancy De Mondion – such places are meant for celebrations – like bringing in Kunal’s birthday !!!
Consistently rated amongst the top restaurants in Malta for the soul nourishing cuisine, refinement and excellence, the de Mondion promises discreet yet impeccably attentive service allowing patrons the time and privacy to savour the cuisine, the company and surrounded by the frequent colourful firework displays for the nearby village festas. The wine was superb and well recommended by the sommelier.
That evening, when we reached Sleima and were about to
decide where to head next, GianPula found us. Like all epic plans that are
never a part of the plan, this fell right into place. We saw a bunch of people
walking towards what clearly looked like a party bus. Everyone showing their
hands with the tag of some event, young boys high fying and girls retouching
their make up and saying they were only going to have the best night of their
summer…. Kunal and I did feel maybe we were a bit too old for this, but then
again we decided – if it wasn’t for us – we will take the taxi back home ! And that’s
how GianPula happened.
An original Maltese hunting lodge converted into a popular clubbing village on the island,
Gianpula is made of a collection of a huge disco complex with several gardens,
nice music, adults customers, an amazing rooftop pool, - located on the road
connecting Mdina to Zebbug, in the middle of the countryside is not easy to
find. But once you are inside the entire vibe is different. We went to The Rooftop
– which serves South American Tapas, Drinks, and Sheesha !!! What more can a
girl ask for ? Oops, In my casé what more can the birthday boy wish for ?? By the end of that night, we felt we ticked the whole "be up
till 4am, drinking and dancing till the high heels hurt !!!"
So the next day was just the perfect plan , to feel in our 30's again – we planned to take a Yatch out at sea. We visited the beautiful island of Comino. From Sleima harbor you can rent these beauties out for the entire day like we did or you can also rent them by the hour.
So the next day was just the perfect plan , to feel in our 30's again – we planned to take a Yatch out at sea. We visited the beautiful island of Comino. From Sleima harbor you can rent these beauties out for the entire day like we did or you can also rent them by the hour.
The ride to Comino Island is incredibly picturesque. Have your camera ready for shots of the beautiful caves and sea cliffs along the route there. It’s a quick trip from anywhere in Malta and the journey is Instagram-worthy from beginning to end. As soon as you arrive at Comino Island, you will see how crazy popular this place is. There are always tons of people arriving at once. Normally, anything so touristy puts me off a bit, but this place is worth it.
You can’t blame tourists for crowding in to see this
gorgeous spot! The Blue Lagoon is shallow. It’s basically a giant swimming
pool. The water is calm, shallow, and crystal clear. It’s a good place to
snorkel or just enjoy the cool water. There are tons of water sports that can
be enjoyed – we sat on the bumpy bed/ speed boat and bhoy o bhoy did we feel 16
again.
The best part of being parked in the blue lagoon – you have a speed boat that goes around to come take your orders for food, drinks, ice cream and any other essentials – we called for a warm pizza and some wine – and was the perfect meal post our dip in the sea. This is the luxe life – and the moment where I forgot I am Mom !
That evening we dined at Caviar and Bull. One would ask what are two vegetarians doing in a sea food and meat speciality restaurant ? But will you believe me when I say this : If their Lobster is their specialty , their Goat Cheese Filo Pastry Puffs may as well be at par ! It was little pieces of heaven melting in the mouth. We had the degustation menu – accompanied by some amazing cocktail.
For our last evening we went to St Julian and walked around
Paceville … Paceville is the bustling city center of St Julian. … Can also be
called a street full of Hugo’s terrace bar, Hugo’s Sheesha, Hugo’s Bar … all
things Hugo.
We got to enjoy a Fifa Match in Hugo’s terrace with a few drinks
followed by Sheesha in one of the lounges on that street. The lounges all look and
feel almost the same- its like one big party street. Although the crowd is
younger – more for people on the Bachelor / Bachelorette parties = big rowdy
crowd.
Malta also has some really big Casinos… The Westin Dragonara
is one of them. Kunal made a few, I lost a few … we squared it off well ;)
Malta does not have too much sight seeing, but a big part of the Maltese culture are the The Maltese village festa - They are the distilled essence of all
that is Mediterranean in one event. These feasts combine colourful lights, band
music, noisy and bright fireworks displays, and a crowd of hundreds spilling
out of bars onto the noisy streets into one orgy of celebration.
It’s an experience of food, drink, music and fanfare. Food stalls line the streets serving everything from hot dogs to traditional fare. Try some mqaret - deep fried date cakes. These are sinfully delicious and a bag full will set you back less than 2 Euros. Another artisanal treat is nougat. You’ll find many selling this favourite treat known as qubbajt in Maltese. Sellers normally have dark wooden stalls with antique weighing scales to serve the sugary treat.
Band marches are an integral part of the celebration. The
local band performs festa favourites, many of which will be composed by local
maestros. As they march through the streets and towards the church, the crowds
often follow behind.The ceremonial highlight of any festa is the carrying of
the statue. Festa devotees bid for the privilege of hoisting the statue out of
the church and onto a prominent place in the village square. This is usually
accompanied by a roaring crowd cheering them on. Go for a quick walk around the
town – and make sure its one of the big village festas – because smaller the
town – smaller the festa. You don’t want to look like a big city tourist in a
small village !
Like I felt on my trip to Cyprus, I saw very few locals
living in Malta –Apparently, people do still live in the city. But like many
places we wandered in Malta, there were no signs of local life. It’s almost a
museum in itself. Like we experienced in Valletta, there seemed to be gaggles
of tourists or absolutely no one about and no in between. My two cents on Malta
- Malta may be smaller than some of the
better-known European capitals, but it’s no less noteworthy. Go for the perfect
combination of city + beach + restaurants + night life + casino … the perfect
one week getaway… If you’re looking for a less obvious city break destination,
visit Malta’s hidden gem before the spotlight finally shines on it and visitors
start to flood in .
Contact : https://www.vibrantholidays.com/ The helpful people at Vibrant Holidays helped booked our entire holiday and made it a memorable one.
