IF ONLY....

While in Switzerland, I learned a few things that reminded me of a valuable lesson in life...

-Switzerland is a small country but they are one of the richest and most economically stable counrties in the world for the past 100 years.

-A third of their land is made up of mountain ranges which is filled with snow about two thirds of the year, and greatly reduces their farming land by a lot. Yet they took great care of these mountains and their landscape. Eventually, these same mountains are now bringing them money by drawing in tourists and keeping their cows happy and healthy, producing high quality milk for excellent cheese and dairy. They also tapped into the melting snow from the mountains and kept their lakes and rivers clean. Everywhere in the Switzerland, you will find potable water in water fountains. Many people live near the lake and rivers but they have designed their sewage system to not polute the bodies of water next to them. Today, their lakes and rivers are some of the cleanest in the world.

-No cacao or coffee grows on their land but they are one of the worlds top produces of excellent quality chocolate and coffee. They strengthened their trade to import cacao and coffee, created some of the world's most exquisite Chocolates mixed with their high quality milk; and produced the first powdered coffee by Nescafe, now one the world's leading food distributor.

-They have no gold, silver or other precious metals, yet they produce the most reliable watches, jewelries and Swiss knives in the world. They imported these precious metals and employed the best engineers and architects and created excellent and reliable products which they, in turn, marketed to the world.

We all have been there. We have all said "If only I had these resources...." "If only I have finished school.." "If only I passed that board exam..." "If only I had a better vehicle..." "If only I had a bigger house..."

If only, if only, if only.... We are always filled with "If-onlies" and fantasize about what would have happened "If only" we had this or that. We stay dreaming and waiting for the right opportunity or the perfect job or the perfect situation before we act on bettering ourselves. So we never progress. But the Swiss people said, "This is what we have... how can we make the most of these?" and the rest is history.

What are your "IF-ONLIES" today? How can you turn those "If-onlies" into "How can I make the most of these?"

TRANSPORTATION AND HOTEL IN AMSTERDAM

If you’re planning to use the public transportation in Amsterdam, this pass is a great money-saver! See the symbols at the bottom of this poster? Those are the tree main modes of transpo: GVB (metro), Connexxion (buses) and train (express).

WHERE TO PURCHASE IT FROM: You can purchase these at the airport transportation office (far left if you are facing the airport main entrance/exit on your way out) or the main transportation office in front of the central station. You can find all the route brochures on a swivel brochure holder on the far right side of the office when you are facing the counters.

HOW TO USE IT: You need to scan your card with chip everytime you GET ON the bus/tram/train and everytime you GET OFF. If you get caught with your unscanned card, you will get fined.

HOTELS: The closer you are to the stations or main attractions, the more expensive it gets. But the advantage is you have great access to a lot of things. Ibis is a good hotel chain. They also have sister hotels in the area. If you’re only staying there overnight, the airport hotels are cheaper and great if your flight is early. But if you are staying for three nights, airport hotels are a pain in the rear to get to and from because some don’t have shuttles or have limited shuttles that go back and forth.

From the airport to the main central, take the Train. It's about 15-20mins. If you hop from bus to tram, it will take you 45mins to an hour, depending on the wait in between the two modes of transpo.

On a side note, make sure you eat at the Pancake Bakery. Their pancakes are very different from ours. Their savory ones are just as good as the sweet ones. Mmmm- mmm good!

KEEP CALM... I JUST LOST MY PASSPORT! YIKES!

We lost our passports during our trip to Belgium/Amsterdam in April 2015. I won't go into detail as to how or where or why. But I would like to share our experience so you can learn from it and be prepared.

First of all, I will let you know ahead of time that the moment you realize your passports are missing or have been stolen, it will be hypocritical to say not to panic. In my mind, I wanted to slap the living daylights out of the lady who told me to not panic. Although I wasn't hysterical or rude about it, I have the right to feel what I felt because my passport is an extension of my identity. So this I will say, allow yourself a few minutes, shoot! Even an hour to panic! lol. Afterall,  it is one of our body's natural response to trouble. But do work your way towards clarity and tranquility. BREATHE. You are still alive. Gather your thoughts and look through your belongings. Then when you've calmed down, here are the things you can do to obtain an Emergency Passport and speed up the process.

1. POLICE REPORT. File a police report ASAP! WHERE? If you are close to an international airport or train station, most, if not all, will have some sort of police station where you can file a report. Go to the central information desk and they will point you to where the police station is. If not, find the city tourism office or information booth. They will point you the right way. The police will ask you for identification at the least and your passport numbers if available.

***IMPORTANT: Obtain an original copy of the police report, ask for an extra authentic copy if possible. This will be needed to apply for an emergency passport at the US Consulate/Embassy. Also, Airlines may require you to show this police report when you check-in to your flight back to your home. Some countries may require that your passport is at least 3 months old so they will need proof that you obtained a weird, two-paged passport because you lost your original one.

2. NECESSARY FORMS. You will need to print 2 types of forms, DS-11 and DS 64. One for each passport missing. Make an effort to FILL these out completely before heading to the Embassy. Once you are inside, it is hard to come out to make phone calls  or check emails. It's cumbersome to go through their security.

***WHERE TO PRINT OUT FORMS. If your hotel doesn't have a business lounge, or you are far from the city to get to an internet cafe, there's another way. Usually, fancy business hotels adjacent to the airport like Sheraton or Hilton will have a lounge with a computer and printer for their guests to use to check-in to their flights and print out boarding pass. But if they have a bistro or a computer lounge, ask if they will allow you to use the computer while having a snack or breakfast. We ordered a smoothie, a cookie and a coffee (granted it was a bit pricier than usual) but they gave us the code which allowed us to use their internet and printer. Just ask the cashier or the receptionist and explain your situation.

3. PASSPORT PHOTOS. You will also need passport photos, one per peson. If your airport has a shopping center, see if the store that sells electronics has this service offered. If not, ask the information desk if there's one nearby.

4. PASSPORT FEES. Have money or credit card ready. It is just like applying for a new passport. It will cost you a few hundred bucks.

***IMPORTANT : KEEP your receipt and the paper instruction that comes with the passport. You will need that when you apply for a replacement passport. Otherwise, you will pay another the same amount again.

5. EMBASSY/CONSULATE'S HOURS OF OPERATION AND LOCATION.  Depending on where you are in the country, you maybe lucky if there's a US Consulate close by or if the US Embassy is in the same city. If not, you may need to travel an hour or two by train or by bus . Most US Consulate overseas have open hours for emergency passports in the morning only and some have limited days of the week. Find out from their website before you head there so you don't waste time. If you can call ahead and speak with someone, that's even better.

6. MY MOM'S HEADACHE-SAVING ADVISE. Very helpful tip: My Mom always hounded me to leave her a photocopy of my credentials/identification (DL, passport, SSN, even a medical authority for her to take my daughter to the hospital if emergency arises until custody has been established) anytime I have to travel and leave home for a few days. So I will extend that same advise to you because, seriously, it has saved us a huge headache! Moms know best!!!  Today, I store an encrypted copy of it in my emails so I can access it anytime I need them.

7. FOR THE YOUNGINS. Include a copy of your child's/children's social security # (unless you have these memorized) and birth certificate. Bring a copy with you (separate it from your passport) and give a copy to a friend/relative that you can trust and can call in the wee hours of dawn and can give you information or scan the birth certificate and email it to you. Having these information will speed up the process. If your passport numbers are readily available, the US Embassy can put a flag on them in case someone tries to use them.

***NOTE:  The US Consulate/Embassy overseas will most likely accept a photocopy/scanned copy of your child's birth certificate for emergency passport purposes (granted this child already has an existing passport that was lost). If you don't have a photocopy on hand, ask for the consulate's email address so you can tell your Mom/Friend whoever is holding your child's birth certificate to email the scanned file to the consulate/embassy's email address. They will print it out for you.

8. ABOUT DIGITAL COPIES stored in your iCloud or email. This is fine and all. However, be aware that any electronic devices are forbidden inside the embassy. You will need to leave them at the security. So make sure you obtain/print all of the necessary docs you need before heading there.

9. ABOVE ALL, don't let this hiccup ruin your trip.  Keep your cool and strive to enjoy every minute of the remainder of your stay. After all, you already spent that much money; might as well get something out of it. Stay positive. You will be alright.

Thankfully for us, the US Consulate in Amsterdam was next to the museums and a park where they had booths selling food and drinks.  We were able to visit the Van Gogh Museum and Rijk Museum in between our wait for our passport and get something to eat.  We had to be intentional in making the most out of our trip inspite of the hiccup we were facing at the moment.  Otherwise, we would have wasted our hard-earned money and missed the opportunity to show our daughter that life is full of hiccups and surprises which are out of our control. But our response to it measures our maturity.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." -Winston Churchill

FINDING PAUL'S TRACES IN MALTA

When we were in Blue Lagoon, Comino in Malta, we took a speed boat ride to the seacaverns around the island. It was Harmony's first time on a speed boat ride. It felt like we were on a roller coaster. We had a blast! We were reluctant at first to spend extra money on that ride but after experiencing it, the ride became, hands-down, the favorite part of our weekend!

During our ferry ride to Comino, we passed by the islands dedicated to the recorded shipwreck of the Apostle Paul which changed the history of Malta's faith and religion. I am amazed still that this disaster which happened to Paul and his fellow passengers was used by God to reach out to an entire island? 

Most modern-day Maletese believe that it was in these islands that the apostle and his all fellow passengers swam to safety after their ship was caught in a violent storm and was wrecked on their way to Rome from Crete. However, some archeological investigators and old Maltese divers argue that it was on the south side of Malta, near St Thomas' bay, where this event happened because of four roman anchors found there by Maltese divers in the 60's, and the terrain fits the description in the Bible.

As the story in the Bible goes, it was in Malta where Paul was bitten by a poisonous snake but had no ill effects on him. So the inhabitants knew he was a special man. The people of Malta welcomed Paul and his fellow passengers. Paul stayed in Malta for three months. It is said that he took refuge in a cave. This cave is now called St Paul's Grotto in Rabat, Malta. They built a church around it and called it St Paul's church (see one of the pictures where Ryan and Harmony are standing in front of). We weren't able to see the actual grotto inside because we were pressed with time (we had a carriage tour guide taking us around for a short time). But definitely next time, we will come back to see it.

It is overwhelming to see the places I've only imagined and dreamt of as I read the Bible when I was growing up. First, Sicily, then Rome, and now Malta. I only saw animated pictures in story books when I was young, but my own daughter is experiencing these places first hand! There is a school outside the school when we travel. The learning curve is much faster than redundant school. Of course, I am an advocate of school because routine and structure are very important for a child's confidence to grow and learn discipline! But I am also a firm advocate of letting your children travel with you no matter how cumbersome it may be. Because while the things they learn from the books strengthen their imagination and artistry, the memories and lessons etched in their hearts from trips makes them bolder, stronger, wiser, more compassionate and more tolerant of people who are different from them as they immerse themselves from different cultures and traditions.

So tighten our belts, we must, from spending money on many things. We have no cable TV, no Netflix, we don't spend $45 on hair and $60 on nails or hundreds of dollars on seasonal home decorations. We eat out rarely and buy clothes sparingly; our latest gadgets were won from raffles or bought from saving money and buying on sale. We don't have branded clothes or shoes, unless they were on extreme clearance, and our furnitures and housewares have been with us for a long time or were given to us by friends and loved ones. Yes, tighten our belts, we must. But we definitely splurge on memories. Definitely! =)

ZINGARO NATURAL RESERVE

Such a beautiful place that pictures just don't do it justice. Ironically, even if pictures can't completely reflect its beauty, it still is one of those that don't need filters, photo shops or special effects. It speaks for itself.

We took my mom and another family to several places in West Sicily on the weekend of the 4^th of July, 2015.  We swam in the beaches of San Vito Lo Capo; walked in the whimsical streets of Old Town Trapani at night; toured the enchanting city of Erice; visited the sublimely beautiful 600 year-old rustic wind mill at the Salt Museum in Paceco; and detoured on our way back to see the beautiful ruins of the Segesta Temple and amphitheatre.  But hands-down, the Zingaro Natural Reserve easily and unanimously became our ultimate favorite in the entire trip. 

My Mom and I weren’t very impressed with the San Vito Lo Capo beaches because we grew up in Palawan, Philippines, one of the best Destination Islands in the world, where beaches are composed of powdery, white sand shores, clear cool waters, and sea floors teeming with coral reefs and colorful aquatic creatures. So needless to say, we are somewhat of a snob when it comes to beaches that offer anything less than what we are used to all our lives unless there are waves enough do body boarding.  So when we say this Zingaro is amazing, we have credentials to say it. ;D  Even my friend, April, who was born and raised in Hawaii, loved this place and raved about it.  So that makes it three of us self-proclaimed beach snobs who gave Zingaro two-thumbs up! I will even say that it’s so much better than Cassibile beaches. Why? Well, I will not reveal that part.  That, my friend, is for you to find out!  I truly believe that Zingaro is something you should experience for yourself. =)

If you do decide to go, here are a few things you need to know or bring with you so you can enjoy the trip even more. Thanks to my friend, April, for the heads up, we came prepared and were able to stay and swim in the deep cool waters to our hearts’ content for 5 hours.

1. ZINGARO FYI:

•         Zingaro Natural Reserve is about 20minutes away from San Vito Lo Capo.  The drive involves a bit of winding, narrow roads, with a few hairpin curves. If you are staying in Scopello, there’s also an entrance from that side, but I don’t know how long the hike is.

•         Entrance Fee to the reserve is 5 euros for individuals 12 and up. Children 11 and under are free.

2. HIKING FYI: Hiking is involved to get to any of the bays. So bring hiking shoes or good sneakers.

•         The hike is about 15-20 minutes for the first bay, and 30-45 minutes for the second bay depending on how fast you walk, or if you have children or older people in your group that requires frequent stops. 

•         Leave as early as you can so the hike won’t be too hot and the coves won't be too crowded.  We arrived at the parking lot around 9:30am. After gathering our beach necessities and purchasing our tickets, we started our 45 minute hike to the second bay close to 10am.  The sun was beating down on us at this point. The hike should have only lasted about 30 mins but because we had to stop frequently to allow our 5, 7, 8 and 60 year old companions to get some shade, breathe and drink water, it took us a while. Also, all 4 of us able-bodied adults had things to carry so we very much welcomed the R&Rs in between the up hills. =) 

•         The hike will involve up hills and down hills, some rocky areas and some steep slopes. NOT STROLLER FRIENDLY.

•         My Mom is 60 years old and she did fine. But she is very healthy and has no existing physical pains or sickness. So she endured it quite well and had plenty of energy to swim. The kids whined a bit when they got thirsty, but for the most part, they did really well and enjoyed the hike.

•         The soil is red. So wear hiking clothes, shoes and socks that you wouldn’t have any qualms getting dirty in.  Clay is hard to wash off.

3. ABOUT THE BAYS:

•         BAY 1 has a bathroom, BAY 2 has none.  Because this is a protected area, there are no vendors at the coves. The last chance you can buy food is at the entrance, where a food truck serves some Panini and other tavola calda, drinks and coffee.

•         BAY 1 tends to have more people because it is closer. BAY 2 is less crowded but more beautiful (the picture I have here shows Bay 2)

•       There are excursion boats that come from San Vito Lo Capo (for people who do not want to hike or have bad knees).  I don’t know how much it costs to do one of those excursions. But if you do this, know three things: a.) The boat will drop you off far from the cove. You will have to be a good swimmer or need to be confident enough to swim in the deep waters towards the beach with floatation devices. b.) You will NOT be able to bring anything to the shore except for yourself, your snorkel gear and maybe an underwater camera. Your base will be the boat. c.) Your excursion time is limited. So you won’t be able to stay for as long as you want.

·         We had some Jellyfish sightings and a couple people were stung (they are very tiny jellyfishes, about a couple inches in diameter, but they can still sting). I’m glad we brought our first aid kit so I was able to give the girl a topical pain reliever. Don’t let this discourage you, though. Out of the entire 5 hours we were there, we only saw 3 but were not stung. The older gentlemen took the jellyfishes out using their snorkel masks and laid the jellyfishes out in the sun far from the water.  Just pay attention whenever you are in the water. The jellyfishes we saw were brownish/reddish so it was very clear and easy to see the jellyfish even from afar. So just make sure you don’t leave the kids unattended in the water.

4. WHAT TO BRING:

·         Beach shoes or reef sandals. You’ll thank me later! =)

·         Portable beach tent, half-dome or umbrella that’s light enough to be carried. You will need shade there.

·          Beach mat or large towels.

·         First aid kit.

·         Lots of cold water, Gatorade and plenty of lunch and snacks for everyone.  Trust me. After hiking for 45mins and seeing the beautiful cove, you wouldn’t want to leave just to hike back and get food.

·         Snorkel gear: mask, snorkel and fins or just goggles if you are a strong swimmer. You will love the schools of fish swimming everywhere!

·         Lots of sunscreen!

·         Book to read if you want to chill and take a break in between swims.

·          Swim suit and change of clothes

·          Underwater camera

MALTA, GOZO AND COMINO ADVENTURES

We went to Malta this past Memorial Day weekend. While preparing for the trip, we had very limited information on specific things we were looking for, even off the internet. We didn't want to purchase a $15-20 book on a weekend trip so off we went with whatever little information we obtained. I don't normally go into any trips without strategically planning and putting together an itinerary but the lack of information left us no choice. So as a result, we started our trip slightly rocky and aimless, which could easily whip up "planners" like me into a mode of frustration and belligerence towards my companions. But refusing to be defeated and intentionally seeking beauty in the gnarliest things, we decided to enjoy ourselves and make the most out of our short time there.

So taking note of that whole debacle, I decided to write about our trip in case we return for a rematch, I can avoid the unnecessary hassles we went through and be able to see more. Some of our friends have asked us for tips and recommendations as well, so I decided to put this writing into a blog which they can easily access off the internet whenever they need to.  Maybe you can learn a thing or two as well from our mishaps and adventures to either prevent disasters from happening or to just simply enhance your experience. So here’s our take on Malta.

LANGUAGE:  Most Maltese speak at least two languages: Maltese and English, but some even speak Italian. The Maltese language is a beautiful mish-mash of different languages. It sounds Arabic when you hear it, but written in Roman format. There are words that sound or read similar to Spanish or Italian as well. This is because Malta has been invaded and ruled by many different countries and kingdoms in the past.

DRIVING: Driving in Malta is like driving in London but with the Italian traffic twist. The driver’s seat is on the right-hand side and the car is driven on the left hand side of the road but the way the drivers plow the through road though is very similar to the audacity and confidence of Italian drivers.

FOOD: Malta offers an enormous variety of food from all walks of nationalities. However, as good as it sounds to be able to eat the Asian food you have been craving for, don’t neglect to try the traditional Maltese food. Having said that, we highly recommend "Ta’ Kris" in Sliema. Reservations may be required here because they get tend to be booked. They served an amazing Lamb roast dish called Haruf il-Forn, cooked in herbs, mint, spices and white wine; and “Laham tal-Brodu,” a beef dish slow cooked for four hours in vegetable broth. Rabbit is also a delicacy in Malta and if you are a seafood lover, well, you are in the right place! They not only serve fresh and affordable seafood, they also know how to cook it! We are firm believers that you have to try the local food to truly experience the culture.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS: If your hotel doesn’t provide Airport shuttles, you can either take a taxi, or purchase an Airport Transfer from the booth inside the Malta International Airport, right before you go out of the “EUR Schengen” blue gate.

The Airport transfers have a fixed rate depending on the area where you need to be taken to and how many people are in your group. We stayed in Sliema so we paid €30 ROUNDTRIP for two adults and one child between the ages of 5-12. They dropped us off our hotel and set the time for our pick up on the day of our departure. Please make sure to KEEP your receipt because that will be your pick up info.

Both modes of transports have advantages and disadvantages. The taxis may be slightly more costly, but they take you straight to the airport and you set the time of pick up. The airport transfer, on the other hand, is a shared ride. So they may pick up other passengers along the way (passengers who purchased transfers as well). This is bad if there is traffic and they are running late. Luckily, we checked-in online ahead of time and picked our seats already. We only needed to drop off our checked-in luggage so the "less than two-hour" window to check in didn’t matter to us. But if you don't check in two hours prior, you may be penalized if the shuttle was running late.

GETTING AROUND MALTA:

By Bus:  It is €1.50 per person for 5 years old and up.  There are bus times posted around the bus stop poles. Note that Sat-Sun schedules are different and less frequent than Mon-Fri ones. Plan accordingly.

By Ferry: There are water taxis in Malta. They usually operate 0700-0000. Each taxi has different pricing depending on where are you heading to. Please check price accordingly.

BLUE, BLUE AND BLUE. Let’s get something straight. There are THREE FAMOUS BLUES in Malta; the Blue Grotto, the Blue Lagoon and the Blue Window. I am going to attempt to provide information as much as I can. I have labeled the map above with numbers that corresponds to each site I will mention.  

BLUE GROTTO (see #1 on the map): The Blue Grotto is a series of sea caverns on the South side of Malta. Everyday, from sunrise to about 1p.m., this teal to aqua blue color can be witnessed due to the reflection of the sunlight. The color comes from the phosphorescent flora living underwater.

The largest cave in the Blue Grotto sea cavern series

How to get there:  There are tours and Hop-On Hop-Off buses that include this stop in their routes/packages. But if you want to do it on your own, here's how: take the bus from where you are staying to Valletta Bus Terminal, then, transfer to Bus #74. The bus number may change from time to time so make sure you check the right bus number or ask the info booth. Get off the Panoramic View for the Blue Grotto (make sure to tell your bus driver ahead of time so he knows you are getting off there). Your bus ticket from where you got on from your hotel can transfer to Bus 74, just tell the driver you are transferring and show him your ticket from when you got on the bus. The same ticket can take you back to Valletta IF you get on the bus within the time frame stamped on your ticket (usually within 2 hours).

Blue Grotto waters 

How to get back: The bus to get back is just a few steps uphill from the restroom. The bus numbers and bus times are posted on a pole. There are also cab drivers who offer services if you are pressed with time. It may cost between €15-€25 to Mdina or Valletta. IMPORTANT: Please plan ahead of time because some days, buses are less frequent, especially on weekends.

Boat Tickets and Hours of Operation: Currently, the boat fare to the Blue Grotto is €8 per adult and €4 per child.  During summer, they operate between 0900-1700; Winter 0900-1530.

Lunch, and Refreshments: There are a couple restaurants, a few ice cream parlors, cafes and beverage stores, souvenirs, hats and scarves shops around. 

Inside one of the Blue Grotto caves

Restrooms: A public restroom is available on the left hand side of the hill if you are facing bottom of the hill to purchase tickets. It is across the street from the restaurants and cafes. Prepare some spare change; they operate by donation only.

Terrain: The ticketing office and the pier for the boats are at the bottom of the hill past the restaurants and restroom. You will have to walk downhill after the bus drops you off by the panoramic view.  Once you reach the bottom of the hill, the ticketing office will be on the left hand side and the pier will be on the right.  

Off course, where there is a downhill, guess what’s next? You’re right! Uphill! It is a steep uphill. We saw groups of older people walk the first part of the hill so it is not impossible to climb it. The locals have installed wooden plank stoppers to prevent visitors from slipping. Others pay a euro each for a golf-cart ride halfway up the hill to get to the parking lot, especially the elderly ones who are not fit for uphill walking. Please be extra cautious when using strollers. The downhill is very steep. It can send the strollers rocketing downhill, crashing into the rock if you accidentally let go of the stroller.

Selfie Note: Take your selfies at the Panoramic view AS SOON as you get off the bus because you may not get a chance later as you will be hungry, sweaty and rushing to catch the bus to your next destination. Trust me. We’ve been there. =)

Blue Lagoon, Comino Island, Malta

BLUE LAGOON (see #2 on the map): The Blue Lagoon is a series of beach coves around the island of Comino. Comino is a small island in between Malta and Gozo. It is a wonderful place perfect for swimming and snorkeling. A scene from Brad Pitt’s movie “Troy” was shot here. You can also pay boat transfers to a different cove aside from the common beach area if you want more privacy.  Sitting on top of the other side of Comino is Saint Mary’s Tower which represented Chateau d’If, an Alcatraz-style prison, in the movie adaptation of "The Count of Monte Cristo." The water was still cold in late May when we went, but once we submerged our entire bodies and started swimming, it was bearable… up until we got out and caught the breeze =).

How to get there:  We took the "Comino Blue Lagoon Tour" through the Captain Morgan’s Cruise for €20 per person. We paid less for children but it was through an agency near our hotel. You may be able to haggle for children pricing.

The tour left Sliema Pier at 10AM and traveled for about two hours, stopping at a few ports to pick and drop off passengers. It included cold lunch and unlimited drinks (soft drinks, water, wine). Snacks, ice cream, and slushies are available for purchase at the bar. Along the way, we passed by the islands dedicated to the shipwreck of the Apostle Paul which changed the history and faith of the Maltese. (see #4 on the map). Today, it is said that Malta is the most religious country in all of Europe, having one church for everyday of the year.

Note: If you are taking the Captain Morgan’s Gozo and Comino Blue Lagoon Tour (€35 per person, no lunch but with unlimited drinks), you will be taking the same ferry. So pay extra attention to the captain when he speaks through the speaker as the ferry docks in different piers so you won’t miss your stop at Gozo. You will spend two hours in Gozo and 1 hour in Comino.

What to bring: Towels, reef shoes or reef sandals, water (even if the cruise has unlimited water, you will be swimming far from the ferry), snorkel, goggles, small inflatable floatation device for kids, extra cash for speed boat tours, or boat transfers to another cove for less crowded swimming.

One of the seacaverns during our speed boat ride
around Comino island.

Speed boat ride: Hands down, our favorite part of the trip! Not for pregnant people, parents with very little babies, or people who are scared of fast rides. I'll just say if you can't ride a roller coaster, don't get on one of these. I’ll leave it at that!

Terrain: This lagoon is NOT stroller friendly. There are stairs to get down to the cove. You may also choose to hike up the hill to view the Saint Mary’s tower better. We changed our kids out of their swim clothes on top of the hill, away from the crown, with our makeshift change-rooms of towels and sarongs because there was virtually no one else there but us.

Restrooms: Sad to say but there are NO restrooms at the cove. You will have to use the ferry restroom before and after your Comino visit, which by the time lunch is done, you will have less than 3 hours.

Food and refreshments: There are a few food trucks along the cove. Kebabs, burgers, hotdogs, paninis, beverage and ice cream are available for purchase at surprisingly affordable price! The Kebab/Shawarma was outstanding!

Note: Make sure you allow some time to get back to the ferry. The most desired seats are at the upper deck. This deck gets really packed 20-30 minutes prior to departure. It gets very hot in the lower deck so get a good spot in the upper deck. It may get a bit breezy sitting on the upper deck so bring a light sweater, wrap, beach cover or dry towel to break the wind.

BLUE WINDOW (Update: destroyed recently due to a storm) (see #3 on the map): Also called the Azure Window, this beauty is a perfectly arched limestone formation carved by waves and nature, located Malta’s sister island, Gozo. This landmark has been featured in the movies "The Count of Montecristo," "Clash of the Titans" and the TV series, "Game of Thrones. "Although we didn’t get to swim in this area, there are plenty of places to swim, scuba dive and snorkel. There are no sandbars though so you will have to climb through rocky areas to get to the water.  There is also the Blue Hole right next to this site which divers go gaga for. 

How to get there: We took a "Gozo by Bus Tour." The shuttle picked us up from our respective hotels and drove us to the Cirkewwa Pier (see #7 in map). We took the ferry to Gozo, then our tour guide/driver waited for us at the ferry landing in Gozo. You can also purchase transfer from your hotel to Cirkewwa Pier, take the ferry, then take the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus in Gozo, and get off the stop for the Azure Window in Dwerja. Buses are also available from the Gozo Ferry Pier Mgarr, but they are much less frequent. Nonetheless, you can take Bus 301 or 302 from Mgarr Pier to Rabat Victoria, the capital city of Gozo. Then from Rabat, catch the 311 bus. You can click on one of the links at the bottom of this blog to view the Malta bus schedules. 

Ferry Fare between Malta and Gozo: The Gozitan government provides free ferry from Malta to Gozo to draw tourists in. But coming back you have to pay a minimal price of €4.50 coming per person.

MALTA HOP-ON HOP-OFF

We didn’t take the HOHO bus tour because we chose the cruise and bus tours I mentioned above. If we had an extra day, we would have loved to take both these tours.  

Here’s the info we gathered from weighing in our options; in the island of Malta alone, there are two routes: the North Route and the South Route. The HOHO cost €20 per 1 day adult ticket and €12 per 1 child ticket (ages 5-14yrs old). The 2-day adult ticket costs €37 and €20 for kids. This ONLY APPLIES IN MALTA. You can use the same HOHO ticket to transfer from one route to another within the same day. If you go through the tours without getting off, you will be able to finish the South route in 2 hours and the North route in 3 hours. The only stop the two routes connect is in the Valletta Water Terminus stop. 

GOZO HOP-ON HOP-OFF

Gozo has their own HOHO which lasts about 2 ½ hour if you go through the tour without getting off. The cost is €18 per adult, €10 per child. They also offer HOHO+transport from to/from ferry which costs €26 per adult and €18 per child. The Gozo HOHO stops at the Blue Window and the Goza Capital City, Victoria.

GOZITAN PRODUCTS: Gozo is known for her lace and embroidery products, as well as the delicious goat cheese called Gbejna. They also produce filigree jewels. We rarely eat at McDonald’s. But when we were in Valletta, we were drawn in by their McFtira, a burger with their famous goat cheese from Gozo. If you are a goat cheese burger fan, I will tell you it was delish.

WHERE TO STAY

Sliema at midnight

The View from the Upper Barrakka Gardens. 

If you are single or a couple with no children to worry about during the trip, Saint Julians is very lively and much more of a party area. We were a family with a school-aged child so we stayed in Sliema (see #6 on the map) which was much quieter but still had plenty of food options.  Sliema is bustling with athletes running and biking up and down the strand early in the morning, ferrymen calling passengers aboard, tourists gawking at the beautiful view or looking lost, reading the bus stop signs to figure out if they are at the right place.  Valletta is very pricey hotelwise, but is easy access to everything. The bus terminals are there and it is quite a lovely place to spend your leisurely hours at. There are PLENTY of restaurants to dine in and historic places to visit. Our favorite spot there was the Upper Barrakka gardens overlooking a lovely panoramic view. It was such a delight to have coffee there, read a book or just sit on one of the benches, sea breeze blowing your hair as you bask in the beauty of Malta. We spent our last few hours in Malta there before he flew out that night: my daughter immensely enjoyed running around the garden and veiwing the three cities in front of us through a telescope while I sipped my coffee and enjoy the fresh air as my husband took pictures of our daughter, the cannons and the landscape.

OTHER SITES TO SEE

Popeye’s Village. This theme-park style attraction was the site where a scenes from the movie "I'm Popeye The Sailorman" were filmed in the 80’s. It is quite far from many tourist attractions but if you have an extra day to spare or you are a huge Popeye fan, there are transports you can purchase which will pick you up from where you are staying, take you to Popeye’s village and return you back to your hotel. See #8 on the map above for the location.

Mdina and Rabat. Mdina is a silent city with some 200 inhabitants of noble blood. It used to be Malta’s capital. This beautiful fortress is where some scenes from "The Count of Montecristo" and "Game of Thrones" were filmed. Rabat, on the other hand, is the adjacent larger  old town of Mdina. The name is Arabic for Suburb. Rabat is home to St Paul’s Grotto which is said to have been the Apostle Paul’s quarters when he was shipwrecked in Malta and stayed there for three months. See #5 on the map.

St Paul's Cathedral, Mdina. 

A scene from the movie, "Count of Montecristo" was shot here. 

It is said that this Cathedral now  stands on the site of Publius' 

home where Paul healed Publius' father after Paul was 

shipwrecked on the Maltese coast.

The Fishing Village. Very early every Sunday morning until about half past noon, the village of Marsaxlokk hosts a fish market which offers a variety of Mediterranean fish species freshly caught early that morning. There are plenty of fish restaurants if you are a fish lover. See #9 on the map.

The Malta National Aquarium. We didn't have a chance to visit this aquarium. But based on what our friends have said, they thouroughly enjoyed this place. So I have included it here and the link as well, so when we go back next time, I will remember the places we missed and plan for them.

Malta is a wonderful country with warm and welcoming people. Three days seemed to be too short for us during summer time so we aim to go back someday and hit the ones we didn't get a chance to see.

I hope you visit it too! If you're already planning but don't know where to begin, I hope this article gave you a better understanding of what Malta has to offer. Now that you have some idea of what to do in Malta, let the planning begin! 

Links and Sources: 

Malta Hop On Hop Off - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/malta/malta.htm

Captain Morgan Cruises - http://www.captainmorgan.com.mt/home?l=1

Malta Official Website - http://www.visitmalta.com/en/st-paul-in-malta

Malta Aquarium - http://www.aquarium.com.mt/

Gozo Hop On Hop Off - http://www.city-sightseeing.com/tours/malta/gozo.htm

Malta and Gozo Bus schedules - https://www.publictransport.com.mt/en/route/311


We travel often and have picked up a few travel necessities that may be able to help you. See our travel hacks blog via this link: http://beautyinthegnarlythings.blogspot.it/2015/08/my-travel-hacks.html.