TRAVEL LOGBOOK MALTA

T R A V E L

L O G B O O K

M A L T A

E D I T I O N

J

U

L

Y

2

0

1

8

1

Ursulino Valletta B O U T I Q U E

82A St. Ursula Street Valletta VLT 1234 Malta +356 2122 7860 +356 2122 8024 info@ursulinovalletta.com www.ursulinovalletta.com 2

B & B

CONTENTS INTERESTING READS Taxi Apps 6 The Rise of Malta’s Blockchain 7 Steven Hyzler 8 & 9 Prestige Cabs 10 Prestige Yacht Charters 11 Malta Airport 12 & 13 Ursulino Valletta 40 - 43 CITY INTRO’S Mdina & Rabat 14 Mellieha 15 Sliema 16 St. Julians 17 The Three Cities 18 Valletta 19 TOURISTY STUFF Mallieha Sites 20 & 21 Cruising Around Malta 22 & 23 Tigne Point 24 UPhoto 25 Spinola Palace 26 JetFly 27 Malta 5D 27 Gardjola Gardens 27 WHERE TO STAY IN MALTA Hotels 28 - 44 FOOD & DRINK Restaurants 46 - 55 Coffee House Offices 56 & 57 Bakeries 58 & 59 Cafe’s, Pubs & Bars 60 - 64 The Logbook Challenge 66 & 67

3

EDITOR’’S LETTER

WELCOME TO MALTA This makes Malta a place to be, with a palatable buzz around the business sectors. Beyond this, Malta is also one of the most devoutly catholic countries in the world with every village having its own patron saint which is still heavily celebrated. Beautiful his-

hospitality, restaurants, coffee houses and bars as well as the introduction of our Logbook Task game.

The Game The LogbookTask game, is an opportunity for everyone to win

LONG WALKS ALONG THE MANY MARINAS. FLOATING IN THE COOL, SALTY WATERS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, SMALL VILLAGES CRAMMED WITH HISTORY, AN UNBRIDLED PASSION FOR LIFE AND A NECESSITY FOR “CHILL.”

For us, Malta was a perfect location for our debut issue of our quarterly publication, The Lost Executive Logbook. Or as it’ll be coined, Travel Logbook. Each quarter we focus on a unique country and what it has to offer.

This month, we looked at this small, Mediterranean island which proved to be the perfect destination to focus on as our debut. It’s fierce expansion into the igaming industry set it apart from other countries in Europe and paved the roads that became so useful with its growth in cryptocurrency and blockchain. The country is set to become a global hub for all things to do with the growth of Bitcoin and other digital currencies. This has meant an influx of skilled labour, money and expectationsof this island.

4

toric architecture, ancient temples and places of interest abound.

Malta’s history of tourism dates back to 4000 BC and the island, thanks to its central location in the Mediterranean, has played host to everyone from the Phoenicians, The Roman Republic, The Byzantines, then the Aghlabids and even the Normans before finally becoming a point of tactical interest for the British in the Second World War. At which point the Axis Powers did their best to sink the island. This one island was bombed more than any other location in the world during the Second World War. Our first debut magazine offers onsite reviews of this unique island. Looking at things such as

travel related prizes for simply visiting locations in our game tasks. Using Instagram, follow the task instructions, use the hashtags, geotag yourself and hit post. Then, at our yearly event, we will randomly select one of the images from Instagram and as long as that person has played the game properly, you’ll win the tri p. Enjoy and get playing.

THE TEAM Published by The Lost Executive LTD In Partnership with Vision Tribe Co-founder and Creative and Editorial Director Don Campbell Co-founder Jerome Smith Head Writer Donnie Rust Copyproofer Tony White Sales and Media Vision Tribe Creative Flow Jacquay Jacobs Magazine Design Nick Woon Photo Credits Ashley Douglas Brian Grech Dragana Rankovic

5

TAXI APPS

Driving in Malta is an interesting experience and usually one that visitors will only putthemselves through once. While they drive on the same side of the road and while the road laws are the same thanks to the British influence of the past, the driving similarities end there.

If you’re going to use taxis, use apps. There are e-CABS two that can be recommended and proved Very much the equivalent of Uber, but designed to be easy to use and straight forward. for the sphagetti streets of Malta. E-Cabs have all the benefits and the simplest choice of TAXIFY usage. You can put in your destination, your You just push a button to hail a taxi and they chosen time of pick up and be told exactly how come and find you. The vehicle is tracked and much it is going to cost before booking. You you’re given the driver’s name and license plate can also choose to pay via card or via cash. number and a real time estimation of their arrival time. You can even track them on the BENEFITS: It is very much like Uber in terms map. of operation and functionality so if you’re used to using Uber it would be a good choice.

BENEFITS: You can opt to pay by card automatically through the app which is convenient ISSUES: Tardiness. The pick ups were not acespecially if you don’t have cash. curate and we were late a couple of times.

ISSUES: This is a hailing system, so once

you’re in the cab you still need to tell the driver where you want to go. It’s not a big issue if you have the address on your phone or written down but it can be problematic.

IPHONE AND ANDROID Both can be downloaded to any smart device from your App store. There are other apps trying to make their way into the Malta market, if you find any that work better than these two please let us know.

6

Malta’s rise of the blockchain Malta is a furiously developing hub of iGaming which has encouraged the biggest names in the business to make the island their base of operations. A strong financial services industry, one of the best in the EU, alongside favourable tax laws, available property and a sunny location has all made Malta an attractive destination for such businesses.

Digital currencies have found a natural booming area in Malta thanks to the foothold that the gaming industry provided to start with. Throughout the island the words “digital currency” and “blockchain” are heavily advertised, with businesses jumping onboard the digital currency train with the same enthusiasm as they did the gaming train years previously.

For those who don’t know, blockchain is a technology that creates a digital record of purchase for cryptocurrencies. It is a ledger of transactions that is not limited to the financial world and can be instructed to record and catalogue anything of value.

Malta’s intention is to be the first jurisdiction in the world to have a regulatory framework for this technology. At the moment, blockchain and digital currencies are unregulated, which has been, for a long time, one of the attractions of a cryptocurrency, plus that they were untaxed by governments. Most countries have been too slow to take onboard the potential of cryptocurrencies and Malta has been one step ahead of them. Instead of focusing on the first iteration of blockchain, Malta has been looking at understanding how businesses operate through smart-contracts, then identifying how to further develop the industry and keep it on course.

This kind of forward thinking has been very attractive to businesses wanting to get more involved in cryptocurrencies. And as Malta has shown that they are dedicated to becoming an economic superpower in this industry, businesses are flooding in.

It’s had an effect. In 2017 Malta recorded the highest

economic growth out of all countries in the EU, with a GDP growth of 6.6%. While cryptocurrencies themselves are highly varied, the value of blockchain is universal to them all, and with Malta focusing on bringing in these related businesses, they will naturally attract and new and current players to the island who are looking to set up shop in the neighbourhood. This means an influx of skilled professionals coming in to help Malta achieve her goals, a massive increase in tax payments and a development catalyst.

These developments have had many positive effects to Malta, but there has been the impact on Maltese people working outside of the industry who have seen house prices and rentals increase to match the wallets of highly liquid employees in the industries of gaming and blockchain.

It makes sense. Businesses are bringing in skilled professionals within their industries and paying them great salaries, and house prices go up because landlords are able to charge more. House prices go up because the location benefits from more spending. The outcome is those Maltese who are not affluent, who are students, or work in another industry are being forced to live outside the cities and travel in for work.

For some this could be considered a moot point. No matter how big the gaming and blockchain industries become, Malta will retain the allure for the tourist industry and for the international traveller things can only improve. More money spent on the island means better roads, schools, universities and hospitals for the local Maltese.

This is where the real concern for some is. Will Malta lose its charm as it pursues its goal to become a global hub for blockchain, gaming and other i-industries?

I think it has too much of the former to be affected by the latter. There are always going to be growing pains but I think this is a great time for Malta and a wonderful time to get involved with her.

7

STEVEN HYZLER

Hotel manager of La Falconeria and the recently opened Palais Le Brun speaks about the hotel industry and the change of tastes he has seen.

Steven Hyzler has been in the hotel industry for over 10 years, and has managed the superb growth of La Falconeria since it opened doors in March 2017 to being in the top five hotels in Malta, and the top three in Valletta. He has also recently welcomed a new addition to their family with Palais Le Brun, which opened in the beginning of June and is already ranked as the number 1 hotel in Malta on Tri padvisor.

I had a sit down with Steven in Valletta at La Falconeria, a gorgeous hotel built in a building that dates back to the 16th century. Over some coffee we spoke at length regarding the hotel industry in Malta and the changes that Steven has witnessed in how people travel and what they expect. ““Visitors are moving away from the big hotel chains and gravitating towards the boutique experiences that smaller, more independent hotels are able to offer,””” he reveals. “ “ Thanks in part to the vast improvements in communication and general connectivity, the discerning visitor has more options available to them and more commonly are choosing those hotels that offer something special”.””

Look at La Falconeria for example. It is in the top three hotels in Valletta, a city that has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2018. The hotel could not change the exterior of the hotel as the façade has to match the surrounding buildings to maintain the cultural heritage of their city. The hotel itself is set on upon a street where the Knights of St John trained and traded their falcons during the 16th century.

Or Palais le Brun. A hotel that has been open for 3 weeks at the time of writing, and is already the number one hotel in Valletta and Malta. It is built inside a baroque palace from the 16th century where the Knights of St John lived and is of huge cultural significance. And just as La Falconeria, they were not allowed to change the exterior of the building, meaning that the location has not lost any of its cultural significance and its beauty.

8

And the hotel industry has shifted as well. There was a time in the not-so-distant past where hotel restaurants were considered second rate. In today’s market every aspect of a hotel from top to bottom is one social media update away from being seen by thousands if not millions of people. The standard of what hotels offer, not only in luxury rooms but in cuisine, is something Steven is proud to say the hotels he manages are setting and leading by example.

ture so highly on a website known to be the reflection of visitor’s point of views.

The other reasons are all in the hotels themselves.

OPERATIONS Steven works with a team of people including an operations manager, who is in charge of the day to day running of the hotels, and a social media manager, who is responsible for growing the social media. Steven himself is in charge of Tri padvisor, managing the commentary and engaging directly with visitors who have taken the time to comment on the hotel. ““Tri padvisor has become the voice of people staying in hotels,”” he explains. ““It is a great way to find out exactly what people think of the hotel and chance to speak with guests on what they enjoyed and what areas we can improve in. You have to keep on top of things, and by managing it myself, it means I can deal with any negatives as soon as they come”.”

This kind of daily activity and accountability is one of the reasons why Palais Le Brun and La Falconeria fea9

PRESTIGE CABS

Founded in 2010 by Duncan Zammit, Prestige Cabs have grown to perform as a leader in the taxi service industry in Malta. Part of this success is derived from being the first taxi service company to offer exclusive transfers and private tours around the islands of Malta and Gozo.

They also offer company corporate packages and an array of other boutique tours, including yachts and shuttles.

Prestige Cabs promise to get you to your destination smoothly, punctually and safely. What is particularly nice about this company is that they understand there are certain things that should ‘go without saying’, ie. arriving slightly early for a meeting to have a little more time to prepare.

This kind of business acumen inspires confidence and trust in using this company.

10

Fleet: Standard cars and minivans.

Prices: Available on website.

Contact details: Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week 00356 9999 9616 info@prestigecabsmalta.com Prestige Cabs Malta The Palace, High Street Sliema, Malta www.prestigecabsmalta.com

PRESTIGE YACHT CHARTERS Connected with AX Hotels, Prestige Yacht Charters provide a stylish, well formatted tour to the island’s many sea views. Either opting for a private yacht charter (captain and crew provided), or an RIB cruise, this is an exclusive opportunity to have a breathtaking view of the island. A private charter is ideal to explore the island in a different way, as the tour can be more flexible and bespoke, instead of catering to the needs of a vast passenger number.

Delve into the scenic coastline, admire the cliff formations, historical harbours and the picturesque bays, all while sitting in the lap of luxury.

LOCATIONS: Blue Lagoon – Blue Lagoon is one of the best swimming spots in Malta and it is known for its calm, crystal-clear waters. It is situated between the island of Comino and the islet of Cominotto. This natural swimming pool is ideal for casual swimming, a relaxing day by the beach, snorkelling and scuba diving.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE RIB Half Day Boat Charter (4 hours) €295 up to 6 persons Full Day Boat Charter (8 hours) €395 up to 6 persons FURTHER DETAILS FOR PRIVATE RIB Extra persons can be added at the rate of €25 per person.

Fuel surcharge at €50 if navigating further than Comino and Mgarr Harbour, Gozo.

Food and drinks are not included Related Tours: Sunset Cruise. Harbour Cruise.

Game Task: Take a selfie with the Captain.

Comino – Comino is a small island between Malta and Gozo. This island is the least densely populated area in Malta. Its population is that of three residents and the island is mostly known for being a bird sanctuary and nature reserve.

Gozo – Commonly known as the sister island of Malta, Gozo reflects the greener parts of the Maltese Islands. Gozo is known to be more rural and it is popular for its scenic hills and outstanding views.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE YACHT (up to 6 persons) 2 hours – €250 4 hours – €450 6 hours – €650 8 hours – €750 FURTHER DETAILS FOR PRIVATE YACHT 2-4 hours – Free wine & soft drinks 6-8 hours – Open bar lunch & afternoon tea or coffee 11

SUNSET CRUISE SUNSET CRUISE What could be more romantic than an evening cruise on board a yacht or RIB cruise? The Maltese sunset is notoriously beautiful. Combine this with an evening tour aboard the Sunset Cruiser, in which you’ll cruise along the majestic fortifications of Valletta and its surrounding harbours.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE YACHT CRUISES €250 (from 1 to 6 persons) FURTHER DETAILS FOR YACHT CRUISES The tour will take approximately 2 hours.

The package includes wine and fruit.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE RIB CRUISES €50 per person (minimum 2 persons) FURTHER DETAILS FOR RIB CRUISES The tour will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

The package includes a bottle of wine (per couple).

12

HARBOUR CRUISE HARBOUR CRUISE VISIT TOP LOCATIONS IN MALTA ON A HARBOUR CRUISE A harbour cruise is just what you need to experience the best scenic views of the Maltese Islands. On board either a yacht or a RIB cruise you will be taken to the most exclusive places to witness the majestic sights of the Grand Harbour, along with a visit to Marsamxett Harbour.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE YACHT CRUISES €40 per person €150 for a yacht (min. 4 persons)

LOCATIONS INCLUDE: The Three Cities – The Three Cities are a collection of three fortified cities of Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. The latter two cities were both founded by the Order of Saint John in the 16th and the 17th centuries. Vittoriosa was built in the Middle Ages.

PRICE LIST FOR PRIVATE RIB CRUISES €35 per person (minimum 4 persons)

Valletta is one of the smallest capital cities in Europe. The capital contains buildings from the 16th century onwards and it was built during the rule of the Order of St John. Most of the city is essentially Baroque in character.

FURTHER DETAILS FOR YACHT CRUISES The tour will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

The package includes wine and fruit.

FURTHER DETAILS FOR RIB CRUISES The tour will take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

Game Task: Selfie with Captain with Valletta in background at sunset.

Sliema – Sliema is one of the most touristic towns in Malta. It is a residential and commercial area and a hub for shopping, dining and recreation. Sliema is known for its rocky beaches, water sports and hotels. Marsamxett and Grand Harbour. Two harbours that you will witness when on board this harbour cruise.

The Marsamxett Harbour is a natural harbour located to the north of the Grand Harbour and it is mostly dedicated to leisure. The Grand Harbour has been modified over the years with extensive docks, wharves and fortifications.

13

Despite not being a huge airport, Malta International Airport welcomes north of five million passengers each year and links three continents with over 90 airports directly to Malta. This activity makes MIA one of the best connected in its class and, thanks to the growth of Malta’s economy, this activity is set to only continue. Since 1992 the air terminal has received continuous investment in infrastructure, equi pment, personnel and services. Two runways can land any class of commercial aircraft, however as the influx of skilled people seeking careers and accommodation in the booming Maltese markets increases the demands of the airport will also rise. If they wish to maintain their hold on their title as the second best airport in Europe, or better it, they will need to be on top of these developments and ready to welcome the growth.

HISTORICALLY AHEAD OF THE CURVE Malta’s geographical position in the heart of the Mediterranean, located halfway between northern Africa and Europe, has historically been of great strategic value for merchants, traders and military powers. This has also given the island the opportunity to be ahead of the travel curve. In the 1920s, less than two decades after the first successful human flight, civil aviation had already arrived in Malta when the islands were under British rule.

Malta’s first civil airfield was constructed at Ta’ Qali.

Others, including one at Ħal Far, shortly followed.

These were severely battered during the Second 14

World War; civil operations subsequently centred on the one at Luqa airport.

More passengers and aircraft movements necessitated the construction of a civil air terminal in 1956. The British Government mainly financed what was at the time a Lm300,000 (€700,000) project. Malta’s new passenger air terminal at Luqa was inaugurated on March 31, 1958 by Sir Robert Laycock, then Governor of Malta. It consisted of two floors and included basic facilities such as a restaurant, post office, cable and wireless office, and viewing balcony – a far cry from the bustling, multifaceted destination that Malta International Airport has developed into today.

Malta airport traffic increased consistently, and new airlines with larger aircraft began operating in Malta.

The introduction of jets made flying times shorter and, as a result, more people became interested in air travel. In October 1977, a new and longer runway was developed in Malta. Airport construction extended and refurbished the air terminal, which refocused on departures. Lounges for arrivals and VIPs were also added.This refurbishment was a step in the right direction but still lacked certain essential facilities. Following a change in Government in 1987, the new administration decided that the 35-year-old terminal was past its time and gave the green light for the construction of a new air terminal along Park 9.

Malta AIRPORT In the meantime, the government also embarked on another upgrade of the old air terminal. Updated airport facilities included air conditioning, modern baggage carousels, flight information monitors, baggage carousels, flight information monitors, computerised check-in desks, new floors, and additional retail outlets (including a larger duty free area).

The present air terminal was inaugurated in 1992, just 29 months after the foundation stone was laid in September 1989. Malta International Airport became fully operational on March 25, 1992, and the old Luqa airport terminal was effectively closed down after 35 years in service.

SkyParks Business Centre, The Island’s Most Desirable Corporate Address Inaugurated in 2012, SkyParks Business Centre has reached its full potential with all office and retail space filled. SkyParks Business Centre houses over 1,000 employees and some of Malta’s biggest brands. The fact that the business centre offers a number of facilities which are complementary to the needs of its tenants differentiates it from other business centres on the island.

The national value of Malta’s airport and its activities is well appreciated locally, where it is a standard-bearer for progress, technological advancement, and management innovation. In this regard, Malta International Airport aims to serve as a role model and force for change in Malta’s civil aviation industry.

In July 2002, after expending considerable time and investment on a robust and successful operation, the government of Malta sold 40% of its equity to the Malta Mediterranean Link Consortium Ltd and a further 40% to the general public. The move to full privatisation marked the start of a new chapter for Malta International Airport. Malta’s worldwide connection continues to improve, thanks to the airport’s commitment to innovation and tradition.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

15

mdina & rabat

Mdina and Rabat are two very different villages in the South West of Malta that are like nowhere else on the island. Mdina, was founded on top of a hill overlooking vast stretches of Malta, surrounded by bastion fortifications it is a small town filled with old buildings that have been lovingly and devotedly maintained. Prior to 1530 this was the capital of Malta.

Mdina is called the “Silent City” and within these narrow, labyrinthal alleys you can practically see the history. Rabat is a small village next to Mdina which has its share of churches and points of interest along with one of the few forested areas on the island.

St Paul’s Cathedral Museum Once a seminary, this museum is one of the finest in Europe. A great selection of historic art, sacred artefacts, paintings, coins and Roman antiquities. It even holds some of the original documents from the time of the Inquisition.

Archbishop’s Palace Built in 1722 this is the residence of the Archbishop of Malta. Mdina has always been the seat of the Bishop of Malta.

Mdina, is a magical looking place, so picturesque and sublime that it was used by the creators of the Game of Throne’s television series as the setting for Kings Landing. Cobbled streets lined with immaculately preserved houses, private chapels, cathedrals and palazzi. You can easily get lost within the streets and then suddenly be gifted with a view of Malta like nothing you’ve seen.

This panoramic splendours really do sneak up on you.

THINGS TO SEE The Norman House (The Palazzo Falson) This is the best preserved medieval building Mdina.

Built in 1495 it was lived in by Phili ppe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam, The Grand Master in Malta when the Knights arrived in 1530.

St Paul’s Cathedral Prominently standing out in the skyline of Mdina, baroquean style, bastians and palaces is visible throughout central Malta and is an important landmark.

Considered to be the heart of the quiet, walled city, it was constructed upon the site of a Norman church that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1693.

16

Casa Testaferrata Believed to have once been a temple dedicated to Apollo, the Greek Sun God, the house was the seat of the old nobile family Testaferrata Palazzo Gatto Murina You can watch “Tales of the Silent City”, an AV production housed within the Palazzo and appreciate the fact it’s one of the earliest Siculo-Norman structures around.

mellieha Melliehħa is one of the most northern villages on Malta and overlooks the island’s largest sandy beach.

If you have any kind of social media you need to visit here as the village has a lovely character and picturesque scenes that provide you with a view of life in Malta as well as offering you all amenities for a comfortable holiday.

renting the sunbeds and umbrellas to be quite insistent and sometimes lack people skills.

As the village Melliehħa is situated on top of a hill, you also get many opportunities to take a wonderful “scenic selfie” surrounded by fertile valleys providing beautiful panoramas and village scenes not seen frequently in the Maltese islands.

REMEMBER THE SUNSCREEN. If you’re travelling from Valletta, take the 32 or 35 to University roundabout and switching to route.

From Buġibba, Qawra and St. Paul’s Bay: 221, 222 from St. Paul’s Bay main street.

The village is also very close to Iirkewwa, if you would like to get onto ferries to Gozo and Comino.

From Sliema /St. Julian’s: 222 ( direct route) For more info:Public transport in Malta

MELLIEHĦA BAY

If you’re driving, parking can be limited and often problematic. What we did is we parked in Melliehħa and took the bus, busses pass regularly every 10 minutes or so.

Is one of Malta’s largest and most visited beach. Found in the North of the main island on the outskirts of the village of Mellieħa. Roughly 800m long and awarded the Blue Flag Status the bay is also sometimes known as Għadira Bay.

A couple of incidents could sour one’s opinion of it.

I’d recommend bringing your own towels and shade and being independent. I was surprised however to discover you’re not allowed the bbq here.

Gently sloping from shallow to deeper waters it is a great place for bathing as well as swimming. There are lots of facilities around the edge of the water and you have your selection of kayaking, waterskiing, windsurfing, banana rides etc to keep you entertained.

As one of the few sandy beaches in Malta, this is a popular destination all year round with the numbers of visitors increasing during the summer weekends.

It’s family friendly with many restaurants, snack bars and a pair of nearby hotels so it’s not the quietest of beaches to visit.

I found it quite refreshing to be on a sandy beach after many tri ps to the rockier coastal areas, and that the beach is managed is a reassuring fact that things are under control. Although, I found the people 17

sliema

Wrapped around a gorgeous bay that is the launching point of hundreds of boat tours a week Sliema is now one of the most densely populated towns in Malta with over 17,000 residents. Not bad considering that it didn’t gain popularity until the 19 th century and before then it was mostly scarcely populated fishing villages.

Now, Sliema is primarily recognised by newcomers for its promenade, filled with restaurants, bars and cafes where you can watch the gorgeous waterways and the fort across the water.

But if you look a little closer you’ll find so much more.

The tours leaving from Sliema are well worth the time and can be the best way to see the island and the history of it.

Provided by professional tour guides you’re at least guaranteed to see some of the best places. Just remember to take a hate and your own water.

Sliema also offers a variety of bars and pubs, and a handful of nightclubs spread alongside the coastal promenade over the St. Julian’s side of Sliema as well as the Gzira side.

18

Festivals: Our Lady of Sacred Heart: – 1st week of July Our Lady Star Of The Sea: 3rd week of August St Gregory The Great:1st week of September

ST. JULIANS One of the most popular party locations, St Julian’s is on the north coast of Malta, a short drive from Sliema and only a few miles west of Valletta. Inside of St Julian’s is Paceville. Paceville is very much the heart of the nightlife and offers a variety of bars and nightclubs.

Modern and commercialised the area is a great place for eating out and seeking entertainment. In Paceville you’ll find Malta’s largest cinema complex, bowling area shopping complex, a load of hotels and a man-made beach at St George’s Bay. Paceville does offer restaurants but there are more choices in other parts of St Julians, especially Spinola Bay, which is along the promenade in the direction of Sliema.

If you’re looking for a party atmosphere St Julians is perfect for that.

Many couples and groups of friends have a blast here when seeking a vibrant nightlife, but if you’re looking for a quieter stay there are more suitable locations on the island. Also, due to the buzzing nightlife until the early hours of the morning St Julians also comes with one of the highest crime rates of the island. Although this is pretty much isolated to general pick pocketing. (A blight usually experienced by the very inebriated at 4am in the morning oddly enough. However, good to keep in mind.)

If you’re looking for locations to conduct business St Julians could offer the sort of high-end, commercial brand names that you’re looking for.

Thirty minutes from the airport most of the hotels cater for business events and offer the kind of amemnities you would expect.

PLACES OF INTEREST Prior to the 1960s, St Julian’s had not yet experienced its rapid growth and was mainly land for agricultural farming. It had been hunting grounds by the Knights and then by the British. Because of this, St Julian’s is not as deeply blessed with interesting places to visit. If you’re looking for a combination, staying in St Julians allows you to shorten the distance between the nightlife and your bed. Know at least that there are many bus routes and tours starting at St Julians that take you the more cultural parts of Malta.

However, in every city there are things to be found.

Lapsi Church A small chapel constructed by the Knights of St John around 1560.

Demolished and rebuilt several times the current appearance dates to 1716.

Spinola Palace Built 1688 by Fra Paolo Raffaele Spinola, a knight of the Order of St. John and Grand Prior of Lombardy. Enlarged in 1733 by his nephew.

French troops occupied it in 1798. It was used as a military hospital in 1860 and the early 20th century and as known as Forresst Hospital.

Unfortunately, you’re not allowed inside now, but you can admire its architecture from the gate. (Worth warning about, I thought you could get in and was very disappointed. ) St. Julian’s Parish Church Also in Lapsi Street, The St Julian’s was built in 1961 and is one of the most modern ones you’ll find. Overlooking Balluta bay and built in a

neo gothic style the church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

This one you can visit.

The Portomaso Tower The tallest building in Malta and coming out of the Portomaso complex and marina which is a complex that includes a number of stylish attractions including the Hilton Hotel, a number of luxurious apartments, matching marina and many stylish restaurants. Good place for an evening stroll to take in the views of the marina and the boats.

Some Bars in St Julian’s.

BarCelona Lounge located in Wilġa Street, St. Julian’s, this is a stylish bar with live music on several nights throughout the week and themed events to create a sense of variety of the tourist. A good socialising place.

The Bedouin Bar, spectacularly relaxed thanks in part to it’s wonderful surroundings, The Bedouin Bar is located inside Westin Dragonara Resort and has some Bali huts close to the sea for extra holiday vibes.

Fuego Salsa Bar, assuming the name didn’t totally give it away this is a wicked location for Latin music lovers looking for a top salsa bar.

Free lessons in salsa, merengue, bachata, reggaetón and happy hour until 10.30PM. It’s a great joll. Address is Triq Santu Wistin, St Julian’s.

Hugo’s Terrace You’re as likely to find locals and visitors sitting side by side here. Great modern sports bar feel. It is necessary to book tables and lounge areas. +356 2137 6767 Twenty-Two –A bar with a modern and classy feel located at Level 22, Portomaso Business Tower with epic views across Malta through surrounding windows. Open during the week as a formal but calm bar setting, Twenty-Two operates strict a smart-dress code that does attract a certain kind of reveller.

Saddles Pub is a popular bar in St. Julian’s overlooking Spinola Bay. The pub is spread over two floors with the main bar and a pool table downstairs, a bar, terrace and a smoking area upstairs. Plays different styles of house music ranging from funky, electro, progressive and tribal house. Saddles is also a sports bar screening different games on 3 big screens.

Havana Club Night club, in St George’s Road, St. Julian’s with several different dance floors playing a different kind of music from hi p-hop, soul and R&B. The club has two floors, a large dance floor, various bars, seating and balconies and does host local DJs. It gets rammed on the weekends though and is a good for an end of evening dance off.

Speaking of dance offs. A visit to Paceville is something not to be missed. Different clubs offering different styles of music to satisfy every audience. You can club hop if you like or linger in a single place and the best thing about Malta in general? DRINKS ARE VERY WELL PRICED.

19

THE THREE CITIES

Comprised of three fortified cities in the North of Malta and founded by the Knights of the Order of Saint John in the 16th and 17th centuries, Birgu (Vittoriosa), Sengla (Isla) and Bormla (Cospicua) hold some of the coolest houses on the island. The picturesque location has been attracting many investors looking to buy property and some of these properties have turned into state of the art homes.

As with all cities in Malta there is a great deal of historical and cultural value to this area, but the tourist intake has also increased thanks in part to the selection of boutique hotels, restaurants and win bars to be found in the narrow, winding streets. And the safe, secretive alleyways.

Tourists and locals have been attracted to the city for the Birgu Waterfront project, comprising of a yacht marina, museums and a magnificently restored fort.

WHAT MAKES THE THREE CITIES SPECIAL?

home to two brilliant churches St Phili ps and Our Lady of Victories. It also offrs a lovely view of the Grand Harbour If you’re visiting the Three Cities you can come in via bus, taxi or car, but we arrived via the water taxi across the Great Harbour. It’s a service running continually from 6.45am to 19.15 pm. It costs just 2.80 euros per person and I envy anyone who gets to enjoy that view every morning.

THINGS TO DO Why not take an e-car tour around the Three Cities? Not only are they clean but they are quiet too and you can have a pre-programmed GPS that’ll show you the perfect tour around the city and explain what you’re looking at.

Provided by the company Rolling Geeks you can find them on the Birgu Waterfront. With the cars you’ll be able to reach the Rinella Fort and the Malta Film Studios which are just outide the Three Cities.

There were the first fortified cities built by the Knights of St John after they arrived in 1530. Historically, The Knights had been thrown out of Rhodes in 1522 and after many years wandering they were given Malta as their new home and they settled in Birgu which was made their capital.

Or a traditional boat ride across the harbour.

Out of a need to control sea trade and the tactical advantages provided, it was the Grand Harbour that attracted the Knights to this area The Malta Maritime Museum is on the Birgu Waterfront and provides a fascinating look into what this period did for the island.

LOCAL DINING

The imposing bastions that would have been so crucial during the time of the Knights of St John have been restored to their original glory and are quite a sight to behold, especially if you go for a stroll in the evening and at night. It is genuinely like glimpsing into the past.

Of the three cities, Birgu offers the most attractions, these include the Malta at War Museum, the Maritime Museum, Inquisitor’s Palace and the Fort St Angelo.

Bormla, is a worthwhile visit if for nothing else than to marvel at the six kilometres of fortifications and Isla is 20

Costing only a couple of euros per person, you can take a traditional maltese dgħajsa across the creek to Senglea. These boats operate from the Maritime Museum and doesn’t take long but it will save you a thirty minute walk.

Good places to eat are all over The Three Cities. Be it fine dining, boutique meals or snack bars, cafeterias and local bars and clubs with bands and homemade food at great prices.

FESTIVALS Christ the Redeemer happens on the third Sunday of June each year The Nativity of Our Lady on the 8 September (Public Holiday) The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated in Cospicua on the 8th December which is also a public holiday.

VALLETTA

Beautiful, beautiful Valletta. Europe’s Capital of Culture 2018. And while it may be one of Europe’s smallest capital cities, it is absolutely rammed with history and beauty. The first thing you’ll notice is the Baroque character of the buildings, the narrowness of the streets and the delicious “age” of the city.

bridge outside and located close to Victoria Gate at the South end of Valletta. Wine bar combined with atmospheric lighting and good platters make for a unique experience. Unique, as in it’s all out doors. You’re sitting on stairs and on the actual bridge. Very bohemian and only available during summer.

The peninsula that Valletta is built upon is between two natural harbours, that of the Grand Harbour and the Masamxett Harbour.

This means that the city sits perched upon higher ground- this means that the grid-like streets are often very hilly. We have it on good authority that this is so allow the sea breeze to cool the streets during the hot summer weather.

THINGS WORTH SEEING

Now the seat of several government departments and being the island’s commercial hub, Valletta is packed with sites of historical significance, with many of these biscuit coloured buildings dating back to the 16th century. As such the whole city has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since the 80s.

Uniquely however, is the city is not swarming with tourists. You spot the odd one, armed with a camera, a hat, a bottle of water and a backpack or a handful travelling in a group but other than that it is remarkably quiet and possesses an entirely different buzz.

This could be because it is in fact tiny, at just 0.55km squared!

Not only is it very wee, it is also one of the youngest cities in Europe. Built by the Knights of the Order of St John only 450 odd years ago it is barely into puberty in comparison to other European cities. Like most of Malta’s cities it’s location was chosen by the knights as a militarily defensive position and was funded by the Vatican to be created as a stronghold for Roman Catholicism.

DRINKS IN VALLETTA This is not a city for heavy nightlife and early morning return homes. Not to say that these options are not available but the style and pace of the city is something that certain encourages something different.

Trabuxu Making use of great architecture, Trabuxu is a casual wine bar set up in a semi-basement cellar with a gorgeous rustic decor. Enjoy a bottle of wine and some cheeses and just enjoy the moment.

Loop Bar A bit of a new one, Loop Bar offers a nod to the days of old when Strait Street was the hotspot for sailors stopping over in Valletta from the early to mid-20th century. It’s considered to have a bit a reputation for being a touch shady, but the bar does offer a cool atmosphere that’s worth a visit.

Bridge Bar Jazz sessions on a Friday night, casual seating on the steps and

The Upper Barrakka Gardens Quiet but popular the Upper Barrakka Gardens offer magnificent panoramic views over Grand Harbour. It’s well worth a quick stop for coffee and a snack at the kiosk. Don’t be surprised though at noon at 4pm when they fire the guns at the Saluting Battery.

City Gate Located on the city’s southern side and the man entry point to Valletta the gate leads you straight into Republic Street, the city’s main street. Go across the footbridge overlooking the ditch, passed the impressive bastions on both sides of City Gate and boom, you’ll get an instant glimpse of Valletta. Perfect for a good Instagram shot.

Church of Our Lady of Victories This holds the foundation stone of Valletta that was laid here. It’s a simple 16th century church and was the first building erected in Valletta.

Merchants Street One of Valletta’s longest and most interesting streets. To avoid getting lost, use it as a starting point to go for a wander around the shops, cafes and churches dotted all over the small city.

A TOUCH OF CAPITAL HISTORY St. John’s Co-Cathedral May have an unassuming exterior but the interior is richly decorated and entering it for the first time is quite incredible and makes it clear how important religion and the culture of worshi p was to the original knights who built it.

Fort. St. Elmo Also built by the Knights and located at the ti p of the peninsula has been restored recently and also houses the National War Museum, which is fascinating considering how much war this small island has been involved in. To be accurate, World War Two did it’s best to sink Malta as it was bombed more than anywhere else on the planet. This is common knowledge, (as is that some people think the island is still rebuilding). What is not common knowledge is that at the heart of the British defence of the islands lay the top secret underground control centre which is now known as the Lascaris War Rooms. These have been restored to incredible detail and demonstrates the fundamental role that Malta played in defeating the Axis Powers.

21

mellieha MELLIEHA As always, there is too much history in Malta to fairly cram it into one book or in all honesty just one visit. However, we have found some of the most striking locations that could be worth a visit if for the beauty, the relaxation or the opportunity to snap up some great social media selfies.

Mellieħa’s history is a long one. A number of megalithic remains, rockcut tombs, pottery fragments and primitive tools were all found around the Mellieħa hill. There are also many naturally formed caves around the base of the village which according to experts have been inhabited by troglodytes since 213 B.C. and used for living and burial rituals.

The village of Melliehħa was abandoned during the late 15th century due to fear of corsair attacks and repopulated in the 17th century when the Knights of Malta built their fortifications. In 1844, Mellieħa was established again as a parish and developed into a more modern town. Most of the buildings and streets in the centre of current-day Mellieħa date from that period.

PARISH CHURCH OF MELLIEHA (Our Lady of Mellieha.)

The Mellieħa parish church is dedicated to the birth of the Nativity Of Our Lady with annual feast occurring on the 8 th of September.

Designed in a 19 th century baroque style and built with traditional Maltese stone it has five bells that were brough over from Milan.

Inside the church are the five paintings by the famous Maltese artist Giuseppe Cali.

GĦHADIRA NATURE RESERVE (Bird Life Malta) In operation since 1978, this is the only place in Malta to go bird watching. Located inland from Mellieħa Bay, various species of migrating birds visit the wetland and the sale marsh every year and nature lovers can watch them from two opposing hides. It’s open from the November to May on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

Entry is free but donations are important as it helps volunteers maintain this one of a kind attraction in Malta. www.birdlifemalta.org Address: Għadira Nature Reserve, Triq il-Marfa, Għadira Bay, Melliehħa 356 7955 4347 IL- MAJJISTRAL NATURE AND HISTORY PARK Pack the water, shades and a hat for this one. This park promises coastal walks across rocky paths and superb views of the cliffs and the sea. Definitely worth a selfie but please, trust me on this, hold the phone with both hands. The rocks in Malta hate phone screens with a sort of vindictive anger.

22

The wild habitat in the park gives you a great appreciate for the arid Maltese countryside and the variety of wild plants and animals.

There are many common lizards and geckos and the occasional local snakes. This is perfect for nature lovers but if it’s not your thing don’t do it. The animals tend to scuttle away before you really see them and you have to wear proper footwear. Parking nearby.

Address: Interpretation Centre, il-kamo ta' Ghajn Tuffieha, MLH 5510, Triq Ghajn Tuffieha, Manikata +356 2152 1291 MELLIEĦHA AIR RAID SHELTER I am a fan of history and Malta offers troves of it. The Mellieħa Air Raid Shelter was a real treat. The biggest of the 46 shelters dug in the area during the 2 nd World War, it reaches a length of just over 500 metres and is now opened to the public thanks to the Maria Bambina Choral and Orchestral Society of Mellieħa. Admission is €2.80 and for that you get waxwork characters in the various rooms demonstrating how the Maltese took shelter during the bombing and otherwise left to your own devices to explore the tunnels. Totally worth every cent.

Address: Our Lady of the Grotto Street, Mellieha 356 7952 1970 Entrance: 2.40Euros.

THE SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF MELLIEHĦA Dating back to the 16 th century, the crypt was originally one of the natural caves found in the area and was excavated by Mario de Vasi, a Sicilian wine merchant who played a part in the erection of he statue of Our Lady of the Grotto. It is said, in local lore, that St Luke and St Paul visited the cave when they were shi pwrecked on the island. This is, according to legend, why two marble sculptures of the apostles are amongst the items within the sanctuary. Along with the sculptures are letters that devoted pilgrims and visitors in search of miracles leftbehind, with frescoes, oil paintings and icons dating back to the 17th century. There is also a small museum dedicated to Pope John Paul II who visited in 1990. The sanctuary opens daily from 0800 to 12.00 and 16.00 to 18.00 and on Saturdays there is a mass in English held at 10am.

sites THE TOWERS. THE RED TOWER St. Agatha’s Tower, Built as a signalling post for communication the Red Tower, also known as St. Agatha’s Tower, stands guard over Mellieħa Bay. There are a few towers like this along the coastline of Malta and this signalling tower was to communicate with Gozo. Capable of housing up to thirty soldiers the view from the top of the tower is amazing. For a small entrance free you can climb to the top and see Gozo and Mosta.

Winter Opening Hours: 16th September-14th June: 10.00hrs-–16:00hrs Summer Opening Hours: 15th June-15th September: Mornings 10.00hrs-–13:00hrs. Afternoons 15.00hrs-18.00hrs THE WHITE TOWER Torri l-Abjad in Maltese, this small tower was built in 1658 and overlooks Armier Bay. One of the 13 watchtowers built under the rule of Grand Master Martin de Redin to defend the Maltese coast. It has been a part of the area’s cultural heritage since 2009.

GĦHAJN TUFFIEHĦA TOWER Guarding Għajn Tuffieħa (Riviera bay) andIl-Mixquqa (Golden Bay) this tower was built in 1637 and is similar in design to Li ppija Tower which overlooks Ġnejna bay. The Għajn Tuffieħa Tower is longish in shape and the ground floor room is larger than the second floor one. It was armed with ½-pdr cannon and manned by four men, a captain and three men, who were paid by the University of Mdina.

POPEYE VILLAGE Who doesn’t love Popeye’s Village? The setting for the movie starring Robin Williams in the 1980s and created by Paramount Pictures.

Within the set itself, one can enjoy various reenactments by actors.

Visitors can also use the beach facilities to swim in Anchor Bay or just lie down by the beach. It costs to enter, but this is quite right as it is a set and not a village, it needs to be remembered. The package you get includes boat tri ps, entrance to the cinema on location drink and the use of facilities. A good cinematic history lesson for anyone interested. And a good place to play homage to the late great Robin Williams.

MELLIEĦA FEAST If you’re in Malta on the 8 th September make sure you come to the village feast. Dedicated to Our Lady of Victories. During the feast you also get music concerts, fireworks, folk singing food stands, religious processions and exhibitions of art.

BEACHES. Mellieħa Bay The most popular is Mellieħa Bay (or Għadira), also Malta’s largest sandy beach. Shallow, but crystal clear waters make it good for families and the novie swimmer. Snack bars, refreshement stands and facilities can be found nearby and you can rent umbrella and sunbeds for a small fee.

Paradise Bay Surrounded by high cliffs and with a view of Gozo in the distance, Paradise Pay is small, sandy and exclusive. It lies over the hill beyond Mellieħa Bay, on the road towards the Gozo ferry which departs at Ċirkewwa. Toilets and some snack facilities are available.

Armier and Little Armier We were suggested this one by locals. Located on Malta’s “Tail fin”.

How you get to it is go up the hill past Mellieha Bay, hang a right onto a bumpy road, then left when you spot a sign to Armier. It’s sandy, the waters are clear and there is a large snack bar for refreshments.

Slugs Bay Great for snorkelling. Slugs Bay is a small secluded beach off the beaten track. It lies on the same ridge as Armier bay, but on the opposite side. The name of the bay comes from the sea slugs found there. It is accessible from a winding path which takes you down through the cliff boulders to the bay. The clarity of the sea at this bay and the abundance of marine life make it very popular with divers.

Imġiebaħ Bay Another secluded beach with clear waters is Imġiebaħ Bay, you get there over a narrow road opposite the Selmun Palace. No facilities makes this a much less popular beach for tourists but this does have it’s advantages. Great for snorkelling, swimming or the more involved Instagram shoots.

Anchor Bay Dive Site Opposite Popeye’s Village, there is an excellent dive site that is very popular with the local aficionados. It has some of the best caves and rock formations in the area and this attracts a wide variety of marine life including octopus, groupers, parrot fish, moray eels, scorpion fish, cuckoo wrasse and many other species. If you’’’re not licensed to dive fear not as this is also a great location for snorkelling.

23

SLIEMA ATTRACTIONS

Cowboy hat, a gallon of water, sunblock and trainers.

a gallon bottle of water.

It was 9.30 am on a Saturday morning. An hour before the departure time and the queue leading to the Geraldine, in Sliema Bay, was already longer than one you’d expect from a nightclub. The morning Maltese sunshine was sparkling off the waters of the bay. The traffic was already honking along the main road and someone in one of the hundreds of apartments facing the bay was cooking bacon while singing Cher’s “Do You Believe in Love After Love”.

THE COOL PARTS OF THE TOUR

The queue was typical for such an adventure. The only Maltese in sight were the polo shirt wearing staff checking tickets and handing out coloured wrist bands. These determined whether you gained access to the “open bar” and the sundeck-bedecked VIP access on the roof. Myself included, I saw within the queue Americans, Canadians, Italians, Spanish, Dutch and, near the back of the queue like walking talking advertisements for eugenics, were the Swedish. Then there was me, the lost executive, a six-foot-six mongrel standing head and shoulders above everyone else with a cowboy hat and enough sunblock to drown a hi ppo.

I like doing the “tourist” thing. I figure that if I’m going to find out the best things about a location I might as well rely on the professionals to show me around. Sure, you could Google it ahead of time, but even then, some places that should be spoken about more often do not really make an appearance in Google.

PRELIMINARIES I find cruises fascinating. As a business model they don’t require a huge amount of capital, the profits are pretty much immediate and it’s almost entirely down to the creativity of those hosting the tour to make it a success. But there is no way to prepare for the awkwardness of people in a crowd standing in their speedos. With this in mind, the newly boarded passengers shuffled awkwardly around the boat, trying not to rub our bared arms against each other and hoping we would find a comfortable place to sit.

I picked a spot on the second deck, amongst the flocks of people in various swimming costumes and, while sitting there trying not to look lonely, I took stock of everything I had brought with me. Namely, my mobile phone (for pictures and to look busy if I ever felt people were pitying me), sunblock with the maximum SPF 50 (I was assured that to get any higher I might as well just wear a blanket), some cash and 24

Malta’s history is a long one. The island is mentioned specifically in the Bible and the association with the Christian faith is a substantial one, if understated. The island is a tactical military position for the Mediterranean and as such there are forts all along the coast line. The same coastline is speckled with a dizzying number of caves that have managed to avoid being damaged by graffiti and vandalism, partly because not all of them are easy to reach and partly because they’re being policed by the tourists and locals who spend their weekends lying on any available spot on the coastline chilling out.

I gained access to the VIP sundeck for the cost of 10 euros, and spent half the time there lying on a deck chair applying sunscreen and the other half in the shade, applying more sunscreen.

How is it that some people can bask in the sun like lizards on a rock and gain only the lightest shade of brown whereas a quick sprint from shade to shade will leave me looking like a Canadian flag?

We arrived at Gozo, disembarked from the boat and jostled with each other to get onto the open top of the bus and were driven through Gozo.

Gozo is less construction focused than Malta and so seems a little better put together. There is a lot of history detailing how Gozo was an intricate part of Malta and to a certain degree has managed to maintain its own level of sturdy independence. But even so, many people in Gozo travel to Malta for work.

We spent an hour and a half in the town centre of Gozo, where I enjoyed a big beef burger and chi ps and a 7-Up for a hiccuping amount of 5 euros. I sat under a gabana in the square in the middle of the Saturday markets. These markets open onto the roads and I couldn’t help but notice that the driving in Gozo is far more chilled out than the driving in Malta.

There was a bit of a jostle to get into the bus’s interior on the way back to the ferry as the sunshine was proving to be distinctly unrelenting.

The ferry then took us to the Blue Lagoon, which is the name of a bay on the coast of Malta. A glorious stretch of crystal clear water under the crumbling cliffs. I rented a pair of goggles and a snorkel from the

CRUISING AROUND MALTA staff of the Geraldine and spent a long time floating in the water. I’m a big fan of snorkelling, having spent most of my childhood in floating facedown in the Durban waters. The only reason my parents didn’t panic seeing me like this was the occasional jet of water from the snorkel, so I kept the same tactic going here.

to. The ferry owners could purchase some underwater cameras fairly cheaply and all that would be needed is for one of the staff members to offer to take some “underwater pictures”, or “Instagram shots”. Every single person I saw at the Blue Lagoon was at some point taking selfies, so there is a market for it.

The Mediterranean is very salty so you’ll float with very little difficulty, so this is a pastime for the lazy as well as the fit.

This extends into all the tours around Malta and Gozo. Tourists are now as interested in history as they are in getting pictures of themselves at historic sites. We are in the generation of “I am here pictures”.

Selfies are okay, but people want quality images for their social media.

Having someone on hand to take a perfect selfie and the perfect spot could really bring an edge to the tour as well as help people get the most out of Malta and Gozo.

SOME LESS COOL BITS OF THE TOUR It’s all a bit samey. The coastline of Malta has a lot of history to appreciate, but the forts are all quite small and you have to squint to see them from the sea, and they’re almost swallowed up by the immense amount of undeveloped land, which is sparse scrubland and very dry.

Once you’re away from the larger cities it just becomes a bit “Oh well.”

The tour through Gozo is the same and left me feeling a little bored. I enjoyed it, but there weren’t many “wow” moments, which I feel a tour should have.

The Blue Lagoon was a cool place to go. But our ferry dropped us off and left us to our own devices for a couple of hours. So, we either snorkelled or we lay on the rocks and sunbathed but even then it all became a bit… dull. The ocean is perfectly clear but there aren’t that many impressive fish and once you’ve taken the prerequisite selfies, once you’ve swam around, once you’ve baked yourself crisp in the sun, you start feeling a bit toured out.

DID I ENJOY IT? I enjoyed it. I found it to be quite informative and it was nice to get into the sun. However, I think that more could be offered. This is generally my feeling about Malta in general. The island has a lot to offer but, as the history shows, mostly people just don’t know what to do with it.

What I would recommend to all the cruises is to offer additional, free of charge services to the passengers. I was travelling by myself so I couldn’t take those cool Instagram images and videos that I wanted

RECOMMENDATIONS The sundeck is worth paying extra for. You get the chance to bask and you get access to all the other decks and the open bar, as well as the best views for the selfies.

Take sunblock and wear a hat.

Some people came off that ferry at the end of the journey looking as if they would spend the rest of their time lying on a bed unable to wear clothes while moisturiser bubbled on their exposed bits.

Take water. I was grateful to have my gallon of water because one, it’s hot, water is needed and two, the water is soooo salty.

Bring trainers, not sandals. The reason being that you can always put your phone, wallet and sunglasses into your shoes while you’re swimming. You’ll also be grateful when trying to walk across the rocks.

The Maltese islands are composed of sedimentary rocks, compacted sediments of rocks deposited from the ocean. This variety of different rocks means that erosion happens at very different rates so you have rocks that are sharp, ragged and something out of Dr Zeus’s worst nightmare. You cannot walk across them comfortably barefooted, and in sandals you could sli p out or tri p and you do not want to fall on these rocks.Trust me, take trainers.

25

tigne point

A HISTORIC PENINSULA ENCAPSULATING THE MALTESE SPIRIT

Sliema is a good city to have a base. You have the Sliema Promenade along the marina, many of the boat tours to Gozo take off from here and you have access to many well priced hotels and Airbnbs. This makes it a very touristy place but mostly people stay at Sliema and go somewhere else.

One of it’s definite high points is Tigne Point, a peninsula that was originally occupied by several fortifications and a British barracks complex.

For many years these were left derelict until being redeveloped earlier this century. It has become a major tourism spot due to it’s incredible beauty.

INFORMATION FOR YOUR SELFIES Originally, the peninsula was known as Punta di Santa Maria. The extremity is known as Dragut Point.

As with most of Malta, it has a tactical military advantage and the local militia had a small watch post on what is now known as Tigne Point in 1417. The Ottoman admiral Dragut stationed a number of cannons at Tigne Point during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, in an attempt to siege and capture Fort Saint Elmo from the Order of Saint John (Recall the falconers?). Unfortunately Dragut was killed by stray gunfire from the fort during the siege but the extremity still bears in name.

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION A running theme of Malta is that is it always in the process of building.

After the Great Siege, a chapel dedicated to Our Lady was built. In 1757 Lembi Battery was built in the area which became obsolete in 1792 when the Order built its final major fortification Fort Tigne. This fort, which later gave the area its name, played a vital role in the French Invasion of 1798 and the Maltese uprising that followed.

During the British rule of 1878 and 1886, the Cambridge Battery was built on Tigne Point to house a single 100 ton gun. In the 1890s,

26

Garden Batery was built to cover the area between Cambridge Battery and Fort Tigne. The British also built military barracks and a chapel dedicated to St Luke on the peninsula.

When the British forces left in 1979, the barracks and the whole area fell into decay and neglect. Parts of both Fort Tigne and the British barracks were plundered or vandalized. Garden Battery was buried and buildings were constructed over it, while Cambridge Battery was used as a restaurant, hotel and swimming pool.

In 1999, the Government of Malta issued an international call for applications for the regeneration of the peninsula. The derelict barracks were demolished in 2001 and the area began to be redeveloped from 2002 onwards by MIDI plc. This real estate development includes a mix of modern luxurious apartments, hi-tech offices, an aparthotel, shopping complex, cinema and an underground multi story carpark. The whole area was completely pedenstrianised. Other seafront apartments were also built in the area by GAP Developments plc. During the regeneration, Fort Tigne was restored after nearly 30 years of disrepair, while plans are being made for the restoration of Cambridge and Garden Batteries.

Since the redevelopment project, Tigne Point has changed considerably. The modern buildings, easy accessibility and other factors helped transform the area from neglected abandoned barracks to a popular area which is frequented by both locals and tourists as it has a number of attractions. The Fort Cambridge apartments, which were completed in 2012, are among the tallest buildings in Malta.

The Point Shopping Mall opened in early 2010, built on the site of the former Tigne Barracks. Parts of the mall in Pjazza Tigne still contain some architectural elements of the barracks, including a series of arches that run along the square. The Point is Malta’s largest shopping mall and it contains about 17,000m2 of retail floor space spread over three levels. It includes a supermarket and over 50 other shops.

u photo PHOTOGRAPHY

Budding photographer or professional, U Photo is probably one of the coolest ideas on Malta. Associated with AX Hotels, U Photo Malta gives the opportunity to not only be taken to the best places to get those awesome pictures that’ll go viral on social media in a heartbeat but also meet and network with fellow togs all at different levels.

TOURS

IN

MALTA

Fortunately, photography workshops are included and this really is an opportunity to learn how to take great pictures while actually taking great pictures. It is one of those reviews where the text is less important than the images so we’ll hand it over to some of the images from their website.

WEBSITE: With different categories of tours including AM and uphotomalta.com/about-photography-holiday/ PM tours to get the best sunrise and sunset shots, it’s the Gozo and Architectual Tours that grabbed CONTACT: how attention as one of the best ways to learn and +356 7999 9616 capture the history of this fantastic island.

ADDRESS: Seashells Resort at Suncrest, Qawra Personally, while I thoroughly enjoyed my time there Coast Road, Qawra, and think I did a pretty decent job when it came to my images I felt that I was not doing justice to this amazing place. I was failing to capture the true spirit and the awesome feeling of yugen that I had here. If only I’d had someone to show me how to do it with the experience of where to go and which angles work the best.

ARE YOU SURE

YOU’VE GOT EVERYTHING?

27

SPinola palace ST JULIANS

Not to be confused with Spinola Palace in Valletta, Palazzo Spinola is a prominent building in St Julians built in the 17th Century by Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola one of the Knights of Order of St John. It was enlarged in the 18th century and later construction was designed by Romano Carapecchia. Considered a masterpiece the building does feature an elegant clock upon its back which is a unique feature of secular Baroquean architecture in Malta. It was built originally “For the people’s recreation” as it says in Latin above the main entrance.

It is undeniably impressive, with three stories and when you look up at it with it’s majestic blue Maltese sky behind it, you get the feeling of how incredibly “present” this Pallazo would have been for what had been, at that time I very young city.

ADAPTIVE HISTORY Between 1860 and 1922 Palazzo Spinola served as a military hospital, for this end the British leased the palace for the sum of £20 a year and it was known as the Forrest Hospital. It was a post World War 2 shelter for the homeless, a museum of modern art and even the Ministry of Tourism. Since 2007 however it has hosted the Headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean.

At construction it had a number of ancillary buildings, including a chuch, two boathouses, a belvedere and a stables. These do survive today and are owned privately with the palace itself belonging entirely to the Maltese Government. Originally there were extensive gardens including wineyards but these were minimized over the years and now are only an eclosed back garden and a small front public garden.

There is a lot of local knowledge about the Palazzo Spinola that we found quite entertaining. The fact that it does say above the entrance “For the People’s Recreation”. The British must have taken this literally because while it was a military hospital from 1860, it served generally but not exclusively to soldiers suffering from venereal diseases.

Unfortunately, Palazzo Spinola was not built to be a hospital and through out it’s tenure as Forrest Hospital it had problems. There were serious issues related to poor drainage and ventilation which only made the cholera outbreak of 1865 even worse. However, there were few buildings available to serve as a hospital and by the 1900 the accommodation of the hospital outgrew its walls and they had to set up tents in the garden. Thankfully by 1906 the sewer system was improved upon. It continued housing the important work of doctors and nurses for a further 28

16 years, throughout the First World War until it finally end it’s life as a hospital in 1922. But it would latr be used in the 1940s as a shelter for people left homeless after the Axis Powers visited the island in World War 2.

Restored between 1984 and 1986 it became the host to the Museum of Moern Art on the upper floors, but after its opening it did not manage to attract a reasonable amount of visitors. IN 1006 i plans were made for it to be used as a Ministry for Tourism and this took off in November 1998 but then the ministry was moved to Auberge d’Italie in Valletta. It was restored again 20062007 and the crown on the clock which had been missing since 1798 was replaced.

In 2006 Malta submitted interest in putting the headquarters of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) in Palazzo Spinola. For this purpose, the main areas of the palace were converted and put available for the parliament’s requirements. It was inaugurated and handed over by Prime Minister of Malta Edward Fenech Adami on 22 November 2007. Between the night of 12 and 13 March 2009 unknown perpetrators have illegally entered the building causing damage to the premises and committing a robbery of a number of items used by the PAM. A renewal for a continuous use of the premises was signed on 10 December 2014,[ by the Minister for Foreign Affairs George William Vella and the President of the Parliamentary.

Only the building’s cellar, which houses L-Għonnella Restaurant is open to the public which is appropriate as the palace was well known for its large amounts of wine secured in its cellars during the Order of St. John.

Church of the Immaculate Conception This church was constructed nearby along the same time as Fra Paolo Rafel Spinola built the palace. The first stone of the church was laid on 16 June 1687 and was consecrated the following year on 10th September 1688. 1914 saw the chuch enlarged and its façade built.

Boathouses When the palace was built, two boathouses were constructed on the rocky shore of Spinola Bay. The boathouses are rather plain, and have two arches leading to a wide open area. The boathouses are now restaurants, with the one on the left called San Giuliano and the one on the right called Raffael. Both restaurants are managed

by San

Giuliano Catering Ltd. Belvedere and stables Cut away from the palace’s original garden is the Spinola Belvedere. Today the gardens on this side of the palace are built up with modern roads and housing estates. The belvedere is currently under renovation.

Along the way is the building of the stables that were restored in the 1990s to accommodate the Sardinella Restaurant and since 1993 has been occupied by a Pizza Hut restaurant, the first to open in Malta. A further refurbishment was carried in 2006, when the restaurant was given a blend combination of old and modern design. Pizza Hut celebrated their 20 years anniversary in Malta at the building in 2013.

29

JETFLY You cannot, cannot come to Malta and not do a Jetfly course. It would be inconceivable to miss out on this opportunity.

JetFly out of St Julians will offer basic training on how not to kill yourself on one of these awesome gadgets. This includes on land and in water training, Time: dependent on offer. remote throttle control by instructor, steering, stabil- WEBSITE: http://www.jetfly.me/ ity and elevation control.

CONTACT: 00356 79 099 111 ADDRESS: MSS Cutty Jean, Tigne Seafront, Pier No Then boom, you’re flying above the water and having 103, Sliema, Malta. a extraordinary time. They will even take pictures of you while you’re doing it!

GAME TASK: Midair picture #JetFly #LogBookTask.

Additional offers include accommodation at sea on the historical Cutty Jean.

APPROXIMATE PRICE: 80 euros

Gardjola Gardens THREE CITIES BONUS At the point of Senglea’s peninsula is a garden that sits atop the historical coastal fortifications. The garden is not that impressive, save for some trees practically bent over by the wind. The views however are magnificent. You can look back at Valletta and admire it from another angle.

GAME TASK: Selfie with the turret at the ti p of the gardens and Valletta in the background. #GardjolaGardens #LogbookTask

MALTA 5D An engaging and foreward thinking approach to get people interested in the history of this wonderful island. Worth a visit with colleagues, families or yourself it should really be on your bucket list as the revamped theatre takes you on a unique journey of Malta’s rich history and culture.

Monday - Saturday Starting at 09:30, every half an hour until 17:00 Sundays & Public Holidays Starting at 10:00, every half an hour until 14:00

Contact: 356 2735 5001 Moving seats, air blasts, water sprays and leg ticklers give you a fully immersive experience, available Website: www.malta5d.com in 17 languages the 20 minute footage takes you on a fast paced journey and brings Malta’s history to life. Address: 7, Old Bakery street Valletta, Malta VLT1450 There are some non-moving chairs available on request if necessary.

Game Task: Glasses on selfie on premises after show. #GlassesOn #5DMalta #LogBo

30

Hotels WIFI: Super Fast LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 12.00 CONTACT: +356 2133 3444 WEBSITE: www.thepalacemalta.com ADDRESS: High Street, Sliema SLM 1542, Malta.

GAME TASK: Selfie with a copy of Logbook at downstairs bar with Lost Exec Cocktail. #PalaceHotelMalta #LogBookTask

THE PALACE HOTEL Situated in the heart of Sliema, The Palace Hotel is a 5 star city centre luxury hotel owned and operated by AX Hotels. The hotel comes highly rated for its high level of service, gastronomy and city centre location. Also, it caters for the professional traveller.

ROOMS All of the rooms overlook the city’’’ s skyline comprised of the traditional limestone flat roofs that Sliema is so famous for as well as Valletta’s harbour in the distance. The Palace offers luxury hotel rooms with 17 comfort rooms overlooking the internal courtyard. 76 deluxe rooms, 40 superior rooms, 12 executive rooms, 6 Designer suites and 9 junior suites.

THE DESIGNER SUITE COLLECTION A massive USP of The Palace is it’s “Designer Suite Collection”. These elegantly furnished suites are inspired by beauty of the senses and offer different designs of view, texture, music, light flavours and fragrance based on classical and contemporary lines. All aimed at providing the guest with an ultimate experience in hospitality which is exclusive to The Palace.

FACILITIES A wide selection of facilities are offered ranging from spa and health centres to advanced fitness equi pment. There are also two swimming pools, one inside and one outside and a

popular rooftop terrace where guests can experience the scenic views of the Mediterannean Harbour.

FOOD AND DRINK TemptAsian, which is listed as one of Malta’s leading 35 restaurants for high-standard fine cuisine and service has been followed by the Palace’s “The Tabloid Restaurant” which was awarded being one of the top 5 restaurants on the island for Sunday Buffet Lunches.

Talk of Town Café, at the Palace is an “All day bar, diner and café, serving breakfast items, afternoon tea, lunch time sandwiches and meals during the day. In the evening it transforms into a chic bar serving a vast range of fine wines, spirits, aperitifs, cocktails and food platters.

BUSINESS EVENTS, CONFERENCES AND WEDDINGS The Palace offers a variety of exclusive wedding and event venues designed from concept to décor stage in order to ensure the perfect setting. The hotel is one of the only hotels in Sliema that can offer the perfect setting for groups and conferences as well as weddings and events.The exclusive venues namely the Royal Hall, the State Hall and the Alexandra Gardens and the Tabloid. All venues can offer customised settings as well as pre-themed coffee breaks in pre-function areas or the Alexan31 dra gardens.

Hotels

WIFI: Fantastic LANGUAGES: English, Maltese and European CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 2133 4711 WEBSITE: www.victoriahotel.com/ ADDRESS: Gorg Borg Olivier Street, Sliema SLM 1807, Malta GAME TASK: Selfie at the outdoor pool overlooking the city of Sliema. Well holding the Logbook at eye level. #VictoriaHotelMalta #LogBookTask

VICTORIA HOTEL With all the charm and comfort of home, The Victoria Hotel is perfect for a romantic getaway, vacation to Malta or a business trip. Allowing you to rest easy knowing that youand your party or entourage will be received with the highest class of service and a warm welcoming smile.

ROOMS The ever-changing catwalk culture was a partial influencer of materials chosen for the rooms and suites including the antique gold wingback headboard, wardrobe doors and curtained in luxurious hound’s tooth fabric and velvety red leaves embossed on the high-end wallpaper. Black and white or blue checkered tile patterns of the bathroom were introduced to give an eclectic edge yet to retain that retrospective Victorian look. Playful pugs depicted on the tapestry cushions is a symbolic detail of the hotel embodying Queen’s Victoria’s passion for pugs as well as her inspirational style. Whether you are travelling for business or leisure with a choice of the Junior Suites, Deluxe, Superior, Classic Balcony and Classic Rooms you will be sure to find the most suitable choice of your accommodation.

FACILITIES Swimming pools indoor and outdoor, with breathtaking Sliema rooftop views, spa and 32

wellbeing club and our health and fitness club are there to help you relax, pamper guests and reduce stress levels completely.

FOOD AND DRINK The Victoria Hotel not only caters for comforts of sleep and relaxation but also provides a variety of options to choose from for an ideal meal be it breakfast, lunch or splendid dinner.

Refinement and self indulgence define the character of the Copperfield’s Restaurant’s setting throwing you back in time of the eloquent XIX century and giving you the xperience of a true Mediterranean food journey.

The Penny Black Bar offers great pub classics and local traditional dishes served in a cosy ambience with friendly folks behind the bar and the taste of hommade burgers to die for.

EVENTS, CONFERENCES AND WEDDINGS Our range of different venues can all be customeised according to your needs and can include wedding/party set ups, banquets, themed coffee breaks in prefunction areas, business breakfast meetings, product marketing and business relationshi p building.

Plan and host your events, parties, meetings etc with the Victoria Hotel for elegant efficiency.

Hotels WIFI: Yes LANGUAGES: Multi ple. English, Maltese and European CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 21 224 821 WEBSITE: https://www.casaellul.com/ ADDRESS: CASA ELLUL, 81, OLD THEATRE STREET, VALLETTA VLT1429, MALTA. GAME TASK: Rooftop views.

Get the best one you can. #RooftopCasaEllul #LogBookTask

Photo Credits: Casa Ellul

CASA ELLUL The most luxurious boutique hotel in Valletta.

This one is adult’s only, so this automatically offers more in terms of peace, quiet and sollilique.

Casa Ellul is one of the most luxurious boutique hotels in Valletta, situated right in the heart of Malta’s capital city. Located on a quiet street, yet within walking distance to all attractions, this boutique hotel offers its guests the perfect location to explore Valletta –a City rich in history, architectural splendour and religious iconography.

Originally a Victorian-period Palazzo, this small luxury hotel expresses a classical yet stylish design, inspired from a combination of past Baroque influence and present chic elegance.

This upscale sophistication is reflected throughout…restored patterned tiles, walls soaked in art and plush, prestigious antiques, traditional Maltese wooden balconies and contemporary private terraces with breath taking views.

ROOMS With only nine suites, we at Casa Ellul cater for the discerning guest, offering a highly personalized service including exclusive amenities, discreetness and individual attention.

This is what essentially makes our boutique hotel one of the best hotels in Valletta, and we pride ourselves of it, because we indeed excel at providing a luxury boutique service, and at making your stay in this beautiful City truly exceptional, and one to remember.

33

Hotels

WIFI: Fast LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: TBC CONTACT: +356 2331 2345 WEBSITE:

ADDRESS: 167 Merchants St, Valletta VLT1174, Malta GAME TASK: Selfie with Hotel banner in the background. #PalazzoMerkantiMalta #LogBookTask

THE PALAZZO MERKANTI Still under construction at the time of publishing the Palazzo Merkanti will be the first true 5 star luxury hotel located within the walls of Valletta. The Palazzo Merkanti is a time jump in history to a magnificent 17 th century baroque Palazzo.

Guests have the opportunity to be mesmerised by the intricate architecture whilst enjoying a glass of perfectly chilled Bollinger in our stunning central courtyard. Located at the corner of Merchants and St Christopher’s Street where the surroundings of the fortress city hint the timeless memory of the grandeur age or art and extravagance.

ROOMS This really is a high end experience.

Complementing the grandeur of Palazzo Merkanti are a collection of 27 design-inspired rooms, evoking the feeling of surreal luxury, wellbeing and serenity.

1 Meeting Room 27 Bedrooms 27 Bathrooms 1 Kitchen & 1 Dining Room

34

DESIGNER COLLECTION The Palazzo embraces six categories of our collection that offer a unique experience.

Secret Garden Terazzo Wellness Duplex Peacock Executive BUSINESS AND CONFERENCES With only 1 meeting room this is not a hotel truly suited to the business function. More aimed at the traveller with a taste for the luxurious.

ARE YOU PLAYING THE GAME?

#logbooktask #malta www.instagram.com/thelostexecutive 35

WIFI: Excellent LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 2247 6600 WEBSITE: www.www.lafalconeria.com/ ADDRESS: 62 Melita St, Valletta, Malta GAME TASK: Picture of you doing your best falcon impression on the bed. #LAFalconeriaMalta #LogBookTask

LA FALCONERIA Photo Credits: Brian Grech

Roosting in the heart of Valletta, the glorious capital of Malta, La Falconeria offers its guests the chance to truly experience Valletta´s unique character whilst surrounded by history. The city’s baroque architectural style perfectly fits with the finely detailed Rococo styling of La Falconeria.

Here you don’t just experience the city you become one with it.

ROOMS Forty three rooms are available at La Falconeria, of seven different styles in various sections of the building encircling the wide courtyard, which s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the fresh sunlight. The courtyard is accessible through the lobby or lounge and set in a mid-century modern style within the historic structure. The rooms all have the highest standards. Traditional Maltese tiled floors and en-suite facilities to make you feel at home. To take full advantage of the weather, man rooms have balconies and the façade of the hotel is dotted by them. French Balconies on the first floor, Traditional Maltese Balconies on higher floors, open balconies for the Suites, and a 35 square metre terrace for the Executive Suite. From the third floor upwards, guests can begin to enjoy glimpses of the cityscape, with harbour and distant seaviews. The executive suites on the upper floors also feature stunning views of no less than five beautiful cathedrals, along with views of Manoel Island and the Sliema promenade.

UNIQUE HISTORY La Falconeria has a very significant history. Due to Malta’s long history of colonial tourism, the hotel is set on Melita Street, previous to that the street was known as both Britannia Street and Rue de la Félicité Publique, it was also

36

Hotels bapitised by the Knights of the Order o St John in honour of Pope Pius V, as Strada Pia. But to the Maltese, the street was known informally as Strada del Gran Falconiere. You see, traditionally, the Knights of the Order were required to send a single Maltese falcon every year as an annual fee to Charles V of Spain, King of Sicily, who ruled Malta in the 16th century and had given the island to the Knights in their religious mission. This incredibly historic street is where they kept, trained and bred their falcons.

Malta’s incredible fresh produce all year round. The taste of Malta will be given to you on your plate, daily. The open kitchen at the end of the restaurant will also provide guests with a direct look into the kitchen as the chefs work, with the Maltese style flooring bringing everything together for a beautiful Mediterreanean look.

FACILITIES There are two sides to this hotel. The front half of the building is hundreds of years old; walking through the entrance, one is transported from the present back to the time of the renaissance nobility, with marble flooring and artistic finishes.

The latter half was destroyed in WWII, and was rebuilt in a modern style while in symmetry to the rest of the city.

An outdoor courtyard is central to this hotel, providing a tranquil oasis in the open air under the warm Mediterranean sun. These two sides of the hotel along with the modern facilities and luxuries complement the historic feel and live up to the city´s best descri ption: “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”.The name of this beautiful hotel was aptly chosen, conveying the Island´s – and this street in particular –amazing historical past. It’s central location ensures that you are close enough to all the historical landmarks in Valletta, but distant enough to enjoy the peace and quiet of times gone by.

Guests will be happy to find several landmarks and useful connections within walking distance. One can reach the city of Sliema within minutes via the harbour by way of the Sliema Ferry. Republic Street, the High Street, and national bus terminal are all within walking distance, and prestigious buildings and museums can be found everywhere you look. Yet, even though La Falconeria is so central, it’s position in a quiet side street just off the main thoroughfare ensures you have an oasis to come back to after your busy day.

FOOD AND DRINK Guests can also partake in the true tastes of the Mediterannean in the in-house restaurant L’Artiglio.

L’Artiglio - which means ‘The Claw’ in Italian – will be featuring an inclusive à la carte menu for breakfast for patrons. The restaurant will also be open to the public for lunch and dinner via a seperate entrance. Guests can enjoy lunch in the outdoor courtyard when the weather is nice, which is nearly all year round. There is also a separate bar and cocktail for a quick – or a long – drink.

The menu will be constantly changing - with no fixed menu, the chef-chosen daily specials will be seasonal, reflecting

37

Hotels

THE SAINT JOHN The Saint John is AX Hotels’ boutique concept of a #Smart space for smart #People. Based in the heart of Valletta, history, lifestyle and technology find each other in this exquisite hotel.

A member of the AX Hotels, the Saint John brings to life the historic value of the 17 th Century building and offers 21 personalised rooms equipped with the latest technology.

ROOMS Drift into an inspirational retro and industrial vibe, with exposed brick aesthetics and raw materials to suit the taste of the modern “stri pped back” look which is making a resurgence.

The Saint John offers comfort and total control of your space with the use of interactive hospitality, smart design and a 24/7 reception desk service available for your convenience.

The sorts of rooms available are: Comfort Rooms Deluxe Rooms Superior Rooms Superior Quad Rooms Suites with a Terrace.

38

WIFI: Super-Fast LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 12.00 CONTACT: +356 2124 3243 WEBSITE: www.thesaintjohnmalta.com/ ADDRESS: 176, Triq Il-Merkanti, Valletta VLT 1174, Malta GAME TASK: Selfie in room at window with a cup of tea/ coffee pointing at something from your window. (Whatever you’re pointing at must be referenced by name for full points).#LogBookTask

FOOD AND DRINK The dining at The Saint John is definitely something to be experience first-hand. The trendiest dining brand in Malta, the Cheeky Monkey is one of the coolest gastropubs you’ll find in Valletta.

BUSINESS, CONFERENCES. Equi pped with the latest technology, The Saint John can provide 2 meeting rooms, holding up to 10 people each and bespokely catering to the function’s individual needs to turn their meeting rooms into an office away from the office. Super-fast wifi is standard.

Hotels

WIFI: Yes LANGUAGES: English, Maltese and selection of European languages CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 2138 4421 WEBSITE: www.behotelmalta.com ADDRESS: Bay Street Tourist Complex, St. George’’s Bay, San GĠiljan STJ 3311, Malta GAME TASK:

BE HOTEL What got me about this was the access to the pool on the rooftop.

After several days in the crowded streets of St Julians or basking on the beachfront you might want to spend an afternoon swimming in the rooftop pool of this wonderful hotel.

200 yards from the sandy beach of St George’s Bay and boasting a 4 star rating, Be. Hotel is located with the Baystreet Tourist Complex.

The pool, with it’s panoramic view is on the 11th floor rooftop terrace.

ROOMS The rooms are all air-conditioned and come with free WiFi, an interactive HD TV and en suite bathroom with a hairdryer and free toiletries. What I liked about them was that while these rooms are styled in the minimalist style that many hotels adopt, the bathrooms are spacious and darkly tiled and the rooms do have their own unique feel.

CORPORATE Cognisant of the fact that many corporate guests are frequent travels who live from a suitcase going from one hotel room to another, Be. Hotel have designed a Corporate Service which is aimed at giving you more service and more pampering so that whilst at their hotel you can feel at home.

Such things as Fast Track Registration and complimentary mini bar, turndown service, trouser press and an iron in the room.

Breakfast included in package, City/ECO tax by the hotel and the best one a Dolce Gusto Coffee machine in the room which is replenished daily.

Inside the complex you will find a huge number of shops, a family entertainment centre, a bowling alley and a large range of restaurants.

39

Hotels

WIFI: Yes LANGUAGES: English, Maltese and selection of European languages CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 2016 2420 WEBSITE: www.hugoshotels.com/ ADDRESS: St. George’s Road, Paceville, St Julians GAME TASK:

HUGO HOTELS Hugo’s Hotels are comprised of a team of industry specialists dedicated to complete integrity, courtesy and guest satisfaction. The brand strives to deliver top-quality service and creativity on every level, through consistent professionalism and attention to detail.

Whether you want to discover historic Valletta, picturesque Mdina, the beaches in From high quality hospitality to truly unique cui- the north or the countryside in the south, or sine concepts, our goal is to complement want to get to the airport 8km away, you will and exceed your expectations for your stay. find easy bus connections nearby. Of course, Both Hugo’s Boutique Hotel & H Howe are also happy to arrange taxis or car tel are superbly located in the very heart of rentals for you at any time.

Paceville –Malta’s famed entertainment district.

By choosing to stay here, you will be able to Hugo’s Boutique Hotel & H Hotel really puts make the most of the vast range of shops, you in the heart of wonderful Malta, so that bars, restaurants and clubs that surround it, you can make it your playground! as well as the sandy beach at St George’s Bay, which is just a two-minute walk from the hotel. There really is so much to explore and enjoy here that you will never be bored!

However, both hotels are also perfectly situated if you want to explore beyond our neighbourhood. Pretty St Julian’s is a five-minute walk away, while the commercial capital of Sliema –with its shops and malls is 30 minutes walk or a quick bus ride away.

The rest of the island is also with easy reach.

40

Hotels WIFI: In-Suite LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: reservations@julessuitesmalta.com WEBSITE: http://julessuitesmalta.com ADDRESS: Jules Suites, Triq Sant Andrija, St Julian’s, Malta GAME TASK: Freshly made cup of coffee, with the coffee cup reflected in one of the surfaces within the studio suite. #JulesSuites #LogBookTask

JULES SUITES Boutique luxury self catering studios in the heart of St Julians. No 24 hour desk service at the front but your own space and luxury enivornment. Managed by the Hotelogique group. Self catering has never been so luxurious and comfortable. Stylish and appropriate. With different studio sizes to suit different sized parties and needs, Jules Suites gives the guest a lovely sense of “being”.

FOOD Between 08.30 and 10.00 a basic continental breakfast is served on the ground level.

If you have any requirement for outside caterine or wines, you can let management know and they will happily source. A shopping basket can also be offered, with two food packages of items to find in the kitchen upon arrival, to arrange this speak with the Guest Relations Manager.

EXCURSIONS Some of the best tours of the island can be found on Jules’ Suites’ website including tours around the neighbouring city of Valletta, the medieval town of Mdina and a full day spent around Gozo.

A back terrace offers additional dining or as a relaxation area during the day. During the day this room can also serve as a business lounge, with a coffee machine available.

41

Hotels

WIFI: Yes LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT: +356 2014 1500 WEBSITE: www.spinolahotel.com/ ADDRESS: Triq il Qaliet, STJ 3240 St Julians, Malta GAME TASK: Create a smiley face on the bed using duvet and pillows. #SpinolaSmileyFace #LogBookTask

SPINOLA HOTEL St Julians is one of the main nightlife capitals of Malta. If you’re anything like me, you don’t need a room to be spectacularly unique because you’re not going to be spending a huge amount of time in your room. I was interested in the essentials: a very comfortable bed, clean sheets, a very good shower and ready access to breakfast and coffee in the morning. A nice view from the window is a plus and quick access to all the city’s highlights is a must.

Enter the Spinola Hotel.

ROOMS In hotels such as this it’s easier to criticise what isn’t there. It is a very good standard of a hotel room, the bed is very comfortable and doesn’t have a foot board- useful to know if you’re tall. The shower is clean and modern.

All the rooms have LED TV, satellite and cable channels, a minibar, private bathroom and hairdryer. The one thing I did not like was that ironing was available for guests at an extra charge. I find this usually to be greatly awkwardly and would prefer an iron and ironing board to be provided for in the room.

42

FACILITIES An 8 minute walk from the beach the Spinola Hotel is located in the centre of St Julian’s and I would suggest having breakfast on the outdoor courtyard which is particularly lovely.

Daily breakfast includes sweet and savoury items such as croissants, bacon and eggs.

There is also a bar and a shared lounger available.

The front desk is 24 hours and the concierge are on hand to direct you the various sights and sounds around the island.

The hotel is 200 yards from Spinola Bay, while Malta International Airport is 4.3 miles from the property. The lively Paceville district is a 5-minute walk away.

Hotels

WIFI: Yes LANGUAGES: English & Maltese CHECK IN: 14.00 CONTACT:

WEBSITE: hub-apartments.st-julians. hotels-mt.com/en/ ADDRESS: Triq Il-Mensija 82, Saint Julians, Malta GAME TASK:

HUB HOLIDAY APARTMENTS A little further away from the main party area if you’re planning on a longer stay I would definitely recommend HUB Holiday apartments. Having all the amenities you would have at home, including cooking area, kitchenette, fridge freezer, television and a balcony it is a home away from home. But it gets cleaned every day and there is that wonderful neatness that is always welcoming in a hotel room. Ten minutes from the beach this is the sort of place you come to where you want to feel like you a place of your own in the city.

CORPORATE There are no corporate facilities here.

Varìous restaurants and pubs are located in the vicinity. Balluta Bay and St.Georges Bay are 0.6 miles from Hub apartments. Malta International Airport is 6.2 miles away.

ROOMS Accommodation is air conditioned, comes with a flat-screen television. Kitchen, oven and toaster. Fridge and kettle.

The rooms are cleaned daily and there is a safe provided should you feel you want to stash anything away. It does feel very much like you’ve moved in and is ideal for if you’re staying three days to a week because at some stage you’re just going to want to cook something easy in the kitchen, put your feet up and watch some TV.

43

URSULINO VALLETTA Few people could encapsulate the spirit of balance better than Andrew Sultana, a gentleman one part financial-markets operator on one of London’s busiest trading floors, another part aspiring-hotelier in the capital city of Valletta. Despite the demands of his very busy life, Andrew took the time to speak with an eager travel journalist to reveal the masterstroke behind his Boutique B&B, Ursulino Valletta.

Ursulino Valletta is a small eleven room boutique bed and breakfast, creating a calm and luxurious home in the very busy and bustling old city of Valletta. It also offers some of the best experiences around, thanks to partnershi ps that have been struck up with some of the best restaurants and venues in the city, and the wider islands of Malta.

THE DREAM BEHIND URSULINO VALLETTA Originally growing up in the concrete jungles of Sliema and St Julians, Andrew reveals how seven years ago he dreamt up Ursulino Valletta when Valletta was a quiet, dilapidated and increasingly abandoned historic capital city. ““As the country grew richer and more prosperous, it was evident that the future of Malta was increasingly away from the busy hustle-bustle nightclub focused cities, moving rather towards the grand architectural gem that Valletta has always been.””

A major part of Andrew’s dream was to capture the beauty of 44

the Grand Harbour, which in his opinion is one of the most imposing and majestic places on Earth. ““I purchased the small property on quiet St Ursula Street with an idea of giving guests a quiet and luxurious home-away-fromhome that they could return to after exploring the city. I knew that it was important to offer our guests the best views of the Grand Harbour, and the result is our spectacular roof terrace, which offers guests at Ursulino Valletta the most magnificent views of one of the most beautiful ports on the planet.””

PARTNERING AND GROWING While the idea was always his, Andrew admits he couldn’t have done it without the support and help of his better half and his childhood-but-now-architect friends at CVC Architecture in Valletta, who supported not only the idea but the motivation behind it. “ “ Ursulino is as much their idea as it is mine, and we continue to work in constant partnershi p till this very day, 3 years since we opened for business, taking new and challenging decisions together on a regular basis. A bit like life itself, this project is a tri p, not a destination.” ““The effort was rewarded from the start,”” he says. ““We immediately experienced very high occupancy rates for the seven rooms that we originally opened with. We are now expanding our capacity to 11 rooms, with many more exciting plans in the pi peline.””

According to Andrew, their limited size meant that they had to partner up with other businesses on the island. The good thing about this is that their guests are able to enjoy the best of everything instead of being limited to Ursulino Valletta’s not inconsiderable facilities.

Hotels

He says, “ “ There is so much on offer in Malta that it would be a waste to spend it all at our hotel. So our guests get the chance to enjoy different restaurants each day, and pool or beach tri ps or boat tours around the island to offer a full and memorable experience. You have to partner with other businesses to offer the best.””

ANDREW AND HIS ISLAND Despite living in London for the last 18 years, where Andrew works on a fast paced trading floor in an Investment Bank, he has not forgotten his roots. ““I am born and bred Maltese”,” he testifies. “ “ London is great for work and metropolitan life, but if you like leisure like myself, and have a Mediterranean homeland constantly calling for attention, it is hard not to travel for leisure.””

opportunities to enjoy the Mediterranean Sea. ““But also chaos,”” he adds. “ “ Disorganisation and excitement are so typical of our rapidly-growing islands!””

FUTUREPROOFING HIS BEAUTIFUL DREAM With such a unique location and a product that is truly adored by the guests, Andrew says that he has no plans to try to replicate these USPs in another location. Besides, in his opinion the last thing the island needs is yet another franchise. ““Hence the plan is to grow what we have,”” he explains. ““There are exciting prospects for Ursulino Valletta and in five years’ time the hotel could be a very different, even more enthralling proposition for our guests.””

As a result, he travels a great deal, travelling to Malta at least once a month for ‘work’ involving sunshine, fun and visiting his beautiful hotel. ““There is little doubt in my mind that Valletta is one of the best places in Malta,”” he says. ““It is hugely attractive to me, and as far as I am concerned is the future of our country. I also adore the sea... put me on a boat anywhere around the Maltese islands and I am the happiest man on Earth. Nothing beats the Blue Lagoon in Comino on a warm and sunny day in Spring or early October, when the summer crowds are not there.””

Valletta and Comino are the two locations in Malta that truly encapsulate the true beauty of the island. To him they have the greatest history, possess the best of the culture and the best 45

And of course, there are always issues. While there are a few hurdles in building, like attaining the full and necessary permits, which Andrew considers a long but frankly fair process, the other issue with building somewhere new is capital. That’s something that is affecting many would-be hoteliers.

Andrew says, ““The cost of property, and indeed the cost of restoring these buildings is rising exponentially and I think it is increasingly challenging to make money in this business, despite the rapid growth of the market.”” ““You have to innovate and plan, and you can’t leave any stone unturned to make sure your business offers something unique, special and valuable to the guest.””

With this in mind Andrew’’s team have very specific instructions to ensure, at all costs, that guests leave Ursulino Valletta fully and completely satisfied. And in testament to this effort, a simple online search will reveal the abundant reviews that prove that they are one of the most beloved places in the country. ““I strongly believe that everything else is irrelevant. If guests are happy, if they leave strong, sincere and detailed positive feedback, that is what will make the business Teflon-coated to weather the challenges of technological and economic downturns or changes in the competitive landscape.””

A present commentary on social media is important to further develop this, as most comments, good or bad, will inevitably end up there. To keep on top of this Ursulino Valletta has a young and creative person employed on a part-time basis as Social Media Manager, dedicating about 20 hours a week to this pursuit. Mainly working on Instagram, which has become the new ‘must have’ platform, they are also busy on Facebook, Twitter and Google Business. ““I think it is also important to do regular collaboration with bloggers and other modern-day influencers,”” Andrew says. ““They do actually influence guest’s’ holiday plans.””

46

THE BUSINESS AND BUSINESS MAN BEHIND IT ““We get a good amount of regulars,”” Andrew says. “ “ But Malta and Valletta are still far from being as established as London, Rome or Milan in terms of the volume of business for us to get easy repeat business. This is why it’s important that we are obsessed with our guests being impressed.””

This obsession for him and his team requires a great deal of work. While the operational side of his hotel is run by his chosen team, Andrew is still involved in the business. ““I work in finance on a trading floor,”” he says, candidly. “ “ I am well versed in heavy workloads, tight timelines, and the need to make quick and important decisions. Ultimately, I believe in experience, and gut feeling. And most importantly, always looking at the glass half full. You have to believe that you can make the improbable possible, and always have faith in your team.”” ““I believe,”” he adds, ““in the work hard and party hard mentality, because life is a tri p and not a destination. However, this thinking has evolved since I now have two children, to whom I am wholly and completely dedicated. But there is a time for everything. Life is too short to waste.””

THE MALTA LIFESTYLE Malta was a lazy backdrop when Andrew was growing up.

Now it is a very smart and very cosmopolitan small country with an international and rapidly expanding potential. His concern with cultural change is that the Maltese are such a small culture and there is a risk of losing it, given how rapidly the country is importing people from all over the world.

“Nevertheless it is a positive force that has to continue, and a balance has to be found. Malta is experiencing great times.

This is no easier seen than the fact that people used to leave the country for better pastures and this has completely reversed now.”

But Andrew believes in maintaining the history of his island, and sees Ursulino Valletta as his way of doing this. His hotel occupies a 100-year-old building in a 500-year old city, which encapsulates the essence of Maltese history and culture. ““We overlook the Grand Harbour of Valletta, a place that saw one of the grandest battles in history, a battle between the Muslim Ottoman Empire and the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta. We employ people from all over the world who today consider Malta their home. We are Malta!””

47

Hotels

WIFI: Excellent LANGUAGES: English, Maltese & Dutch CHECK IN: CONTACT: +356 2356 1000 WEBSITE: www.radissonblu.com/en/ goldensandsresort-malta ADDRESS: Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands, Malta MLH 5510, Malta GAME TASK: Selfie on dining balcony with Ghajn Tuffieha Tower in distance.

RADISSON BLU RESORT & SPA The Radisson Blu Resort and SpaMalta Golden Sands, lies on the magnificent shore of one of Malta’s most famous beaches the Golden Bay. It is a hotel so there is a standardised level of accommodation comprising of 329 bedrooms, four restaurants and three bars.

ROOMS It is an amazing beach resort that offers everything from an upscale spa hotel, panoramic views and easy access to the sand and clear blue saltwater. Along with sunbathing, swimming and your usual beach activities their Mellieha hotel is near a variety of local attractions such as the Mosta Dome and St Paul’s Bay which is only 5 kilometres away.

Aiming and helping you make the most of your Mediterranean vacation, their spa resort offers lavish accommodation that capitalizes on the surrounding scenery with balconies and plenty of windows. Once you’ve had your fill of the sun, perhaps you’d like to enjoy the elegant interior design and modern amenities of the rooms including high-speed Wi-Fi and minibars.

48

FOOD AND DRINK Known to have some of the best dining on the island this Golden Sands resort offers four on-site restaurants and 3 on-site bars, perfect for celebrating special occasions over food and drinks.

BUSINESS AND CONFERENCE 12 attractive conference rooms suitable for corporate and social functions, the largest of which can host 900 people are available as is childcare should that need to be arranged. This can be done via the concierge.

city breAks And bleisure

49

Temptasian

Restaurants

S L I E M A

Photo Credits: Tempatasian Malta

Temptasian Rooftop Restaurant is situated on the 9 th Floor of the Palace, offering a new age of dining. Completented with magnificient panoramic views of Sliema and Valletta’s Harbour it delivers a fusion of Asian and western cuisines in tropical and relaxing Asian themed settings.

Chic surroundings and a warm atmosphere are complemented by a cool Asian fusion menu.

The selection of food takes you to different places; being China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam and India.

FOOD

PERKS

The food is frankly at a superb standard. Meals are well presented, staff are courteous and attentive. A variety of seating allows for unique rooftop views and the prices are not over the top. Maltese prices are generally quite affordable in comparison to the UK and USA, but we found them to be quite reasonable.

The views available are some of the best on the island and this would be a fantastic location if you were looking to make an impression on another person. So definite considerations if you’re looking for a romantic evening, or maybe to welcome someone into a business.

50

The restaurant is managed by Marc who became Restaurant Manager in 2016. He is Maltese and grew up and lives in Marsascala, a seaside village in southern Malta well known for some of the best fish restaurants on the island.

The Executive Chef is a gentleman name Joseph Xuereb, who has been leading the kitchen crew at The Palace since the hotel opened its doors in 2007 and has played a massive role in creating the style and taste of TemptAsian, turning it into the award winning restaurant that it is.

THINGS TO REMEMBER Closed for Lunch. Best to make a reservation.

GAME TASK Have one of the waitrons help you. Get a picture of you with a logbook in one hand and chopsticks from one of the rooftop views. #TemptAsian #LogbookTask.

WiFi: The Palace WiFi Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 2262 3409 Website: temptasianmalta.com

Masons Bistro

Restaurants

S L I E M A

Photo Credits: Masons Bistro

Totally found this place by chance while setting up a meeting for one of our sponsors of The Logbook and immediately fell for it. Simple set up, a kitchen, and a covered table area on the Sliema stri pe near Surfside.

The food is great, the drinks are generous and the staff are very attentive.

Facilities Simple. This is literally a bistro. I didn’t find any toilets or those sorts of facilities while I was there. But the view of the ocean is wonderful.

FOOD The Maltese cuisine here is so well known people travel across the entire island for a meal. The staff are always consciencious about the heat as well and will regularly ask if you’d like water.

GAME TASK Get a picture with one of the staff. #MasonBistro #LogbookTask

WiFi: Yes Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 2720 2734 Website: www.masonsbistro.com/ Address: 124, TOWER ROAD, SLIEMA, MALTA.

51

The Tabloid

Restaurants

S L I E M A

Photo Credits: The Tabloid

Absolutely perfect for a professional function, so great for a business dinner. Also works very well as a romantic meal or a family get together. Bit of a swanky alternative for those looking for ambience and traditional quality service.

In winter The Tabloid is renowned for its Sunday buffet lunch complemented by an extensive wine list. The lavish spread offers a generous selection of anti pasti that feature sushi, shellfish, meat platters and fresh salads as well as soups and home-made pasta. This is followed by a choice of 2 carveries and 4 main courses along with a number of vegetable dishes.

For those with a sweet tooth, the dessert selection will definitely tease ones tastebuds with the array of mouth-watering mousses, cheesecakes, sorbets, ice-cream and the delicious home baked white chocolate cheesecake.

FOOD

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Along with its Mediterranean menu, The Tabloid also offers seasonal themed nights that have become a popular choice with its patrons. The menu is armed with innovative starters and main courses including mouth-watering dishes such as pan seared duck breast and beef fillet with hazelnut crumble truffle mash.

It has a seated capacity of 100. This may seem like a lot, but it fills up fast. Book ahead.

52

This restaurant in Sliema also offers an assortment of fresh fruit. Cheese lovers are not overlooked and find an abundance of fine cheeses. During the warmer months, for those wishing to enjoy a nice meal outside, the al fresco tables on the sundrenched terrace are a sure invite. The Tabloid restaurant in Sliema was also named as the proud winner of the Tri pAdvisor certificate of excellence for 2 years in a row in 2014 and 2015.

WiFi: Very Good. Hotel Languages: English and Maltese Food and drink picture.

Contact: #TheTabloid #Logbook+356 2133 4711 Task Website: palazzocapuamalta.com/winedine/the-tabloid/ Address : Gorg Borg Olivier Street, Sliema, SLM 1807, Malta GAME TASK

Restaurants

The Talk Of Th Town S L I E M A

Photo Credits: Masons Bistro

Bang in the heart of Sliema and near the beautifully restored 18th century chapel, The Talk of The Town Cafecreates a distinctive and vibrant ambiance by combining fashionable dining, exquisite food and a healthy array of wines.

It’s the kind of place where we nested for a couple of hours and watched the world drift on by. You can do this either on a sofa or at a table, they leave that entirely up to you.

In the evening Talk of Town transforms into a chic bar serving a vast range of spirits, aperitifs and cocktails. It is the ideal place to round off the evening after a divine meal in one of The Palace’s exclusive venues.

And to ease the hectic life of business people the Talk of Town Cafe in Sliema Malta is now offering quick lunches; a select 30 minute lunchtime menu in a relaxing atmosphere. Guests have the chance to eat quality meals and still have ample time to get to their next meeting in comfort.

If you were driving in Malta and concerned about parking, don’t worry, if you spend over 10 euros there you park for free. This is particularly useful if you want to go shopping after your lunch as you can leave your vehicle there with safety.

FOOD It’s an ‘All day bar, diner & cafe’, serving fresh bakery treats & mouth-watering delicacies. Breakfast items, sandwiches & light meals are also served during the day.

GAME TASK Selfie. #TalkOfTheTown #LogbookTask

WiFi: Good Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 2133 3444 Website: thepalacemalta.com/restaurants-in-sliema/talk-of-town-cafein-sliema/ Address: High Street (or Triq il-Kbira for satnav equi pment) Sliema, SLM1542. Malta 53

The Barracuda

s t .

Restaurants

j u l i a n s

Photo Credits: Brian Grech

Definitely a great choice if you’re looking for that “on that water’s edge”picturesque feel that’s ideal for any sort of selfie on Instagram. Housed in a restored 18 th century villa the Barracuda Restaurant overlooks the spectacular view of Balluta and Spinola bay.

Also, a complimentary parking voucher is available to all diners for the nearby Le Meridien hotel car park.

Combining great food, great service and this breathtaking view to create a dining delight for visitors.

Established in 1978, they are currently celebrating their 40 th anniversary.

Facilities The Barracuda Restaurant is conveniently located along Malta’s most popular stretch of coastal promenade, the Sliema/St Julians seafront.

Situated only a few meters from the prominent church that overlooks Balluta Bay.

FOOD

THINGS TO REMEMBER

The kitchen at Barracuda has remained true to its Mediterranean roots under the strict eye of Chef Andrew Pace.

Thanks to the emphasis on locally sourced, incredibly fresh ingredients and that the menu is a take on Chef Pace’s best signature dishes, the menu is always a delight.

Reservations Essential

54

GAME TASK

Food selfie including Logbook.

WiFi: Yes Languages: English, Maltese & European Contact: +356 2133 1817 Website: www.barracudarestaurant.com Address : 194 Main Street, St. Julians, Malta

San Giuliano

S T .

Restaurants

J U L I A N S

Given the prime location, it is impossible to not notice San Giuliano Restaurant in St Julians. Overlooking Spinola Bay, it is an example of gorgeous Maltese aesthetics.

The floodlit arched boathouses which house the restaurant give it a fantastic atmosphere. Naturally the restaurant is very accessible from all directions, particularly from a red staircase (beautifully illuminated at night) constructed in the middle of a ramp which links the main road of St Julian’s to the Spinola Bay Fisherman’s Promenade.

alities, the floor to ceiling panoramic windows and the magnificent view make the ambience at San Giuliano restaurant unique. If you’re holidaying on the Maltese shores, make sure to pay San Giuliano an early visit during your stay so you will have the pleasure of returning.

Staying faithful to a typical Italian restaurant, desserts are home made by our Italian patissier, which include the likes of Cassata Siciliana, Rum Baba, Tiramisu, ice creams, sorbet and the much sought after Tart Tatin.

Facilities You can take a lift or use the spiral staircase to get to Reserving a table is absolutely advised because San the large reception, bar and lounge area of the restauGiuliano is highly sought after throughout the week. rant where you can enjoy a pre-meal drink or cocktail before taking you table in the dining area. You get a panoramic view of Spinola Bay. Especially favoured by Maltese businessmen, Italian and international personFOOD

GAME TASK

A team of expert Italian chefs run San Giuliano’s kitchen with anti pasti, pasta specialities, fresh fish prepared in various ways and meat dishes, with Filetto in Padella and Lombata di Vitella alla Milanese being amongst the favourites. Fish lovers cannot afford to miss out on San Giuliano restaurant since the restaurant’s speciality is a catch of the freshest fish and live lobster, which is brought in daily by fishermen who moor their boats just metres away from the restaurant.

Ask the waitron to take a picture of you with something with the San Giuliano logo on it and your Logbook overlooking Spinola Bay.

WiFi: Yes Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 2135 2000 Website: www.sangiulianorestaurant.com Address: Spinola Bay, St Julian’s, Malta

55

Peppino’s

s t .

Restaurants

j u l i a n s

Photo Credits: Peppino’s

One of those restaurants loved by celebrity and traveller alike.

Peppino’s is a highly popular restaurant on the St Julian’s waterfront. Very homely style, with tiled floors, checked tablecloths and quaint patterned crockery. Daytime meals and lunch are served downstairs, but at dinnertime all three floors are open.

For the best sea views, definitely get yourself to the top floor, but you have to book well ahead for terrace tables.

The stairway is packed with images of celebrities who have eaten at Peppino’s, many of which were in Malta making films.

Expect to find such faces as Daniel Craig, Ridley Scott and Madonna.

FOOD The food is good, but the prices can raise a couple of eyebrows.

56

THINGS TO REMEMBER Reservations Required

GAME TASK

WiFi: Yes Naturally, a selfie with the Languages: pictures of the celebrities English & Maltese around. #CelebrityBomb Contact: #Peppino #LogBookTask +356 2137 3200 Address: 31 St George’s Road, St Julian’s Malta

D Office Bistro

Restaurants

V A L L E T T A

For more of a lunch time, late bistro feel, D’Office Bistro is a great choice in Valletta. Kitchens are open all day from 11.30am to 10pm (Fridays and Saturdays 11pm), there is seating, wifi and the bistro is a convenient walk to offices, shops or when visiting Valletta.

All dishes are prepared fresh and they are especially recognised for their Mediterranean fish dishes which change daily depending on market availability. If fish isn’t your thing there is a wide selection of other delicious foods including super pasta dishes, a selection of great grills and other fresh dishes.

D’Office is determined to convince all guests that they are Valletta’s best Bistro

FOOD Full meals and platters are available all day and best to be accompanied by a glass or two of wine from our carefully selected wine selection from Maltese and foreign vineyards.

GAME TASK Selfie under the front door sign. #DOffice #LogBookTask

WiFi: Yes, but can be slow Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 9944 1120 Website: www.d-officevalletta.com Address: 132 Archbishop Street, Valletta, Malta

57

Rampila

Restaurants

V A L L E T T A

Photo Credits: Rampila

From the Bus Terminus in Valletta, walk across the pedestrian bridge and through the City Gate, which has recently be refurbished. You’ll find a wide staircase on your left. Go up it.

At the top walk for a few metres around the buildings on your right and go around the corner. You will spot an olive tree, an antique stone bench and the railings around the entrance to Rampila.

Go down the stairs into a tunnel that leads to the terrace. This tunnel was originally constructed in 1570 and was constructed and used as the access passage to the bastion gun emplacement. Now it has been converted into an intimate and atmospheric dining room.

Rampila is a unique restaurant situated in the historic bastions of Valletta, Malta’s capital city. Comprising of a restaurant wine bar, terrace and exhibition, the location has a fascinating history. Designed and built by the Knights of St. John in the

FOOD You can’t come to Malta and not enjoy Maltese cuisine. Naturally, Maltese dishes enjoy Mediterranean influences, however long relationshi ps with many cultures including Britain, Italy and North Africa have left their mark. Also, as young Maltese chefs have travelled abroad, the cuisine has taken on a significant international flavour.

58

sixteenth century as part of the defensive bastions guarding the newly constructed city of Valletta, Rampila is now a haven for good food and wine set against a spectacular Baroque backdrop.

Facilities Recently Valletta has undergone a remarkable transformation, with refurbishment projects restoring the classic structure of the city. The restaurant overlooks the recently remodelled City Gate and bridge, the handiwork of renowned architect Renzo Piano.

Rampila’s kitchen is founded on these traditions and their team have designed lunch and dinner menus to suit, as well as a selection of unique, freshly prepared daily specials. And as their website says, their fish is always market fresh.

GAME TASK

WiFi: Yes Languages: English & Maltese Contact: +356 7721 6007 Website: www.rampila.com Address: 1 St John’s Calavier Street, Valetta Malta

67 Kapitali

Restaurants

V A L L E T T A

Photo Credits: 67 Kapitali

You might think, “another clever bistro that have used their street number as part of their name�, and yes. 67 Kapitali have done just this, but you can forgive them that because the bistro is amazing.

Facilities Suitable for working during the day, with some charging locations. The atmosphere here is very subtle and comfortable. 67 Kapitali considers itself as a humble, family-run spot. The owners love hearty meals and smooth craft beer, especially when consumed in Valletta. It can be reserved for events or meetings by visiting their website.

FOOD While it may seem like they offer the standard cafe foodstuffs of sandwiches, salads, soups and platters, their ingredients, creativity and portions make 67 Kapitali one of the tastiest cafes in Valletta. Many of the ingredients are sourced locally and these include olive oil, capers, bread and meats.

Drink Craft beer is defined as being non-traditional or made in a non-mechanised brewery and 67 Kapitali have one of the widest selections of craft beer in Malta, including eight local beers on draft and their own specialty brew.

They also get creative with the rest of their drinks menu, which offers a variety of espressos, teas and organic sodas. The coffee is something to experience.

GAME TASK Selfie with Lena or Dom (Owners). #67KapitaliMalta #LogBookTask

WiFi: Unlimited Languages: English and Maltese Contact: +356 2738 0010 Website: www.67kapitali.com Address: 67 Old Bakery Street, Valletta, Malta

59

GIORGIOS

Coffee Office

SLIEMA Wow. The first thing you see when you walk into Giorgios is the view. Fantastic use of floor to ceiling windows give it one of the all-time great views of Sliema. An old coffee house that many generations in Malta have enjoyed they serve great coffee and an updated menu which all can be enjoyed inside or outside while watching Malta and thinking how wonderful the world is.

OFFICE As a coffee house office, it works because of the spectacular views you can enjoy. Great if you’re doing creative work that requires inspiration. But if you’re on a laptop that amount of sunlight can actually cause a glare on the screen. Also it can get busy and there aren’t that many charging points around.

Our suggestion, leave the laptop close, put the phone off, sit back and just soak up the view.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2134 2456 www.facebook.com/giorgiosmalta/ 17, Tigne Seafront Sliema, Malta Do something interesting with a coffee cup on one of the outside tables. #Giorgious #LogBookTask.

MINT

SLIEMA

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

60

PRETTY GOOD. EVEN OUTSIDE ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2133 7177 www.mintmalta.com/our-cafe/ 30/39 Luzio Junction/Stella Maris Street, Sliema, Malta Write on a napkin LOGBOOKING AT MINT. Take a selfie. #Mint #LogBookTask.

Malta makes full use of sitting outside amid all the things visitors to Malta love, like sunshine, good, generous food and great coffee. Mint is just like this. Reasonably priced and situated in a good location for views, it’s a great place to get a decent coffee and chill. The concept behind Mint is derived from the typical New Zealand style cafe. Expect beautifully displayed cabinets offering tempting food, all in a relaxed atmosphere of counter order, sit down service. Service is top notch. Cafe manager Kerry has been working in the hospitality industry for many years and, together with the rest of the team, strives to ensure the customer service is the best on the island.Smoothies, fresh food, great coffee and treats are all able to be taken away on the hoof as well.

OFFICE You could use your laptop inside or out, conduct business meetings with colleagues, or have a lunch with a friend.

Particularly nice if you’re writing a novel about a spy who ventures to the Mediterranean, just saying. Not many charging points so make sure you’ve got a full battery.

CAFE OLE ST. JULIANS

Coffee Office

Ever been in that mood you just wanted good, uncomplicated coffee and a heap of tasty, uncomplicated food? Like so many places on this wonderful island Cafe Ole is a good place to get uncomplicated quality and good service.

Facilities Upstairs and downstairs are both cosy and it is clearly decorated by the friendly owners and staff who have left their mark on the place. This is one of those coffee shops you’ll visit again and again.

Food & Drink Various menus of fresh food available, all made fresh for you and at a good price. The coffee here is really, really good.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT ADDRESS GAME TASK

NOT THAT WE FOUND ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2136 4528 63 Triq Il-Kbira St Julian’s MT STJ, 1017, San Ġiljan, Malta Selfie with coffee machine behind you. #OleCafe #LogbookTask

THE DONUT FACTORY ST. JULIANS We couldn’t possibly do the spirit of The Donut Factory justice so we’re going to borrow directly from their website: “Nothing makes us happier than the sight of the perfect treat.

And we know a perfect treat when we see it. We like to think of ourselves as bakers of happiness, creators of little packets of flavour that can’t wait to turn your mouth into a better place. And a happy mouth makes a happy person.

WIFI WHO CARES? DONUTS! LANGUAGES English, Maltese and the language of treats.

CONTACT +356 2788 4002 WEBSITE www.thedonutfactory.com ADDRESS 259 Tower Road, Sliema, Malta GAME TASK Picture with your favourite donut. #Favdonut #LogBookTask

Every day we wake up to a Donut Factory that is humming with enthusiasm, rearing to click and whirr and whizz into activity, just itching to produce the very first scrumptious bake of the day. Every day we bake fresh donuts, muffins and cookies from scratch, and transform each of our creations into a smile. One which comes out of our ovens, ready to be planted on someones face with the first bite.”

61

ANDRE’S BAKERY ST.QORMI JULIANS

Bakeries

I suppose you can’t be surprised that there are so many amazing bakeries in a city world famous for its bread. It is almost impossible to choose all the best ones. Andre’s bakery is stylish, put together well and of the same impeccable standards that you would expect in Qormi.

With a wide variety of baked and bread products the best approach is to have a set budget in mind or else you’ll spend all your money in the shop buying everything.

A marvellous selection of vegetarian and vegan options are available and all freshly prepared.

It is good to see that the bakeries in Qormi have taken it upon themselves to distinguish themselves as tourist destinations.

Highly active on social media with competitions, posts, reviews and updates it’s impossible to not become part of this community of food lovers and why should you fight it?

LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2149 1902 www.facebook.com/andresbakerymt/ Triq Il-Belt Valletta, Ħal Qormi, Malta Selfie with one of the bakers. #AndresBakery #LogBookTask

EMANUEL’S BAKERY ST.QORMI JULIANS

LANGUAGES ENGLISH & MALTESE CONTACT +356 2148 2239 WEBSITE www.facebook.com/Emanuels-Bakery-308149465977946/ ADDRESS Triq il-Mithna Qormi , Qormi, Malta QRM 03 GAME TASK Double points won on any selfie taken

62

in the bakery with the fire ovens behind you. #EmanuelsBakery #LogbookTask #DoublePoints

You have to have high expectations for a bakery when their online reviews start with, “Without a doubt the best pizza I’ve ever tasted.”

You may not connect baking with pizza, but if you’ve got skills you have to make use of them haven’t you? To be fair, to call these pizza’s “just pizzas” is like calling Picasso an “average artist” or Elon Musk as an “okay businessman”. These pizzas are incredible, not only delicious but visually satisfying. As is seeing the big fire oven at work.

Not a fan of pizza? No problem. Emanuel’s Bakery also serve chicken wings and di p, more regular bakery items such as rolls and buns and the most mindblowing donuts.

ONLINE INVOLVEMENT Whoever is running Emanuel’s Bakery’s social media deserves a great big floury pat on the back. A quick visit to their Facebook group which has over 30,000 likes, would allow you to scroll through their ceaseless feed of comments and compliments and personable engagements with customers and tourists.With such a functional social media, there seems to be no need for a working website at the writing of this brief, but in a way this works well. By not having a Emanuel’s Bakery is brought closer to the customer who can engage directly instead of going through the gateway of an impersonal website. This understanding of what the customer is looking for and how best to engage them made Emanuel’s Bakery a double prize for me.

IL-FORN TAL-GHAWDXI ST.QORMI JULIANS

Bakeries

Another fine example of combining great food and fantastic social media marketing IL-Forn Ta’L-Ghawdxi, in Qormi offers a selection of take away and sit in foods including pizzas and other delicacies.

Their pizzas are all wood fired. The confectionary items are dazzling in colour and taste. Known for deliveries that are timely and staff that are courteous and always on point you’ll miss the chance to have a meal here.

What I liked most about the pizza was the amount of toppings.

The first rule of making a wonderful pizza is the amount of toppings you put on it. We ordered in and the pizza arrived, it was sizeable and it was generous. An absolute delight.

LANGUAGES ENGLISH & MALTESE CONTACT +356 2144 4202 WEBSITE www.facebook.com/IL-Forn-Ta-LGħawdxi-243112909409131/ ADDRESS 44 Triq il Vitorja, Qormi, Malta QRM2501 GAME TASK Take out. Pizza box on the table.

Logbook next to it. #FornGhawdxi #LogBookTask

MAYPOLE ST.QORMI JULIANS

LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2258 1581 www.maypole.com.mt 504, Victory Street Qormi QRM2509 Inshop picture with your favourite treat. #FreshMaypole #LogBookTask

You’ll find Maypole bakeries across all major cities in Malta. It is one of the many major business chains in Malta that is a family business, this one operating in manufacturing and distribution of food products. Bread and baked products has become a mainstay of the company’s offering to the public and have been since it’s founding in 1900. Innovative and yet sensitive to the traditional pallets of the island, the company has a reputation for fresh baked goods of impeccable standards. Coupled with great service they have become one of the daily visits of many households on the island.

Making all of their own products at their baking facility on the island and leaning heavily onto a research and development team Mapole are often leading the trends of the marketplace not only within their main product but beyond it. An example of this is that their production facilities uses the latest technology in exhaust energy recovery to further supplement the state of the art solar and gas powered oven system. Through the recovery on waste energy the factory heats the required water and powers it’s A/C system.With a history that extends over a century into the past a conversation about the role the business has played in shaping the island would be a long one. Supplying the British forces during the 2nd World War and working closely with Mount Carmel Hospital and a number of small government institutes in the 1950s and then supplying St Luke’s hospital and St Vincent de Paul in the 70s, and now today being a major producer of a range of bakery goods not just for the local Maltese but for the many international tourists who can find their favourite treats at one of the stores.

With the establishment of a solid franchising model which enabled further expansion of Maypole beyond Qormi into eleven new cities: Zabbar, l-Iklin, Attard, Swatar, San Gwann, Bugibba Mellieha, and recently, Naxxar. Another major move was the opening of a new, state-of-the-art, centralised bakery and food manufacturing establishment in Tal-Ħandaq, limits of Qormi, in 2011. This entailed investment in automated bakery equi pment and the recruitment of qualified staff, which in turn enabled the business to offer a wider range of products and services. In 2012 Carmel Debono opened Nenu The Artisan Baker in St Dominic Street Valletta, through the conversion of an old bakery still equi pped with the original century old oven. This is a restaurant offering traditional Maltese cuisine while incorporating displays on the history of the bakery trade in Malta. The original oven of the bakery is still used after being totally reconditioned and the bakery itself underwent extensive structural renovation, making it a landmark establishment in Valletta appealing to both local clients and tourists.

63

CAFFE CORDINA ST. VALLETTA JULIANS Visit Caffe Cordina if for no other reason than to bask in the sheer opulence of it’s style. Founded in 1837, Caffe Cordina has a long and prestigious history. What started as a small family outlet in Bormla, that specialised in baking and preparation of Maltese sweet delicasies, which is something Caffe Cordina is still famous for. In 1944, the coffee shop was relocated to Valletta by the late Mr. Cesafe Cordina, forefather of the present family. He gradually enlarged the establishment resulting in the stunning caffe that now serves Valletta it’s sweet treats and amazing coffee.

FOOD AND COFFEE Caffe Cordina has established itself as one of the most reputable coffee shops in Malta. Something that attest is thanks to their continuous search for quality and their insistence on great customer service. The food is incredible here and well worth the somewhat expensive prices and the coffee is also, quite fantastic.

BUSINESS Caffe Cordina has been for forty years involved in it’s own catring business and have created a product line of Maltese delicacies covering gourmet products and sweets. Still made in the traditional way, these are available for takeaway at selected outlets throughout Malta and Gozo as well as at the Malta International Airport.

Cafes, Pubs & Bars

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES, BUT NOT GREAT ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2065 0400 www.facebook.com/CaffeCordina 244, Republic Street, Valletta, Malta VLT 1114 Your choice of confectionary item and hot drink, on table with Logbook. #CaffeCordina #LogBookTask

CAFE DEL MAR ST.QAWRA JULIANS

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

64

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2258 8144 cafedelmar.com.mt/ Café del Mar, Triq it-Trunciera Saint Pauls Bay, Qawra, Malta Selfie at infinity pool. Holding thumbs up. #CafeDelMar #LogbookTask

Offering stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and St Paul’s Island, Cafe del Mar is fast establishing itself as the place to be. Forming part of the Malta National Aquarium complex, Cafe del Mar is the ideal place to relax, have a swim and enjoy a drink from a variety of cocktails. You can also have a meal with an unmistakable and delightful Mediterranean flavour. Designed by one of Malta’s foremost designers, Mark Pace, Cafe del Mar sits magnificently at the water’s edge. The design is all about the sea and Mediterranean sunsets. The infinity pool reaches out into the clear blue waters. The seating area and pool deck have unobstructed panoramic views of the sea. The design is simple, predominantly white to fully complement the natural beauty of the surroundings. The central idea of the design is simple, and it allures you to sit and admire the views against a backdrop of ambient and chill-out music, synonymous with Cafe del Mar. Cafe del Mar is hugely famous around the world for its chill-out compilation albums which have been released annually since 1994, pioneering the chill-out genre. Special guest DJs will entertain guests whilst enjoying the surroundings.

GYROS & CHURROS ST.MSIDA JULIANS This was actually our introduction to food in Malta and was one of the first places we visited. It’s a slick stylish cafe/restaurant that contrasts with the surrounding buildings with its punchy design. It’s perfectly suited, only a short walk from Msida Marina, and offers a hangout area upstairs with pool tables and beanbags.

SEATING The ground floor and second floor offer wide tables and seating.

Upstairs is better for doing work though as it is usually quieter during the day and there are plug sockets for charging, which are UK plugs.

The table seating downstairs is more for people waiting for their food and so you get a lot of disruption if you’re trying to concentrate and get work done.

FOOD All the gyros and churros are made fresh in the kitchen, which is next to the service counter so you can see your food being made if you like. The gyros, ranging from The Boss Gyro to the Pizza and even the Burger Gyro, are loaded with ingredients. The gyros can get very messy if you’re not careful, so whenever I was working I would order one of their salads that would have more food than I could manage but were considerably tidier to eat (although in no way am I saying that a messy gyro wasn’t absolutely delicious. You should definitely try one).

Cafes, Pubs & Bars

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 9944 8376 www.facebook.com/gyrosandchurros/ Triq Misrah il-Barrieri, Msida, MSD 1180, Malta

STAZZJON

RABAT People rave about this place online. It’s quiet, scenic and attentive to the tastes and preferences of its guests. The reviews and recommendations for Stazzjon come from as many happy vegans and vegetarians as meat lovers. A fine example of how to listen to what customers are saying, the Facebook group for this restaurant/cafe is littered with mini conversations between customers and staff. Thanks to this, not only is this a café where the food and coffee is superb, but the staff are well aware of those few understated requirements of regular and new customers. Good for takeout, walk-ins, sit downs, food, coffees and big meals, this is a very nice place working very hard to create something new.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2145 1984

www.facebook.com/stazzjonrestaurantrabat/

Riq Ghajn Hammam Rabat, Malta MDN 9070 Food selfie. A meal with “Logbook Malta” on a napkin. #StazzJon #LogbookTask

OFFICE Charging points are a bit difficult to come by and those that are available are usually being used for people’s phones. But there are plenty of tables and chairs to use. Also, the location is quiet, so not many distractions. That being said, people do come here for big luncheons and meals so it can also get quite rowdy and this can get distracting.

65

THE BREW ST.SLIEMA JULIANS

Cafes, Pubs & Bars

The Brew has become one of the leading craft brewers on the Maltese Islands. Set up in the heart of The Strand Sliema Ferries, this unique and innovative outlet produces a variety of freshly in-house brewed beers. The Brew boasts of having different variants of crafted beers. Furthermore, The Brew takes extreme pride in having its very own kitchen, celebrating food that pairs perfectly with the incredible range and versatility of beer on offer.

FOOD AND DRINK A selection of delicious and fantastically prepared meals from a variety of cuisines, mostly revolving around pub food and fantastic craft beer.

Worth reserving ahead of time.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2703 0398 thebrew.com.mt/ Sliema, Malta 74, The Stand Selfie by the beer vats. #TheBrew #LogBookTask

THE HOLE IN THE WALL ST.SLIEMA JULIANS Originally stables, the Hole In The Wall Pub has a history of over 90 years of development and growth under various loving owners. Starting out as literally a hole in the wall serving takeaway wine from giant vats, it has grown and changed hands many times and has become one of those popular word-of-mouth places, and a much loved location in Sliema.

With an honesty about it that draws newcomers into it and turns them into regulars, The Hole in The Wall Pub is beautiful and homely and wonderful.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

66

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 9983 4378 holeinthewall.com.mt/ 31 High Street, Sliema SLM1549, Malta Selfie pointing to the Drawn Mirror on the wall. #HoleInTheWall #LogBookTask

DRINKS AND FOOD Offering coffee, drinks and eats, you can spend your time chilling out here inside or on the few tables and chairs outside.

Very reasonably priced and quickly filled, it is a good location to meet locals and have a good time.

BAR NATIVE ST. JULIANS

Cafes, Pubs & Bars

Whether you like sports bars or not, Bar Native is a reliable pub. Open until 3am it has good pub food in generous portions, its drinks are not overpriced, and the later you stay the more generous the staff become with the measurements.

Can get awfully rowdy, but what would you expect on the main stri p in St Julians?

Also good for the day time, being one of those places you come back to in the morning for your hangover cure.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

NOT THAT WE COULD GET ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2138 0635 www.nativemalta.com/ Paceville Main Staircase, St Julian’s, Malta There is an Indian Chief at the door. Get a selfie with the Indian Chief. #GoneNative #LogbookTask

RYAN’S PUB ST. JULIANS

Okay, a little indulgently there is always a place for a good Irish styled pub. Malta’s major import of different cultures and people is just as strong as Ireland’s export of its own people. People love the feel of a good Irish pub.

One of the oldest Irish pubs on the Island, Ryan’s was the first to serve both Guinness and Murphy’s Stout on draught. Perched on a hill overlooking Spinola Bay, it is in a prime location and is very popular.

It is known for being one of the cheaper places in Malta to drink and is a sports bar so matches of your favourite football and rugby teams can be watched in the bar.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 9942 0011

The venue is transformed into a lively nightclub at night.

www.facebook.com/RyansPubMalta/

Triq Wied l-Ghomor, Saint Julian, Malta While in the pub, short video of you saying, “LogbookTask Ryan’s Irish Pub. Complete.” In your best Irish accent.

67

THE BEER CAVE ST. VALLETTA JULIANS

Cafes, Pubs & Bars

At the beer cave they offer a selection of over 100 worldwide beers, accompanied with homemade food and regular live music in their 450 year old cellar, plus there’s an outdoor seating area overlooking Castille Square.

Stylish and very memorable, this atmospheric venue is open from 7pm until the small hours of the morning. Reasonably priced, it is the sort of place to begin and end an evening.

Busy throughout the week, but weekends are packed.

Live music is regularly on, featuring some truly amazing bands and the views from outside are quite stunning.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

YES ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 7932 8068 www.facebook.com/TheBeerCaveMalta/ Castille Hotel, Castille Square, Valletta, Malta Selfie at the bar with a The Beer Cave Barmat and the Logbook in the picture. #TheBeerCave #LogbookTask

SURFSIDE

SLIEMA Surfside is pretty much a setting for a music video. It’s right on the edge of the water, it has sun loungers, its own pools, good food, great drinks and is usually surrounded by people in swimwear.

FOOD AND SERVICE We visited often, sometimes to meet clients, where it was useful to have a relaxed environment with some great views, and sometimes to just relax and enjoy the drinks. A variety of food is on the menu to suit a number of palates, and the drinks are consistent if not a little pricey.

WIFI LANGUAGES CONTACT WEBSITE ADDRESS GAME TASK

68

FREE WIFI ENGLISH & MALTESE +356 2134 5384 surfsidemalta.com/ Tower Road, Sliema, Malta Get a picture in the rock pools. #Surfside #LogbookTask

ATMOSPHERE Definitely a beachside sports bar. Packed the moment there is any sports on the television and when the sun is out, which it always is, people are relaxing and having a good time. It’s difficult to not feel good about where you are sitting here and relaxing.

IT’S CLEAN The other important thing is that it’s clean. As I said, we brought clients here and the tables were always wi ped down and the seating was clean. Little details like this make the biggest differences.

Life Changing Design Made Simple

w w w. v i s i o n t r i b e . c o. z a | t h e t r i b e @ v i s i o n t r i b e . c o. z a 69

Rules: 1.Geotag every picture 2.Follow instructions 3.Be creative but never offensive 4.Use at least all the hashtags suggested 5.Take time to appreciate your surroundings

4.Tower Selfie. There were thirteen watch towers built along the coastline of Malta to guard the island during its long and interesting history. Three of these towers can be found in Mellieha.

The Red Tower, known as St Agatha’s Tower, was built as a signalling post for communication.

The White Tower, built in 1658, is a major part of Malta’s cultural heritage, and it was built under the rule of Grand Master Martin de Redin.

Note: The Lost Executive sets these game tasks with the expectation that each player will be conscious of their own safety and well-being and that of the people around them. We do not condone nor promote any activities that may be considered sexist, racist, ageist, heightist or illegal or socially unacceptable. The Logbook Tasks are supposed to be fun and in good taste, encouraging exploration and learning. This means that to play the game you may have to learn something about another country’s religion and culture.

The Ghajn Tuffieha Tower (GH is silent), built in 1637, was armed with a ½ pdr cannon and built to guard Ghajn Tuffieha (Riviera Bay) and Golden Bay.

For clues on how to play the game properly visit social media with the hashtag #LOGBOOKTASKSMALTA

Sliema

Mellieha Mellieha is in the north of the island, offering a variety of beaches, history and attractions. The tasks for this area can all be accomplished in a single afternoon.

1.Popeye Village Selfie. Safely make your best Popeye impression with the famous set of the 1980 film starring the late Robin Williams in the background. One of Popeye’s famous gestures was the old bicep curl, commonly known as ‘swanning’. #PopeyeVillage #Swanning #LogBookTaskMalta 2.Parish Church Mellieha. Built in a Baroque style and erected in the 19th century, this church has one of the most enviable views of Mellieha. Built with traditional Maltese stone and featuring five bells that were brought over from Milan, your task is to venture inside and take a picture of your favourite painting. There are five paintings inside by the legendary artist Giuseppe Cali. Pick your favourite. Take a picture of it, mention its name in the Instagram status and tell us why it is your favourite. #ParishChurchMellieha #LogbookTaskMalta #GiuseppeCali 3.Beachfront Selfie. There are plenty of beaches, bays, coves and small hidden away strips of seafront that can be found in Mellieha. Your task is to find one and construct a very specific image on the shoreline involving the following: sea shells, pebbles from the seashore, and the surf. #MyMelliehaMasterpiece #LogbookTaskMalta (Make sure you bring your hat and sunscreen for this one. Beaches available can be found in the Mellieha section.)

70

Your task is to arrange a picture of you standing on one foot with one of these towers behind you or next to you. It would be even better if you wearing a funny hat during this. #TowerStanding #RedTower/WhiteTower/GhajnTuffiehaTower #LogbookTaskMalta

Sliema is one of the youngest cities in Malta. Offering a variety of bay side restaurants and bars, as well as a selection of boat tours heading off around the island, it is a great place for Instagram videos and this is what the Sliema tasks revolve around.

1.Video Greeting on Sliema Bay. Be as creative as you like, but be safe and considerate. Selfie film walking down Sliema introducing yourself. For instance, “Hi I’m Donnie Rust, co-founder of The Lost Executive and the crazy executive.” Hashtag: #LogbookMaltaTask #SliemaGreeting 2.Film yourself standing in a line. It doesn’t matter what the line is and what it is for, but film yourself standing in a line in Sliema. #SliemaLine #LogbookTaskMalta 3. Find the big cat on the roof. #FoundTheCat #LogbookTaskMalta St Julians St Julians is Malta’s nightclub revelling city. But it is not devoid of its own historical beauty and secrets. The tasks here involve you finding them and sharing something interesting about them.

Remember to Geotag yourself.

1. Lapsi Church. #LapsiChurch #LogBookTaskMalta 2. St Julian’s Parish Church. #StJuliansParish #LogBookTaskMalta 3. Spinola Palace. #SpinolaPalace #LogBookTaskMalta 4. BONUS. Somewhere in St Julians, near the Hugo Strip is a lifesized model of a Native American. Get a picture with the Native American. #GoneNative #StJulians #LogBookTaskMalta

LOGBOOK CHALLENGE

M

A

L

T

A

Valletta Valletta is Malta’s oldest city and is a caption from history. UNESCO have deemed it a site of historic importance so businesses cannot change the buildings, so it has retained its old historical charm and that’s what your tasks are about.

1. City Gates and the Titans Fountain. They’re a bit modernised now, but as an entrance to Valletta you need to have at least one selfie with each. #CityGate #TitanFountain #Valletta #LogBookTasks 2. Upper Barrakka Gardens. You are to find the statue of the three children LES CAVROCHES by the Maltese sculptor Antonio Sciortino. #BarrakkaGardens #LesCavroches #LogBookTaskMalta 3. Barrakka Gardens. Find Albert Einstein. #AlbertEinstein #BarrakkaGardens #LogBookTaskMalta 4. Lady of Our Victory. As Valletta’s first building and first church you need to treat yourself to seeing the vaulted ceiling, which has wonderful depictions of the Virgin Mary’s life. Incidentally, the presentation in the cellar is actually very interesting too. Did you know the Napoleon took Malta without firing a single gunshot? #LadyOfOurVictory #Valletta #LogBookTaskMalta

4. Tales of the Silent City. As the silent city, it is a pleasure on the ears as much as the eyes. Find a sign that names the Silent City. #Mdina #SilentCityChallenge #LogBookTaskMalta Three Cities Three cities sticking like fingers into the bay. The perfect location to see the kind of ships, yachts and sailing beauties that can be found floating into the bay. Here, it’s all about overseeing everything.

1. Get a picture in the tower at Gardjola Gardens where the ear and the eye are, in Senglea. #HarbourView #GardjolaGardens #ThreeCities #LogBookTaskMalta 2. Take a selfie with Fort St Angelo in the background. Have a bottle of water in your hand. #FortStAngelo #waterbottlechallenge #LogBookTaskMalta

5. The Bridge Bar. The Bridge Bar is as famous for its bohemian feel as much as its uniqueness. Your task is to get a picture of the red windows and the red telephone box in front of it. #TheBridgeBar #AllTheRed #Valletta #LogBookTask 6. St Johns Cathedral. An epic cathedral that always amazes and astounds. Your task is to get a selfie with three clocks around your head. #StJohnsCathedral #3clockchallenge #LogBookTask #Valletta Mdina Mdina is Malta’s Silent City. It’s gorgeous and maze-like and wonderfully quiet. Architecturally you’ll find fewer cities better planned out and the focus of your tasks here is all around architecture and positioning.

1. Three bells. Keep an eye on the bell towers and find somewhere to take a picture of three bells at the same time. #Mdina #ThreeBells #LogBookTaskMalta 2. The Cathedral and the museum are wonderful to view. Full of beautiful paintings and architecture. Before going in, take a selfie with the two spires on either side of you. #Mdina #SpireChallenge #LogBookTaskMalta 3. Doorknocker. Keep an eye on the doors, some of them have a knocker that is shaped like a bird. Snap a picture of it pecking the wood. #Mdina #Doorknocker #Bird #LogBookTaskMalta

71

visit m a lta

www.mta.com.mt 72

73

Kastellan Road ZTN 4400 Iz-Zejtun Malta +356 2169 4967 info@suprememalta.com www.suprememalta.com 74