Reporter Ellen Jenne found herself on a trip to Malta meant for over-50s travellers, exploring stunning temples, taking to blue seas, and enjoying plenty of Maltese drinks (Image: Supplied)
Travelling abroad and exploring new horizons has no age limit, but my most recent trip to Malta came with a surprising twist.
Joining Titan Travel on its Historic Gems of Malta Tour, my peers were a group over thirty travellers over the age of 50 but nothing about the obvious age range put me off living life to the fullest with a group of adventures pensioners.
I was their token Millennial for the week, exploring Malta, the small southern European island archipelago.
We spent a week in the glorious weather in the middle of October for some much needed winter sun, drinking endless glasses of Maltese wine and Aperol Spritzes, delve deep into the country rich history, and making memories to last a lifetime.
Here’s how my adventure with the OAPs went…
Flocks of tourists and locals head to Upper Barrakka Garden for a spectacular view of the harbour (Image: Supplied)
It’s not everyday you find yourself, a fully-fledged Millennial, on an island tour with a group of thirty pensioners. Had I boarded the wrong flight? Did I get lost on the way to Malta? Or is my skin care routine so good it’s age-defying? These are just a few rumours which floated around when I arrived on the island amongst a group of bemused seniors ready for an eight-day adventure with Titan Travel.
My cover had been blown. I was officially the worst undercover journalist on the planet. The next eight days on The Historic Gems of Malta tour consisted of a deep dive in the country’s extensive – and proud – history: visiting iconic fortress cities, taking to the rough waves of the Med, and plenty of aperitivos under the autumn sun. Armed with our incredibly knowledgeable guide Joseph, we were given a complete picture of just how significant the country has been throughout its life.
A non-negotiable visit to Malta is Valletta, the country’s capital, enclosed by a collection of fortifications which played a pivotal role for the Allies during the Second World War. St Elmo’s Fort gives you a deep dive into Malta’s history.
If you’re after something quieter, head to the Garden’s little sister, Lower Barrakka Gardens (Image: Supplied)
Valletta’s St John’s Co-Cathedral is the epitome of Baroque opulence (Image: Supplied)
Its buildings, culture and food are made up of an eclectic mix of historical influences; from the early days of the Phoenicians and Knights Hospitaller to the influence of modern Europe. Upper Barrakka Gardens is a tourist hotspot, filled to the brim with cruise ship passengers and tour groups wanting to take a look over the harbour.
You’d be forgiven if you’d seen it before, because you probably have, in Game of Thrones. Multiple locations, including the former capital Mdina, were used for the hit HBO show. If you want to escape the crowds, walk further into the city to go to the garden’s little sister, the aptly named Lower Barrakka Gardens. Not many people wander there but it feels like a serene garden at Olympus. So if crowds aren’t your thing, head here.
Malta is a seafood lover paradise, and Raffael Restaurant in Spinola Bay is the perfect spot for a waterside lunch (Image: Supplied)
Spinola Bay in St Julian’s is right at the heart of Malta’s tourist district (Image: Supplied)
One thing Malta will teach you, is that no one does opulence quite like it. Every church was decked head-to-toe in extraordinary facades, a real feast for the eyes. St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, the Mosta Rotunda, and St Paul’s Cathedral, Mdina, were an assault on the senses, but you couldn’t help but repeat ‘Wow’ at every corner we turned.
An extra treat was experiencing a small number of Caravaggio’s artwork, including one of the largest oil paintings known to man, The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Baroque architecture is inescapable in many cities and towns, unless you head to tourist-centric Sliema and St Julian’s, where we’re staying.
Holidaymakers aren’t short of hotel choice in Malta, with more currently being built. Our home for the week was the Radisson Blu overlooking the panoramic north coast of the island. The hotel was quieter due to shoulder season, but we made ourselves at home… at the bar… becoming the staff’s new favourite residents for the week. Many a pint of Cisk, Aperol Spritz, and gin and tonic were had pre and post dinner with my squad (Tina, Jenny, Julia, Vicky, and Terry).
At the Cittadella, you can see the entire island of Gozo (Image: Supplied)
We liked to consider ourselves the ‘naughty group’, always found at the bar whether in the hotel or during one of the excursions. As this wasn’t my first Maltese rodeo, I took my new-found friends to a restaurant in St Julian’s I visited in 2018. A self-professed foodie, the culinary experience was just as important to me.
Raffael Restaurant in Spinola Bay served up the best meal of the trip. Maltese food is heavily influenced by neighbouring Sicily and Italy, as well as North African and classic Mediterranean. The Pesce alla Maltese (swordfish cooked in a tomato, onion, celery, caper and olive sauce) paired with another Aperol Spritz overlooking the diminutive bay is the definition of living la dolce vita.
Other foodie picks were Valletta’s Strait Street, a slightly claustrophobic side street adorned with restaurants and bars. Or head to San Paolo Naufrago on Saint Lucia’s Street, where eating pizza and pasta on the steps is a norm. For something for the road, grab a pastizzi – the Maltese equivalent to a pasty – from the famed Café Cordina.
The Blue Grotto was undoubtedly the highlight of the trip (Image: Supplied)
We also spent a day exploring Gozo, Malta’s little sister, ‘hiking up’ 140 steps to the Cittadella, Rabat (Victoria). At the top you’ll find Gozo 360, an extraordinary view of the entire island primed for photo ops.
The highlight for me was a short detour to the fishing village Qrendi, the launch pad for The Blue Grotto. After visiting Hagar Qim World Heritage Site’s megalithic temples, we were treated to one of Malta’s most eye-catching natural beauties. It’s truly the stuff of dreams; awe-inspiring azure seas light up a series of tiny caverns.
You take the motorboat trip at your own risk, but for 10 Euros, you’d be wrong to pass up the opportunity. As a trip to the Blue Lagoon at Comino – the smallest inhabited island of Malta – wasn’t on our itinerary, the Blue Grotto felt too brilliant to pass up.
St Paul’s Cathedral is hidden among the labyrinth-like streets of Mdina (Image: Supplied)
Our last full day took us to Mosta, Mdina and Rabat. Walking Mdina’s windy roads took me straight back to the iconic Game of Thrones ‘Shame’ scene (if you know, you know).
Once again we were confronted with Malta’s immaculate and opulent church architecture at St Paul’s Cathedral. Since it was our last day, it would’ve been wrong to not stop for one last pint of Cisk at Palazzo Bifora.
Titan offers solo travellers over 50 the chance to explore new adventures, making fast and firm friends amongst fellow Solos. What’s even better, is that in addition to the allotted free time, you can take the tour at your own pace or go on one of their optional excursions (the Grand Harbour Cruise or Malta War Museum), it’s all on your terms. But it proved that no matter what your age, the token Millennial can fit right in.