This is a guest post from Jade Eva.
Once again I found myself in that familiar student-traveller situation, the heavily unbalanced ratio of “the desire to go somewhere new” to “bank balance”. No prizes for which side had a larger quantity. However, armed with the unstoppable forces of the internet, as well as some handy travel guides, I managed to travel without destroying my savings fund.
My chosen destination was Malta, an island with gorgeous beaches, fantastic food and even better weather. However, unless you want to spend your visit surrounded by sun-worshipping tourists…I would steer clear of the beaches. By midday, most of the beaches are heaving with locals and tourists which is not exactly the most relaxing of experiences…
Maltese water
As a self-proclaimed history geek, my first stopping point was Mdina: also known as ‘the silent city.’ Compared to the beaches, the amount of tourists in Mdina is very low, allowing you to get an authentic feel for Maltese local culture and history. Wandering through the narrow, winding streets of Mdina, its historical atmosphere seems to ebb from the ancient walls. The main attraction of Mdina is ‘St Paul’s Cathedral,’ named after St Paul who was reported to have stayed in Mdina as a result of his ship crashing off the Maltese coast.
Streets of Malta
I was simply blown away by the interior of the cathedral: clearly a Baroque style, the ceilings and walls are covered in paintings of intricate design-well worth bringing your camera for this one! The entrance fee for the Cathedral is 2.50€, not too bad a price considering this gets you into the museum as well as the Cathedral itself. However, a place to avoid is the Natural History Museum located just inside the city’s main gate. The displays are uninspiring and reminded me of tiresome science classes I endured in Primary School…
Having spent little money wandering around beautiful Mdina, I was happy to spend more money on dinner as I had heard Maltese cuisine is simply to die for.
I ended up at a restaurant called “Last Paradise,” which offered a wide range of Maltese dishes for very reasonable prices. I opted for the Stewed Rabbit, known in Maltese as ‘Fenkata’. As a keen rabbit-lover, I did feel a little bad for choosing this dish; however, these feelings disappeared as soon as the tender meat hit my taste buds. Simply wonderful. The restaurant itself was run by a family, giving the place a welcoming, family atmosphere: just what I needed to feel at home when I was so far away.
Malta landscape
Saving your money and having a great time is easy in Malta, just be sure to avoid the tourist-clad beaches and stick to the architecture – by doing this you’ll save plenty of money and be able to spend whatever you save enjoying the delicious delights of Maltese cuisine. Enjoy!
Author Bio: Jade Eva
Jade Eva is an English Literature student who has read books based in all the corners of the world.But now she wants to see it for herself. From Verona to Vegas, Peru to Portugal, Jade will see it all!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m so glad you mention the beaches! So many times I have gone on trips or vacations only to find that everyone else wanted to be on the beaches as well. When I was younger and did more vacation with friends it was ok but now I just want to relax on a nice beach with my wife. I heard the food in Malta is great and I really must visit one of the cathedrals there.
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Thanks for comment, yeah Malta looks great, I know there is a big street racing scene there too from a Maltese friend of mine too, mostly based around a central drag strip in the island.