A short trip to Malta and Gozo, very intensive three days in June 2016.

Following a spontaneous decision, we stayed in a well run hotel in the very heart of the entertainment district of Malta, St Julian’s. The hotel was excellent, but the entertainment definitely unnecessary. It was a typical reconnaissance trip, visiting possibly all most important places to get acquainted to the islands, while not staying in any place longer and following a plan well prepared before — but leaving a lot to a chance. And yes, if we could somehow join together the atmospheric side streets of Mdina and Birgu, the cultural life of Valetta with the fish restaurants of Xlendi and the rocky coast of Dwejra with some fancy yacht marina, it would be the ideal place for a re-visit. Not to mention the stone age archeology sites.

Note: What we liked most — were the people, what we hated most — was the traffic.

• The pictures (too many…) from the trip: Gallery (166 images) Marsaxlokk :: the harbourZurrieq :: preparing for a fiestaMalta south coast :: Blue Grotto from aboveĦaġar Qim :: the neolithic temple planĦaġar Qim :: one of these at LadiesĦaġar Qim :: a window like structureĦaġar Qim :: the characteristic spiral motiveĦaġar Qim :: an altarĦaġar Qim :: a niche in the templeMnajdra :: the light roof protecting the templeMnajdra :: the small Fifla island off the coastMnajdra :: porose stonesMnajdra :: foreign tourists visitingMnajdra :: an entrance to a hidden chamberRabat :: an over-decorated churchRabat :: oriel bay windows so typical for MaltaMdina :: the city gateMdina :: St. Agata chapelMdina :: Triq MesquitaMdina :: Triq VillegaignonMdina :: Triq VillegaignonMdina :: the San Pawl cathedralMdina :: the San Pawl cathedralMdina :: the San Pawl cathedral :: gravestonesMdina :: the San Pawl cathedral :: a chapel with an old iconMdina :: the San Pawl cathedral :: a chapel with a crossMdina :: the San Pawl cathedral :: one of the gravestonesMdina :: Triq-is-SurMdina :: Fontanella tea gardenMdina :: Fontanella tea gardenMdina :: Fontanella tea gardenMdina :: by Palazzo FalsonMdina :: by Palazzo FalsonMdina :: Triq Is-SalvaturMdina :: Triq Is-SalvaturMdina :: Triq San PietruMdina :: Triq Santa SofijaMdina :: Pjazza San Pawl with the cathedralMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesMdina :: Triq San NikolaMdina :: Triq San NikolaMdina :: Triq Is-Salib ImqaddesRabat :: Triq San PawlValetta :: Queen Victoria before the National LibraryValetta :: reaching the Grand Master PalaceValetta :: the Grand Master PalaceValetta :: taking a shortcut towards Santa InfirmeriaValetta :: Santa Infirmeria :: rushing to the concert hallValetta :: Santa Infirmeria :: couloirsValetta :: Malta Philharmonic Orchestra :: Soloists Gala ConcertValetta :: Santa Infirmeria :: after the concert, the bar is closedValetta :: Archbishop StreetValetta :: Archbishop StreetValetta .. the Republic StreetValetta :: on the corner of Republic and Theatre StreetValetta :: Royal Opera House (remnants)Valetta :: stairs by the ParlamentMgarr :: reaching Gozo ferry harbourĠgantija :: a double figure in the museum by the neolithic templeĠgantija :: an unspectacular heap of stones?Ġgantija :: one of the oldest still standing wallsĠgantija :: 19th century graffitiĠgantija :: presumed altars in a nicheĠgantija :: presumed altars in a nicheĠgantija :: an already rusting scaffolding protecting the wallsĠgantija :: a questionable protection...Ġgantija :: embarking the hired carRabat :: the ubiquitous oriel bay windowsRabat :: the street leading to the citadelRabat :: the street leading to the citadelRabat :: in the citadelRabat :: citadel walls :: the view eastwards, Xewkija church and Malta behindRabat :: in the citadel :: Ta Rikardu restaurantDwejra :: a watchtower Torri tal-Qawra and Fungus Rock island by Dwejra BayDwejra :: karst rock on the shoreDwejra :: some robust plants on the rocksDwejra :: the Azure Window with touristsDwejra :: the Azure Window without touristsDwejra :: the Azure Window just oppositeDwejra :: the lenses covered with the salty spray from the wavesDwejra :: Fungus Rock island by Dwejra Bay :: the lenses still dirtyXlendi :: the unspectatcular waterfrontXlendi :: starters in The Boathouse restaurantCirkewwa :: sunset in the Gozo ferry harbourMarfa Ridge :: St. Agatha tower by full moonValetta :: the main Republic StreetValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the central naveValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: gravestonesValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the victory angel on a gravestoneValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the German chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: in the German chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the altarValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: by the altarValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the Victory goddes with the Order flag...Valetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: ...trampling over slavesValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: in the French chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: St. Michael in the Provence chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: a detailValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: Sacraments chapel once containing tie icon of Philermos MadonnaValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: looking towards the altar from the Auvergne chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: entering the Aragon-Catalan-Navarra chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: the Aragon-Catalan-Navarra chapel :: a grandmaster tombValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: St. Jacob in the Castilian chapelValetta :: St. John's Co-Cathedral :: looking through the corridor connecting langue chapelsValetta : looking out of the oriel window of the Co-Cathedral museumValetta : Grand Master Palace :: on the way thereValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Queen Victoria before the National LibraryValetta : Grand Master Palace :: the patioValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Palace State RoomsValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Palace State RoomsValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Palace State RoomsValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Palace State RoomsValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Armoury :: Grandmaster armourValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Armoury :: helmetsValetta : Grand Master Palace :: Armoury :: a survivor armourValetta : Grand Master Palace :: architecture detailValetta :: St. Pauls shipwreck church :: hanging something heavy over the altarValetta :: St. Lucy Street :: Piadina CaffeValetta :: St. Lucy Street :: Piadina CaffeValetta :: St. Lucy Street :: Piadina CaffeValetta :: St. Lucy Street :: oriel windowsValetta :: St. Lucy Street :: coffee and Chai latte on the stepsValetta :: Church of Our Lady of Victory 1566, the first church of the townValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: the saluting battery, Grand Harbour and Dockyard CreekValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: Three cities view: Birgu (Vittoriosa), Conspicua, SengleaValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: Valetta waterfront with Le Ponant visitingValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: Conspicua with VedetteGrand Harbour :: taking ferry to Birgu :: a Dutch fregatte with a row of toiletsValetta :: ferry to Birgu :: looking back to the lift to the Barracca GardensDockyard Creek, Senglea churchesBirgu :: yachts before the Fort St. AngeloBirgu :: yacht harbourBirgu :: leaving the ferry from ValettaBirgu :: yacht harbourBirgu :: yacht harbourBirgu :: yacht harbour in the Dockyard CreekBirgu :: by San Lawrenz churchBirgu :: Triq Hilda TaboneBirgu :: Triq Hilda TaboneBirgu :: Triq Hilda TaboneBirgu :: Triq Hilda Tabone :: a side streetBirgu :: a side streetBirgu :: a side streetBirgu :: a side streetBirgu :: a cat in a window cageBirgu :: wash lineBirgu :: Triq Il Mina :: the town pharmacyBirgu :: back on the ferr on the Dockyard CreekValetta :: ferry approaching the boathouses of ValettaValetta :: Le Ponant leaving Valetta's Grand HarbourValetta :: the lift to Upper Barracca GardensValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: the last view of the Grand HarbourValetta :: Upper Barracca Gardens :: leaving the harbourValetta :: one of these streets - St. Paul'sValetta :: one of these streets - St. Paul'sValetta :: leaving the town by sunset
• Gallery Malta, June 2016, on pastvoyages.jankowski.org.