Peaceful Malta belies stormy past

A canadian perspective from David Wishart:

In 1940 Italian bombers attacked Malta and for a while the defence consisted of three RAF Gladiator biplanes, the legendary Faith, Hope and Charity. The Germans then had a go, destroying 11,000 buildings in 3343 air raids. Malta held on and was awarded the George Cross. Top air ace was the Canadian George Beurling. More than 300 Canadian war dead are buried here.

Today only the Opera House remains in ruins and Valletta sparkles in the Mediterranean sun, capital of an independent and prosperous country. The 365,000 Maltese speak their own language which is 60 per cent Arabic, although English is not only widely spoken but English-language schools are almost as prolific as "arret" signs in Quebec.

Until not so long ago most visitors were British, but these days large numbers of tourists from the rest of Europe have discovered Malta's charms. Canadians are starting to arrive via Air Malta's growing European network which includes non-stop flights from London and Paris.

I loved spending a morning strolling the alleyways and markets of Valletta, walking through the living museum of Mdina, a siesta by the pool, then a sundowner in the fashionable Sliema district followed by a promenade along the water's edge to a tiny harbour surrounded by restaurants open to a cool Mediterranean breeze.

Valletta's Grand Harbour is just that, as magnificent a port as Hong Kong, Sydney or Rio. What an experience it is to be there in the wake of Roman galleys, Nelson and the oil tanker Ohio, towed home with critically needed supplies having been abandoned twice and with a German bomber crashed on its deck.

By European standards Malta is not expensive and the restaurants are excellent with good, friendly service and lots of fresh seafood such as sea bass and lampuki, the latter caught by fishermen who place palm fronds on the water. When lampuki stop under the fronds for shade they are netted.

Around the world with David Wishart