After devouring a breakfast of fruits, wonderful sausages, pastries, and enough peppermint tea to make me feel like royalty, I set off for another day in Valletta, Malta’s famously sun-drenched capital.
Today, however, the sun must’ve hit the snooze button because the city was wrapped in clouds and still glistening from an overnight rain.
Not that a little drizzle could dampen my adventurous spirit. Keep Calm and Carry an Umbrella is the motto!
Armed with my trusty bus pass, I hopped onto the local public transport. In no time, I was whisked into the heart of the city, ready to soak up Valletta’s legendary blend of history and vibrant street life.
Wandering Valletta is like flipping through a living history book. Picking up a cheap guidebook, I discovered that the city was founded by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century after the Great Siege of Malta.
Valletta is named after Jean de Valette, the Grand Master of the Order.
Wait, I’ve heard of the Knights of St. John before during my travels, haven’t I?
Oh, that’s right! The Knights of St. John of Malta were once the Knights of Rhodes.
It’s wild to think my wanderings across this planet are tracing the path of crusaders, grandmasters, and centuries of Mediterranean intrigue.
Honestly, travel is the best history teacher: no textbook matches the thrill of standing where knights once plotted, and empires clashed, with the city’s epic stories coming alive beneath your feet.
Walt Disney was right — it really is a small world after all.
Just as I was admiring the city’s honey-colored Baroque facades, a sudden rain shower swept over Valletta, turning the cobblestones slick and sending umbrellas popping open in every direction. But as quickly as the clouds rolled in, the sun returned, leaving the city glistening and my adventure undeterred.
I meandered past grand churches and stumbled upon hidden courtyards where sunlight bounced off stone walls, and locals traded morning gossip.
But the true showstopper? My visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral.
Stepping inside felt like tumbling into a treasure chest, if treasure chests had gold leaf, marble floors, and Caravaggio masterpieces casually hanging on the walls.
I spent so long gawking at the opulent ceilings and dazzling side chapels that even the security guard gave me a knowing grin — apparently, wide-eyed wonder is a common side effect here.
Honestly, if all cathedrals came with that much baroque bling, I’d be tempted to go to church every Sunday!
No trip is complete without a little souvenir shopping, and so began my hunt for the ultimate quirky keepsake: a rubber duck.
Yes, you read that right.
While my search through Valletta’s souvenir stalls yielded everything from knight-themed magnets to hand-painted ceramics, my elusive rubber duck remained just that — elusive.
I suppose some quests are destined to last a little longer!
Still, there’s something magical about Valletta’s busy streets, the scent of the sea on the breeze, and the thrill of discovering the unexpected. Even though I didn’t find my rubber ducky, Day Two of my Malta adventure was packed with charm, history, and a dash of quirky fun.
Will my elusive duck reveal itself the next day? Who knows?
Until then, Valletta has plenty more stories — and underground secrets — waiting to be discovered.
Until next time …
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