In the Spotlight ...... A Place to Embrace Life, Shop and Lunch

If you're planning a week, or to be totally honest, a long weekend would be easy enough, then this is the place to be. 

A warm welcome is guaranteed - this place is perfect for a relaxing escape.

Just three hours' flight from UK and you can find yourself embracing life, shopping and lunching in this city.

A European Capital of Culture 2018

Where are we?  The buzzing city of Valetta, the Capital of Malta.

Weather, what weather?

Our last visit was at the end of November and it was slightly chilly, well for me anyway and on the day of our visit to Valetta, it rained!

  

But when you're on holiday and there's so much to see the weather somehow seems less of an irritant and there's always somewhere to shelter.  ie a local cafe or bar! 

For us on this occasion Cafe Castille was very handy and served up a delicious lunch to go with our Cisk and wine!

300 Sunny Days a Year

In accordance with what they tell you about Valletta boasting more sunshine than any other European City.........by the time we'd finished eating and drinking, the sun had made itself known to us once more.

Shopping is definitely a way of life here in Valetta

If you like shopping there's everything here and more.  We travel light

and therefore no room for any extras in our bags :(  that's the downside .... but the upside of course is you save your shopping money to go back!

As you can see at the end of November the Christmas lights are already in place.  We always retire to our Hotel, in order that we can have an early evening drink and relax before dining, we don't get to see them lit up.   They look beautiful in the daytime so I'm sure in the evening they are stunning.

Here at Christmas they really do create an impressive display everywhere.

I love it here.  It has so much history but it also has beautiful gardens too.

Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views over the Grand Harbour.  You won't miss it as everyone is soaking up these views with selfies and such like!

Hot, Hot, Hot :)

And I don't mean the weather (not at this time of the year anyway)!  This chilli plant extravaganza caught my eye whilst everyone was looking elsewhere.  Incredible.

If you haven't been yet.....this year is the time to go ..... 400 events 

make up the 2018 cultural programme culminating with a closing spectacle on 13th December.  

Visit the The Cultural Programme for more info.

Where to stay?  For us there is no other place to stay than Corinthia Palace Hotel in the centre of the island, central to everything but quiet too.  

However, if you want to be nearer to the coast.....and a little livelier...

On my recommendation a colleague visited Malta and wanted a seaview so she opted for Corinthia St Georges Bay - she and her family absolutely loved it.

So, what are you waiting for?  Go, go, go .............

Hopefully we'll see you there. :)