Try Marsaskala . .
If you ever get to Malta, try out Marsaskala for a 3 day stay to recover from your travels. It’s mellow, sunny, picturesque, & full of friendly people & good food at the Corner View. It’s on the SE coast of the main island north of St. Paul’s Bay – 2 bays away from the industrial harbor, so you can see large ship traffic too.
Here are a few images from our 3 week stay. We got three 7-day bus passes at the transit center in Valletta with unlimited usage. Those smart cards got us around the whole of Malta, including Gozo during our stay. The buses are more crowded than our first trip in 2017, but it was the easiest option.
If you overdo your walking at all the amazing historical sites in Valletta & elsewhere, you can opt for an E-Cab using their free smartphone app. We found them cheaper and more consistent than the “White Cab” option on the streets. (Only the airport keeps a taxi desk with flat rates that reigns in those guys.)
The Bay . .
The working harbor is full of boats – from the local Luzzu open ones to the runabouts to the hardtop long-liners that can bring in the big tuna. The main promenade is on the north shore & runs the entire length of the bay from the parish church with its noble bell tower around the entire bay. If you think a swim is a good idea, go for it – the water is clear & clean thanks to the tidal action & the lack of industry.
The Promenade . .
Wide enough for 6 people to walk side-by-side, this hand-laid walkway stretches from the parish church on the north shore all the way around the head of the bay & off toward St. Paul’s Bay on the south side. Many folks walk it daily, & some brave souls jog it. Plantings, trash cans, benches, & swimming steps are everywhere, so it’s used by a large number of locals & visitors.
The Corner View . .
This is a shameless plug for our favorite restaurant near the parish church called The Corner View Grill. I couldn’t find a single dish that I didn’t like on their menu. (I even broke my 1st rule & ate pasta, desserts, & breads here.) I included some pics of other restaurants too. As the images show, the building isn’t much, but the views from outside & in are world class. The old guys smoking – not so much . . .
This is a great stop to take a break & watch the world go by for a while. There are bus stops nearby, benches across the street, & you can see some interesting cars & trucks too . . . there’s even Mr Whippy near the Kiddie park for ice cream on a hot day. (And, yes, it can get hot here in the summer. Think 31 degrees C or 100 degrees F.)
Enjoy it like a local!
Ease into the lifestyle . . . The swaying palms, the families in the Kiddie park, an espresso with pie from 1 of 10 restaurants – or just plop down on a bench facing the water & watch the Luzzu go out with fishermen onboard to get the daily catch. Amazing . . .
