Malta, colder than Rome.

Well, here I am in Malta, one of a group of islands just south of Sicily. Which I learned today, in my walk through the National Archeology Museum, used to be attached to Sicily. Hmm.


(Also, I have no camera, so I have resorted to borrowing a few photos from Google, as well as my webcam to keep things interesting.)


SO. I still have no bag! Its a blue-green (mostly green) and black, with a Canada tag hanging on the front, two zip up pockets on the front... Anyone seen it? If so, please send it to me. I am starting to wear out my socks.
For all I know right now, it could be in Malta, it could be still in Rome, OR.. it could be on any one of the flights that left the Roma Fiumicino Airport in the past 5-6 days. This is all I got after calling Baggage Services twice daily since Wednesday. 

Flag!

Stressful baggage issues set aside, Malta is a beautiful country. There is so much history on this tiny island its incredible. I mean, this is the home to the 7000 year old Ħaģar Qim and Mnajdra Temples, the oldest free-standing structures in the world. It has what seems like an endless list of people who have at one time or another ruled the land, from Romans to Greeks to the French to Sicilians and so on. Eventually, they released themselves from the UK, and in 1974 became a Republic. Malta has also been a part of the EU since 2004. Woo Malta! 

Street signs here are the best, so detailed and pretty... but best of all, English and Maltese.

Every city has a 'feel' to it. Some cities are free and artsy, while some can be cold and grungy. I usually take a couple days to decide what a city is to me, it all depends on my mood and the weather those days too. As for Malta, (the country and many tiny cities in it) I am still undecided. It is definitely a tourist destination, it is off-season and that is easy to see, and it is definitely a European country. But that is where I get stuck, because even though it is so much a  'European' country to me, I still get the feeling every now and then I am somewhere in the Caribbean. I am stuck between this strange England in the Caribbean setting feeling where I don't know what way to lean. They drive like maniacs, on the left side of the road, and use UK power outlets. Thank goodness I have an adapter for every country in one! I can see English people (from the UK) loving it here. Its like home but not rainy or cold, instead hot and sunny.. I might have to get back to this point. I am still stuck.

Like I said, they drive like maniacs. These signs are on way too many corners. 

As for food, the Maltese eat well. Fish, of course, I mean.. where else are they going to find a good, consistent supply of food? They are known for their bread (for good reasons), Qubbajt (nougat almondy goodness), Patizzi & Qassatat, as well as Torta Tal-lampuki. 

To start, of course the bread is AMAZING. As a bread person, I can honestly say that I have had some of this excellent Maltese bread every morning for breakfast since my arrival last Wednesday. They know how to make bread. It is especially good lightly toasted with a smidgen of butter and honey drizzled all over. Oh yummy, I will also be having this for breakfast tomorrow.

Qubbajt is a kind of candy or sweet I guess. It is pretty much a bar of nougat with almonds or peanuts and honey. I have only tried the vanilla so far, but I do have big intentions of trying more. It is so delicious. It is like eating only the middle nougat part of an Oh Henry bar, except nuts inside. Has anyone seen this stuff back home? I will be stocking up...

Now the things I have yet to try, are Patizzi, Qassatat and Torta tal-lamuki. (I will be very honest here, I may.. or will probably be skipping the Torta Tal-lampuki.) Patizzi and qassatat are pretty much the same, they are fluffy pastries filled with either ricotta cheese or a pea mixture. I guess the only difference is that the qassatat is a lighter pastry and it is round, the patizzi is a diamond. I feel like these are amazing and I haven't even tried them yet. Pastries of cheese? AH. Can't believe I haven't found these yet.

As for this mysterious Torta Tal-lampuki... Fish pie. Made with the prized local fish known as Lampuki. Luckily, for me, Lampuki is only available for a short period each year.. and not the period that I am here! :) I guess it is quite the delicacy for locals, a pie with this fish, vegetables, walnuts, olives and raisins. Oh yummy yummy. Better come back from September to November to get some Torta Tal-lampuki! 


Looks like I have some more things to eat, and see, of course! And airports to call...
Until we meet again, Ciao! shannon xx