Malta
Marsaxxlokk fish market, hiking and Valetta nights
Stroll among the locals at the Marsaxxlokk Sunday fish market, visit the Xrobb l-Għaġin Park and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the nearby Blue Grotto and end the day with a 'wine and dine' in Valletta.
Sunday fish market at Marsaxlokk
On Sunday morning, the weekly Marsaxlokk fish market is the place to be. Next to lots of other produce, the main focus is on the catch of the day, brought in fresh by the local fishermen. A great opportunity to mingle with the Maltese residents and snap some pictures of the colourful fishing vessels. To ensure the stalls are not yet empty (and to avoid the crowds from the tourist buses) I would advise to go early, between 8:30 and 10. Afterwards, grab a coffee at one of the seaside bistro's and take a stroll along the harbour.
Xrobb l-Għaġin Park and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
As a big wildlife lover, I greatly looked forward to help out at the local wildlife rehabilitation centre I had discovered while browsing Google Maps. Unfortunately it wasn't clear to me that it was necessary to make a reservation, so sadly we arrived at closed doors. If you would like to connect with rescued turtles, hedgehogs and other wildlife, it's best to reach out to the organisation well in advance via rehab@naturetrustmalta.org . Let me know how it goes :)! Even though the wildlife centre was inaccessible, we were still able to walk around the nature park which focuses on sustainable development. Afterwards we continued along the Munxar Path overlooking the steep sea cliffs.
Blue Grotto viewpoint
We then drove to the Blue Grotto viewpoint a bit further down the coast. Beautiful views, but extremely touristy (since it's just next to the road). Perhaps it's more impressive by boat, but even then you could see a queue of small boats going in and out the cave, one after the other, so still not the most unique experience.
Sunset at Lower Barakka Gardens
For your final night in Malta, return to Valletta and catch the last sunset from the Lower Barrakka Gardens (the less crowded and perhaps even more beautiful sister to the upper gardens).
Aperitif at Cafe Jubilee
Time flies when you are having fun! Start your final night at the rustic Café Jubilee, that's frequented by locals and tourists alike. We enjoyed a glass of wine and some fresh calamaris to share.
Dinner at AKI
For the last supper we chose another Michelin-listed restaurant, this time focusing on Japanese cuisine: AKI. The ambiance wasn't really our vibe (loud party music) and the food was also slightly underwhelming and heavily priced compared to the portion size, so in all honesty would not really recommend (although we went with a selection of skewers, so perhaps the sushi is better).
