Malta

The eastern fishing village of Marsaxlokk is more than just an accumulation of bizarre consonant combinations. This sleepy little place is a very laid-back and chilled out place on an already laid-back island of Malta. Walking down the village's esplanade, speckled with technicolor boats, it's easy to see what the main activity in town is... fishing. For lovers of fresh fish, this is the place to go as boatloads of swordfish, tuna and the local lampuki. All the fish used to be sent to the capital Valletta. But local merchants have figured "Why go to a market, when you can bring the market to you?" Increasingly, tourists head directly to the source and more than a hand-full of shops, restaurants and stalls are there to meet the demand. Most certainly, you will be demanding more of whatever's on the menu!!

Dating back as far as 700 BC, the ancient city of Mdina once served as the capital of the tiny island nation. Today, separated into separate villages, Mdina, with only a couple hundred inhabitants, is often referred to as the "Silent City". Wandering the well-restored cobble-stone streets virtually alone with only the clip-clop echo of horse drawn carriages, it's easy to see why. With a seemingly endless supply of churches, chapels and monasteries, it is the central Piazza San Paul that seems to be at the centre of it all. Very easily accessible by Malta's comprehensive public bus system, a visit to Mdina makes for an interesting half-day trip.

With a whopping population of 6.098, the UNESCO listed capital of Malta can hardly be called a metropolis. But the city of Valletta most definitely proves that "good things come in small packages". Dating back some 500 years or so, the historic city has been (and continues to be) heavily restored. But both planning and execution of the refurbishments have been well done. While the main street can seem a little Disney-fied, the beauty of the endless side alleyways and magnificent churches are mesmerizing. Being the transport hub for the island's comprehensive bus network, the village-captial is unavoidable. Which is most certainly for the best as it is arguably the highlight of the island.

For many, the idea of a coastal holiday will involve drinking some sort of alcoholic drink through a bendy straw while plopping themselves on a sandy beach with 10,000 other people trying to capture paradise. But the coast of the Maltese island of Gozo offers up something rather different. Part of Malta's defensive strategy of the years rested on the dramatic and stunning rock cliffs that line the southern shores. With the Xlendi Tower guarding the entranceway, the tiny natural port of Xlendi was like a little gateway to the south. The walks along the shores include Lord of the Rings-esqu bridge, more caves than you can shake a stick at and salt collection pools. This is not your typical beach holiday, and it's a good thing.