26 May Malta: Cliffs, Caves, And Crystal Waters
When we landed in our 49th country, we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. Malta, the unassuming archipelago, is perfectly situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, just 130km (80 miles) south of Italy’s largest island, Sicily, and 450km (300 miles) off the coast of Tunisia in Northern Africa.
A little research was done ahead of our trip (naturally), so we knew that English was widely spoken (bonus), and folks drive on the left hand side – great similarities to our own home country, fellow member of the British Commonwealth, South Africa. We also heard about the amazing food – being so close to Italy, it was really no surprise. But no matter how much research you do on Pinterest and Instagram, nothing can prepare you for the raw, natural beauty, which you can only truly discover with your very own eyes.
We spent the majority of our time on Gozo island, the second largest of the three islands. Besides being quieter (in general) and less traffic-jammed, the island of Gozo boasts some of this small country’s most photographic outdoor spots. We were so lucky to have Xlendi Bay and her gorgeous natural accessories a mere 5 minute walk from our rented apartment, meaning we could take daily walks to Xlendi Tower, the beckoning cliffs behind it, and of course admire the teal and cobalt waters in the bay (which, I might add, are still a tad chilly during May…we heard a local joking that the Maltese people only swim in the sea, when a teabag placed into the water releases colour, ha).
Renting a car, we went on several drives, stumbling across some of the most magical formations – think limestone bunkers, boulders the size of small homes, and what could’ve been the set of Star Wars Episode IV (although Star Wars wasn’t actually filmed on Malta, but, we discovered, initial episodes of Game of Thrones, and blockbuster majors like Troy and The Count Of Monte Cristo, were). Although we still struggle to pronounce the official names of the spots we photographed, we cannot begin to rave about how beautiful they all are, our favourite being Wied Il-Ghasri, a swimming hole slash rocky beach slash gully with hidden caves.
One of the best ways to explore the islands, by far, has to be by kayak, so on one of our first days, we decided to venture off on a 6hr tour around the tiny island, Comino. The tour was amazing. We went through hidden caves, discovered giant cliffs, and splashed around in both the Blue and Crystal Lagoons (the latter being more impressive simply because it was less crowded).
Besides being bitten by a dog accidentally, whilst hiking the one day (note to self: farmer’s dogs will attack, even if you’re merely passing through their land for a brief period of time), one of the most memorable moments occurred when we decided to visit the highest point on Gozo island – the cliffs of Ta’Cenc. It’s a mere 400m (0.1 mile) walk off the main road, and before you know it, you’ve reached the edge of what looks like the end of the Earth. The sheer cliff just drops, and you’re left weak-kneed and exhilarated, with only the desire to scream “freeeeeeedooooooooooom” into the distance – which in itself is a phenomenal sight, just this perfect split of sky and sea.
Malta, we hope to return one day to see more of your cliffs and caves, and maybe next time, we’ll spend a little more time in your waters too.
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