VALLETTA IN THE SPRING
For those of you thinking of a spring holiday or cruise I can recommend Malta as a very pleasant and sunny destination at this time of the year. The temperature is usually in the low 70’s and the days have plenty of sunshine for everyone who is starved of sunlight after a harsh northern winter.
The cruise ships make their entrance to Malta into The Grand Harbour, which is said to be the most beautiful harbour in Europe. Holiday makers who are staying in Valletta or the surrounding area arrive in the city usually by taxi or on one of the colourful buses.
It is a relatively small and compact city center so very good for walking tours. There are plenty of sites of historic interest to visit and for photographers marvelous street scenes and unusual architecture to take pictures of. Valletta is on a hill with very steep streets that lead down to the sea, this makes for some very dramatic photographs.
It is a great place to shop for souvenirs. The local glassware is superb and very stylish and would make a great memento of your visit. Malta is also famous for its lovely gold and silver jewelry and the place abounds with jewelers shops. There are the usual souvenir shops if you want small keepsakes or presents for family and friends. Among the more popular items are souvenirs of the Knights of St. John of Malta, the Maltese Cross and of the wonderful colourful buses of Malta. Souvenirs come in every price range and there is sure to be something to suit everyone.
Lunch out in the city is also a great experience. You can chose from sidewalk cafes, elegant restaurants or little kiosks selling local favourites. The prices are very reasonable considering it is a capital city. Travel Advice would suggest looking down the side streets for local restaurants where you will get excellent food and local dishes at a very good price. If you see business people making use of an establishment you can be fairly sure the food is good. The Maltese enjoy their food and long leisurely lunches are part of their lifestyle. For lunch in a restaurant for two you can expect to pay from about 13 euros up. This would be for a main meal and a drink each. We would suggest having dessert later and trying out the local ice cream. I don’t think anyone can pass the local ice cream sellers without trying something. It is so temptingly displayed and there are so many delicious flavours to chose from.
Malta is at it’s greenest in spring and the trees are in leaf and the flowers are out. The rest of the year it is very dry and the sun usually finishes off all but the most hardy plants. So it is a good time to see the city at its best. It is better for the youngest travelers and the oldest as the temperatures are some 30 or more degrees cooler than in July and August, so much more comfortable for sight seeing and walking.
The other great plus of course is that the Maltese speak English making your holiday here that much more enjoyable. The street signs are in Maltese and English. Menus are in English and you will have no problem shopping, ordering meals or using telephones etc. If you do find it necessary to use a local Doctor or Hospital you will again have no language problems. All speak fluent English and many are trained in Great Britain or North America.
A warm welcome awaits you here in Malta. Come and enjoy Valletta in the spring. Enjoy this beautiful, friendly island in the Mediterranean.
KNIGHTS OF ST JOHN OF MALTA
Travel to Malta to experience the extraordinary history and legacy of the Knights of St John of Malta, and learn more about the medieval Templars, Grail symbolism, the connections between the Knights Hospitaller (St John) and the Knights Templar.
Experience the famed Knights of St. John’s Cathedral. See the early mystical symbols carved in the walls, ceiling and etched on the marble floors. It houses some of Europe’s greatest art works, here also lies the founder of Valletta — and 49th Grand Master of the Knights of St John of Malta — Jean Parisot de la Vallette. Admire the sumptuous 16th century Grand Masters Palace, with its splendidly grand rooms, now Malta’s Presidential Office and Parliament House.
Malta is home to the Knights of St. John of Malta. Also known as the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Order of St. John, Sovereign Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta, Knights of Malta, Knights of Rhodes and Chevaliers of Malta. It is a Christian organization founded in Jerusalem in 1080. They provided care for the poor and sick pilgrims who were travelling to the Holy Land. In 1099 they became a religious/military order during the first crusade and they were to care and defend the Holy Land. In 1530 King Charles V of Spain gave the Order, Malta, Gozo and the port of Tripoli in exchange for an annual fee of one Maltese Falcon. (hence the movie of the same name) In 1565 Suleiman sent an invasion force of 40,000 men to besiege the 700 Knights and 8000 Soldiers. Suleiman’s forces were not successful.
The siege is portrayed vividly in the frescoes of Matteo Perez d’Aleccio in the Hall of St. Michael and St. George, also known as the Throne Room, in the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta. After the siege a new city had to be built – the present city named Valletta in memory of the Grand Master who had withstood the siege.
After the victory of Napoleon in 1798 the Order’s numbers were much depleted and dispersed across Europe and Russia, where they continued to exist to this day though in a diminished form. In 1834, the revived Order established a new headquarters in Rome. The ‘Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta,’ better known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) Recently the Order has returned to Malta, after signing an agreement with the Maltese Government which granted the Order the exclusive use of Fort St. Angelo for a term of 99 years. Today, after restoration, the Fort hosts historical and cultural activities related to the Order of Malta.
On the 13th of March, 2008, the 79th Grand Master was sworn in. He is Fra Matthew Festing an Englishman. Fra Matthew became a member of the order in 1977 and took his solemn religious vows in 1991. And so the Knights of St. John of Malta continue.
For those of you with an interest in the history of the Knights what better place to visit than Malta. It’s capital Valetta is the perfect place to learn about this fascinating order of Knights and to see the Historical sites relating to them.
MALTA - AFTER THE ELECTIONS
In Malta - after the elections, the Maltese re-election of the Nationalist Party means that the PNP will continue to enjoy a rapidly improving economy and Malta’s new respect and status in Europe. Inward investment will continue to rise due to Malta’s political stability, geographical location, sound property laws and benign tax regimes. These factors can only increase the country’s current popularity. EU membership has already stimulated foreign investment such as the new Dubai-backed “Smart (IT) City.”
A UK source also believes that Malta remains a safe place to invest in property. Property prices are relatively low for a Mediterranean sea front home and can only prove to be a sound investment as prices rise.
A re-vamped Tourist Authority which has allowed the arrival of low budget airlines has significantly raised hotel occupancy rates - reversing a previous decline. The past few months have also seen an increase in the numbers of Cruise Liner passengers.
Also in Malta - after the elections, the continued beneficial tax regime, the absence of property taxes, modern hospitals and health-care, good education systems and low crime will attract a growing number of expatriates - particularly from the UK. The latter enjoy a better quality of life without any language barrier. Malta’s Mediterranean location and climate, combined with EU membership is also proving attractive to the Germans, Swedes and the Russians.
So despite rising energy costs and food prices, Malta after the elections seems set fair for a period of stability under the continued guidance of the PNP.
ELECTION EXCITEMENT IN MALTA
It has been a very exciting weekend here in Malta. After several weeks of hearing the many and varied policies of the main political parties the Maltese finally went to the polls on Saturday the 8th of March.
Over the previous weeks we had become used to seeing cars and people draped in the flags of their political party. Cars horns would blare out and people would shout happily at one another.
On Saturday, the actual voting day it was relatively quiet and so it remained until finally at about 9:30 p.m. on Sunday evening the NP and Dr. Gonzi were declared the winners. The opposition leader Dr. Sant resigned.
Then the party began. The streets were full of cars and people. The noise was unbelievable. Car horns, air horns, music, voices and fireworks. The Maltese sure know how to party!!
I am posting this on Monday afternoon and the party is still going on outside. At times the noise is deafening. But it is good natured and joyful. The shops and schools are closed and everyone is out on the streets. The bars and restaurants are full of people reliving the excitement of a very very close election.
Malta is in party mood!!
The following is from the Times of Malta:
Nationalist Party supporters have poured into the streets in wild and noisy celebration of an election victory which a few hours earlier they thought they had lost.
Hours of tension evaporated at 9.30 p.m. when party general secretary Joe Saliba told cheering PN counting agents at Naxxar counting hall that the PN had won the election with a majority of 1,200 votes.
That means that although it is victorious, the PN has been battered, with the 12,000 majority it won in 2003 reduced to the slimmest margin since the elections of the first part of the 1950s.
Not that that mattered to the thousands of cheering supporters waving Maltese, PN and EU flags from cars which made their way with horns blaring to various traditional PN strongholds, notably Sliema.
Sunday was a day of huge emotions for the Maltese people. The omens did not look good for the Nationalist Party after it was announced that turnout on Saturday had slipped to 93.3 percent from 96 percent in 2003. The expectation was that the PN was the victim of this voter apathy.
By mid-morning Labour supporters were holding carcades in several localities, even before the sorting of votes had started.
That process started two hours late, at 12.30 p.m, but within half an hour it became evident that the PN was ahead, albeit by a razor thin margin. The parties took sample after sample of the votes in an attempt to make a prediction, but with the margin proving to be too narrow, they were unable to do so and they finally agreed to await the completion of the first count. Nonetheless, the PN lead was announced in the media and PN supporters took their turn to celebrate in the streets before Mr Saliba reined them in, saying celebrations were premature.
By 9 p.m. the body language of PN officials made it amply clear that victory was theirs, and Mr Saliba confirmed it in a one-sentence statement at 9.30 p.m., enough to have him carried shoulder high out of the counting hall.
MLP deputy leader Michael Falzon did not concede, but said the indications were what they were. He said the party would await the final first count of its candidates before taking a decision. The party’s on-line paper admitted the defeat - which is the third in a row for the party, along with the EU referendum.
The PN appears to have won 49.3 percent of first count votes to Labour’s 48.9 percent. The possibility of a third party having a candidate elected appears remote. That means the PN will have a parliamentary majority of at least one - compared to five in the last Parliament.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, the architect of the PN victory, has not made a statement yet. Nor has MLP leader Alfred Sant, whose political future now appears to be in serious doubt.
I love the fact that they call a 93% turn out voter apathy!! Many other countries would love this kind of apathy.
Anyway we will party on here in Sliema, the next elections should be in 5 years. If you are looking for a great party bear it in mind for the future!!
MALTA CURRENCY AND BANKING
In case you are considering a holiday in Malta, here is the current situation on Malta’s currency and some details of its banking facilities.
The Maltese Lira was replaced by the Euro as its official currency on 1 January 2008 at a fixed exchange rate of 0.42930 Lira to 1 Euro. Maltese coins and banknotes remained as legal tender for cash transactions until 31 January 2008.
Maltese Euro coins, produced by a French company have the following denominations and designs. As is normal EU practice there is a common design on one side for all EU countries with national designs on the other side.
The Maltese designs for each denomination of coin are as follows:
1, 2 and 5 cents – Mnajdra Temple Altar
10, 20 and 50 cents – Maltese Coat of Arms
1.00 and 2.00 Euros – Maltese Cross
Malta will not be producing its own banknotes and these will be supplied by stock from European Central banks.
Currently, the major banks in Malta are HSBC, Bank of Valetta, Lombard Bank and APS, together with a Barclays Bank Representative Office. Banking hours are normally 8.30 – 12.30 Mon-Fri and until 12.30 on Saturdays. There are many ATM’s dispensing Euros and some foreign exchange, automated, ATM machines. ATM’s tend to have cash limits unlike exchanges in the banks themselves. In addition there are numerous foreign exchange shops. It is wise to check the rate offered in these establishments.
In our experience, ATM’s offer some frustration at times due to what appear to be vagaries of communication and one’s transactions are sometimes not completed. On occasions we have simply had to find another ATM. Banks with limited hours can be very busy and tend to have long queues in mid-morning.
Finally, a word of warning. Although Exchange Regulations have been largely relaxed around the world, Authorities are increasingly aware of potential money laundering activities and in the case of Malta you must declare any cash in excess of $10,000 to Customs, when entering or leaving the Island.
BUYING PROPERTY IN MALTA
If you are considering living in Malta, our travel advice would be that you first rent a property so that you can get a feel for the ‘island lifestyle’. Once your mind is made up and you decide that you would like to live here you have to consider the following before you start looking for property:
- What size of property.
- Where are you used to living or would you prefer to live? Town or country or somewhere in between.
- Services, transport and amenities. If you have children, local schools.
- How are you going to finance the purchase?
- Determine your style - a modern or character home? An apartment, town house or villa.
Once all the above criteria have been satisfied and you find the perfect home, the next steps would be the following:
- A preliminary agreement or promise of sale must be signed, against a forfeitable deposit of 10% of the value of the property.
- The term of the agreement is valid for 3 months, unless otherwise stated.
- During this period, the notary researches the property and verifies legal title, assuring himself that there are no outstanding debts, hypothecs, or loans on the property.
- The purchaser must honour all his conditions contained in the promise of sale agreement - i.e. bank loan and building permit applications, within specified time frames.
- The same goes for the vendor, who must ensure that finishing and refurbishing works are carried out according to the conditions stated in the agreement.
The expenses
- Stamp Duty - 5% of immovable property price.
- Notary Public - Approximately 1% of the immovable property price is due to the notary, who is usually chosen by the purchaser and is paid on contract.
- Acquisition of Immovable Property Permit (AIP) upon a fee of Lm100. This permit is granted within the 3 month term of the promise of sale agreement and is applied for by the notary, during his researches.
The contract
Once every condition of the promise of sale agreement is complete and all duties fulfilled, all parties get together to sign the final deed and the keys of the property are passed on to the purchaser.
10 REASONS FOR RELOCATING TO MALTA
Are you tired of the winter weather? Had enough of the cold, the rain and the snow? Are you seriously considering relocating to a warmer country? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, read my 10 reasons for relocating to Malta and see if it might just be the place for you.
1. The beautiful sunshine. Apart from the odd rainy spell, the islands are blessed with a mild climate all year round.
2. A relaxed lifestyle.
3. A high standard of living. Prices are quite reasonable considering it is an island and most things are imported. Property prices are very good.
4. You still get your pension. If you move to Malta from a country in the EU, you can have your state pension paid to your new ‘local’ bank account.
5. Travel - Malta is 27 x 14.5 km in size, you can ‘cross-country’ in just over an hour’s drive. Wherever you are, the most convenient thing is that amenities surround you. Commuting for an endless number of hours is something you can wave goodbye to.
6. The benefits of a bi-lingual society. English is the second language.
7. The people are warm, friendly and welcoming.
8. Malta has an excellent medical service which, if you are a European citizen, is free of charge.
9. Malta is just over a couple of hours away from most European countries. There is a good airport, ferries and cruise liners to take you anywhere in the world.
10. A great many Europeans have already relocated here and have been made welcome and are in their turn ready to welcome expats from around the world.
DIVING IN MALTA
Posted by Sunny
Located in the beautiful, blue Mediterranean, Malta has some excellent dive sites. Whether you prefer onshore, offshore, cave, reef or wreck dives you will find plenty of sport here in Malta.
Because of the very clean and clear water in the area you have outstanding ranges of visibility.
Around the coast of both Malta and Gozo there are a number of shipwrecks from both the first and second world war. There are also a number of ships which have been sunk to create new attractions for divers.
The Rozi was a tugboat that was intentionaly sunk off Cirkewwa. It is in almost pristine condition and sits between 25m and 36m. It makes an excellent reef for an abundance of marine life.
The Imperial Eagle is a former Gozo ferry which sits in 43m of water off Qawra. It is watched over by a statue of Jesus which was belssed by the Pope. This is a more demanding dive due to the greater depth.
HMS Stubborn is in 50+m. This World War 2 submarine was sunk in 1946, but is pretty much intact and you can explore the conning tower and the torpedo tubes.
The Blenheim Bomber, a World War 2 British aircraft sits in 40+m off Marsaxlokk Bay. It is well preserved but there are strong currents and it is quite deep so this is a dive for experienced divers.
There are also a number of excellent caves around the coast. Ghar Lapsi, Comino and the Cathedral Cave being the best. All are atmospheric and worth seeing.
There are also fascinating reefs with corals and exotic fish. The Dwejra region of Gozo is excellent with plenty of crevices and rock features to explore. For this one you start at the Inland Sea and heading out throught the tunnel you go into the open water. Paradise Bay is another good site and finally Comino’s lighthouse reef dive is good and unusual because you can swim down along a reef to a cave, where you ascend up a chimney back to shallow water.
Diving in Malta is a great experience and there is plenty to see. You can dive almost anywhere and start exploring and find plenty to see and provide you with an adventurous day underwater.
THE TEMPLES OF MALTA
Posted by Sunny
Malta has had a rich and turbulent history. Archaeologists have found evidence of man’s occupation going back 3,600 years. From Neolithic man to the present, the people who have lived on these islands have left their mark.
The Temple of Mnajdra is tucked in a hollow on a cliff on Malta’s southern coast. It is very atmospheric and lies in an isolated position on a rugged stretch of coast overlooking the isle of Fifla. The complex consists of three temples overlooking an oval forecourt. The oldest of the temples dates from betweem 3600-3200BC. The third temple which dates from 3150-2500BC has a largely intact facade making it probably the finest in Malta. Archaeologists found valuable relics here, stone and clay statuettes, shell and stone ornaments, flint tools and decorated earthenware. As there were no metal objects it is evidence of its Neolithic origins.
The Temple of Hagar Qim is nearby. It was excavated in 1839 and is about 5,000 years old. It is on a hilltop also overlooking the sea. The area is designated a heritage park. This site is very interesting. Found here were a decorated pillar and two table alters and some of the “fat lady” statues, all are now on display in Valletta at the National Museum of Archaeology.
The Ggantija Temples are one of the most important sites in the Mediterranean. They date to about 3,600-3,200BC. This megalithic complex has two temples surrounded by a massive common boundary wall. It is so large that for years the locals thought it had been built by giants hence the name.
The Tarxien Temples are on the most complex of the sites. Dating from 3,600-2,500BC they consist of four megalithic structures. They have wonderfully detailed carvings which include domestic animals carved in relief. There are also alters and screens carved with spirals and other patterns. In one alcove is a carving of two bulls and a sow, it is thought the site was used for rituals involving animal sacrifice.
These are just four of the many sites of archaeological and historical interest on Malta. For those who want a holiday which relects their interest in history and archaeology you will find an abundance of temple sites, museums, caves, fortifications and buildings all with their own story to tell.
VALLETTA, SLIEMA AND ST. JULIAN’S
Posted by Sunny
Valletta, Sliema and St. Julian’s are the most popular tourist destinations on Malta.
Valletta is the capital and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in 1565 and today its harbour is said to be the most beautiful in Europe.
For the visitors to the city there is just so much to see and do. There are auberges, military cavaliers, 30 churches to visit, the Manoel Theatre, The National Library, Casa Rocca Piccola, The Grand Master’s Palace, many museums, the Malta Experience, the Knight’s Hospitalliers, beautiful gardens and an abundance of cafes and restaurants. Not to mention the wonderful and picturesque Maltese architecture.
Valletta’s Waterfront underwent a complete facelift three years ago and is now the place to go. It is a lively place of restaurants bars, shops, entertainment, the Forni Shopping Complex and the beautiful view of the Harbour.
Sliema is considered to be one of Malta’s more modern towns. To the outsider it will still look more like a biblical setting as you view it from off shore with its lovely mellow limestone buildings.
Here you will find many of Malta’s best known Hotels, a commercial area and residential area. And of course the promenade. This is the favourite walk for all the locals on hot summer evenings. With the Mediterranean on one side and the twinkling fairy lights in the trees on the other this is a lovely place for an after dinner stroll.
Sliema is undergoing a period of growth and should soon have a new shopping complex and further apartments with lovely sea views. It has an abundance of bars and restaurants. You can pay a few cents for a savoury pastry or have a beautiful meal in beautiful surroundings. There is something to suit everyone, in every price range and in a variety of locations. It is popular with holiday makers and is a convenient place to catch the ferry to Valletta or join one of the boat trips around the island. It has several beaches, a good marina, a number of water sports, a lido and plenty to keep young and old occupied and happy on their holiday.
St. Julian’s has been associated with the young since it has a great nightlife, bars, pubs, clubs, casinos, cinemas, bowling alley and top restaurants. It has great shopping and a casual and relaxed air about it. There are now a number of 5 star Hotels and a true high rise office building, some celebrity apartments and an exclusive nightclub. Also a private mooring for your rather expensive boat!
It is also a very up and coming area. Because of the increased facilities house prices are rising although apart from Portomasso it is generally less expensive than Sliema.
Valletta, Sliema and St. Julian’s are wonderful places to stay and to visit. So I hope you enjoy your visit to Malta, these lovely, friendly, sunny Islands in the Mediterranean.
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