For those of you who have never visited our islands Malta is part of a small group of three islands called the Maltese Archipelago, the main and largest island is Malta followed by Gozo and Comino. The island of Malta is the mainland and this is where the one and only airport is situated.  On arriving in Malta you will notice that there is not much in the way of vegetation, this is because the summer months are very hot and trees are not so much in abundance as in other countries.  The roof tops are flat as in other countries where there is not much rainfall.  All this will seem strange to what you are used to but on reflection this will give you a real feel for the Mediterranean style and life. The Maltese people are a friendly sort and are always willing to help especially when they realise that you are not familiar with the country, the unexpected warm approach is one of the memorable experiences that most of our tourists comment on.  The national language is Maltese which is a basis of Arabic and a mixture of Italian, English and some French, however the English language is widely spoken and due to this our tourists do not have any problems in finding their way round the island, ordering their meals in restaurants and so on and so forth. The main source of income of this island is coming from ship building and from tourism the latter being due to the large amount of sunshine and the clean Mediterranean waters surrounding these islands. For those of you who love to walk and enjoy the warm and mild winters it is advisable to visit the islands between March and June and between October and December these are the most pleasant months where one can walk without the discomfort of a hot sun beating down on you or a cold wind biting. The rainfall in Malta is minimal however there have been flash floods and roads are quite slippery after the hot summer, so if you are intending to hire a car be careful on such days and drive with caution.  These floods do not cause life threatening situations but one should be aware that there are a few winter days when this happens and mainly during January and February otherwise none at all. If you are intending to visit the island and like history, then this is really a treasure trove for you.  The island has been inhabited by many different nationalities and rulers that there is a lot to find out about.  The greatest treasures are those that were left here during the time of the rule of the Knights of Malta.  The churches on the islands (and there are many of them) are not to be missed, here one finds an abundance of silverware and art that put some museums to shame. The crown in the jewel is unmistakably the Cathedral of St John in the capital city of Valletta.  This was built as the main place of worship by Grandmaster Jean de la Vallette who was the instigator of the building of the city itself.  There are various smaller churches in Valletta which belonged  to the various nationalities of Grandmasters but the Cathedral of St John was built to incorporate all of these by having an alter for each and every church belonging to the various Langues of the Grandmasters prior to La Vallette. The island has a very varied landscape and can be appreciated by either driving around in a hire car or taking the latest attraction which is an open top bus which tours the north of the island and the south of the island.  By taking these two tours one can get a taster for the whole island and then visit the places one liked the most.   The south of the island has pretty fishing villages and a fish market which takes place only on a Sunday morning, a Bronze Age village and prehistoric temples. The north of the island offers small sandy and rocky beaches and is a haven for divers; here one can also find a multitude of bars and restaurants offering fresh fish and typical Mediterranean cuisine.   The centre of the island is mainly densely populated and has shopping areas and everyday markets on different days in different localities. The coastal areas between the north and Valletta such as St. Julian’s and Sliema offer night life and restaurants as well as a few shops and bars, further on towards Valletta there is a yacht marina and the road follows through into the capital city. The fruits and vegetables are tasty and can be bought from vegetable sellers straight from the vans that are strategically parked on the side of main roads, the bread is fresh and crusty and delivered to your door, there are also small mini markets and a few larger ones in Industrial areas however there are no large supermarkets like the chain stores that one is used to in other countries. Fresh fish can be bought from various hawkers in the street; however there are large shops in the south and the north of the islands where an abundance of the daily catch is sold to all especially restaurateurs. Apart from all the things that these little islands have to offer, one of the main attractions is the fact that the islands are relatively crime free and there is nothing more satisfying than to feel safe and welcome when you are relaxing on your hard earned holiday, so if you are thinking of visiting us we wish you a very pleasant stay on the islands and would be more than happy to see you if you decide to visit us. Maggie Daly