Slower pace

Malta is historic getaway for those seeking a slower pace, writes Sonya Rabbitte for Deutsche Presse-Agentur:

An archipelago at the foot of Europe with a tiny population and no natural resources, Malta is often overlooked and underestimated. But what it lacks in stature and people power it makes up for with a strategic location, a colourful past - and with its accession to the European Union last year - an apparently bright future..

The main shopping strip on Republic Street has some familiar brand names and a few decent cafes. But really there isn't enough in Valletta to entertain for more than an afternoon. The city's population, now less than 10,000, has been falling since World War II and the streets are noticeably quiet. But tourists don't come to Malta for the bustling crowds or the hectic nightlife. In fact many of them hop on a boat to neighbouring Gozo - one of just three inhabited islands making up the Maltese island chain - to sample a quieter way of life...