Having left wonderful Gozo we travelled on the ferry to the mainland, this time it was in the day and it was lovely to see the sun reflecting on the water and the view of the mainland. We had a taxi transfer from an English guy who had emigrated to Malta and he was a fountain of knowledge. We had booked through Imperatours, I’d definitely recommend them.
Our driver took us on a tour of the mainland and took us on the coastal road. We went past Mellieha Bay, also known as Ghadira Bay. This is one of the longest beaches in Malta. It is a popular sandy beach in Malta located in the northern part of the Island, just off the town of Mellieha. Mellieha beach which is known for it’s surfing and family atmosphere and a favourite with the locals and the tourists alike. Not far from here you can get a boat trip to the Blue Lagoon. Our driver took us on a drive through St Pauls, St Julians and Sliema and pointed out where the Queen of England had lived with Prince Philip when she was a Princess. He showed us some marinas and recommended places to eat, where to go to have a coffee in the sunshine, gelato or a libation if you wished. Here’s an interesting point, a lot of the online betting industry such as Paddy Power and other companies are based in Malta for tax reasons and is a lively place for young professionals. A high percentage of young professionals from all over Europe live in St Julians and the nightlife is good there. Sliema has a lively feel to it and you can catch a harbour cruise from there. There are hop and hop-off buses if you are time poor and the general bus network is really good, so make sure you get a 7 day ticket! You can get it from the main bus terminal in Valletta.
Throughout out drive through the island we got a great feel of where to go and explore and then we drove towards the older part of the island which was Valletta. The streets were built on a grid system, the streets reminded me slightly of San Francisco, off the streets were pedestrianised cafe’s along the steps and houses with green plants and wonderful balconies. I’ll talk more about the balconies in my next post.
We arrived at our hotel which was based on St Ursula Street, we stayed at the Palazzo Consiglia which is a boutique 5 star hotel. The staff are so kind and welcoming and there are only 13 bedrooms and there is such a cosy feel to it. We were staying for 4 days and were taken on a tour after checking in. We were given complimentary access to the spa for an hour which was such a lovely touch and so relaxing when we’ve been travelling all day and walking the streets exploring. Such a lovely idea. Each bedroom is uniquely designed, the decor is wonderful and the beds are so comfy. The breakfast is thoroughly divine, plenty of choice and a varied menu. I recommend the poached eggs on avocado on pumpkin seed bread! Plenty of fresh fruit, pastries, coffee and tea and the staff are so attentive. The roof terrace has a pool and nice to sit up there after a long day exploring. I thoroughly recommend staying there: Palazzo Consiglia – a home within the walls of culture (ikonikacollection.com)
Now, why not listen to my next blog on Valletta on Very Orla, you can find my travel photos on: https://shewholovesadventure.picfair.com
