So, I have semi-0fficially set a date for my visit to Malta (aka the homeland). After talking to some family living in Qormi, I have decided to take a trip over to the teensy country in December. I have tentatively planned on the 13th – 18th, since school will be out for our winter break and I will have time to check out a few countries I have been dying to see! Although December is not the ideal time to soak up the Mediterranean sunshine, it should be okay for seeing some major sights and checking out the cities where my mom and grandpa were born (Qormi and Mosta, respectively). I am also planning on going back in the summer to get a real taste of the Maltese culture.
I checked out Ryan Air to see what kind of deals I could snag and fortunately, there are many to be had! Since I already have a place to stay for the trip (thanks to the fam!), the round trip airfare will only cost me around 70 GBP; not bad (less than the cost of a roundtrip ticket from Sacramento to San Diego)! This trip in December will be focused on visiting Qormi, where my family lives and where my mom was born; Mosta, the city where my grandpa was born and raised (and a place that is home to one of the world’s largest domes), and some of the super historical museums and catacombs that the country houses.
The Dome!
Inside the Dome
Growing up, my grandpa always told me the stories of the Mosta Dome — in 1942 during WWII, a bomb was dropped into the cathedral before a mass while 300 or so parishioners were present. Miraculously (a fitting term), the bomb never exploded. The dome now houses a replica of the bomb in memory of the event. Pretty amazing!
If I can’t make it to Valletta, the capital, during this trip, it will definitely be on the agenda for trip number two next summer, along with a rendezvous on the neighboring island of Gozo. One of the cool things about Malta is that you can really see the whole country in a small amount of time — it’s only 122 square miles! More than seeing the gorgeous beaches, the amazing history, or the fantastic festivals, I am beyond excited to walk on the same roads that my mom walked on as a child and to see the same sights that she saw every day growing up. It’s going to be such an awesome experience!
Here are some old school pictures of my grandpa in Malta c. 1940 or so. Enjoy!
If you’re planning a trip to Malta, check out this great site for information on the Islands of Malta, events in Malta, and information on the island’s attractions!
If anyone has visited Malta, I would love feedback on where to go and what to see!
Lots of love,
Hi there was browsing some old pics of malta and this photo came up. Although i’m only 21 yrs old I somewhat knew the houses somehwere. Infact it is Gilormu Cassar Street in Mosta, the road i grew up in. Those houses are still there today. If you happen to have any other pictues kindly send them on vellas_14@hotmail.com
thy name sam rings a bell….some 6 yrs ago an english lady cameto that street with a lot of wr pictures cos her father used to live there during the war….a picture of young kids had sam written on it. Maybe it was the same child in the picture!
10x