Malta: 9/10 days of sun.

As I walk through life I attempt to do what I believe every human does with their lives; find a story within. So upon my return from Malta I wanted to find a unifying theme which explicated, expounded, or elucidated the experience (which I think people have been trying to do when they go to Malta for a long time).

Let’s begin with a short narrative (with screwed up dates) of my time there:

I arrived late and went to meet my friend Jasmine at the Hotel where we stayed for two nights. The interim days were spent mostly in exploring the area where we found ourselves. Almost as if we were living there; we searched out the places for free internet, the cheapest pizza stands, the best place to buy groceries, and the best bars.

My next three nights were spent in the home of my new CouchSurfing friend Daniel.

One day was filled with tourist-y things: visiting the 7000 year old temples and burial grounds, seeing the beautiful landscape and crystal clear water of the Mediterranean which surrounds blessed Malta’s rocky coast.

Day 2 with Daniel we went rock-climbing with friends. Good Friday in Malta is a huge deal so everyone had the day off. I met a group of the coolest people I have ever had the privilege to speak too. Men and women from Germany, France, Bulgaria, Spain, Argentina, and Turkey, all spoke English and most spoke Spanish.  The European Union has a similar program to Americorps, in which young people can go volunteer in different capacities and have their housing, food, and transportation taken care of: most of them were taking part in this program. Every single one was as warm as the sun on that beautiful day. Truthfully, if you ever get the chance to work in Malta, take it. This country is incredible.

Later that day there was a blackout for about 3 hours, which seemed apt on Good Friday.

Saturday we went to the Three Cities, an old place with some really cool places just for walking around in. I think I have some pictures… (You can see them when I get back to my camera cord: June 1st)

NOTE: One of these days we visited the ancient Roman city of Medina (where some really cool glass is made) and the third largest dome in Europe in Mosta, of which you can read about online. This wonderful day also included a self-guided walking tour of the Maltese countryside, during which we managed to see nothing of importance, and you guessed it; happened largely by mistake.

Sunday was spent on the island of Gozo. For sooth I was not pleased spending Easter Sunday romping around like a crazy tourist, but somehow I made it through. The Azure window was beautiful, but paled in comparison to the beauty of the living things of the tidal-pools in its shadow.

The next day afterward are largely immaterial for the sake of a narrative, except perhaps for a particularly enjoyable meal I had alone on a balcony, consisting largely of sunshine, fresh strawberries, bread, three different cheeses, and some local brew.

I spent the next couple days mostly in some much needed solitude and rest. At points I felt a bit stir-crazy, so I went out for a walk just to feel the movement of my own legs, which of course got me thinking about H. D. Thoreau again.

This has been my narrative. Please see the next time for the reflection.

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