Malta

I have a world map in my cubicle with pins placed in every city I’ve ever visited. While looking at my map one day I saw a small island off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea called Malta. Curious, I typed the name into Google and hundreds of some of the most beautiful images appeared. I knew I had to find a way to visit this enchanting country.  Little did I know, out of the many places I have traveled, this island would become very near and dear to my heart.

Valetta

We arrived on an evening flight into Malta from Brussels, Belgium. The very next day we decided to explore the capital city of Valetta. The bus system in Malta is great and we were able to travel everywhere for about one or two euro per trip. Our first stop was the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens. The view of the city from the gardens was beautiful. We could see the ocean, ships, and cannons. We continued into the city and walked along boat docks and trucks filled with fresh fruit.

San Anton Gardens

The next day we ate an early breakfast and my boyfriend suggested we visit San Anton Gardens.  I hadn’t looked into this place or included it in our itinerary but I was down for the trip. When we walked into the gardens the first thing I noticed was a beautiful fountain. However, the fountain was surrounded by many people and my boyfriend suggested we walk around some and come back later.  We walked through groves of lemon trees and orange trees. We also passed gorgeous fountains with swans, turtles, and koi fish.  When we finally made our way back to the fountain no one was around. I took a seat to admire the beauty around us and before I knew it my boyfriend was saying the most amazing words any girl would dream of hearing. He asked me to do him the honor of standing and he kneeled down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Becoming engaged in Malta was beyond my wildest dreams!

Mdina and Dingli Cliffs

Still floating on cloud nine we made our way to Mdina.  I’m a huge fan of the show “Game of Thrones” and we found some of the filming spots of “King’s Landing."  Mdina offered beautiful views of the city and the opportunity to take wonderful photos. After this we visited the Dingli cliffs to have a drink and watch the sunset. Later that evening we checked into the Intercontinental Malta, which is located in St. George’s Bay. Hotel management had a bottle of champagne sent up to our room to celebrate our engagement! It was the perfect end to a perfect day.

Comino and Gozo Island

The next day we took a ferry to Comino Island, also known as the Blue Lagoon. We arrived kind of late in the day and only had time to wonder around a bit but the island definitely lived up to it’s name! The water was a bright aqua blue and we even had the chance to see a few caves nearby the island. We took another ferry to Gozo island and snapped a few pictures of a beautiful church on a hilltop before making our way back to the main island of Malta.

St. Julian’s and Spinola Bay

We spent the last day exploring Spinola Bay. We enjoyed walking around the promenade and harbor. We finally stumbled upon the area where we could take pictures of the capital city of Valetta across the bay.

This was my final trip for 2017 and definitely the most memorable! I started the trip with a boyfriend and ended with a fiancee :) I can’t wait to see what adventures 2018 will bring. Happy New Year!