0:06

Hello and welcome to the

0:08

Travel Diaries podcast. I'm your

0:10

host Holly Rubinstein and on

0:13

today's bonus destination special episode

0:15

we are heading to the

0:17

sun-soaked Mediterranean archipelago that is

0:19

magnificent Malta. Nestled in the

0:22

heart of the Mediterranean Sea

0:24

about three hours direct flight

0:26

from England, Malta is a

0:28

stunning island nation with a

0:31

unique blend of history, culture

0:33

and natural beauty.

0:35

Picture rugged cliffs overlooking

0:37

crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches

0:39

framed by ancient fortresses and

0:42

bustling towns adorned with colourful

0:44

balconies and cobblestone streets. Geographically

0:46

Malta is composed of three

0:48

main islands Malta, Gozo and

0:50

Camino. Each island has its

0:52

own distinct character which we

0:54

discover on our episode today

0:57

with the help of someone

0:59

who is perfectly placed to

1:01

bring Malta to life. Yuen

1:03

Zhong is a journalist editor

1:05

and inclusive tourism advocate who

1:07

co-founded OutThere magazine, a luxury

1:10

travel magazine and a central

1:12

resource for LGBTQ plus travellers

1:14

and that's been going for

1:16

nearly 15 years. We

1:18

head on a journey from

1:20

the bustling capital city of

1:22

Valletta with its UNESCO listed

1:24

fortifications to the tranquil countryside

1:26

of Gozo and

1:28

the serene beaches of Camino. Whether

1:31

you're a film aficionado who spotted

1:33

it in Gladiator and Game of

1:35

Thrones, you're a foodie who's interested

1:37

in trying many of its

1:39

Michelin star restaurants and local

1:41

eateries or you're simply looking

1:43

to soak up the sun

1:45

on a stunning beach, Malta

1:48

has something for everyone. So

1:50

join us as we uncover

1:52

the hidden gems, local secrets

1:54

and unforgettable experiences that make

1:56

this island nation truly magnificent.

2:06

You and John, welcome to

2:08

the Travel Diaries and to

2:10

this magnificent Malta

2:12

destination special. How are you?

2:16

I'm very good Holly, nice to speak to

2:18

you and it's really good to

2:20

be here. Thanks for having me on your show. I

2:22

know that you're a big fan

2:25

of Malta. I followed your travels

2:27

in Malta. What is it about

2:29

Malta that you love? I'm a

2:31

fan and an enthusiast. It was light love

2:33

at first sight. Really?

2:35

Yeah, quite bizarre because

2:38

as a journalist I get to go to lots of

2:40

different places. Before I went there I would have said

2:42

it wasn't somewhere that was the top of my bucket

2:45

list. I'm a long hauler. I

2:47

love going far and wide

2:49

and while I've always

2:51

known about Malta it wasn't somewhere that

2:53

sort of immediately said, oh, come to

2:56

me. I guess I fell in

2:58

love with

3:00

it by accident but it was a pleasant accident. You've

3:04

perfectly kicked off our travel diaries today.

3:06

Your Malta is travel diaries because of

3:08

course the first chapter is

3:11

the first place that you fell

3:13

in love with in Malta. You're

3:15

saying it was love at first

3:17

sight. Was there something in particular

3:19

or a place in particular that

3:23

really first captured your heart? It

3:25

was actually at the hotel

3:28

that I first checked into. Going

3:30

as a journalist, it was on

3:34

my list to do many hotels but

3:36

the first hotel I checked into was

3:38

called the Cougar Grand Masina

3:40

Grand Harbour. That's

3:43

a very long name. Yeah,

3:45

you'll hear Malta's names

3:48

are not the easiest

3:50

to pronounce and also

3:52

quite lengthy. Say

3:54

that one again. This was the

3:56

Cougar Grand Masina Grand Harbour

3:58

Hotel. It

4:01

was from the pool deck, the rooftop

4:03

from there, that I first caught my

4:06

first proper glimpse of the three

4:08

cities, the Grand Harbour and the

4:10

Villetta in all its entirety.

4:12

And it was just so beautiful.

4:15

Firstly, the hotel was built into a medieval

4:18

boat demasting shed that dated back

4:20

to like So

4:24

it was like reeking in history anyway,

4:26

but then from the rooftop

4:28

I soaked literally and figuratively

4:30

because it was a beautiful pool as well.

4:33

And the sun was shining and I

4:35

just realised I was living

4:38

history and I'm a

4:40

history buff. I love local

4:42

culture and just

4:45

having the view and drinking in

4:47

the magnificence of it all really

4:50

made me fall in love with mortar. Sounds

4:53

absolutely beautiful. For people who

4:56

aren't aware of Malta's history, are

4:58

you able to tell us a

5:00

little bit about why

5:02

it is such a great destination for

5:04

history buffs? And in fact, also, I

5:07

guess leading on from that, why then

5:09

it is now being used in so

5:12

many sets and this notion of set

5:14

jetting where you can go and visit

5:16

the different film sets

5:18

and TV show sets that

5:21

it's being used for because

5:23

of its incredible history. Wow,

5:25

that's a big question. That's a two-part question. Let's

5:29

start with the first. Potted history,

5:31

rather challenging to tell because where

5:33

do you start? There

5:35

are monuments in Malta that predate the

5:37

pyramids. There are temples much like

5:40

Alstonhengea in the UK aligned with the sun

5:42

and the solspice and all that kind of

5:44

stuff. So if you want to go back

5:46

way back then, we could go back way

5:49

back then. But

5:51

Malta's more popular

5:53

history, let's say, starts really at

5:55

the time of the

5:57

night templars. And,

6:00

you know, it's a mystical and

6:02

magical story of war

6:04

and dominion

6:07

and religion and all

6:10

of that stuff that we know of Central Europe or

6:13

Southern Europe even coming together and

6:17

having won the

6:19

war, a battle against the

6:22

marauding Turks or Ottomans, the

6:25

Kingdom of Sicily of which Malta was part

6:27

of at the time was given to the

6:30

Knights of the Knights to

6:32

run. And I

6:34

believe that was in the 16th century. I

6:36

can't be absolutely certain in and around that

6:38

time, but in and around that time is

6:41

when Malta started to grow. And so

6:43

it was already at the confluence,

6:48

you know, in the middle of the

6:51

Mediterranean, there was a huge trading port,

6:53

and then the influences of the Knights,

6:55

which came from all over Europe. So

6:57

while it's positioned near

7:00

Sicily in the Mediterranean, the

7:02

influences came from as far

7:04

as Scandinavia, the UK,

7:06

France, you know,

7:08

Spain, Portugal, everywhere.

7:11

And that's what fed into the

7:14

growing culture of Malta. And

7:17

that's why real melting pot.

7:19

Yeah, the architecture and the

7:21

culture and the history of

7:24

what it is today. So and

7:27

why is it good for

7:29

setting purely because of that, because

7:32

walking through more

7:34

to particularly the letters three cities,

7:36

Medina, which is the ancient capital,

7:38

it's like walking through a film

7:40

set, particularly a

7:42

games of Thrones type film

7:45

set, Game of Thrones was

7:47

filmed there. But also,

7:49

you know, movies like gladiator

7:51

and so forth, because it

7:53

just looks like something truly

7:56

medieval in one form,

7:58

predating. that even

8:01

in ancient Roman and other.

8:04

It's really a wondrous place that you've just got

8:06

to go see for yourself. Is

8:08

it very perfectly preserved? It's

8:10

not. It's actually in limestone, a lot

8:12

of the buildings, so it's crumbling. But

8:14

I think that adds to the magic,

8:17

that sort of dilapidated grandeur that happens,

8:20

bathed in sunshine, the sort of

8:22

sandy coloured... The light hitting that

8:24

stone, yeah. Shadows being

8:26

thrown around, crusade time architecture,

8:29

ramparts, fortresses, church, buildings, you

8:31

know, everything you'd imagine from

8:34

one of those movies, it's

8:36

there. Wow. And when you

8:39

talk about the three cities,

8:41

what do you mean by that? So Malta

8:43

is actually... Malta is a

8:45

series of islands. The country of

8:48

Malta itself is actually an archipelago

8:50

nation. And

8:52

there are three major islands. There are more islands,

8:54

in fact, but there are three major islands. Malta,

8:57

Gozo and Kamina. So while we talk about

8:59

Malta as the country, there's also Malta the

9:02

island. And Malta the island

9:04

is made up of various cities. The

9:07

three cities being the most... being

9:09

the oldest and the most famous.

9:12

Please don't ask me their names because they've actually

9:15

got two names, each a modern name and a

9:17

new name. I always get them mixed up. But

9:21

that's... The letter is

9:23

actually relatively new compared to the

9:25

three cities. But it's not a big, you

9:27

know, it's not a big place. It's not

9:29

a big island. So while it sounds like

9:31

three, you know, we say the three cities

9:34

is nowhere like distinguishing

9:36

between Washington, DC, New York or Boston

9:38

or London, Manchester and Birmingham, they're literally

9:40

right next to each other. It's actually

9:43

three neighbourhoods. Right. They are

9:45

considered individual cities because they have their own

9:47

walls, their own ramparts and their own protection.

9:49

And they're directly across the

9:52

Grand Harbour from Veneta? Yes,

9:54

they're kind of... they're all kind of encircled the

9:56

Grand Harbour. The Grand Harbour is the focus point.

9:58

It's exactly what it is. as it says in the

10:00

tin, the Grand Harbour. So

10:03

that's where goods or ships or

10:06

military would come in and

10:08

the cities are all based around that. And

10:12

you in particular, as

10:14

well as writing obviously more broadly about the

10:16

destination, are always

10:19

interested to of course shine a

10:21

light on the LGBTQ plus scene

10:24

in Malta. What was your

10:26

experience of that there?

10:28

Because I know that Malta has a

10:30

fantastic pride. I know that it's a

10:32

really inclusive country. Was that your experience?

10:35

Absolutely. Little known fact, Malta

10:37

is actually the top European

10:39

country when it comes to

10:41

LGBTQ rights. Little known fact.

10:43

That is a little known

10:46

fact. An organisation called ILGA,

10:48

which is the International LGBTQIA

10:52

Association, which is Human Rights Association,

10:55

every year they do a rainbow

10:57

index for Europe. And

10:59

Malta has topped it for the last eight years

11:01

running. But people don't really know that. Eight years

11:04

running. Wow. Absolutely. We're talking higher

11:06

than the UK, higher than Sweden,

11:08

higher than the Scandinavian countries when

11:11

it comes to the human rights. And that's

11:14

to do with laws, protection, quality of life,

11:16

trans rights, that kind of thing. But people

11:18

don't often expect that because it's a deeply

11:20

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Airbnb. It has been

12:20

a long old winter here in the UK and

12:22

in between podcast seasons I'm going to take a

12:24

little bit of downtime to talk about the weather

12:26

and the weather in the UK. I'm

12:29

going to take a little bit of downtime

12:31

to seek out some warmth. I'm jetting off

12:33

to the Greek island of Mykonos visiting

12:35

some places that have been on my bucket list

12:37

and while I'm hopefully soaking up

12:39

some Mediterranean sun my home will be hosting

12:42

guests from all over the world thanks

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to Airbnb. It's

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the perfect way to make your travels

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even more rewarding. Instead of letting your

12:52

home sit empty while you're off exploring

12:54

new destinations, why not turn it into

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a cosy retreat for fellow travellers just

12:58

like I do. Whether you choose to

13:00

rent out your entire space or just

13:02

a spare room, it's up to you.

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13:35

Travel Diaries. Firstly it

13:37

has always been somewhere

13:40

that has valued difference because

13:43

of its internationalism even way back to

13:45

the 16th century. People coming from everywhere,

13:47

people being far away from home, that

13:50

kind of stuff although within a Christian

13:52

Catholic context, that melting pot

13:55

has always created a

13:57

society that values difference.

14:00

Also through various political regimes and

14:02

wanting to be part of a

14:04

modern Europe rather than an old-school

14:07

European nation. I

14:09

think a lot of those

14:11

things combine as well as some very strong

14:14

human rights leaders, internally,

14:16

matriarchal societies rather than patriarchal.

14:19

Things like that has

14:21

all led to words more to being

14:23

very open when it comes to LGBTQ

14:25

rights. You've got to

14:27

also understand that the letter is the

14:30

smallest European capital on the continent.

14:32

And I guess from what

14:34

you're saying, that lends

14:37

itself to being a very manageable

14:39

long weekend destination or

14:42

somewhere that you can get around very

14:44

easily because if it's small but

14:46

packed full of history, you're getting a lot

14:49

of bang for your buck. Absolutely,

14:51

and add to that, Malta

14:54

was part of the

14:57

British protectorate colony. English

15:00

is widely spoken. And so I think

15:02

that makes things a lot easier as

15:04

well. And also they've been used

15:07

to dealing with visitors since the

15:09

15th century. So

15:11

it's a very hospitable place. But

15:14

because tourism is such an important

15:16

part of the Maltese economy, I

15:19

think they've really put in

15:21

place real great infrastructure for

15:23

tourists to be able to

15:25

access it easily,

15:28

whether it's ferries between the islands

15:30

or it's public transport. So yes,

15:33

you're right, it's a very easy

15:35

long weekend. But I would say

15:37

a long weekend would sell it short. That's a

15:39

lot to see, at least five

15:41

days, if not a week, to really experience

15:43

it at its best. Would

15:46

you stay in just one place or would you move

15:48

around? I would move around. The letter is

15:50

a great base. And

15:52

you know, there's something for everyone to, dependent

15:54

on the sort of traveller you are. If

15:57

You're a party-hearty person, you could stay

15:59

in. Julian If you are culture

16:01

vulture you could stay and Walesa if

16:03

your family you know that there's lots

16:05

of other smaller resorts around the island

16:08

and mortar itself to do that but

16:10

there there's also goes out which is

16:12

a as an island was just a

16:14

short very what right away from author

16:16

and you can actually get a hydra

16:18

for from the letter as well be

16:20

to have to go to tip of

16:22

the island to get to goes anymore

16:25

and that's very laid back, very sleepy

16:27

nature at his best. Great food. Lovely

16:29

people, crazies, Christian celebrations yeah,

16:32

real will sit as something

16:34

different than what we used

16:36

to. What would you say as

16:38

like a sea of the key things

16:40

they would expect from days a. Does

16:43

a super laid back and nature like

16:45

as a nature's be and as as

16:47

a beautiful coastline? This. Is that why

16:49

you to experience some of the or sparks?

16:51

I know that melt is ready. Bet on

16:53

it was sponsors. Land yes you can

16:56

particularly diving and snorkeling and guys

16:58

and you can dive just off

17:00

the coast sneeze and goes as

17:02

well but all throughout most of

17:04

particularly know the motel and those

17:06

though is also the jumping off

17:08

point for the blue lagoon though

17:10

which is beautiful crystal clear more

17:12

devean style water me in a

17:14

absolutely and that's why when we

17:16

talk about water sports make those

17:18

are those are such a wonderful

17:20

destinations because it'll which is there

17:22

and then there are also. A

17:24

lot of ah whether

17:27

they are oldest christian

17:29

statues all their an

17:31

old warships thus even

17:33

some can. World. War

17:36

Two. Bummer. Ah saw. And

17:38

actually you can see it even this are like

17:40

i dunno how deep it as you can see

17:43

it from about. Because. Of the

17:45

water is so clear and then add to

17:47

that the limestone past and the and our

17:49

just comes together as a beautiful a beautiful

17:51

landscapes I'd recommend definitely going to goes out

17:54

and getting a boat from there he whether

17:56

it's a date at it you know it

17:58

would be a date. You can't

18:01

stay on Camino. Wishes

18:03

the island has all the the beautiful

18:05

clear water around but you can very

18:07

easily take about. Some guys are in

18:09

spend the day just swimming in the

18:11

sea and enjoying the sun, Sun sounds.

18:13

Glorious have club that kind of rising see that had

18:15

and as he get this is a travelled on the

18:17

city has somebody for utilise a place that you know

18:20

yet the way i kind of like. Id

18:23

Id to visit. I've eaten yet. You have

18:25

a T V or does it could sit

18:27

there and you seriously you know what? the

18:29

same the saw i think like made us

18:31

that this. Is actually quite below

18:33

radar for lot of people or people

18:35

would have known or Molson houses it

18:37

of it's to have their preconceptions of

18:39

it or like they say that Noble

18:42

saw all that hard. I'm also bought.

18:45

It. Doesn't register as high as say

18:47

the Greek Islands or the south of

18:49

France, or particularly when it comes to

18:51

lottery travel. but or something or interesting

18:53

I love to watch The motor has

18:55

luxury unlike any other. Mean.

18:58

It's.as of today in the

19:00

news big news for most

19:02

of it has its first

19:04

to Michelin star restaurant or

19:06

tiny pilot yeah population that

19:09

suggestible and had to.some amazing

19:11

luxury hotels as well. Buy

19:13

some goes on and on.

19:15

Mortar itself pour. Les mis en

19:17

temps t and the cave us thinking about

19:20

luxury hotels is your all time favorite. So

19:22

maybe that start with your say that hotel

19:24

and them on these on some other statements.

19:26

T ah soon as I made several here

19:28

and I've seen as they say that the

19:30

office novels amazon as a motel as because

19:32

about going to come back and bite you

19:34

in the bomb. Successes of

19:37

other he picked his com. Essa

19:39

are my favorite hotel. I think

19:41

in the less itself has to

19:43

be the and neon a Hobby

19:45

House. Far as I say this

19:47

motors most extraordinary luxury design I

19:49

tell us. Just beautiful, creative inspirational

19:51

she's all at the same time

19:53

see rests on their the eye

19:55

on that I on that all

19:57

the houses the one that one.

20:00

The to mission in spades the

20:02

gave rise as today by his

20:04

had one for very long time.

20:06

Ah one it's first call Saul

20:08

within six months of opening. Ah

20:10

wishes! Amazing! Man this

20:13

now had a couple of different

20:15

chest and today is receive motors

20:17

for us to Michelin star. What

20:19

kind of cuisine is it? I would

20:21

say European highbrow, European international

20:23

assess the I believe the

20:25

chef is Simon Rogue and

20:28

at the moment. ah. Good.

20:30

As needs. no introduction, it's just

20:32

that is just a brilliant hotel.

20:35

say. It's a sissy

20:37

hate. How does it have some

20:39

a pool like is yesterday's hot

20:41

days. It as not outdoors

20:43

I it has a subterranean pool

20:45

and it's ball. Ah,

20:47

I'm and it's set in an

20:50

old against a brick and mortar

20:52

set in an old building apart

20:54

from the of the properties and

20:56

sincerely and wishes and the more

20:58

said as buzzy past the hockey

21:01

results a lotta younger travelers when

21:03

I was injured in for you

21:05

know the a sudden see and

21:07

maybe not sangria has is is

21:09

nice but you know those as

21:12

the said overall budget package holiday

21:14

stall sex but also a lot

21:16

of fun. As

21:18

as says something for everyone there, but

21:20

I'm. In. Walesa itself most

21:23

properties where there is a hotel

21:25

or. An

21:27

Air B M B will be found in.

21:30

An old building have some of

21:32

some sort and it's just wonderful.

21:34

I think this is is actually

21:37

a British owned friends. Are.

21:39

The owners for Manchester ah and

21:41

has some fantastic story is something

21:43

I'll leave you to go discover

21:46

for yourself. Ah, I'm I'm he's

21:48

He started a hotel in Thailand

21:50

and brought the brand to Malta.

21:52

sustain. Ah. that's definitely one to

21:55

at the hotel list nest and

21:57

is if you want to have

21:59

more as i kind of resorty

22:02

beachy seaside holiday.

22:04

Are there any

22:06

hotels that come to

22:08

mind for that? Yeah, that exists too.

22:11

One thing to note about

22:13

Malta is not a sandy beach destination.

22:16

There is

22:18

beautiful water but it's mainly

22:20

rocky. There is a Kempinski,

22:23

I believe, on Gozo which brings

22:26

all that resort style vibe to

22:29

the destination. But actually my

22:31

favourite hotel in Gozo is

22:34

somewhere called the 37 Gozo

22:37

which is a lovely little boutique

22:40

hotel and it's not resorty

22:44

but it's a beautiful

22:46

little homestead in an old village

22:49

and it's where Angelina

22:51

Jolie stayed with her

22:53

children when she was filming

22:56

there by the sea. I remember reading

22:58

about when she was filming there because it

23:00

really put Gozo on the map, didn't it,

23:02

at the time? Absolutely and it was the

23:04

brainchild of Patti and Giuseppe who are just

23:06

these brilliant Milanese, ex-fashion

23:08

people that again, like

23:14

they came to Malta but then went

23:16

to Gozo, went further than that, went

23:19

to Gozo when exploring and found their

23:21

own little spot and

23:23

so they've really imagined that sort

23:26

of Milanese chic aesthetic

23:28

being implemented in an

23:31

old gazetan house and

23:34

they've created something amazing. It's just

23:36

ten suites and it's

23:38

all inspired by the couple's globe

23:41

trotting and

23:44

I definitely recommend that place as well. Oh that

23:46

sounds great, you could do a bit of time in

23:48

the letter and then a bit of time there in Gozo.

23:50

I would recommend that, you know, a lot of people do

23:52

Gozo as a day trip and I think that's a waste

23:55

but it totally depends, you know, What

23:58

floats your boats? but I think it's good. The

24:00

to stay a while because there's also some

24:02

amazing to retire and goes I say tell

24:04

a little bit about his seat disease and

24:06

food they would like to say the little

24:08

different. Ah, Similar to screwed

24:10

are I can't quite tell the for

24:13

the. Release.

24:15

Of but that is beautiful actually. Party

24:18

Swim! Thirty seven guys are took me

24:20

to this amazing place. And

24:23

it's on. As

24:25

a little bit cold Mcgaugh are you

24:27

need a car tax to get there,

24:29

but right in the middle of the

24:32

bad. As a simple be shocked assess

24:34

the freshest seafood. Really local spots. Nothing

24:36

like you know, nothing slashed by far.

24:39

Far. Far from the to Michelin star.

24:42

As a service that you get

24:44

up ah I on at the

24:46

Harbor Club but. Really? It

24:48

it It's somewhat of a secret local

24:50

spots are not sure I'm even supposed

24:52

to say because I was process and

24:54

so that in as this is a

24:56

really local spots but if you know

24:59

you'll see if you see amazing people

25:01

there as well people for more to

25:03

bring their boats obe and pop up

25:05

in the base just to go there

25:07

and eat so you actually see some

25:09

a mess but the luxury yachts bobbing

25:11

around this time he bad ah what

25:13

a set of jump off and how

25:15

many to the speech. Ah and

25:17

what does the has a name? Is a

25:19

cost Know how just of the beast

25:21

the to see should be sucked Sucked

25:23

in Mcgaugh of I kind. Of

25:26

the business last classy. Sauces

25:29

by either of you guys to debase.

25:31

The only thing in the best families?

25:34

a little little tiny Bay Beach. sorta

25:36

in at a spa, Schools under the

25:38

sun, Science and as de sac were

25:40

so quite a centrist own is sort

25:43

of. Yellen Sagan set him free it.

25:45

Atmosphere that's absolutely wonderful. For

25:47

it sounds like quite the hidden

25:49

ten ah penultimate have to his

25:51

test three and that is your

25:53

mouth piece hadn't said he said

25:55

another place that comes to mind

25:57

as a place that he disk.

26:00

It on your trades. Ah it was not

26:02

so much a hidden gem because I think

26:04

everybody knows about this place. But. It

26:06

is. It's absolutely wonderful and how

26:08

you. Encounter and how

26:11

you spend time in it is. Is.

26:13

Is the to them the secret? It's

26:16

motors old capital hold a medina.

26:19

His belt Medina site right? and

26:21

that's like like you would find

26:24

in Morocco but that because of

26:26

his Arab roots as the same

26:28

Medina is just said slightly differently

26:30

and dina it's most a silent

26:33

city and my a hot tip

26:35

my hidden gem tip is to

26:37

write probably at sunset once most

26:39

of the tourists were pumped for

26:42

the day have gone and it's

26:44

amazing place for reflection and quiet

26:46

and death soak in history as

26:48

the War Beckett. Thought they would

26:50

tell you a million stories and is

26:53

really son to get lost in his

26:55

live inside streets. As an instagram as

26:57

dream it's where the game Game of

27:00

Thrones was filmed. It's like

27:02

something straight out the movie. But

27:05

because it's quite quiet surreally

27:07

a great place to just

27:09

go and said if reflect

27:11

missing can you know be

27:14

inspired. In wandering

27:16

the streets be now passages of

27:18

wasted to cloistered is a fortified

27:20

city and really inspires a feeling

27:23

of or and airiness and equal

27:25

measures I think. Beautifully

27:27

preserved as well as a medieval

27:30

like setting and. It's really

27:32

atmospheric and. Like. i say

27:34

if you if you like taking

27:36

a picture of shoes and visual

27:39

storytelling dream sounds like sounds as

27:41

he so many block busters yard

27:43

and sunset the like gets thrown

27:45

around the shadows get past ah

27:47

man you know you get paid

27:50

version failure cause of it faces

27:52

and our best are still ways

27:54

now decorate with christian as cities

27:56

of course and in a little

27:58

doorknobs rates and It's

28:01

wonderful. Just outside the city

28:03

walls as well is Rabat,

28:05

again an Arab, you know. Sort

28:09

of linking to its Arab roots where

28:11

there's a burgeoning hipster scene, cool

28:14

coffee shops and cocktail bars and that kind

28:16

of stuff. The more contemporary side of Malta.

28:19

Interesting. So the duality between that

28:21

old and new inside the city

28:23

walls and outside the city walls.

28:25

Sounds absolutely fantastic. Before we get on

28:28

to your final chapter you're in and what's

28:30

at the top of your bucket list when

28:32

you next go back. Is there anywhere else

28:34

that you'd like to tell us about that

28:36

we haven't chatted about yet? I

28:38

would, yeah, I would definitely go

28:41

and see the ancient ruins. There's

28:43

some on Gozo and

28:45

there's some on Malta. I can't spoil

28:47

it for you because it's just one

28:49

of those how the hell did this

28:51

happen and how the hell did they

28:53

get these rocks some

28:56

weighing up to 20 tonnes up to

28:59

where it is. It's just

29:02

mind blowing. And to understand

29:04

that there's a history that

29:06

predates Malta itself.

29:09

And during the summer solstice

29:11

and the sun lines

29:13

line up, everything glows

29:15

and it's perfect beams,

29:18

lights get sort

29:20

of sent through it. It

29:23

just gives you that sense that there has

29:25

to be something higher, there has to

29:27

be a higher power than we think. Because

29:31

it's spiritual, real spirituality. And I'm not

29:33

a spiritual person, I'm actually quite functional

29:35

when it comes to that kind of

29:37

thing. But even then it's sort of

29:39

like you say, it gives you that

29:42

sort of gasping out loud

29:44

moment when you travel. And

29:47

they're dotted all over Malta. They've got quite

29:50

a few of them. Someone goes though and

29:52

some on Malta Island itself. Sounds so

29:55

special. What a lot to discover

29:57

in one small country. Well,

30:00

we move on then, Euan, to

30:02

our final chapter and that

30:04

is the destination that is at the

30:07

top of your travel bucket list when

30:09

you next go back. Where would you

30:11

like to visit that you haven't been

30:13

to yet or maybe one that you're desperate to go

30:15

back to? I think

30:18

it's got to be Gozo. There is

30:20

something for every kind of traveler. Whether

30:22

you're looking to go party for a

30:24

weekend, whether you're looking

30:26

to go imbibe in its LGBTQ

30:29

nightlife and culture, whether

30:31

you just want to go eat, whether you have

30:33

a real history buff and want to get under

30:35

the skin of centuries

30:37

old history, there's something there

30:39

for you. And there are

30:41

providers who are doing truly

30:44

amazing things. There

30:46

are still parts of Malta that

30:48

you can go to and experience real

30:51

seclusion, nature and real

30:53

true authentic hospitality.

30:56

Brilliant. You've made me want

30:58

to book a trip immediately, Euan

31:00

Jeong. Those were your Maltese

31:03

travel diaries. It has just been

31:05

so lovely chatting all things Malta

31:07

with you. Thank you. Brilliant. Thank you for having

31:09

me and I'll see you in Malta. Oh,

31:17

well, I hope that has given you

31:19

a taste of magnificent Malta and a

31:21

huge thank you to Euan Jeong, editor

31:24

of Outland magazine for helping to bring

31:26

everything to life so vividly. Such a

31:29

fascinating conversation. I've included all

31:31

of Euan's recommendations in the

31:34

episode show notes here on your podcast

31:36

app and online at the travel

31:38

diaries podcast.com. If you're now desperate

31:40

to visit Malta like me, then

31:42

don't forget that the tourist would

31:44

website is always a great resource.

31:46

In this case, it's visit malta.com.

31:49

And don't forget to support all

31:51

of your favorite travel publications online

31:53

and in print too, which often

31:55

have really detailed guides as well.

31:57

Thanks so much for listening today.

32:00

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32:02

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32:10

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32:18

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32:20

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32:23

you. And if you can't wait till then, remember

32:25

there's the first 10 seasons to

32:27

catch up on that's over 115 episodes

32:29

to keep you busy there. Thanks again

32:31

everyone. Take care. I'll be back next

32:34

week. Today's

32:57

episode is supported by Airbnb.

32:59

It has been a long

33:01

old winter here in the UK

33:03

and in between podcast seasons I'm

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going to take a little bit

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warmth. I'm jetting off to the

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Greek island of Mykonos visiting some

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Thank you to Airbnb for

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