Malta

  Geography - The Maltese archipelago consists of three islands: Malta, Gozo and Comino. Malta, the largest island, is 237 sq. kms in area; Gozo is 68 sq. kms and Comino, 2 sq. kms, lying in the middle of the Mediterranean, 93km south of Sicily and 350km north of Libya. There are no mountains or rivers and no water, that is why all fruits and vegetables are imported. The islands' soil is generally thin and rocky, yielding very little flora.

The area of Republic of Malta is 320 sq km (1000 times smaller than Poland), the population is 391,700 with Capital city in Valletta (pop 92,000), languages are Maltese (only one semitic language written in latin alphabet), English and Italian.

  Climate - The Maltese Islands enjoy a healthy climate, with mild winters and a hot summer season. Cold winds, snow, frost and fog are unknown. Rain falls between September and April. It seldom rains after April, and nearly never in summertime.

The temperature averages 15°C (59°F) in winter (Nov-Apr) and 30°C (86°F) during the summer (May-Oct). The hottest period is from mid-July through mid-September although the islands seldom get too hot, as hot summer days and nights are regularly tempered by cool sea breezes. For persons from the north the best time for visiting the Island: May-June and September-October.

  English - Malta is one of the best places to learn English. In the morning you attend your school and in the afternoon you may enjoy sunny beaches and worm sea water. English is one of the two official languages in the Republic of Malta. You can see how to enroll to the language school here.

  Religion - 91% of inhabitants are very religious Roman Catholics. The Catholic Church is the custodian of national traditions, and its churches are the biggest landmarks in most towns and villages. It is said that there are 365 churches - one church per day to be visited.

  Women - are very beautifull with dark hair and sexy mouth, Maltese girls are good wives and all speak very good English.



  Coast - Despite its rocky coastline, Malta has some good beaches. Gnejna and Golden Bays, on the northwest coast, and St George's Bay have warm, calm waters and good sandy strands. Ramla Bay has Gozo's best beach.

  Cuisine - Unfortunately, lack of the water on the Island had a very serious impact on the local cuisine, no or small quantities of vegetables and fruits. The water from the tap is not good enough for tea. The strongest influence on Maltese cuisine is Sicilian, though the popularity of grilled chops and roast and three veg reveals a strong partiality to all things British. Local specialties include pastizzi (savoury cheese pastries), timpana (a macaroni, cheese and egg pie), and fenek (rabbit), which is usually fried or baked in a casserole or pie.

  History - Because of their strategic position, Malta and Gozo have been inhabited for the past 7,000 years. The first known people to settle in Malta were the Phoenicians, who reached these shores on their trading ventures in the 9th century BC. They were succeeded by their Punic kinsmen, the Carthaginians, who were eventually conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. The Romans governed these islands until the division of the Roman Empire in the 4th century AD.

Arabs from North Africa occupied the Islands from the 9th to the 13th century and when the last Arab rulers were driven out in the year 1249, they left behind them notable imprints of their culture on the language of the Maltese people.

After the Norman overlords, Swabian and Angevin dynasties ruled for brief periods and at the beginning of the 14th century, the Islands fell under Aragonese domination. In 1530, the King of Spain, Emperor Charles V, granted the Islands on fief to the international Order of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

The Knights administered the Islands for 268 years until 1798, when Napoleon Bonaparte drove them from these shores and occupied the country in the name of the French Republic.



Following a brief occupation the French were forced to surrender after two years of a land and sea blockade by combined British and Maltese forces, and in 1800, Malta became a part of the British Empire.

In 1964, Malta attained its Independence. and ten years later, in 1974, it was declared a Republic within the Commonwealth. Now, it is trying to join the EU.

  Where to go - Here I present a few places which I have seen, but for more comprehensive information I recommend the proper book guides.

Valletta, the capital, blends commerce and culture. There are small chapels and vast cathedrals, museums, galleries and public gardens, within the walls and fortifications boardering the Grand Harbour. There is a street market every morning, sound and vision shows illustrating all aspects of Malta's history, the Manoel Theatre with its cafe and costume museum, Armoury and old Maltese family house full of treasures and open to the public.

Sliema is both a major holiday resort and a local residential area, combining the activity of designer shops and cruise boats with relaxation of street cafes, restaurants and beach lidos with facilities for water sports and diving.

Qawra and Bugibba are beyond the beaches and water sport facilities are salt flats, farms and signs of Malta's past going back to pre-historic times. All three areMellieha, Golden Bay and Ghajn Tuffieha are in the north of Malta and have sandy beaches.

Mdina, known as the Silent City, 3000-year-old, once the political centre of Malta, is filled with Norman and baroque buildings and narrow cobblestone streets. It offers excellent cafes and restaurants housed discreetly in its old palazzos, gardens and battlement terraces, charming craft shops, chapels, the cathedral with its museum and gallery, a Norman house, open to the public, a natural history museum and the Mdina Dungeons with life size maniquins depicting scenes from the city's history. The nearby suburb of Rabat (which translates roughly as 'suburb') has the interesting Museum of Roman Antiquities, which offers exhibits on the island's 1000 years under Roman rule.





  Particularities - I strongly recommend those from continental Europe not to use bikes or rent a car (left side driving), the best way of transportation is a local bus. British left on Malta their electricity system, therefore all your electric devices (shaving machines, hair drayers, radios, battery chargers etc.) need a special converters. Additionally, some of you will be suprised by water taps in certain hotels. One tap with a terrible hot water and a second with horrible cold and you cannot mix them to make a mild temperature. As regards certain elements of architecture which is behind main streets you may find buildings with all pipes, wire and cables hanging infront of houses.

  Guides - Malta is probably best known to the world through a book that isn't about Malta, Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon, the title of which refers to a statuette of mysterious origin. Those who want to know more usefull information about Malta should see for travel guides.

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